Proton center renaming shows affiliation to IU

IU’s School of Medicine is expanding, and state organizations are joining along.

In January 2011, the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute will be renamed IU Health Proton Therapy Center, a change happening concurrently with Clarian Health’s name change to IU Health.

The decision for the institute to change its name was made about nine months ago, MPRI’s Chief Operating Officer Richard Helsper said.

“We have been looking for more effective methodology of communication of who we are as a part of the University,” he said.

“By having no affiliation in the name, it doesn’t demonstrate affiliation with Indiana University. We are physically located on the IU campus, so it just makes sense that we are affiliated with IU.”

The name change serves as a way for MPRI to align itself with Clarian and the University, Helsper said.

“We wouldn’t have done this unless we had the support of Indiana University,” he said. “It felt important for us to understand what it means to align ourselves with Clarian and Indiana University.”

Since 2008, the School of Medicine has had more involvement with the MPRI, Helpser said.

“Most people don’t realize that 65 to 75 percent of our patients originate outside of Indiana,” he said.

Many of MPRI’s current physicians, Helsper said, were graduates or employees at the IU School of Medicine. He also said many patients believed the change should have been made before now.

“It gives an opportunity to highlight the great power and great strength,” he said. “It brings a level of assurance to patients. The School of Medicine has forward thinkers and experts in the field.”

Michael Coyner, member of Clarian Health’s Board of Directors, said the name change will be a unifying process.

“Clarian is a large network of hospitals and institutions, and it is hard to communicate this,” Coyner said. “We are trying to emphasize the relationship with Indiana University School of Medicine.”