CARROLL, Iowa, July 23, 2026 — St. Anthony Regional Hospital announced today that it has received a $2 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support construction of a permanent PET/CT scanner suite, an important addition to local cancer care services.
The addition of a permanent PET/CT scanner will significantly enhance early cancer detection and diagnosis for patients in the region. The new scanner will replace the current mobile unit, allowing for more consistent access to services, while also serving as a backup CT scanner to support patient care needs.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Helmsley Charitable Trust for this generous support of the PET/CT scanner project at St. Anthony,” said Sarah Foley, St. Anthony Foundation Director. “Having a permanent PET/CT scanner close to home means individuals facing cancer will have greater access, fewer delays, and the comfort of receiving advanced care right here in our community. We are thankful for Helmsley’s partnership and belief in our mission to provide compassionate, high-quality healthcare for rural Iowa.”
Construction is currently underway on the south side of the hospital, where the new PET/CT suite will be located. The project represents a continued investment in expanding access to high-quality, local healthcare services for patients and families throughout west-central Iowa.
“Access to advanced cancer care shouldn’t depend on where you live,” said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “This investment will help ensure that patients in west-central Iowa can receive critical diagnostic services close to home, reducing the burden of travel and enabling earlier detection and treatment. We are proud to support St. Anthony’s in its work to strengthen cancer care in their community and improve access to lifesaving services for patients and their families.”
St. Anthony is deeply grateful for the continued generosity of donors and partners who are helping make this project possible and strengthening healthcare for the entire region.
About St. Anthony Regional Hospital
St. Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home were founded in 1905 by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. Today, the organization is sponsored by St. Anthony Ministries and maintains a special relationship with its founders. St. Anthony has provided compassionate care to the communities in west-central Iowa for more than a century and continues to fulfill its Franciscan heritage. With access to leading specialists, the latest technology and affordable, high-quality care, St. Anthony is dedicated to supporting every person’s physical, spiritual, emotional and behavioral well-being. St. Anthony has been recognized for excellence in quality and safety by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and Consumer Reports. Learn more at StAnthonyHospital.org.
About The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $4.6 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $900 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and two U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org.
