June 1, 2012 —Frank Mackinson of Bound Brook, N.J., became the first patient to complete treatment at the ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Somerset, N.J. The Somerset Center opened officially on March 20, one month ahead of schedule, enabling Mackinson to begin treatment on March 28.

May 31, 2012 — Visualization and healthcare imaging company Barco partnered for a second year with Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital to supply its diagnostic and clinical displays for the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine. This year, Barco also integrated its automated quality assurance (QA) and calibration service, MediCal QAWeb, across the network of displays to further boost the consistency of captured images.

May 31, 2012 — As part of an ongoing commitment to helping members provide quality patient care in a changing healthcare landscape, the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) will offer a full day of sessions on practice management as part of its annual Scientific Sessions, planned this year for June 30-July 3 at the Gaylord National in National Harbor, Md.

May 30, 2012 — Leroy Chiao, Ph.D., a former NASA astronaut, will share his experiences in performing and transmitting echocardiograms from outer space during a special presentation during the American Society of Echocardiography’s (ASE) 23rd Annual Scientific Sessions in National Harbor, Md., June 30-July 3. The session, “Hearts in Space”, planned for July 3 from 12:00-1:15 p.m., will give attendees insight into the medical aspects of the U.S. space program as well as the short- and long-term impact of weightlessness on cardiovascular function. The session will inform attendee’s clinical practice by relating remote diagnosis from space to terrestrial telemedicine.

May 29, 2012 — Cianna Medical recently announced the launch of BEST (Brachytherapy Efficacy, Safety and Treatment) Forum, a new educational resource for physicians to obtain the latest research in breast brachytherapy and gain insights into best practices and available technology.

May 29, 2012 — Scientists have announced the discovery of intact red blood cells in some of the wounds found on Ötzi, the 5,300-year-old iceman whose body was discovered in 1991 in the Ötztal Alps and who is considered to be Europe’s oldest natural human mummy.