Project Profile

Construction of site for CTRC's Linear Accelerator

 

 

In uniting efforts with the Department of Radiation Oncology, Facilities Management played a large part in helping the Cancer Therapy Research Center (CTRC) welcome its newest addition, the Novalis TX Radiosurgery System that uses the Varian Linear Accelerator. A linear accelerator uses x-rays to target tumors and eliminate the growth of the cells in patients.

 

Facilities Management's role in this project was to construct a site to house the accelerator. Construction began in the Grossman CTRC vault on October 27, 2008 with the delivery of the linear accelerator on February 10, 2009. The project's biggest challenge came not in the transportation of the 18,000-pound machine, but in removing the old machine’s base frame which had been set in concrete. With one jack hammer at a time the renovation was completed and, on April 22, 2009, the Novalis TX was used on a patient for the first time.

 

The joint mission of UTHSCSA and the CTRC is to generate a premier cancer center headed by the power of academic research in providing better lives to cancer patients in the South Texas communities.

 

FM personnel involved in this project:

 

 

Project Manager:

Dan Parker, Work Control Coordinator

 

 

Cabinet Carpenter CTRC Drafting Electric
Richard Carter Johnie Evans Gabe Rodriguez Richard Gomez Jimmy Adame Michael Neumann
Juan Hernandez Emilio Flores Zaragoza Uvalle Reuben Pinkson Frank Arispe Paul Rivas
Mark Ledford Eric Granberg Philip Romo Heric Arriage Jose Rodriguez
Clyde Guevara Joseph Tolentino John Duran Roland Rodriguez
James Mitchell Marcus Falcon Thomas Smith
Sean Moreau Ervey Gonzalez Israel Velasquez
Salvador Olivo Mike Gonzalez Enrique Villanueva
Noel Romero David Herrera
James Rowe John Kelly
Donnie Schimcek John Martinez
Robert Valdez Efrain Medrano
Alan Zvonek Stephen Morales

 

Engraving Estimating Housekeeping Machine Paint
Rick Gallardo Tom Janes Victor Bosmans Raul Villarreal Michael Barrera
Michael Hamilton Jesse Chantaca
Steve Iglesias Alberto Garcia
Sam Reyes Leroy Martinez
Lester Roper Phillip Orta
Fernando Terrazas John Salinas
Jesse Solorzano

 

Plumbing Sheet metal Utilities
Arturo Gomez Gavino Barrera Patrick Covey
Ronald Kyle Rey Barrera Bill Cunningham
Andrew Martinez Sam Diaz
Gary May
Rene Mora
Anthony Romero

 

 

Linear Accelerator in motion
Hover over images to enlarge

 

 

Article provided by Lisa Graziano, Work Control Coordinator for Facilities Management.

 

Primary photo provided by Karen Stamm, Assistant Director of News and Information for the Cancer Therapy and Research Center.
For more information on CTRC's Varian linear accelerator, click here.