ANS Students Tour Thompson Proton Center

American Nuclear Society students from across the country toured Thompson Proton Center on the afternoon of April 13th, 2023. A group of students elected to learn more about proton therapy and take a private behind-the-scenes tour of Thompson Proton Center as one of their off-campus activities. Thompson’s team was delighted with the opportunity to raise attendees’ awareness of proton therapy and share its role in cancer care. The group learned a bit about the history of proton therapy and the science that makes it a beneficial cancer treatment option.

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Chief Medical Physicist of Covenant Health, Chester Ramsey, Ph.D., DABR, DABMP, and Thompson Proton Center Executive Director, Gary Barlow, each led half the group through the tour. Guides shared information on the physics and medical applications of protons and allowed the group to view the cyclotron, the beamline, the treatment rooms, and treatment room gantries. In another area of the center, the group was told about the role proton beam lines can have in radiation effects testing. Companies with space travel plans must complete rigorous testing on any equipment they use and these companies seek out proton beam lines available for them to conduct these tests. 

The annual ANS Student Conference is being hosted by the University of Tennessee in 2023. According to the website: ans.org/meetings/student23 organizers will introduce attendees to the Knoxville area as well as developments in the Department of Nuclear Engineering. Their hope is to inspire a new generation of nuclear scientists and contribute to the growth of the nuclear industry by examining the progress achieved to date. Thompson Proton Center is proud to be associated with cutting-edge science. 

To learn how to schedule a tour for your group or organization, please call Thompson Proton Center at 865- 862-1600 or visit thompsonproton.com.