Sentara Health and BAMF Health are launching a joint venture to create Virginia’s first truly comprehensive vertically integrated Theranostics program. Theranostics is an emerging approach to precision medicine, featuring molecular imaging to diagnose cancers, followed by targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies, customized to attack patients’ unique cancer cells.
Unlike standard chemotherapy, which can also kill healthy cells, Theranostics identifies molecular targets unique to specific diseases. The customized radiopharmaceuticals, delivered by IV, attach themselves to cancerous cells and deliver targeted radiation over a period of weeks, thus minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
“Theranostics has the potential to fundamentally change how we diagnose and treat a variety of cancers and other diseases,” said Michael Hooper, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Sentara Health. “Sentara is committed to bringing our patients the most hopeful therapies to extend and improve their lives. Investing in a comprehensive Theranostics program with BAMF Health reflects the Sentara mission to improve health every day.”
While Sentara already offers molecular imaging through PET-CT scanning, BAMF Health is a leader in designing, building, and operating vertically integrated Theranostics centers that bring together radiopharmaceutical production, molecular imaging, molecular therapy, and clinical trials. Theranostics, which combines the words ‘therapy’ and ‘diagnosis,’ is a cornerstone of precision medicine, tailoring treatments to the unique molecular characteristics of a patient’s disease.
“As the power of Theranostics and its profound impact on patient lives becomes widely recognized, forward-thinking healthcare systems are looking for a true partner to expand access and scale impact—that is where BAMF leads the way,” said Anthony Chang, PhD, Founder and CEO of BAMF Health. “We’re proud to partner with Sentara to ensure patients across Virginia and the surrounding region have unparalleled access to these life-saving technologies, both now and in the future.”
Theranostics offers new treatment options and new hope for patients with highly complex or treatment-resistant conditions. The focus right now will be on cancer, but clinical trials are investigating the use of Theranostics to diagnose and treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, cardiovascular conditions and other diseases. Research and clinical trials will determine the broader use of Theranostics in other specialties.
Radiation safety is a critical element of practicing Theranostics, which involves radioactive medications. Sentara is fully supportive of the regulatory and compliance considerations involved in this emerging technology, which has the potential to help thousands of patients across Sentara’s integrated delivery network.
“Sentara is investing in the future of precision medicine,” said Dr. Hooper. “Theranostics is still in development, but we see the potential, and we want to be on the leading edge to provide groundbreaking, lifesaving care for our patients.”
About Sentara
Sentara Health, an integrated, not-for-profit healthcare delivery system, celebrates more than 135 years in pursuit of its mission — “we improve health every day.”
Sentara is one of the largest health systems in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, and among the top 25 largest not-for-profit integrated health systems in the country, with 35,000 employees, 12 hospitals in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina, including 11 hospitals with the prestigious Magnet®️ recognition, one Level I and two Level III trauma centers, an ambulatory division with more than 400 sites of care, more than 2,000 physicians and advanced practice providers, more than 10,000 nursing professionals, and the Sentara Health Plans division which serves almost 1 million members in Virginia and Florida. Additionally, Sentara provided $382 million in Community Benefit in 2025.
Sentara is consistently recognized nationally for clinical quality, patient safety, and as a top employer with a strategic focus on innovation and creating an extraordinary healthcare experience for our patients and members. See the full list of awards and recognitions.
