Empw-Vol3number1 July2012.Pdf

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eMPW Editorial Board

Virginia Tsapaki, MSc, PhD Chair Editor Medical Physics Department Konstantopoulio General Hospital 3-5 Agias Olgas Str Table of Contents 14233 Nea Ionia, Athens, Greece Tel: +30-2132-057-132 Email: [email protected] Message from the Editor...... 4 Dipl.Ing.Magdalena Stoeva,PhD President’s Message...... 5 Associate Editor Review IOMP term of of ce 2009-2012...... 7 Medical Imaging Department Medical University From the desk of Secretary-General, IOMP...... 7 15A V. Aprilov Blvd 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria Report on the World Congress 2012, Beijing, China...... 9 Tel: +359-88-77-13-111 Email: [email protected] Education and Training of Medical Physicists...... 10 KY Cheung Report From The IOMP Science Committee...... 12 Email: [email protected] From the Awards and Honours Committee...... 13 Dr. Slavik Tabakov Library program overview...... 13 Dept. Medical Engineering and Physics King’s College Professional Relations Committee Report...... 14 Denmark Hill, SE5 9RS, London, UK Email: [email protected] Report of the EFOMP...... 15 Ibrahim Duhaini MEFOMP Summary Report...... 17 Calender Editor Director Radiation Safety 20 years ICTP College on Medical Physics...... 18 OHS Department- HMC EMERALD and EMIT Available for Free Use...... 19 Doha - Qatar tel: +974-5500-7625 History Sub Committee Report...... 20 email: [email protected] Diagnostic Physics Course, Patras, Greece...... 22 Madan Rehani Email: [email protected] Workshop on Physics of Advanced Radiotherapy...... 23 Anchali Krisanachinda Policy statement 1 ...... 24 email: [email protected] Policy statement 2 ...... 26 Prof. A.W.K Kyere Calendar of events ...... 28 Head of Department of Medical Physics Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS), University of Ghana P.O Box LG80, Legon, Ghana Tel: 0208147520 Email: [email protected]

www.IOMP.org 3 Medical Physics World eMPW

Message from the Editor IOMP ExCom

Please do not forget that it will be IOMP OFFICERS made available on IOMP website, as President Dr. Kin-Yin Cheung usual, where all previous issues are Medical Physics and Research Department also available. It will also be sent to all Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital IOMP members reaching a number of Hong Kong SAR, China more than 18000 people in more than [email protected] 81 countries within the 46 Regional Vice President Dr. Slavik Tabakov organizations. Reader in Medical Physics I would also like to take this opportu- King’s College, London, UK [email protected] nity to thank all the members of the editorial team for their suggestions, Secretary General Dr. Madan Rehani Radiation Safety Specialist comments and ideas and particularly Radiation Protection of Patients Unit Dr Magdalena Stoeva, our associate International Atomic Energy Agency editor, for her hard work and help Vienna, Austria during the renovation of eMPW. [email protected] Also, I would like to draw your Treasurer Dr. Anchali Krishanachinda attention to our Calendar Editor, Former Head Section of Nuclear Medicine Dear friends and colleagues Ibrahim Duhaini [email protected]. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Please contact him for scienti c or Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand [email protected] As some of you may already know, I international events so as to be took over as the editor of the included in eMPW. Deadlines are Past President Prof. Dr. Fridtjof Nuesslin Klinik für Strahlentherapie Klinikum Rechts der Isar electronic Medical Physics World April 1 and October 1 for issues that der Technischen Universität München, Germany (eMPW) very recently (29th May are mailed several weeks later. [email protected] 2012, during the World Congress on Finally, we value your feedback so Medical Physics & Biomedical please do not hesitate to contact us if IOMP CHAIRS Engineering at Beijing China). It was you would like to make any sugges- quite a challenge, since the two tions or submit brief papers on your Science Committee Prof. William Hendee University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, MA, USA previous editors of eMPW, Dr Donald scienti c or educational work that [email protected] Frey and Dr Ishmael Parsai, have done would be of interest to our members. Education&Training Prof.John Damilakis an excellent job the past years. After Quoting the mission of IOMP”: University of Crete, Iraklion, Crete, Greece setting up my editorial team, we all “advance medical physics practice [email protected] worked hard to refresh the eMPW. worldwide by disseminating scienti c Professional Relations Dr. Raymond Wu Therefore, I am really very proud to and technical information, fostering St. Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA present to all of you the brand new the educational and professional [email protected] version of the eMPW. Τhis particular development of medical physicists, Publications Committee Prof.Tae Suk Suh issue has been made speci cally to and promoting the highest quality Catholic Medical Center, Seoul, Korea announce its new format and is going medical services for patients”, me and [email protected] to be distributed in the upcoming my team will work so that the new Awards and Honours Dr. Tomas Kron Annual meeting of AAPM in Char- eMPW becomes the IOMP tool for Peter McCallum Cancer Centre lotte, NC, USA and also in European accomplishing this mission. Melbourne, Australia Medical Physics Conference which is [email protected] going to be held in So a, October Virginia Tsapaki MPW Board Dr. Virginia Tsapaki 2012. Our intension is for eMPW to Chair, editor eMPW Konstantopoulio General Hospital, Athens, Greece [email protected] be partially printed on paper and distributed at the large conferences. www.IOMP.org

4 eMPW, Vol.3 (1), 2012 IOMP OFFICERS President Dr. Kin-Yin Cheung Medical Physics and Research Department Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital Hong Kong SAR, China [email protected] Vice President Dr. Slavik Tabakov Reader in Medical Physics King’s College, London, UK [email protected] Secretary General Dr. Madan Rehani Radiation Safety Specialist Radiation Protection of Patients Unit International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna, Austria [email protected] Treasurer Dr. Anchali Krishanachinda Former Head Section of Nuclear Medicine Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand [email protected] Past President Prof. Dr. Fridtjof Nuesslin Klinik für Strahlentherapie Klinikum Rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Germany [email protected]

IOMP CHAIRS Science Committee Prof. William Hendee University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, MA, USA [email protected] Education&Training Prof.John Damilakis University of Crete, Iraklion, Crete, Greece [email protected] Professional Relations Dr. Raymond Wu St. Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA [email protected] Publications Committee Prof.Tae Suk Suh Catholic Medical Center, Seoul, Korea [email protected] Awards and Honours Dr. Tomas Kron Peter McCallum Cancer Centre Melbourne, Australia [email protected] MPW Board Dr. Virginia Tsapaki Konstantopoulio General Hospital, Athens, Greece [email protected]

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Medical Physics World eMPW

Looking toward the future, we shall continue with the work of our esteemed predecessors in promoting the advancement of medical physics. President’s Message Kin Yin Cheung, 25 June 2012

promoting the advancement of diation in healthcare. They also help medical physics and the profession in increasing the awareness and visibility recent years. I would particularly like of our profession in our societies. to mention a few things. • Formation of the regional • With the persistent efforts by several organization in Africa, FAMPO. IOMP Presidents and their team Although FAMPO has yet to be fully members, International Labour established, the organization can Organization (ILO) has classi ed potentially help to establish a network medical physicists in the 2008 edition of collaboration amongst the member of International Standard countries in promoting medical Classi cation of Occupations physics in the region. A seed (ISCO-08) as professionals. The ILO conference on education and training classi cation paves the way for of cial of medical physicists is being planned recognition of medical physicists as for the region to be held in Nigeria in professionals in member states. More 2013. Hopefully the event will information on the ILO classi cation stimulate strong participation and It is indeed my honour taking over and the IOMP guidance on ISCO-08 collaboration amongst FAMPO from Professor Fridtjof Nuesslin the and its implications to our profession countries, which in turn can help presidency of IOMP. I would like to can be found in the IOMP website improve standard of practice of congratulate Fridtjof for his enormous http://www.iomp.org/?q=content/arch medical physics and radiation contributions and achievements made ived-news. protection in the region. during his term of of ce. I would also like to express my gratitude to all the • The role and responsibilities of • Of cial release of Policy Statements retiring IOMP of cers and chairs and medical physicists in radiation No. 1 “Medical Physicists: Role and members of committees and task medicine are for the rst time de ned Responsibilities” and No. 2 “Basic groups, particularly Dr. Barry Allen, by IAEA in their new Basic Safety Requirements for Education and Immediate Past President, Dr. Harald Standards. This again is a signi cant Training of Medical Physicists”. These Paganetti, Science Committee Chair, boost to our efforts in raising the documents provide guidance on Dr. Maria Lopes, Education & awareness and status of medical de nition and role and responsibilities Training Committee Chair and Don physicists in healthcare. of medical physicists and on the Frey, Honours and Awards Committee minimum requirements on their Chair for their contributions to IOMP • IOMP has established formal education and professional training. in the past few years. It has been my collaboration with international The documents can help to ensure the pleasure working with every member organizations such as WHO, IAEA, standard of practice in our profession. of the Executive Committee and those IRPA on a range of scienti c, Looking toward the future, we shall who supported IOMP over the years. professional and educational issues of continue with the work of our As you can see from the various common interest. Such collaborations esteemed predecessors in promoting reports to Council during WC2012, help promoting safe application of the advancement of medical physics. IOMP has gained a lot of ground in health technology and ra One of the issues we should be 

