Since our inception over 30 years ago, SHAREing & CAREing has advocated for and served the Queens Cancer Community, believing that Queens residents should not have to leave Queens in order to receive high-quality screening, treatment, and support. The successful implementation of Stereotactic Radiosurgery at Queens Hospital is the first step in bringing world-class, non-invasive technology to our community and in ensuring that Queens residents have access to the same level of care as found at our nation’s leading cancer centers. We are extremely thankful to the Borough President and Council Member Gennaro for funding the technology that made this cutting-edge procedure possible.”
QUEENS, NY – NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens today announced the successful completion of its first Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), marking a significant leap forward in the expansion of advanced cancer care for the residents of Southeast Queens. The procedure, which took place on July 28, represents the clinical realization of the hospital’s commitment to bringing world-class, non-invasive technology directly to the community. Stereotactic Radiosurgery is a specialized, non-invasive technique that delivers concentrated doses of radiation to tumors while sparing surrounding healthy brain tissue. This reduces the risk of neurocognitive side effects often associated with traditional whole-brain radiation. The inaugural patient completed the treatment in a single outpatient session and returned home the same day.
This milestone follows the hospital’s unveiling of the Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator last year, a $5 million investment supported by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and City Council Member Jim Gennaro. This first successful SRS case—treating a patient with multiple enhancing intracranial metastatic lesions—demonstrates the hospital’s now-active capability to perform highly complex, sub-millimeter precision radiation therapy.
“The successful completion of our first SRS procedure is the culmination of our promise to bring tomorrow’s technology to our community today,” said Neil J. Moore, MBA, MPA, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “By operationalizing the TrueBeam’s advanced capabilities, we have transitioned from unveiling a machine to delivering life-saving, precision medicine. This milestone reflects our continued trajectory toward being the best community hospital in the nation, ensuring our patients no longer have to travel outside their neighborhood for the highest standard of oncological care.”
“The successful implementation of Stereotactic Radiosurgery at our facility represents a major clinical advancement in our ability to treat complex cancers with unparalleled precision,” said Dr. Dave Holson, Chief Medical Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “This technology allows us to deliver high-dose, targeted radiation in a single session, offering our patients a non-invasive alternative that maximizes tumor control while protecting healthy brain function. By providing this level of sophisticated care locally, we are ensuring that Southeast Queens residents have immediate access to the same high-caliber treatments found at the nation’s leading cancer centers.”
The SRS program is led by Dr. William Li, Chief of Radiation Oncology, and was performed under the clinical guidance of Dr. Chris Montoya, supported by a multidisciplinary team of medical physicists, dosimetrists, and radiation therapists.
“The successful completion of our first SRS procedure marks an important milestone for our department and for the patients we serve throughout Queens,” said Dr. William Li. “Our goal is to ensure that every patient has access to the highest standard of cancer care without having to leave the community they call home.”
“Lives are being saved every day at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. But with state-of-the-art Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) treatment now available at the hospital, countless more families battling cancer will be kept whole going forward,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “I’m proud to have invested in the technology that makes critical SRS treatments possible. My wallet is always open for our hospitals and its selfless staff of healthcare heroes who do incredible work every day.”
“This is a huge milestone for NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens and, most importantly, for the patients and families who rely on this tech,” said Council Member Jim Gennaro. “When someone is facing cancer, the last thing they should have to worry about is traveling far from home to get the best possible care. I’m incredibly proud to have helped bring this technology to Queens and to see it now being used to give our neighbors access to truly cutting-edge treatment right here in their own backyard.”
The TrueBeam system allows NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens to offer state-of-the-art treatments like SRS and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy. Previously, patients in Southeast Queens requiring these services were frequently referred to Mount Sinai Queens. By offering these services in-house, the hospital significantly reduces travel time and strengthens the continuity of care for a diverse population that has historically faced barriers to specialized treatment.
For more information about the comprehensive cancer care services offered at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, please visit the Queens Cancer Center.
