A new Weill Cornell Imaging at NewYork-Presbyterian (WCINYP) diagnostic center at 575 Lexington Avenue will be a transformational hub for medical imaging, and a cornerstone for the future of predictive health care at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Centrally located in midtown Manhattan, this state-of-the-art facility will boldly reflect the mission of the We’re Changing Medicine campaign: to provide pioneering, evidence-based patient care and usher in a new era of trailblazing scientific discovery.
“Every medical discipline requires imaging, and as we continue to innovate in each of these areas, we accelerate our discoveries and help more people lead longer, healthier lives,” says Dr. Robert Harrington, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine.
Predictive health care, which aims to anticipate health outcomes through Comprehensive data analysis, relies heavily on advanced imaging technologies, such as those housed in this new facility. The diagnostic center will serve as a key contributor to this evolving field, allowing Weill Cornell Medicine clinicians and scientists to gather vital data that will enhance early detection, precision health and personalized care.
“This new diagnostic center will advance the world-class care our patients have come to expect, with even greater breadth and access than ever before,” says Dr. Robert Min, chair of radiology, the John A. Evans, M.D. Professor of Radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, president and CEO of the Weill Cornell Physician Organization. “With the groundbreaking advances in our imaging technology at this facility, and the transformative nature of the care that we’ll be able to provide, we are truly filling the promise of our campaign to change medicine.
Cutting-Edge Imaging Technology
The two-floor, 75,000-square-foot facility – the largest WCINYP site in New York City – will be equipped with the latest in medical imaging technology, enabling coordinated integration between diagnostics and multidisciplinary clinical care. In addition, the site will feature a comprehensive women’s health imaging suite that will include mammography, ultrasound and breast MRI – meeting an ever-increasing demand for these services.
The WCINYP site at 575 Lexington will feature two unique innovations that are set to transform diagnostic imaging and research:
7-Tesla MRI: Weill Cornell Medicine will be one of the first medical centers in New York City to feature the 7-Tesla (7-T) MRI in the patient care setting, representing a major leap forward in diagnostic imaging and offering unprecedented clarity and detail. With its superior magnetic field strength, the 7-T MRI can capture images at a resolution that far surpasses conventional MRI, making it invaluable for detecting subtle abnormalities in the brain, spine and other musculoskeletal areas in the body.
- Photon-Counting CAT (CT) Scan: Another groundbreaking technology, photon-counting CT scans feature significantly higher resolution than traditional CTs. Patients can undergo these scans with a reduced radiation dose and less need for contrast agents, while physicians benefit from images that visualize even the smallest tissue structures, such as tiny bronchi in the lungs or small metastases in bones.
Under Dr. Min’s leadership, the Department of Radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine has been a leader in innovation, rising to the top 5 ranking among departments receiving funds from the National Institutes of Health and placing it at the forefront of clinical care, scientific investigation and medical education in the field. The new diagnostic center will empower his faculty to accomplish even more in the service of patients.
“New technology improves disease prevention, screening and diagnosis, and will eventually allow us to create more guided, minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments,” says Dr. Min.
Comprehensive Clinical Care
The new midtown facility will significantly bolster the capabilities of Weill Cornell Medicine physicians, enhancing diagnosis and treatment – and advancing clinical research – across a wide range of specialties, and will support planned growth in a variety of different We’re Changing Medicine campaign priority areas, including:
Women’s Health: Breakthroughs in imaging, such as faster and more precise breast MRI technology, will lead to innovations including earlier and more accurate breast cancer detection – especially for women with dense breast tissue, which includes nearly half of all women who are over age 40 – potentially improving outcomes and enabling timely, targeted treatments and interventions.
Neurology: Tools such as the 7-T MRI will revolutionize research and clinical care for movement and cognitive disorders, allowing clinicians to identify precise treatment areas in the brain with non-invasive methods previously unimaginable.
Psychiatry: Functional MRI, which measures brain activity by detecting blood flow changes, will pave the way for more targeted and effective treatments for mood disorders, such as treatment-resistant depression and anxiety.
Cardiology: Enhanced CT imaging, including photon-counting CT scans, will provide unprecedented visualization of the heart, with the potential not only to detect narrowing blood vessels, but also identify the specific types of plaque responsible, offering a new level of diagnostic accuracy for men and women.
“This diagnostic center will be a game-changer,” says Dr. Min. “With our advanced imaging technology and having clinical research embedded where our patients are being seen, we will be able to detect and predict disease in ways that were never before possible. We are all thrilled about the endless possibilities that will soon be at our fingertips.”
Longtime champions for women’s health, Lisa and Board Fellow Sanford B. Ehrenkranz have made a generous gift in support of the Midtown Clinical Care Center at 575 Lexington Avenue. In recognition of this gift and their ongoing generosity and commitment to advancing women’s health, the Lisa and Sanford B. Ehrenkranz Imaging Suite at the Center will feature the latest technology and diagnostics to care for and treat women across their lifespan.
The imaging suite will include nine mammography rooms and nine breast ultrasound rooms, providing patients with increased access to critical services.
“We are thrilled to support such an important clinical milestone for Weill Cornell Medicine,” says Mr. Ehrenkranz. “We understand that providing world-class care for women – at every age and every stage – is vital. And Weill Cornell is a true pioneer in this area.”
For decades, Mr. and Mrs. Ehrenkranz have supported a wide breadth of endeavors at Weill Cornell Medicine, many – like this most recent gift – inspired by their respect and admiration for Dr. Orli Etingin, the Lisa and Sanford B. Ehrenkranz Professor of Women’s Health, founder and medical director of the Iris Cantor Women’s Health Center and faculty co-chair of the We’re Changing Medicine campaign.
“Lisa and Sandy understand the importance of philanthropy that truly makes a difference in patients’ lives,” says Board Chair Jessica M. Bibliowicz. “We are enormously grateful for their philanthropic leadership and their ongoing commitment to supporting this vital campaign.”