www.IOMP.org 5

looking at is to enhance the the recommendations of the new to serve its members. The need and recognition and visibility of the IAEA BSS, in which the role and practicality for running such a journal medical physics profession in our responsibilities and quali cation of has been discussed and supported at societies. A survey conducted recently medical physicists are de ned. IOMP EXCOM meeting during WC2012. by IAEA in which IOMP was could also provide guidance and The objective of the journal is to involved indicated that infrastructure support to member organizations on provide an appropriate platform for for formal education and training of issues such as development of formal members to publish their research medical physicists was generally not infrastructure for education and work, thereby promoting scienti c available, particularly in developing training of medical physicists, research and exchange of knowledge countries. Another series of surveys establishment and implementation of and experience. conducted in the AFOMP region professional certi cation or state indicated that medical physics registration systems, and planning of The issues discussed above are some of manpower allocation in radiation medical physics manpower our thoughts and agenda items in our medicine was far from satisfactory. requirements. action plan. They are mainly aimed at The average medical physics staf ng elevating the awareness and provision in radiation medicine was In addition, IOMP should strengthen professional status of medical less than 1 medical physicist per its visibility and communication with physicists. It will be my pleasure megavoltage radiotherapy machine. national and regional organizations. working with the new team on these The situation for imaging medical Stronger support and participation by and related issues. New ideas and physicists was far worse. Imaging IOMP of cers and committee chairs at initiatives will likely be raised as the medical physicists either do not exist regional and national scienti c and committees are start functioning and or are very few in AFOMP countries. educational activities are encouraged. implemented in the coming years. I The situations in the ALFIM and IOMP will continue to enrich the would also welcome any ideas and FAMPO regions appear to be similar. content and improve the design and proposals from members which may There are indications that one of the circulation of the IOMP website and help us in promoting the global main reasons for these phenomena is eMPW. IOMP has also launched development of medical physics. lack of state recognition of the e-Zine, an electronic news bulletin medical physics profession. Getting that aims to bring the latest news on of cial recognition of the medical IOMP and information related to physicists in all the countries will be medical physics more frequently. one of the highest priorities in the Another initiative being taken to IOMP IOMP agenda in the coming years. increase visibility of medical There is unfortunately no simple physicists is to establish the Corporate solution to this problem. The International Day of Medical Physics, Members recognition by ILO and IAEA of our an idea raised by Dr. Simone profession will help sensitizing state Kodlulovich, President of ALFIM. 8 of cials on the need for medical November, the day when Professor Best Medical physicist in healthcare. IOMP should Wilhelm Rontgen discovered X-ray in CMS Inc. at the same time strengthening our 1895, was recommended by EXCOM efforts to increase the awareness and and endorsed by Council during Elekta visibility of the medical physicists. A WC2012 as the International Medical PTW-Freiburg concerted effort of the IOMP and its Physics Day. A series of educational national member organizations and scienti c activities are being Scanditronix Wellhofer together with international organized to mark this day in this organizations, WHO and IAEA in year. Taylor and Francis particular, is essentially required to Varian ensure success. IOMP could, in On the issue of scienti c development, collaboration with WHO and IAEA, IOMP is exploring the possibility of sensitize member states to implement establishing an of cial IOMP journal promoting the advancement of diation in healthcare. They also help medical physics and the profession in increasing the awareness and visibility recent years. I would particularly like of our profession in our societies. to mention a few things. • Formation of the regional • With the persistent efforts by several organization in Africa, FAMPO. IOMP Presidents and their team Although FAMPO has yet to be fully members, International Labour established, the organization can Organization (ILO) has classi ed potentially help to establish a network medical physicists in the 2008 edition of collaboration amongst the member of International Standard countries in promoting medical Classi cation of Occupations physics in the region. A seed (ISCO-08) as professionals. The ILO conference on education and training classi cation paves the way for of cial of medical physicists is being planned recognition of medical physicists as for the region to be held in Nigeria in professionals in member states. More 2013. Hopefully the event will information on the ILO classi cation stimulate strong participation and It is indeed my honour taking over and the IOMP guidance on ISCO-08 collaboration amongst FAMPO from Professor Fridtjof Nuesslin the and its implications to our profession countries, which in turn can help presidency of IOMP. I would like to can be found in the IOMP website improve standard of practice of congratulate Fridtjof for his enormous http://www.iomp.org/?q=content/arch medical physics and radiation contributions and achievements made ived-news. protection in the region. during his term of of ce. I would also like to express my gratitude to all the • The role and responsibilities of • Of cial release of Policy Statements retiring IOMP of cers and chairs and medical physicists in radiation No. 1 “Medical Physicists: Role and members of committees and task medicine are for the rst time de ned Responsibilities” and No. 2 “Basic groups, particularly Dr. Barry Allen, by IAEA in their new Basic Safety Requirements for Education and Immediate Past President, Dr. Harald Standards. This again is a signi cant Training of Medical Physicists”. These Paganetti, Science Committee Chair, boost to our efforts in raising the documents provide guidance on Dr. Maria Lopes, Education & awareness and status of medical de nition and role and responsibilities Training Committee Chair and Don physicists in healthcare. of medical physicists and on the Frey, Honours and Awards Committee minimum requirements on their Chair for their contributions to IOMP • IOMP has established formal education and professional training. in the past few years. It has been my collaboration with international The documents can help to ensure the pleasure working with every member organizations such as WHO, IAEA, standard of practice in our profession. of the Executive Committee and those IRPA on a range of scienti c, Looking toward the future, we shall who supported IOMP over the years. professional and educational issues of continue with the work of our As you can see from the various common interest. Such collaborations esteemed predecessors in promoting reports to Council during WC2012, help promoting safe application of the advancement of medical physics. IOMP has gained a lot of ground in health technology and ra One of the issues we should be 

Medical Physics World eMPW

6 eMPW, Vol.3 (1), 2012 Medical Physics World eMPW

Review IOMP term of ofﬁce 2009-2012 Fridtjof Nuesslin, Immediate Past President IOMP, Munich,July 2012

Introduction with the intent to particularly focus on the advancement of medical physics in This is to shortly review the last 3 years those regions where educational, scienti c and to highlight a few achievements. and professional development has not yet The guideline throughout our term was begun or is just in a maturing phase and the MISSION statement of the IOMP: need support from the IOMP. Speci cally, “IOMP is charged with a mission to we felt it necessary to advance medical advance medical physics practice physics in Africa and in Latin America. worldwide by disseminating scienti c and The report will be structured into 3 technical information, fostering the sections, (1) Current Activities, (2) educational and professional development International Activities & Achievements, of medical physics and promoting the and (3) Challenges & Perspectives. highest quality medical services for Continues at p. 8 patients.” Accordingly, we started our term in 2009

From the desk of Secretary-General, IOMP Madan M Rehani, PhD, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) developing countries, become a catalyst in to see that we ful l expectations of our transfer of resources like publications or membership. All Of cers and Chairs of used equipment, knowledge Committees and membership are dissemination through sponsorship or volunteers. endorsement of training activities, I wish to take this opportunity to thank dealing with international organizations Council of IOMP for electing me for on professional issues that support another term as Secretary General. I will development of individuals and further utilise my experience of working profession, providing feedback to in a UN organization to add few drops in international bodies on ground realities of ocean to promote medical physics and profession and professionals in different support the cause of IOMP to help countries and reviewing documents of medical physicists in developing international organizations. In addition countries. I am reminded of a quote: there are issues of harmonization of “Before you do anything, stop and recall the certi cation, development of policy face of the poorest most helpless destitute person statements and awarding distinguished you have seen and ask yourself, ‘Is what I am The need for international organization professionals. All these activities are being about to do going to help him?’” arises for uplifting the status in less pursued by IOMP and the eMPW is one Mahatma Gandhi developed countries. While UN based of the media that helps communicate with organization are able to provide nancial membership, besides website This issue of eMPW lists a number of resources for human resource (www.iomp.org), and publications. activities undertaken to enable readers development, capability and capacity I am happy to be coordinating above understand the role IOMP is playing in building, international professional bodies activities and with the help of dedicated helping our colleagues in developing create a milieu for mutual interaction team of professionals, who are giving their countries.  between professionals from developed and valuable time to the organization, am able www.IOMP.org 7

