CHRISTUS Children’s launches mobile imaging unit expanding cancer care

CHRISTUS Children’s announced the addition of a new mobile PET-CT imaging unit made possible by a $2.5 million gift from Valero. Valero has been a longtime partner contributing more than $11 million to support pediatric care over the past four decades.

The mobile unit will expand access to advanced imaging for patients with cancer, while also supporting additional clinical needs, including pediatric epilepsy care.

PET-CT combines metabolic and anatomical imaging to help physicians detect, stage and monitor cancer with greater precision. The technology can identify active disease earlier, guide treatment decisions and evaluate response to therapy, all while helping to reduce the need for multiple tests.

“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 unit will serve both adult and pediatric patients across San Antonio, New Braunfels and San Marcos.

"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, CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation and 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.”

The mobile imaging unit also enhances care for children with complex neurological conditions. It can locate the source of epileptic seizures, enabling surgical intervention for patients who have not responded to medication. With the recent recruitment of a specialized neurosurgeon, the technology strengthens CHRISTUS Children’s ability to deliver advanced, multidisciplinary care in San Antonio.

“This investment reflects our commitment to deliver integrated, accessible care for every child and family we serve,” said Cris Daskevich, CEO, CHRISTUS Children’s and SVP – maternal and pediatric services, 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’s support continues a more than 40-year partnership that has advanced pediatric inpatient services and critical programs across CHRISTUS Children’s. The new mobile unit represents the latest step in expanding access to high-quality, specialized care in South Texas.

“San Antonio is Valero’s home and we believe in uplifting the community where we live and operate,” said Seymore Battles, SVP of communications, public relations and engagement. “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.”