CentraState and Freehold Radiology Group train physicians from China

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, N.J., May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CentraState Medical Center has begun a week-long training program for physicians from China on comprehensive imaging and interventional techniques for diagnosing breast cancer. A group of physicians is training with internationally distinguished interventional radiologist Ken Tomkovich, MD, medical director of Interventional Radiology at CentraState and with Freehold Radiology Group.

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"Using an interdisciplinary approach to patient care along with the latest imaging and interventional techniques, we are able to detect breast cancer at earlier and more curable stages. Studies show we can do this with a nearly 99 percent accuracy rate," Dr. Tomkovich said. "This program is an incredible opportunity to bring such comprehensive breast cancer diagnosing techniques to other areas of the world, which can ultimately save more lives." The program includes training on ultrasound guided breast biopsy and stereotactic needle biopsy.

This is the first time the physicians from China are training in the U.S. on comprehensive breast imaging and interventional procedures. The group of physicians is led by Gao-Jun Teng, MD, PhD, dean of the Medical School of Southeast University in Nanjing, and professor of Radiology and chair, Department of Radiology, Zhong-Da Hospital of Southeast University. Dr. Teng also is the vice president and incoming president of the Chinese Society of Radiology and immediate past president of the Chinese Society of Interventional Radiology.

"It is an honor and pleasure for us to be here and to participate in this unique training opportunity with Dr. Tomkovich," Dr. Teng said. "We are faced with an increase of breast cancer in China and learning and using these techniques will have far reaching benefits to the health of our population. We hope to develop programs in China similar to the program here to help other physicians learn how to diagnose and treat this disease."

Dr. Tomkovich came to the attention of the medical community in China through his publications on breast imaging and interventions. He wrote a chapter called "Forward Perspective: Interventional Radiology to the Breast" included in the worldwide textbook "Interventional Radiology in Women's Health."

In 2010, Dr. Tomkovich was invited to speak in China at the Medical School of Southeast University, and The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou. He also gave a lecture on breast imaging and interventions as the invited guest speaker at the Chinese Society of Interventional Radiology in Guangzhou. One of the first comprehensive women's centers in China offering breast medical imaging and interventional procedures was developed as a result of Dr. Tomkovich's published work. Dr. Tomkovich was also an invited guest speaker at the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE) annual congress in Munich, Germany, this past fall on the topic of breast cancer and breast interventions.

More physicians from China are planning to train at CentraState over the next few years. The training program at CentraState is a funded by a grant through CentraState Healthcare Foundation and sponsorships by Zonare Medical Systems, Scion Medical Technologies, Hologic and the CentraState Associated Auxiliaries.

CentraState's radiology services include interventional radiology, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, X-ray and nuclear medicine. The Women's Health Center provides digital mammography, stereotactic needle biopsy, breast needle localization, bone densitometry and women's health education and counseling. CentraState's Radiology Department has accreditations from the American College of Radiology (ACR) in computed tomography, mammography, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, breast ultrasound and stereotactic breast biopsy. It is also designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. The Ultrasound Department is also accredited by The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL).

CentraState Healthcare System is a non-profit community health organization consisting of an acute-care hospital, a health and wellness campus, three senior living communities, a Family Medicine Residency Program, and a charitable foundation. CentraState's teaching program is sponsored by UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Contact: Renee Crotts, (732) 294-7082; Public Relations Manager

SOURCE CentraState Healthcare System