Review IOMP... Continued from p. 7 training scheme which shall be based on Patients, most importantly the Current Activities the cooperation of the IOMP with WHO, International Basic Safety Standard (BSS) Four main activities shall be addressed: IAEA and industry is on the way and just released as an interim version which • International Labor Organization needs further elaboration by the incoming challenges the IOMP to disseminate and At the very beginning of our term in E&T committee. support transform into the medical 2009 we resumed the previous dialogue International Activities & Achievements environment worldwide. Furthermore, with the International Labor • Regional & National Organizations The International Symposium on Organization (ILO), and fortunately Currently the IOMP covers 76 national Standards, Applications and Quality achieved a most encouraging step forward member organizations most of them are Assurance in Medical Radiation in the development of our profession: af liated to 6 Regional Organizations. Dosimetry [IDOS], the IAEA Smart “The occupation of ‘Medical Physicist’ is Numerous activities of these organizations Card/SmartRadTrack project, the IAEA explicitly included for the rst time in the deserve to be mentioned. An outstanding Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy latest version of the International event was the International Conference of (PACT) the most relevant engagement of Standard Classi cation of Occupations Medical Physics ICMP2011 held in Porto the IOMP in the Advisory Group on (ISCO-08) under group 2111, ‘Physicists Alegre in 2010 and hosted by the Latin increasing access to Radiotherapy and Astronomers’. Although medical American Association of Medical Physics Technologies in developing Countries physicists are not classi ed under group (ALFIM) and the Brazilian Association of (AGaRT). This global initiative bundles 22 Health Professionals, medical Medical Physics (ABFM). the forces of health care and physicists working in health services are One of the largest national member professional organizations together with recognized as such as there is a speci c organizations of IOMP is the AAPM and I industry envisaging to use radiotherapy as note under group 2111 stating very much appreciate the regular dialogue an anchor to build self-sustaining national “…..medical physicists are considered to between our organizations at the regular cancer control programmes in developing be an integral part of the health work leadership meeting at the annual AAPM countries. Along our Mission the AGaRT force alongside those occupations classi ed congresses. Cooperation is particularly initiative demands full support of IOMP in sub-major group 22, Health addressing the coordination of our to develop reasonable, effective and professionals…..”. (P.S.Smith, IOMP activities in the developing countries. affordable measures combatting cancer: Liaison to ILO&WHO). • World Health Organization Over 84 million will die of cancer in the All national health authorities are in a A collaborative plan was agreed for 2010 next 10 years - 75% of them in LMIC. position to refer to that ILO scheme – 2012 involving four areas of activity – • International Radiation Protection ISCO08 and to release the proper (1) Promoting the safe use of health Association regulations for the medical physicists as technologies , (2) Participating in WHO Radiation protection is one of the health professionals. The ISCO08 is the surveys, (3) Workshops and training, and priorities of the medical physics reference to initiate a mechanism of State (4) Dissemination of information (Liaison: profession. A Memorandum of recognition of Medical Physicists P.S.Smith). Understanding with the IRPA was signed worldwide, in developed and developing As part of this collaboration there is a in 2010. Continues at p. 11 countries. strong involvement of the WHO in the • Finalizing of the Policy Statements 1 & World Congress. Many efforts have been 2 setting the framework for developing taken to get IOMP formally recognized as the role of the medical physicist properly a NGO (Non-Governmental adjusted in each country. Organisation) by the WHO soon. • Most important is the current activity of • International Atomic Energy Agency the Professional Committee (Chair: Dr Another very promising collaboration is Raymond Wu) to provide a scheme of the link with the IAEA which has been professional certi cation for medical signi cantly expanded during our term. physicists. Only very few national This partnership has many facets, I can member organizations have implemented only mention very few like the their own certi cation system. involvement of the IOMP in the Steering • A model for implementing particularly Panel on The International Action Plan in developing countries an education & for the Radiological Protection of

Review IOMP... Continued from p. 8 profession is progressing. On the other the IAEA. After a nal discussion at the IRPA13 side, questions arise whether our growing congress in Glasgow and approval by our organization with more and more tasks At the end of my report, I want to draw Executive Committee a Statement of and queries from outside can be operated your attention to the expanding Collaboration is now being signed shortly. professionally with a team of volunteers, involvement of medical physicists in This agreement sets the frame where both mostly in charge with their own daily radiation protection. We have set up a partners shall act in the future. In duties. I recommend the incoming team Task Group “Radiation Protection” particular the leading role of medical to think rstly how to free the Of cers recently, and I recommend continuing physicists in all issues of medical radiation and the committees from the burden of with that task group. The newly protection is acknowledged. extensive administrative work and second established link to the IRPA signals the how to motivate creating ideas and challenge to be much more engaged • International Union of Physics and promoting actions. If affordable we may including the topic of radiological and Applied Physics consider employing professional nuclear emergencies. Medical physicists When we started our term in 2009 I administrative staff. have expertise in physical and biological emphasized the need to recognize the radiation effects, dose measurement and academic face of medical physics as a This means we have to search for measures assessment, and therefore we have to be discipline within the broad spectrum of to increase the IOMP income additional prepared for any kind of radiation Biosciences. Therefore, IOMP has to to membership dues which for good accident. balance professional, educational and reasons should be locked. The only scienti c aspects of Medical Physics. We alternative is to increase sponsoring from Finally, I want to inform you about an strongly promoted the af liation of the outside, and preferentially by providing idea which rstly has been brought up by IOMP to the International Union of an appealing website for interaction with the Latin American chapter ALFIM and Physics and Applied Physics (IUPAP). It industry and the medical physics its president Dr.Kodulovich: introducing is not only to acknowledge our roots in community. Some ideas have been already an International Day of Medical Physics. physical sciences rather our link to IUPAP initiated to create a new, more modern Following this proposal I suggest to via the Af liated Commission AC4 and exible website, however declare the 8th November 1895, the day provides many opportunities to promote unfortunately we could not close this issue of the detection of the X-rays by Wilhelm medical physics in the large family of yet. Conrad Röntgen, the International Day of physical sciences. Medical Physics. To celebrate this day we Actions to increase the income of the may consider different activities, like a Challenges & Perspectives IOMP implicate to take measures worldwide webinar on medical physics Next year the IOMP celebrates it´s 50th complying with the regulations of the tax topics, brochures, a special issue of the anniversary and it is my privilege to invite authorities. An initial concept analogous e-MPW, national panel discussion, you all to join the ICMP to be held at to the approach of the EFOMP is involving health authorities, universities 1st-4th September in Brighton in UK not currently developed for the IOMP to and the public. far from IOMP´s birthplace Harrington. transform it into a company. This has to There will be time to review the history of be pursued during the upcoming term Before changing the teams running IOMP the IOMP and I am sure looking back with quite some priority. Limited nancial I take this opportunity to thank that long distance no doubt there is good resources impact another most important whole-heartedly all Of cers, Liaisons, reason to be proud of what has been eld, the promotion of medical physics in Chairs and committee members for the achieved so far. developing countries. They urgently need great work, their contribution and their our help in setting up proper patience in our daily business. In However, we must not lose sight of some infrastructures, in particular to provide particular, I thank those retiring now. I weaknesses: on the one side our link to expertise and professional development in wish Prof.Kinyin Cheung, the incoming international organizations and to the medical physics by adapted education and president, all success. Jump in the driver regional and national member training programs. The new team is seat, nd always good advisors and have a organizations as well has been encouraged to continue focusing at the successful journey to new destinations for strengthened, medical physics gained developing countries, to use our well a prosperous future of the IOMP. visibility and the recognition of our established alliances with the WHO and Introduction with the intent to particularly focus on the advancement of medical physics in This is to shortly review the last 3 years those regions where educational, scienti c and to highlight a few achievements. and professional development has not yet The guideline throughout our term was begun or is just in a maturing phase and the MISSION statement of the IOMP: need support from the IOMP. Speci cally, “IOMP is charged with a mission to we felt it necessary to advance medical advance medical physics practice physics in Africa and in Latin America. worldwide by disseminating scienti c and The report will be structured into 3 technical information, fostering the sections, (1) Current Activities, (2) educational and professional development International Activities & Achievements, of medical physics and promoting the and (3) Challenges & Perspectives. highest quality medical services for Continues at p. 8 patients.” Accordingly, we started our term in 2009

