(Photo: Dr. Robert Bechara (L) and Dr. Lawrence Hookey (R)
Patients undergoing advanced gastrointestinal procedures at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) will soon benefit from a new Olympus TFL Premium Thulium Fibre Laser System, funded by a donation of $155,000 from Kingston philanthropist Stephen Sorensen.
The system will give KHSC’s Division of Gastroenterology dedicated access to advanced laser technology for therapeutic endoscopy.
“My approach to improving healthcare is straightforward,” said Sorensen. “Listen to the clinicians who care for patients every day, understand what they need to improve patient care, and provide the resources to make it happen. I met with Dr. Hookey and Dr. Bechara to discuss the technology, its clinical applications, and the benefits it could bring to patients.
“I look for initiatives that can be implemented in less than 12 months, delivering tangible benefits to patients as quickly as possible. The new Olympus laser is an excellent example of this approach, providing physicians with the tools to improve the quality of patient care. I call it ‘Targeted Clinician-Based Philanthropy.’”
For KHSC’s Gastroenterology team, a dedicated laser system will provide greater flexibility in scheduling and performing advanced procedures.
“The laser is a highly precise surgical tool that delivers energy through very small, flexible fibres, making it particularly well suited to minimally invasive endoscopic procedures,” says Dr. Lawrence Hookey, Division Head of Gastroenterology at KHSC. “It represents a significant advancement in the treatment of large, difficult-to-treat gallstones. Previously, breaking up these stones could take hours and require multiple tools. KHSC will now be able to manage these cases more efficiently and effectively, improving care for patients closer to home.”
Dr. Robert Bechara, an advanced therapeutic endoscopist at KHSC, has specialized international training in techniques that allow physicians to remove certain pre-cancerous lesions and early cancers from the digestive tract through an endoscope rather than conventional surgery.
“The addition of the laser is an exciting advancement for our therapeutic endoscopy program,” says Dr. Bechara. “The precision and versatility of this technology open new possibilities, and we see tremendous potential to expand the range of minimally invasive treatments we can offer our patients and further advance the field of therapeutic endoscopy.”
Sorensen’s previous gifts have supported advanced cardiac CT imaging, a portable MRI system for the Intensive Care Unit, a new interventional radiology suite, AI-enabled MRI software, advanced breast cancer surgical technology, and state-of-the-art fixed and mobile X-ray systems for the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre.
“Investments like this help ensure patients across southeastern Ontario have access to the latest innovations in care close to home,” says KHSC President and CEO Dr. David Pichora. “We are grateful to Mr. Sorensen for his continued commitment to supporting clinician-led innovation and improving the patient experience at KHSC.”
