Dr. Teresa Purzner (right) performing brain surgery at KHSC, southeastern Ontario's regional centre for advanced surgical procedures such as neurosurgery.
Credit
Matthew Manor
Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) is setting new benchmarks in brain tumor care with its groundbreaking Integrative Brain Tumor Program (IBTP), developed under the leadership of Dr. Teresa Purzner, a neurosurgeon, researcher, and entrepreneur. Since its launch, the IBTP has dramatically improved quality key metrics, increased patient referrals, and attracted global interest from hospitals looking to replicate its success.
Dr. Purzner brings a unique perspective to healthcare innovation. Beyond her expertise in neurosurgery, she is the co-founder of Cerebelly, a science-backed baby food company sold in thousands of stores across North America. Drawing on her entrepreneurial background, Dr. Purzner took a different approach when developing the IBTP—moving beyond traditional academic planning methods.
“Academia excels at identifying and quantifying problems, while entrepreneurs specialize in designing and implementing solutions,” says Dr. Purzner. “By blending both approaches, we’ve created a patient-centered program that is not only improving the patient experience but also expanding access to care.”
Since the introduction of the IBTP, KHSC’s performance in brain tumor care has leapfrogged the field, to among some of the best in Ontario:
- The number of patients receiving surgery within provincial targets has increased by more than 40 per cent in just two years.
- Delays to radiation therapy have been reduced by 40 per cent.
- Post-operative MRIs are now being performed in a more timely manner for 89 per cent of patients.
- Brain tumor surgery volumes have surged as more patients are receiving care at KHSC, increasing from 46 patients with primary brain tumors in 2023/24 to a projected 105 in 2024/25.
The program’s success has drawn international attention. Discussions are now underway with hospitals as far away as Australia that are looking to expand IBTP’s reach and implement similar models.
“Dr. Purzner’s work revealed that while patients were receiving care, inefficiencies at various stages of treatment were causing avoidable delays,” says Jason Hann, Regional Vice-President of Cancer Care. “By streamlining these processes and introducing a dedicated neuro nurse navigator, we’ve created a more coordinated and supportive experience, helping patients navigate their care with greater ease and reassurance.”
In addition to transforming patient care, the IBTP is driving cutting-edge research. Dr. Purzner and her team recently secured funding from the Canadian Cancer Society to further brain tumor research. This will allow KHSC to establish state-of-the-art tissue banking facilities and give patients access to clinical trials and cutting-edge therapies within weeks of their approval in Canada. By standardizing patient care pathways and focusing on research, KHSC is positioning itself as a global leader in brain tumor innovation.
“Our goal is to create a world-class innovation pipeline in brain tumor research and care,” says Dr. Purzner. “It’s paying off quickly. What we’ve accomplished at KHSC is just the beginning.”
With a model that prioritizes both patient experience and scientific advancement, the IBTP is transforming brain tumor care at KHSC and shaping the future of treatment worldwide.
This is the place that cares for our region.
We provide care to a region of more than 500,000 people across southeastern Ontario and all the way north to James Bay. People come to us for care not available in their community, like heart and brain surgery, life support, stem cells, radiation and advanced imaging. We’re also a community hospital caring for the less acute needs of residents in the Kingston area.