Medical Physics World eMPW

Review IOMP... Continued from p. 7 training scheme which shall be based on Patients, most importantly the Current Activities the cooperation of the IOMP with WHO, International Basic Safety Standard (BSS) Four main activities shall be addressed: IAEA and industry is on the way and just released as an interim version which • International Labor Organization needs further elaboration by the incoming challenges the IOMP to disseminate and At the very beginning of our term in E&T committee. support transform into the medical 2009 we resumed the previous dialogue International Activities & Achievements environment worldwide. Furthermore, with the International Labor • Regional & National Organizations The International Symposium on Organization (ILO), and fortunately Currently the IOMP covers 76 national Standards, Applications and Quality achieved a most encouraging step forward member organizations most of them are Assurance in Medical Radiation in the development of our profession: af liated to 6 Regional Organizations. Dosimetry [IDOS], the IAEA Smart “The occupation of ‘Medical Physicist’ is Numerous activities of these organizations Card/SmartRadTrack project, the IAEA explicitly included for the rst time in the deserve to be mentioned. An outstanding Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy latest version of the International event was the International Conference of (PACT) the most relevant engagement of Standard Classi cation of Occupations Medical Physics ICMP2011 held in Porto the IOMP in the Advisory Group on (ISCO-08) under group 2111, ‘Physicists Alegre in 2010 and hosted by the Latin increasing access to Radiotherapy and Astronomers’. Although medical American Association of Medical Physics Technologies in developing Countries physicists are not classi ed under group (ALFIM) and the Brazilian Association of (AGaRT). This global initiative bundles 22 Health Professionals, medical Medical Physics (ABFM). the forces of health care and physicists working in health services are One of the largest national member professional organizations together with recognized as such as there is a speci c organizations of IOMP is the AAPM and I industry envisaging to use radiotherapy as note under group 2111 stating very much appreciate the regular dialogue an anchor to build self-sustaining national “…..medical physicists are considered to between our organizations at the regular cancer control programmes in developing be an integral part of the health work leadership meeting at the annual AAPM countries. Along our Mission the AGaRT force alongside those occupations classi ed congresses. Cooperation is particularly initiative demands full support of IOMP in sub-major group 22, Health addressing the coordination of our to develop reasonable, effective and professionals…..”. (P.S.Smith, IOMP activities in the developing countries. affordable measures combatting cancer: Liaison to ILO&WHO). • World Health Organization Over 84 million will die of cancer in the All national health authorities are in a A collaborative plan was agreed for 2010 next 10 years - 75% of them in LMIC. position to refer to that ILO scheme – 2012 involving four areas of activity – • International Radiation Protection ISCO08 and to release the proper (1) Promoting the safe use of health Association regulations for the medical physicists as technologies , (2) Participating in WHO Radiation protection is one of the health professionals. The ISCO08 is the surveys, (3) Workshops and training, and priorities of the medical physics reference to initiate a mechanism of State (4) Dissemination of information (Liaison: profession. A Memorandum of recognition of Medical Physicists P.S.Smith). Understanding with the IRPA was signed worldwide, in developed and developing As part of this collaboration there is a in 2010. Continues at p. 11 countries. strong involvement of the WHO in the -th • Finalizing of the Policy Statements 1 & World Congress. Many efforts have been VI European Conference 2 setting the framework for developing taken to get IOMP formally recognized as of Medical Physics the role of the medical physicist properly a NGO (Non-Governmental XI -th BSBPE National Conference adjusted in each country. Organisation) by the WHO soon. Biomedical Physics and Engineering • Most important is the current activity of • International Atomic Energy Agency the Professional Committee (Chair: Dr Another very promising collaboration is Raymond Wu) to provide a scheme of the link with the IAEA which has been professional certi cation for medical signi cantly expanded during our term. physicists. Only very few national This partnership has many facets, I can member organizations have implemented only mention very few like the their own certi cation system. involvement of the IOMP in the Steering October 18 – 20th, 2012 • A model for implementing particularly Panel on The International Action Plan So a, Bulgaria in developing countries an education & for the Radiological Protection of

8 eMPW, Vol.3 (1), 2012

Medical Physics World eMPW

Report on the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering 2012, Beijing, China The 2012 World Congress on Medical that new and improved technologies radiotherapy, SBRT, brachytherapy, Physics and Biomedical Engineering must be assessed carefully to ensure Monte Carlo, radiation protection, (WC2012) was organized by IOMP, safe use in radiotherapy and medical nuclear emergencies, education and IFMBE, CSMP and CSBME and held imaging. Dr. Charlie Ma’s plenary training, writing and reviewing in Beijing, China, on May 26-31, lecture introduced the medical physics scienti c papers, and so on. This was 2012. The event brought together profession and described the scope of really an important opportunity for more than 1600 participants practice for medical physicists young medical physicists and students representing national medical physics working in radiation therapy and to learn the current status and future and biomedical bodies, as well as responsibilities. Prof. Yimin Hu, Dr. directions of medical physics and the regional and international David Jaffray, Dr. Ben Mijnheer, Dr. practical and professional skills. organizations, to share knowledge and Harald Paganetti and Dr. Xiaochuan Co-chairs of the Organizing experience in the eld of medical Pan presented theme keynote lectures Committee were Dr. Depei Liu, Dr. physics and biomedical engineering. to introduce the latest research Yubo Fan and Prof. Yimin Hu. More that 60% of the participants progress in medical physics, including Assisted by the Scienti c Committee, came from outside China to make it a radiation oncology physics, medical Exhibition Committee, Finance truly worldwide event. The WC2012 imaging physics, profession and Committee, Publication Committee, with the theme of “Promoting Health education, etc. These lectures Education and Training Committee through Technology” was striving to represented the top academic level and and Professional Standards provide a powerful platform to share greatly added caliber and substance to Committee, and also received valuable the latest information on global health this Congress. assistance from IUPESM Coordinating challenges, advanced technologies and A signi cant part of the congress was Committee, the congress organizers innovative applications. The congress mini-symposiums and workshops, did a great job over the years. Special began with an impressive keynote which provided the opportunity for thanks should be given to Scienti c speech which was delivered by Dr. researchers to present their work in Committee Members and Track Erwin Neher, the Nobel Laureate in more focused way than the regular Co-chairs for their hard working in Physiology or Medicine, about signals oral sessions and to have discussion of inviting speakers, recruiting reviewers and signaling mechanisms in the particular topics of interest to the and organizing sessions. The congress central nervous system. Several community. 24 mini-symposiums and has received a good number of plenary lectures and theme keynote 9 workshops are carefully organized by submissions by authors from 82 lectures on medical physics were held the experts in medical physics and different countries. After in the following days. Dr. William R. biomedical engineering. Those peer-reviewing by over 500 worldwide Hendee delivered a plenary lecture mini-symposiums and workshops experts, 1314 oral and 786 poster about his review of the safe use of embraced a wide range of topics in abstracts were accepted to be medical technologies and pointed out medical physics, such as adaptive presented in over 200 oral sessions 

www.IOMP.org 9

and 80 poster sessions. A very large nanotechnology in radiation therapy, biomedical engineers. The only proportion of the abstracts were biological effects of radiation, unfortunate thing is that many submitted to the subjects of radiation education and career development in delegates in Africa and Middle East oncology, medical imaging and medical physics. couldn’t come to Beijing to attend the radiation protection. It also grappled The congress was successful in many congress due to the visa refusal. Those with topics as diverse as hadron ways. The organizers produced a who did not attend this congress therapy, intraoperative therapy, vibrant and diverse program for the should make plans to attend the next real-time IGRT, HIFU therapy, congress to provide an important congress, WC2015, which will be systemic alpha therapy, hyperthermia channel for exchange of information held at Toronto, Canada in June therapy, laser technology and between medical physicists and 2015.

