Doors Open at Dickinson & Gooding Center for Early Detection

By proclamation of San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004 is recognized as Dickinson and Gooding Center for Early Detection Day. The Mayor’s proclamation marks a significant day in San Diego health care as the doors to the Dickinson & Gooding Center for Early Detection at Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine officially opened.

The early detection center, part of the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, houses the most advanced PET and CT scanning currently available in Southern California for the early detection of diseases, including cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.

In a single procedure that takes less than 30 minutes, the state-of-the-art GE Discovery ST scanner measures metabolic, biochemical and functional activity in living tissue. The PET scans show changes in the function, circulation and metabolism of body organs, while the CT images show tissue and anatomical data. This combined information gives physicians a more complete and accurate diagnostic picture than PET or CT scanning alone, subjecting patients to fewer tests with quicker results.

Patients treated at the Dickinson & Gooding Center for Early Detection receive comprehensive wellness appraisals with an integrative medicine approach. Integrative Medicine blends scientifically proven alternative practices with the best of conventional medicine. The therapies and treatments are chosen to meet each individual’s unique needs and stimulate the body’s natural healing potential.

Full medical exams using the sophisticated scanning system and personal consultations assess patients’ physical and emotional health for a fully customized lifestyle prescription treatment plan of the whole individual – mind, body and spirit.

While the early detection center offers the latest in medical scanning technology with an integrative medicine approach, what truly sets the center apart is its architectural design. The Golden Mean, a natural geometric proportion known throughout history to create a sense of well-being, served as the basis for the center’s structural and interior design. Throughout the center, the geometric spiral is featured with the generous use of curved spaces, natural light, and variations in ceiling height. Complementing the architectural design is the use of textures, patterns, colors and light all found in nature, creating an optimal healing environment to calm and soothe the mind.

In 2003, Mr. And Mrs. Martin Dickinson and Dr. and Mrs. Terence Gooding made gifts totaling $2.6 million to support early detection. As a result of their generosity, a major redesign of the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine facility took place to incorporate the new Dickinson & Gooding Center for Early Detection.

The Dickinson and Gooding Early Detection Center, part of the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, is located in the Shiley Pavilion at 10820 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037. To schedule an appointment or a consultation or to learn more about the programs and services offered at Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, please visit their web site at www.scrippsintegrativemedicine.org