Hartford HealthCare and Yale New Haven Health Celebrate Grand Opening of Connecticut Proton Center

WALLINGFORD, CT (September 1, 2026) – Hartford HealthCare and Yale New Haven Health today celebrated the grand opening of the Connecticut Proton Center, marking a new era in cancer care and bringing the state's first proton beam therapy center to patients.

Located at 932 Northrop Road in Wallingford, the 25,000-square-foot facility will provide one of the world's most advanced forms of radiation therapy, allowing patients to receive highly targeted cancer treatment while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

The Connecticut Proton Center is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between Hartford HealthCare, Yale New Haven Health and Proton International, a global leader in proton therapy development and operations. Yale Medicine and Radiation Oncology, PC will provide clinical leadership for the center.

“The Connecticut Proton Center combines the clinical expertise, scientific leadership and shared vision of our organizations to deliver an important new capability for patients throughout the region,” said Pamela Sutton-Wallace, acting CEO, Yale New Haven Health. “It reinforces Connecticut's role as a leader in healthcare innovation and demonstrates our collective commitment to shaping the future of cancer care. Healthcare's greatest opportunities are realized when institutions work together to address the needs of the communities they serve.”

Jeffrey A. Flaks, president and CEO of Hartford HealthCare, said the opening represents a transformative moment for patients throughout Connecticut and the Northeast.

"Today marks a defining milestone for cancer care in Connecticut. Through this extraordinary partnership with Yale New Haven Health and Proton International, we are expanding access to one of the world's most advanced cancer treatments, right here at home. The Connecticut Proton Center reflects what's possible when organizations come together with a shared commitment to innovation, clinical excellence and, most importantly, better outcomes for patients. Together, we are making Connecticut a destination for world-class cancer care."

What the Connecticut Proton Center Will Offer

The Connecticut Proton Center is equipped with the latest proton beam therapy technology, delivering highly precise radiation that targets tumors while reducing unnecessary radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissue. This precision can lessen side effects, preserve quality of life and improve long-term outcomes for many patients.

Proton therapy is used to treat a wide range of cancers, including tumors affecting the brain and central nervous system, eye, head and neck, gastrointestinal tract, liver, lung, prostate, spine and breast. It is especially beneficial for pediatric patients because it helps minimize radiation exposure to developing tissues.

Chris Chandler, CEO of Proton International, said the center represents a significant advancement in access to life-changing cancer care.

"The opening of the Connecticut Proton Center represents years of collaboration and a shared vision to bring the latest advancements in cancer treatment closer to patients. We are proud to partner with Hartford HealthCare and Yale New Haven Health to deliver world-class proton therapy that will benefit patients across Connecticut and throughout the region."

The Connecticut Proton Center includes a state-of-the-art treatment room, control room, patient exam rooms and clinical space designed to deliver a seamless patient experience. The facility will be staffed by physicians and colleagues from Yale New Haven Health and Hartford HealthCare.

Proton International served as the project manager and technology partner for the facility, overseeing development, construction and operational readiness.

What Is Proton Therapy?

Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that uses high-energy proton beams to precisely target cancerous tumors. Unlike conventional X-ray radiation, proton therapy allows clinicians to better control where radiation is delivered, reducing exposure to healthy organs and tissue beyond the tumor.

This precision enables physicians to safely deliver higher doses of radiation directly to cancer while minimizing side effects and reducing the risk of long-term complications.

For more information about the Connecticut Proton Center, visit Connecticut Proton.

About Yale New Haven Health

Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS), one of the largest and most comprehensive healthcare system in Connecticut, is recognized for advanced clinical care, quality, service, cost effectiveness and commitment to improving the health status of the communities it serves. YNHHS includes five hospitals – Bridgeport, Greenwich, Lawrence + Memorial, Westerly and Yale New Haven hospitals, several specialty networks and Northeast Medical Group, a non-profit medical foundation with several hundred community-based and hospital-employed physicians. YNHHS is affiliated with Yale University and Yale Medicine, the clinical practice of the Yale School of Medicine and the largest academic multi-specialty practice in New England. Yale New Haven Hospital is the primary teaching hospital of Yale School of Medicine. www.ynhhs.org

About Hartford HealthCare

Hartford HealthCare, a nonprofit healthcare system, is driven by a mission to improve the health and well-being of every community.

With 48,000 dedicated colleagues and a bold vision for the future, Hartford HealthCare is transforming healthcare across Connecticut and beyond, expanding access, improving affordability, advancing health equity, and delivering excellence in care.

Spanning more than 500 locations across 185 towns and cities, its comprehensive care-delivery system is designed to meet people where they are, every day. From world-class hospitals, including two tertiary-level teaching hospitals, an acute-care community teaching hospital, an acute-care hospital and trauma center, and four community hospitals, to an extensive network of behavioral health services, multispecialty physician groups, urgent and virtual care, surgery centers, home care, senior care, rehabilitation, and mobile neighborhood health programs, Hartford HealthCare is there when and where it matters most.

Each day, Hartford HealthCare touches the lives of more than 28,000 people, delivering coordinated, high-quality care through its unique Institute Model. This approach unites leading experts in neuroscience, cancer, digestive health, heart and vascular care, orthopedics, and urology and kidney health, ensuring patients receive consistent, advanced care at the most affordable cost.

Recognized nationally for patient safety and clinical excellence, Hartford HealthCare is the only health system in the country to receive the prestigious Quest for Quality Prize from the American Hospital Association. As a national leader in patient safety, all Hartford HealthCare hospitals earned 'A' Hospital Safety Grades from The Leapfrog Group in both 2023 and 2024, reflecting a longstanding commitment to safe, high-quality care.

Join us on our journey to redefine healthcare.

Visit www.HartfordHealthCare.org and connect with us through our newsletters and social media.

About Proton International

Proton International (www.protonintl.com) is an experienced team dedicated to bringing proton therapy to patients worldwide. The company partners with hospitals and physician groups to develop turnkey proton therapy facilities, providing expertise in planning, financing, design, construction, technology implementation, commissioning, operations and staff training. Proton International has successfully developed and operated proton centers across the United States, Europe and beyond, with additional centers currently under development.