The 2012 World Congress on Medical that new and improved technologies radiotherapy, SBRT, brachytherapy, Physics and Biomedical Engineering must be assessed carefully to ensure Monte Carlo, radiation protection, (WC2012) was organized by IOMP, safe use in radiotherapy and medical nuclear emergencies, education and IFMBE, CSMP and CSBME and held imaging. Dr. Charlie Ma’s plenary training, writing and reviewing in Beijing, China, on May 26-31, lecture introduced the medical physics scienti c papers, and so on. This was 2012. The event brought together profession and described the scope of really an important opportunity for more than 1600 participants practice for medical physicists young medical physicists and students representing national medical physics working in radiation therapy and to learn the current status and future and biomedical bodies, as well as responsibilities. Prof. Yimin Hu, Dr. directions of medical physics and the regional and international David Jaffray, Dr. Ben Mijnheer, Dr. practical and professional skills. organizations, to share knowledge and Harald Paganetti and Dr. Xiaochuan Co-chairs of the Organizing experience in the eld of medical Pan presented theme keynote lectures Committee were Dr. Depei Liu, Dr. physics and biomedical engineering. to introduce the latest research Yubo Fan and Prof. Yimin Hu. More that 60% of the participants progress in medical physics, including Assisted by the Scienti c Committee, came from outside China to make it a radiation oncology physics, medical Exhibition Committee, Finance truly worldwide event. The WC2012 imaging physics, profession and Committee, Publication Committee, with the theme of “Promoting Health education, etc. These lectures Education and Training Committee through Technology” was striving to represented the top academic level and and Professional Standards provide a powerful platform to share greatly added caliber and substance to Committee, and also received valuable the latest information on global health this Congress. assistance from IUPESM Coordinating challenges, advanced technologies and A signi cant part of the congress was Committee, the congress organizers innovative applications. The congress mini-symposiums and workshops, did a great job over the years. Special began with an impressive keynote which provided the opportunity for thanks should be given to Scienti c speech which was delivered by Dr. researchers to present their work in Committee Members and Track Erwin Neher, the Nobel Laureate in more focused way than the regular Co-chairs for their hard working in Physiology or Medicine, about signals oral sessions and to have discussion of inviting speakers, recruiting reviewers and signaling mechanisms in the particular topics of interest to the and organizing sessions. The congress central nervous system. Several community. 24 mini-symposiums and has received a good number of plenary lectures and theme keynote 9 workshops are carefully organized by submissions by authors from 82 lectures on medical physics were held the experts in medical physics and different countries. After in the following days. Dr. William R. biomedical engineering. Those peer-reviewing by over 500 worldwide Hendee delivered a plenary lecture mini-symposiums and workshops experts, 1314 oral and 786 poster about his review of the safe use of embraced a wide range of topics in abstracts were accepted to be medical technologies and pointed out medical physics, such as adaptive presented in over 200 oral sessions 

Medical Physics World eMPW

IOMP of cers and ExCom past and new chairs at WC2012, Beijing

Education and Training of Medical Physicists in Radiation Protection John Damilakis, Chair, IOMP Education and Training Committee

worldwide, new units are also installed and WHO are very active in radiation and the global base of CT scanners is protection education and training through expected to exceed 67 thousand systems the organization of training courses and by 2017 (1). This rapid technological the production of educational material. development is associated with a The ICRP provides recommendations and constantly growing use of ionizing guidance on all aspects of medical radiation in medicine. radiation protection. Recently, ICRP It is true that medical procedures published a report on education in constitute the most signi cant man-made radiation protection for diagnostic and source of radiation exposure. Medical interventional procedures (2). The EC has technologies based on ionizing radiation launched several projects such as the require medical physicists to have updated MEDRAPET (MEDical RAdiation knowledge in radiation protection to Protection Education and Training) and Health care institutions invest rapidly in apply these technologies for the bene t of the EMAN project (European Medical new sophisticated technologies the patients. It is, therefore, necessary to ALARA Network) to improve the worldwide. This is especially true for establish a high standard of education and implementation of the Medical Directive’s medical imaging applications. For training programmes in radiation provisions related to radiation protection example, multi-detector CT scanners with protection for medical physicists. education and training of medical advanced features replace obsolete devices International organizations such as IAEA Continues at p. 12

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Education & Training... Continued learning services, (c) work together with education and training topics. The from p. 10 professionals in the EU International Organizations such as IAEA education and training committee of the member states. The education and and WHO to strengthen the educational IOMP will work closely with members to training committee of the IOMP will put development of medical physics insure their involvement and full support best effort to support educational needs of worldwide, (d) provide recommendations of these educational activities. medical physicists in radiation protection. and guidelines for quality teaching and Speci cally, this committee is planning to learning in medical physics, and (e) (a) support the educational efforts in cooperate with related international underserved countries, (b) develop on-line scienti c societies and associations on

Medical Physics World eMPW

Professional Relations Committee Report, PRC Raymond K. Wu, PhD, PRC Chair International Library Program (ILPSC), the past year has devoted some time on and Mohammed Zaidi, Manager of the this topic, and the PRC has summarized Equipment Donation Program, reported the consensus in a position paper, which elsewhere in this issue the state of the will be used as the initial guide to do the programs in detail. Allan mentioned the work. In Beijing, the World Congress has progress of polling the libraries on the provided good opportunities and venue active list to ensure that they were still which several interested parties made use active and able to receive journals in of to meet and exchange views and electronic format. Lists of the comments related to this issue, including non-responders were recently sent to the PRC. interested parties requesting for assistance International Medical Physics WC 2012 and Travel Awards in locating the contact person(s). Results Certi cation Board PRC organized several Tracks and are still in progress. Recently, EXCOM The Task Group on Board Certi cation Symposia on Professional matters in directed the ILPSC to select certain has completed the job of reviewing the Beijing, including the Staf ng libraries to receive the collection of model guidelines for medical physics Requirements Symposium jointly with medical physics books published by certi cation programs. The International IAEA and WHO, the Global Certi cation Taylor and Francis/CRC that had been Medical Physics Certi cation Board and Continuing Professional Development made available through the collaboration (IMPCB), an organization independent of Symposium, and the Entrepreneurship of IOMP with the publisher. Please refer IOMP, voted to adopt the guidelines on Workshop. Several other joint symposia to the Library report for a list of the January 11 this year. The full text is and workshops with IAEA and WHO are libraries, and contact IOMP PRC chair available at www.IMPCB.org. The mentioned elsewhere in this issue of ([email protected]) if you have more By-laws Committee chaired by Sean eMPW. PRC also organized and managed recent email addresses of the persons Geoghegan is nalizing the governing the IOMP Travel Award Program. With noted as non-responding. document. The full text of the draft will the assistance of the IT team of the World Policy Statements be available in the same website. In the Congress, the application was made a part For over ve years in the making, the rst draft, it speci es that one of the members of the online registration process. Besides two IOMP policy statements had been of the Board of Directors is to be IOMP, IAEA played a signi cant role drafted and sent through the review appointed by IOMP to serve for terms of providing nancial support for the process by the parent committees. IOMP three years. At present, IMPCB is program. The recipients of the Travel Council has just voted in Beijing to working on the application for tax exempt Awards are: Z. Begum - Bangladesh, B. approve both. Please refer to the IOMP status. Upon the approval of the By-laws, Cancino* - Cuba, S. D. Sharma - India, F. website for full text: (http://www.iomp. it will elect its of cers, establish rules and Kalantari - Iran, H. Yassine - Morocco, P. org/?q=node/5) of the IOMP Policy guidelines to accredit national Chaurasia* - Nepal, A. Zaman* - Statement No. 1 - The Medical Physicist: certi cation programs, and plan for Pakistan, M. Bacaling* & R Remoto - the Role and Responsibilities, and IOMP accepting regular members. Philippines, C. T. Lin - Taiwan and T. T. Policy Statement No. 2 - Basic Welcome new committee members Van - Vietnam. (* IAEA supported). Two Requirements for Education and Training The PRC is fortunate to have a group of unlisted individuals were supported but of Medical Physicists. The two statements 18 members (http://www.iomp.org/?q= not able to complete the process due to lay the solid ground on which other node/53) willing to contribute their time, reasons internal to their countries. Two policies and guidelines may be built to experience, and efforts for carrying additional participants who did not apply help harmonize the standards and quality forward the various tasks of the committee for the Travel Award were also funded. of work performed by medical physicists. in the past three years. Most of the International Library Program and The PRC has been assigned to form a members had expressed the willingness to Equipment Donation Program Work Group to draft a document on continue for another three years. Allan Wilkinson, Curator of the Staf ng Requirements. The EXCOM in Continues at p. 21

