LLUH Marks 35 Years of Proton Therapy Innovation and Compassion

Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) celebrated the 35th anniversary of the James M. Slater, MD, Proton Treatment & Research Center with a commemorative luncheon on October 29 at the Wong Kerlee International Conference Center at the LLU School of Medicine. The event highlighted the pioneering cancer-treating work of the late Dr. Slater and his son Dr. Jerry D. Slater, which today is emulated by other top hospitals around the world.

The celebration brought together physicians, physicists, nurses, radiation technologists, staff, and longtime supporters to honor a legacy that began in 1990, when LLUH opened the world's first hospital-based proton therapy facility. That day realized the decades-long vision of Dr. James M. Slater, who sought a gentler, more precise way to treat cancer.

His pioneering approach combined technical innovation with a deeply compassionate philosophy of care, ensuring that treatment would not only target disease but also protect patients' quality of life.

Slater, who led the clinical application of the technology, developed technical efficiencies that enabled the center to treat as many as 100 patients in a single day. Laboratory experiments in proton therapy at the time typically treated approximately five patients per day. Under Slater's leadership, the LLUH center achieved an all-time record of 170 patients treated in a single day.

Dr. Anthony Hilliard, CEO of LLUH Hospitals, served as the event's master of ceremonies, reflecting on the center's pioneering impact and guiding attendees through key milestones. Since its founding, the center has treated more than 23,000 patients, inspired over 80 similar facilities worldwide, and continues to lead advancements in precision radiation therapy and patient-centered care.

The luncheon also featured the premiere of the Evening Rounds podcast episode, "From Atomic Bomb to Healing Beam," featuring Dr. Jerry D. Slater as the guest. The episode chronicled the evolution of proton therapy - from Robert Wilson's foundational physics research to his father's hospital-based breakthrough that changed cancer care forever.

In his keynote address, Slater expressed gratitude for the dedication of the center's multidisciplinary team. In a particularly meaningful moment, he recognized employees who have served at the center since its opening, honoring their decades of commitment to both scientific innovation and compassionate healing.

As the event concluded, attendees looked to the future with optimism, celebrating upcoming innovations including next-generation accelerator systems, adaptive imaging, and research in FLASH proton therapy. Coupled with LLUH's whole-person care, these innovations will ensure that Slater's pioneering spirit continues to guide the advancement of cancer treatment for decades to come.