New learning centre dedicated to train CT health care specialists established

Strategic Alliance to benefit students and healthcare providers

The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences and GE Healthcare Canada today announced the establishment of a new learning centre dedicated to training both the current and next generation of CT health care specialists.

The new GE Healthcare-Michener Advanced CT Imaging Centre of Excellence is a true collaboration between two organizations committed to improving the quality of health care services in Ontario and Canada. Both organizations believe the future of many Canadian allied health professionals begins with creative approaches to education and training, a belief realized in this new Centre.

"This significant investment by GE Healthcare represents a major contribution in support of Michener's highly-regarded interprofessional collaborative curriculum and simulated clinical workflow," explains Dr. Paul Gamble, President and CEO, The Michener Institute. "It's an ideal public-private partnership where both institutions have the opportunity to learn together and create innovative programs for the applied health science community that will ultimately benefit patients."

The establishment of this leading-edge CT Imaging Centre of Excellence combines the latest computed tomography imaging technology from GE Healthcare with interprofessional and simulation-based curriculum from Michener. The Centre is located on the modernized 11th floor at The Michener Institute in downtown Toronto, providing Radiologists, Radiological Technologists, and Michener Medical Radiation Sciences (MRS) students (includes Radiological Technology, Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Therapy disciplines) with access to exceptional hands-on training.

"GE Healthcare is extremely proud to collaborate with The Michener Institute," says Peter Robertson, General Manager, GE Healthcare Canada. "The Centre of Excellence is integral to our overall strategy to provide our Canadian customers with a world-class learning experience and continually improve the quality of health care provided to Canadians."

The formation of the Centre of Excellence between GE Healthcare and The Michener Institute included the donation of a CT system, the purchase of modern workstations, and finally, the deployment of additional advanced software and electronic image library. The library contains a contemporary database holding over 450 anatomical scans depicting cases, from normal to a wide range of pathologies.

Through this collaboration, Michener MRS students will now have better working knowledge of, and practical experience in, CT scanning, imaging and diagnostic capabilities. These skills are now an important part of the core competencies needed by all MRS disciplines writing national exams. Michener graduates, particularly those in Radiological Technology (X-ray), will be well prepared to work with patients in the midst of treatments for various conditions or diseases.