www.IOMP.org 11

International Library Program (ILPSC), the past year has devoted some time on and Mohammed Zaidi, Manager of the this topic, and the PRC has summarized Equipment Donation Program, reported the consensus in a position paper, which elsewhere in this issue the state of the will be used as the initial guide to do the programs in detail. Allan mentioned the work. In Beijing, the World Congress has progress of polling the libraries on the provided good opportunities and venue active list to ensure that they were still which several interested parties made use active and able to receive journals in of to meet and exchange views and electronic format. Lists of the comments related to this issue, including non-responders were recently sent to the PRC. interested parties requesting for assistance International Medical Physics WC 2012 and Travel Awards in locating the contact person(s). Results Certi cation Board PRC organized several Tracks and are still in progress. Recently, EXCOM The Task Group on Board Certi cation Symposia on Professional matters in directed the ILPSC to select certain has completed the job of reviewing the Beijing, including the Staf ng libraries to receive the collection of model guidelines for medical physics Requirements Symposium jointly with medical physics books published by certi cation programs. The International IAEA and WHO, the Global Certi cation Taylor and Francis/CRC that had been Medical Physics Certi cation Board and Continuing Professional Development made available through the collaboration (IMPCB), an organization independent of Symposium, and the Entrepreneurship of IOMP with the publisher. Please refer IOMP, voted to adopt the guidelines on Workshop. Several other joint symposia to the Library report for a list of the January 11 this year. The full text is and workshops with IAEA and WHO are libraries, and contact IOMP PRC chair available at www.IMPCB.org. The mentioned elsewhere in this issue of ([email protected]) if you have more By-laws Committee chaired by Sean eMPW. PRC also organized and managed recent email addresses of the persons Geoghegan is nalizing the governing the IOMP Travel Award Program. With noted as non-responding. document. The full text of the draft will the assistance of the IT team of the World Policy Statements be available in the same website. In the Congress, the application was made a part For over ve years in the making, the rst draft, it speci es that one of the members of the online registration process. Besides two IOMP policy statements had been of the Board of Directors is to be IOMP, IAEA played a signi cant role drafted and sent through the review appointed by IOMP to serve for terms of providing nancial support for the process by the parent committees. IOMP three years. At present, IMPCB is program. The recipients of the Travel Council has just voted in Beijing to working on the application for tax exempt Awards are: Z. Begum - Bangladesh, B. approve both. Please refer to the IOMP status. Upon the approval of the By-laws, Cancino* - Cuba, S. D. Sharma - India, F. website for full text: (http://www.iomp. it will elect its of cers, establish rules and Kalantari - Iran, H. Yassine - Morocco, P. org/?q=node/5) of the IOMP Policy guidelines to accredit national Chaurasia* - Nepal, A. Zaman* - Statement No. 1 - The Medical Physicist: certi cation programs, and plan for Pakistan, M. Bacaling* & R Remoto - the Role and Responsibilities, and IOMP accepting regular members. Philippines, C. T. Lin - Taiwan and T. T. Policy Statement No. 2 - Basic Welcome new committee members Van - Vietnam. (* IAEA supported). Two Requirements for Education and Training The PRC is fortunate to have a group of unlisted individuals were supported but of Medical Physicists. The two statements 18 members (http://www.iomp.org/?q= not able to complete the process due to lay the solid ground on which other node/53) willing to contribute their time, reasons internal to their countries. Two policies and guidelines may be built to experience, and efforts for carrying additional participants who did not apply help harmonize the standards and quality forward the various tasks of the committee for the Travel Award were also funded. of work performed by medical physicists. in the past three years. Most of the International Library Program and The PRC has been assigned to form a members had expressed the willingness to Equipment Donation Program Work Group to draft a document on continue for another three years. Allan Wilkinson, Curator of the Staf ng Requirements. The EXCOM in Continues at p. 21

Medical Physics World eMPW

Report From The IOMP Science Committee William Hendee, Chair, IOMP Science Committee

the committee to ensure that every Decade (www.iaea.org/meetings/). The member contributes substantially to the meeting will be hosted by the Federal work of the IOMP. We have reports to Ministry of Germany for the Environ- review, meetings needing guidance, and ment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear liaisons to pursue with national and Safety, and will be held in Bonn, international agencies. Some committee Germany. I am chairing the program members are appointed as at-large committee for this conference, and will members, and others are nominated by look to the IOMP Science Committee for regional medical physics organizations. input. The IAEA has just released a draft Irrespective of the designation, each report entitled Accuracy Requirements member of the committee is expected to and Uncertainties in Radiation Therapy, I am writing this brief report as the new accept a share of the workload. and has asked the IOMP for input. I am chair of the IOMP Science Committee. I At the moment I am soliciting input from recruiting a couple of individuals to was elected to this position and assumed committee members concerning the review the report and offer comments to of ce during the 2012 World Congress in scienti c program for The International the IAEA. The IOMP is often asked to Medical Physics and Biomedical Conference on Medical Physics scheduled review reports such as this one from Engineering held in Beijing in late May. for September 1-4 in Brighton, England various agencies, including the It is a privilege to serve as the Science (www.icmp2013.org/). This conference is International Commission on Radiological Committee chair, and I appreciate the a joint venture of the IOMP, European Protection and the International con dence of the IOMP Council in Federation of Organizations for Medical Commission on Radiation Units and electing me to this position. Physics (EFOMP), and the Institute of Measurements. The IOMP and its Science For the past 3 years the Science Physics and Engineering in Medicine Committee have many relationships with Committee was chaired by Harald (IPEM). The abstract submission date is organizations and agencies throughout the Paganetti, and before him by Cari Borras. October, 2012 for papers proposed for world. At this time I am starting the Both of these individuals were remarkable presentation at the meeting . process of solidifying these relationships in the time and effort they devoted to the On December 3-7, 2012 the International and determining how the Science committee and to the IOMP. I hope only Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with Committee can make them more effective. that I can match their dedication and time co-sponsorship of the World Health This is a time-consuming but important commitment to the IOMP. The IOMP Organization, will host an International mission that promises to make medical owes a lot to these previous two chairs. Conference on Radiation Protection in physics and radiation protection stronger I am now in the process of reconstituting Medicine: Setting the Scene for the Next in developing and developed countries. 

12 eMPW, Vol.3 (1), 2012

Medical Physics World eMPW

www.IOMP.org 13

Library Program... Continued from p. effort to draft staf ng requirement function to bene t developing countries. 13 New members have been recruited and guidelines for medical physicists, Other opportunities to serve the member their names will be included in the preferably in collaboration with other countries will arise and the PRC will be website when it is updated. We are in international bodies including IAEA and here to take on the challenges. need of more medical physicists who are WHO. PRC will encourage regional MP In summary, the PRC will: interested and have the passion and time organizations and commercial vendor to • Work on proper classification of the to serve according to the Terms of support scienti c meetings organized by profession called Medical Physics and its Reference. Please contact the Chairman of national societies or regional federations. recognition in member countries and the committee to volunteer. Some medical physicists from the least international bodies Plans for the Immediate Future developed countries will continue to rely • Promote the formation of national medical One of the goals of IOMP is on improving on nancial assistance to attend well physics societies the quality of medical physics practice. organized scienti c meetings. PRC will • Continue efforts to write policy statements Although this focus applies to all our champion travel assistance programs such and standards member countries, it is particularly as the Travel Awards to attend the World • Promote the concept of board certification to important in less developed countries. Congress 2012 in Beijing. PRC will improve the quality of clinical practice Employment conditions for all medical continue to work on guiding the • Strengthen the ISEP program, the Library physicists should include the formation of the International Medical Program and Equipment Donation Program opportunities for continuing education, as Physics Certi cation Board, which will • Encourage funding of travel assistance well as the requirement to do so. In the help further improve the quality of programs to help medical physicists from coming years PRC will work with IAEA medical physics practice. As determined developing countries. and WHO to strengthen medical physics by the availability of resources, the • Sponsor/Endorse scientific meetings with with focus on professional aspects as Library Program and the Used Equipment special focus to bene t developing countries described above. IOMP plans to lead the Donation Program will continue to International Library Program (ILPSC), the past year has devoted some time on and Mohammed Zaidi, Manager of the this topic, and the PRC has summarized Equipment Donation Program, reported the consensus in a position paper, which elsewhere in this issue the state of the will be used as the initial guide to do the programs in detail. Allan mentioned the work. In Beijing, the World Congress has progress of polling the libraries on the provided good opportunities and venue active list to ensure that they were still which several interested parties made use active and able to receive journals in of to meet and exchange views and electronic format. Lists of the comments related to this issue, including non-responders were recently sent to the PRC. interested parties requesting for assistance International Medical Physics WC 2012 and Travel Awards in locating the contact person(s). Results Certi cation Board PRC organized several Tracks and are still in progress. Recently, EXCOM The Task Group on Board Certi cation Symposia on Professional matters in directed the ILPSC to select certain has completed the job of reviewing the Beijing, including the Staf ng libraries to receive the collection of model guidelines for medical physics Requirements Symposium jointly with medical physics books published by certi cation programs. The International IAEA and WHO, the Global Certi cation Taylor and Francis/CRC that had been Medical Physics Certi cation Board and Continuing Professional Development made available through the collaboration (IMPCB), an organization independent of Symposium, and the Entrepreneurship of IOMP with the publisher. Please refer IOMP, voted to adopt the guidelines on Workshop. Several other joint symposia to the Library report for a list of the January 11 this year. The full text is and workshops with IAEA and WHO are libraries, and contact IOMP PRC chair available at www.IMPCB.org. The mentioned elsewhere in this issue of ([email protected]) if you have more By-laws Committee chaired by Sean eMPW. PRC also organized and managed recent email addresses of the persons Geoghegan is nalizing the governing the IOMP Travel Award Program. With noted as non-responding. document. The full text of the draft will the assistance of the IT team of the World Policy Statements be available in the same website. In the Congress, the application was made a part For over ve years in the making, the rst draft, it speci es that one of the members of the online registration process. Besides two IOMP policy statements had been of the Board of Directors is to be IOMP, IAEA played a signi cant role drafted and sent through the review appointed by IOMP to serve for terms of providing nancial support for the process by the parent committees. IOMP three years. At present, IMPCB is program. The recipients of the Travel Council has just voted in Beijing to working on the application for tax exempt Awards are: Z. Begum - Bangladesh, B. approve both. Please refer to the IOMP status. Upon the approval of the By-laws, Cancino* - Cuba, S. D. Sharma - India, F. website for full text: (http://www.iomp. it will elect its of cers, establish rules and Kalantari - Iran, H. Yassine - Morocco, P. org/?q=node/5) of the IOMP Policy guidelines to accredit national Chaurasia* - Nepal, A. Zaman* - Statement No. 1 - The Medical Physicist: certi cation programs, and plan for Pakistan, M. Bacaling* & R Remoto - the Role and Responsibilities, and IOMP accepting regular members. Philippines, C. T. Lin - Taiwan and T. T. Policy Statement No. 2 - Basic Welcome new committee members Van - Vietnam. (* IAEA supported). Two Requirements for Education and Training The PRC is fortunate to have a group of unlisted individuals were supported but of Medical Physicists. The two statements 18 members (http://www.iomp.org/?q= not able to complete the process due to lay the solid ground on which other node/53) willing to contribute their time, reasons internal to their countries. Two policies and guidelines may be built to experience, and efforts for carrying additional participants who did not apply help harmonize the standards and quality forward the various tasks of the committee for the Travel Award were also funded. of work performed by medical physicists. in the past three years. Most of the International Library Program and The PRC has been assigned to form a members had expressed the willingness to Equipment Donation Program Work Group to draft a document on continue for another three years. Allan Wilkinson, Curator of the Staf ng Requirements. The EXCOM in Continues at p. 21

