One team, one plan: helping kids access proton therapy when time matters most

When a child is diagnosed with a brain tumor, speed and coordination of care can be just as critical as treatment itself. That’s exactly what played out for Dominic, a Ferndale resident who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma — a fast-growing, cancerous brain tumor — just days before his 10th birthday. After emergency surgery at another hospital system in Michigan, Dominic needed to begin radiation within four weeks to give him the best chance at a cure. What followed highlights a powerful — and growing — story in pediatric cancer care across Michigan and the broader Midwest: Corewell Health’s highly coordinated, quaternary-level pediatric proton therapy program that is helping families access cutting-edge treatment close to home and bringing together institutions to function as a single, unified team to manage the region’s most complex cases. This behind-the-scenes coordination allows children, like Dominic, to access advanced treatments like proton therapy within critical timelines without fragmentation in care.  Corewell Health radiation oncologist Dr. Prakash Chinnaiyan is now consulted on nearly every pediatric brain tumor case in the state requiring radiation, working closely with referring physicians to align care quickly. And Corewell Health Children’s pediatric oncologist Dr. Kaydee Kaiser helps coordinate chemotherapy alongside radiation, ensuring treatment plans remain seamless across institutions.