Advanced, highly-specialized technology provides real-time imaging to support diagnosis, biopsy and treatment
Peterborough, ON – Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is very pleased to announce that the first patient procedure supported by Endoscopic Ultrasound technology was recently performed by PRHC Gastroenterologist Dr. Olufemi Aoko.
Endoscopic Ultrasound, or EUS, is an advanced, highly specialized procedure within the field of gastroenterology. It combines an endoscope (a flexible tube with a camera) with an ultrasound probe to get real-time, detailed images of a patient’s gastrointestinal tract and nearby organs like the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder, helping to diagnose conditions, stage cancers, and guide biopsies and treatments.
A team of specialists at PRHC offers a broad range of gastroenterology services to a referral population of 600,000 patients across the region, including diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Dr. Aoko is currently the only specialist at PRHC to perform Endoscopic Ultrasound; the first procedure in Peterborough supported by this new technology took place in March 2026.
“Before EUS was launched at PRHC, we would have had to send patients to other hospitals. The fact that we’re able to offer this procedure means we don’t have to do that, we can perform the procedures right here – it’s a win-win,” says Dr. Aoko, who joined PRHC in October 2025. “Having access to this technology was a big selling point for me when deciding to come to Peterborough. This equipment supports me to work at my full capacity, and provides better imaging, allowing for more accurate diagnosis, disease staging, and treatment. It also provides the opportunity to perform biopsies – that’s a key thing. Some of these biopsies would have been done by interventional radiologists in the past, so that makes it exciting.”
Currently, PRHC is the only hospital between Kingston and Scarborough to offer EUS within its gastroenterology program. The addition of this new technology has been made possible with the support of our generous donors through the PRHC Foundation.
“This is another powerful example of what our community can achieve through generosity,” says Lesley Heighway, President & CEO of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. “Because of our donors, PRHC is able to bring leading-edge technology like Endoscopic Ultrasound to Peterborough, advancing care, expanding PRHC’s Gastroenterology (GI) program, and ensuring patients can access highly specialized diagnostics and treatment closer to home. Investments like this not only transform the patient experience, they also help attract the best and brightest healthcare professionals to our region. We’re grateful to every donor who is helping to build a stronger, more innovative future for care at PRHC.”