Medical Physics World eMPW

From the Awards and Honours Committee Tomas Kron, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne Australia

ALFIM), KY Cheung (Ex-of cio: IOMP advancement of Medical Physics research president), Ibrahim Duhaini (Qatar, and teaching. He will receive his award at MEFOMP), M. Saiful Huq (USA), the International Conference of Medical Taofeeq Ige (Nigéria, FAMPO), Tomas Physics next year in Brighton. Kron (Australia, Chair), James Lee Where are things heading? We are (Singapore, AFOMP, SEAFOMP), Peter working on de ning the criteria for IOMP Sharp (UK, EFOMP), Slavik Tabakov fellowship as per a proposal by Don Frey (Ex-of cio: IOMP vice president), and a motion by IOMP council. In brief Debbie VanDer Merwe (South Africa). the proposal was to create a new category In doing this we have tried to maintain of fellowship of IOMP to recognise service some continuity, have good regional for the IOMP. It is planned to launch the At the Medical Physics & Biomedical representation and at the same time FIOMP at the 50th Anniversary of IOMP Engineering World Congress in Beijing I include medical physicists from different (Brighton 2013) – one of the many ways assumed my new role as chair for the sub-specialties. The key task of the to celebrate this important event. IOMP Awards and Honours Committee. committee is to administer the awards and We are also discussing how we can make My rst and most important task is to honours program of the IOMP. We would Medical Physicists more visible in the thank our previous chair, Don Frey, who like to congratulate the awardees, who community through awards and help to has served as chair from 2008 to 2012. received awards at the World Congress in recognise young members who have made Don and the committee have put a lot of Beijing: Dr Cari Boras received the 2012 outstanding contributions. There are some new ideas in motion, of which I will detail IUPESM Award of Merit recognising discussions on how we can better work one a bit more below. Doing this, he was Medical Physicists and Biomedical with IUPESM to provide recognition for supported by an outstanding group of Engineers who have established young medical physicists presenting at individuals who have served on the distinguished careers and contributed to the World Congress events in the future. committee: Slavik Tabakov, Anchali the advancement of the profession. Dr We hope to implement a Young Krisanachinda, Brian Thomas, Deborah Ahmed Meghzifene was awarded the Investigator Awards in Medical Physics at G. van der Merwe, Shada Wadi-Ramahi IOMP Harold Johns Medal for leadership the World Congress 2015. As all this will and María-Ester Brandan. Our thanks to in medical physics education. require some resources, we are starting to all of them for their work. Professor Charles Mistretta was awarded look for sponsorship to get the necessary We have now formed a new committee: the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Award for a funds to recognise a larger number of María-Ester Brandan (México, distinguished career contributing to the colleagues who deserve it. 

Library program overview – July 6, 2012 Prepared by the PRC and ILPSC

The library program started in 1987 with a collection donated by maintenance of 75 active libraries. There were two new libraries Gammex and Wisconsin Innovarian Ltd. The program has been established in the 2010. They are in Hefei, China, and Kyiv, managed by AAPM. It expanded through the years with Ukraine. In 2011, the library in Columbia was established. additional donors including individuals and AAPM. Through the Currently we are working on establishing a new library in work of many people, the program became a joint program Estonia. All active libraries receive a free copy of the SRP sponsored by AAPM and IOMP, and managed by the quarterly journals. In recent years since the Medical Physics International Library Program Subcommittee (ILPSC) under the journal is available to subscribers via the web, many members of Professional Relations Committee (PRC). The current Curator is the AAPM have donated their hardcopy Medical Physics journals Allan Wilkinson of Ohio. to the library program. The journals were sent to the following The library program serves 43 developing nations through the countries: Continues at p. 16

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Library Program... Continued from p. 13 residing in developing countries. A PIP has all Argentina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, the bene ts of a Full Member except voting china, Colombia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Hungary, power and privilege to serve in committees. They India, Iran, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, will get hardcopy or electronic subscription of the Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Medical Physics Journal, all AAPM task group Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, and Ukraine in the past. reports, and have access to the virtual library The most recent sets were sent to Pakistan, Costa collection of AAPM. As of June, 2012, there are a Rica, and Iraq. Several offers of old journals are total of 117 PIPs, 70% receives only electronic still outstanding awaiting library choices. In Medical Physics. Please contact Dr. Raymond Wu 2011, we are making the transition to supplying ([email protected]) for details. current issues of Medical Physics and the SRP 4. AAPM – DCEA program Journal in electronic format. AAPM established the Developing Country Recently at the World Congress in Beijing, the Educational Associates (DCEA) Program in 2006 Executive Committee asked the IPEM staff to to provide medical physicists residing in take an inventory of the IOMP Medical Physics developing countries free access to medical and Biomedical Physics Series published by physics publications and educational materials via Taylor and Francis/CRC. the internet. The only requirement to qualify for The free books were presented to IOMP per this free program is that the medical physicist contractual agreement between IOMP and must reside in one of the countries recognized by the publisher. The ILPSC has been asked to AAPM and posted at the AAPM Recognized coordinate the distribution of the books. The plan Developing Countries webpage. After obtaining is to send the new books to active libraries on a the Username and password, the user will be able rst come rst served basis. to access the educational materials including In spring 2010, all members in the active library AAPM Virtual Library, AAPM Summer School list were contacted by email. For those without Proceedings, and AAPM Task Group Reports. response, a second email was sent. As of June, Currently there are about 580 registered DCEA’s. 2012, about 25% responded. Plans are ongoing For details, visit the webpage at to increase the visibility of the library program on http://www.aapm.org/international/default.asp the IOMP and AAPM websites so that 5. AAPM - free subscriptions to the Medical information regarding “missing” libraries might Physics Journal be forthcoming and new libraries encouraged to As part of the negotiations for the IOMP to be a form. co-sponsor of the journal Medical Physics, the Besides the hard copy libraries, ILPSC would like AAPM agreed to provide up to 100 free electronic to publicize many other resources available. subscriptions to the journal for physicists in 1. The EMITEL Medical Physics Encyclopaedia developing countries. With the assistance of the (http://www.emitel2.eu/emitwwwsql/index-login. AAPM International Affairs Committee, the aspx), which is easily accessible via IOMP and the IAEA, 70 individuals in www.iomp.org. Please contact Dr. Slavik Tabakov developing countries have been identi ed to date ([email protected]) for comments. to receive the free subscriptions. 2. The Physics in Medicine and Biology is freely 6. American College of Medical Physics journal – available to libraries and institutions, and JACMP (http://www.jacmp.org) individuals get online access through their AAPM has recently merged with ACMP and institution / library whose IP address(es) are publishes an online Journal of Applied Clinical registered by IOPP. Please contact Dr. Peter Medical Physics (JACMP). It is co-sponsored by Smith ([email protected]) for details. IOMP and by the Canadian Organization of 3. AAPM – PIP program. Medical Physicists. It is an open journal that all AAPM has a Partner-in-Physics (PIP) program abstracts and full texts are free to download. See which provides free Corresponding Membership the link below for more details: or International Af liateship to medical physicists http://www.iomp.org/?q=node/48

