SAN ANTONIO, TX — CHRISTUS Children’s has expanded access to advanced cancer and neurological care with the addition of a new mobile PET-CT imaging unit, made possible through a $2.5 million gift from longtime partner Valero.
The new mobile unit will provide advanced diagnostic imaging for both pediatric and adult patients across San Antonio, New Braunfels and San Marcos, helping physicians detect, stage and monitor cancer while also supporting care for patients with complex neurological conditions, including epilepsy.
Valero’s contribution continues a partnership spanning more than four decades, during which the company has donated more than $11 million to support pediatric programs and services at CHRISTUS Children’s.
PET-CT technology combines metabolic and anatomical imaging into a single scan, allowing physicians to identify active disease with greater precision, guide treatment decisions and evaluate how patients are responding to therapy. The technology can often reduce the need for multiple tests while helping clinicians make faster and more informed decisions.
“Every child with cancer deserves access to the most advanced tools available to guide their care,” said Dr. Parth Subhash Mehta, division chief of pediatric hematology and oncology at CHRISTUS Children’s. “Our new unit brings cutting-edge imaging directly to the children and families we serve, allowing us to see disease more clearly, assess response in real time, tailor treatments more precisely and reduce the need for additional travel.”
The mobile imaging unit represents a significant advancement for pediatric cancer care in South Texas, where access to highly specialized imaging services can sometimes require families to travel long distances for appointments.
In addition to oncology services, the PET-CT unit will play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and other neurological disorders. The technology can help physicians identify the source of seizures in patients who have not responded to medication, providing critical information needed to determine whether surgical intervention may be beneficial.
The addition comes as CHRISTUS Children’s continues to strengthen its neurological care program, including the recent recruitment of a specialized neurosurgeon to expand treatment options for patients with complex conditions.
“The state-of-the-art PET-CT unit will revolutionize the care of our cancer patients, dramatically improving our ability to pinpoint tumor location and make precise treatment decisions,” said Dr. Ian Thompson Jr., president and chief development officer of the CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation and a urology oncologist. “Having treated cancer patients for more than 45 years, this advancement is one of the most impactful I have seen in my career. Ultimately, lives will be saved. We are so grateful for this new unit.”
Hospital leaders say the mobile model will help bring advanced care directly into the communities they serve while improving coordination across the health system.
“This investment reflects our commitment to deliver integrated, accessible care for every child and family we serve,” said Cris Daskevich, CEO of CHRISTUS Children’s and senior vice president of maternal and pediatric services for CHRISTUS Health. “By bringing advanced imaging directly to our community through a mobile model, we remove barriers, improve coordination across our system and ensure more patients receive the right care at the right time.”
Valero officials say supporting the project aligns with the company’s longstanding commitment to improving health care access throughout the region.
“San Antonio is Valero’s home and we believe in uplifting the community where we live and operate,” said Seymore Battles, senior vice president of communications, public relations and engagement for Valero. “There’s no better way to do that than to partner with CHRISTUS to bring better treatment, earlier diagnosis and better outcomes to individuals in our community.”
The mobile PET-CT unit is the latest investment aimed at expanding specialized pediatric care throughout South Texas and strengthening CHRISTUS Children’s ability to deliver advanced cancer treatment, neurological services and multidisciplinary care closer to home.
For more information about cancer care services at CHRISTUS Children’s, visit christuschildrens.org.