SHREVEPORT, La. — Texas country artist Joshua Ray Walker is using his personal cancer journey to shed light on a serious—and often overlooked—gap in medical care: the lack of accessible imaging technology for patients over a certain weight threshold. After a stage 3B colon cancer diagnosis interrupted his rising music career, Walker found himself unable to receive critical diagnostic imaging in his home state due to size restrictions on available equipment.
“Most scanners top out at 350 pounds,” Walker said. “There was nothing in my city, nothing in my region, and nothing in the entire state of Texas that could accommodate me.”
Walker’s search ultimately led him across state lines to Shreveport, Louisiana, where the Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy (CMIT), operated by non-profit BRF, houses a cutting-edge PET scanner manufactured by United Imaging. This model is among the few in the country capable of supporting patients up to 700 pounds, making PET scans—and life-saving diagnostics—available to individuals previously left without options.
“This is a new frontier for molecular imaging,” said Dr. Stephen Lokitz, CMIT Executive Director. “The technology is finally catching up to the patient population. We’re proud to be part of the solution.”
Walker’s path to CMIT was anything but straightforward. He had to reverse-engineer his care—starting with the scanner’s manufacturer, then navigating through sales teams and vendors before discovering the Shreveport facility. Once connected, CMIT’s staff took immediate action, working directly with his care team and insurance provider to ensure he could receive the scan in time—and with coverage.
“The CMIT team didn’t just help—they went to bat for me,” Walker said. “They made calls, coordinated with my doctors, and got the insurance cleared. That level of advocacy is rare.”
CMIT is part of InterTech Park, near Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport and LSU’s medical school, providing proximity to Louisiana’s only Level 1 Trauma Center. In addition to clinical services, CMIT houses research and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing operations, allowing it to produce custom radiotracers for advanced imaging needs. The facility recently acquired the uPanorama 35, a 160-slice, AI-powered scanner, thanks to efforts by U.S. Senator Dr. Bill Cassidy.
Walker, now back on tour to promote his album “Thank You for Listening,” said his experience revealed how unaccommodating the medical system can be for people of size—even when time-sensitive cancer care is at stake.
“I want people who need this service to know where to find it,” he said.
For more about Joshua Ray Walker, visit www.joshuaraywalker.com. For more about CMIT, visit CMITLA.com.