SAN ANTONIO – Everyone knows Santikos for theaters, and you may have heard it gives away a lot of money to charity. But now San Antonio's aging population will know it better than ever and be thankful for one particular gift.
That's because the Santikos Charitable Foundation has bought the naming rights for a new suite of high-powered imaging devices that will support a new Alzheimer's research and treatment center, a first for San Antonio and south Texas.
The University of Texas Health Science Center's radiology department is positively glowing with good news. Thanks to a $2.3 million Santikos naming-rights gift, it's updating its radiology department, going state of-the-art.
"Oh my gosh. The benefit this is going to have on our patients is going to be tremendous," Pamela Otto, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio's radiology chair, said.
She's talking about the new PET-CT and SPECT-CT, two imaging devices that will put the new John L. Santikos CT and Nuclear Medicine Suite on a national map, a gift to anyone growing older.
"Older adults are living longer than before. San Antonio is a hub for older adults. We are expecting a significant increase in our population when it comes to the population that's over 60 years old, so this (is) something that they need, and we are glad to be a part of bringing it to our community. " Michelle Lugalia-Hollon from the San Antonio Area Foundation said.
Prior to this equipment installation, only a military hospital had this radiology capability. Now the general public will have it and, in the Biggs Institute for Alzheimer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, the benefits of new clinical trials for Alzheimers and neurodegenerative diseases.
"These new trials that I am speaking about require sophisticated imaging equipment. Without it, you have to stand on the sidelines and watch someone else take the ball and run with it." William Henrich, president of the UTHSCSA said.
The new name is not yet official, but one thing going forward when it comes to Alzheimers in San Antonio: Mr. Santikos will be always be remembered.
One other program that will get the Santikos name is a $1.3 million school park program though San Antonio Sports Foundation.
It will convert 41 local school playgrounds into neighborhood-use parks during non-school hours.