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Report of the European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics (EFOMP) Prof Peter Sharp, EFOMP President

One of the aims of EFOMP, as set out in its constitution, is UK law we have been able to be a partner in a number of to bring about and maintain systematic exchange of projects that are relevant to the development of Medical professional and scienti c information, formulate common Physics in Europe. For example, in April we took part in policies, and promote education and training. There are a the MEDRAPET project workshop. number of routes by which we do this and recent activities have included: The aim of the Workshop was to present the current status, dif culties and future opportunities in the eld of education • The setting up of an EFOMP working group in and training in radiation protection and to provide data for mammography. The objective of this working group was to the development of the Guidelines on Radiation Protection write a document on QC in Digital Mammography Education and Training of Medical Professionals in the covering commissioning and routine tests with the aim to European Union. Education is an important part of our be understandable also to less experienced professionals in work and each year we support the European School of the mammography eld. Nowadays, the group includes Medical Physics. This takes place in Archamps, on the people from 22 countries. Document preparation has French-Swiss border. It offers quality training in aspects of started, beginning with the chapter on test procedures. The Medical Physics, from medical imaging to radio- and rst partial draft covering quality controls of the x-ray brachy-therapy. Physics graduates recently or soon to be source, the automatic exposure control and the image quali ed as medical physicists or those working in an detector, has been distributed within the group. environment of biomedical research can participate. EFOMP sponsors a bursary for novice medical physicists • Contributing to scientiﬁc and professional sessions at who are members of a National Member Organization of national and international meetings. During the last EFOMP. ESTRO 31 Conference in Barcelona, EFOMP and ESTRO organized an important Joint Session on “Networking in The VI Annual Conference of EFOMP will be held in radiotherapy: new technology for the future”. EFOMP also collaboration with the 11th National Conference of the makes an important contribution to the physics programme Bulgarian Society of Biomedical Physics and of the European Congress of Radiology. This year a Engineering in So a from 18th – 20th October 2012. workshop on “New Technology in Diagnostic Radiology: The invited speakers will present novel concepts and Frontiers in Interventional Radiological Imaging” was innovations related to the role and contributions of medical organized. physics and biomedical engineering on the development of contemporary medicine www.empec2012.bsbpe.org • Holding a joint congress on medical physics with the Société Française de Physique Médicale. The topics, in oral and poster presentations, included IMRT, dosimetry veri cation, new topics in radiotherapy particularly the use of MR imaging in planning, IGRT, a special session on hadron therapy, imaging issues in radiology and nuclear medicine and an EFOMP session on Medical Physics in Europe incl. workshop on legislative processes.

• Producing a slide show that illustrates the breadth of health-care work undertaken by Medical Physicists, EFOMP President P.Sharp, Scienti c Committee Chair available on the EFOMP website under “Recent News”. A. Torresin and P. Colombo during ECR 2012 With the development of EFOMP into a company under

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Library Program... Continued from p. 13 residing in developing countries. A PIP has all List of current library locations (75 Libraries Argentina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, the bene ts of a Full Member except voting in 43 Countries) china, Colombia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Hungary, power and privilege to serve in committees. They Algeria Algiers India, Iran, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, will get hardcopy or electronic subscription of the Argentina Bariloche Medical Physics Journal, all AAPM task group Argentina Buenos Aires Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Brazil Rio de Janiero Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, and Ukraine in the past. reports, and have access to the virtual library Brazil Sao Paulo Brunei Berakas The most recent sets were sent to Pakistan, Costa collection of AAPM. As of June, 2012, there are a Bulgeria Sofia Rica, and Iraq. Several offers of old journals are total of 117 PIPs, 70% receives only electronic Cameron Dualo China Beijing still outstanding awaiting library choices. In Medical Physics. Please contact Dr. Raymond Wu China Guangzhou 2011, we are making the transition to supplying ([email protected]) for details. China Shanghai China Xian current issues of Medical Physics and the SRP 4. AAPM – DCEA program Columbia Bogota Journal in electronic format. AAPM established the Developing Country Costa Rica San Jose Cyprus Nicosai Recently at the World Congress in Beijing, the Educational Associates (DCEA) Program in 2006 Santo Dominican Executive Committee asked the IPEM staff to to provide medical physicists residing in Domingo Ecuador Guayaquil take an inventory of the IOMP Medical Physics developing countries free access to medical Ecuador Quito and Biomedical Physics Series published by physics publications and educational materials via Egypt Alexandria Egypt Cairo Taylor and Francis/CRC. the internet. The only requirement to qualify for Estonia Tallinn The free books were presented to IOMP per this free program is that the medical physicist Georgia Tbilisi Hungary Budapest contractual agreement between IOMP and must reside in one of the countries recognized by India Bangalore (2) the publisher. The ILPSC has been asked to AAPM and posted at the AAPM Recognized India Calcutta India Cuttack coordinate the distribution of the books. The plan Developing Countries webpage. After obtaining India Jaipur is to send the new books to active libraries on a the Username and password, the user will be able India Ludhiana India New Delhi rst come rst served basis. to access the educational materials including India Sriangar In spring 2010, all members in the active library AAPM Virtual Library, AAPM Summer School India Vellore/Madras Indonesia Bandung list were contacted by email. For those without Proceedings, and AAPM Task Group Reports. Indonesia Jakarta response, a second email was sent. As of June, Currently there are about 580 registered DCEA’s. Iran Tehran Jamaica Montego Bay 2012, about 25% responded. Plans are ongoing For details, visit the webpage at Kenya Nairobi http://www.aapm.org/international/default.asp Lebanon Beirut to increase the visibility of the library program on Mexico Mexico City the IOMP and AAPM websites so that 5. AAPM - free subscriptions to the Medical Morocco Rabat Myanmar Yangon information regarding “missing” libraries might Physics Journal Namibia Windhoek be forthcoming and new libraries encouraged to As part of the negotiations for the IOMP to be a Nepal Bharatpur Nicaragua Managua form. co-sponsor of the journal Medical Physics, the Nigeria Enewi Besides the hard copy libraries, ILPSC would like AAPM agreed to provide up to 100 free electronic Nigeria Enugu Pakistan Islamabad to publicize many other resources available. subscriptions to the journal for physicists in Pakistan Lahore 1. The EMITEL Medical Physics Encyclopaedia developing countries. With the assistance of the Pakistan Mardan Pakistan Peshawar (http://www.emitel2.eu/emitwwwsql/index-login. AAPM International Affairs Committee, the Peru Lima aspx), which is easily accessible via IOMP and the IAEA, 70 individuals in Philippines Manila Poland Poznan www.iomp.org. Please contact Dr. Slavik Tabakov developing countries have been identi ed to date Poland Warszawa ([email protected]) for comments. to receive the free subscriptions. Poland Wroclaw Russia Moscow 2. The Physics in Medicine and Biology is freely 6. American College of Medical Physics journal – Sri Lanka Batticaloa available to libraries and institutions, and JACMP (http://www.jacmp.org) Sudan Khartoum Tanzania Dar-Es-Salaam individuals get online access through their AAPM has recently merged with ACMP and Thailand Bangkok (2) institution / library whose IP address(es) are publishes an online Journal of Applied Clinical Thailand Chiang Mai Trinidad Champs Fleurs registered by IOPP. Please contact Dr. Peter Medical Physics (JACMP). It is co-sponsored by Tunisia Tunis Smith ([email protected]) for details. IOMP and by the Canadian Organization of Turkey Ankara Turkey Istanbul 3. AAPM – PIP program. Medical Physicists. It is an open journal that all Ukraine Kiev AAPM has a Partner-in-Physics (PIP) program abstracts and full texts are free to download. See Vietnam Dalat Vietnam Hanoi which provides free Corresponding Membership the link below for more details: Zambia Mporoskoso or International Af liateship to medical physicists http://www.iomp.org/?q=node/48 Zimbabwe Bulawayo

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Middle East Federation of Medical Physics (MEFOMP) Summary Report Ibrahim Duhaini, President of MEFOMP

• Syria - SAMP- M’hd Hassan Kharita was held from 2 to 4 of November 2011. Among • UAE - EMPS - Jamila S. Alsuwaidi 450 papers that were accepted, 90 presented orally • Kuwait and Yemen - Not yet and 360 as posters. One of the conference unique Challenges in MEFOMP features was the non-Iranian active participation. 1. Education and Training of MP Conference was the host for about 50 distinguished 2. Recognition of the profession of scientists from countries other than Iran. Such as Medical physics at the national level Prof. Fridtjof Nüsslin (the President of IOMP), 3. Accreditation of academic and training Prof. Barry Allen (Past President of IOMP), Prof. programs. Indra Daas, Prof. Ali Meigoni , Mr. Ibrahim Some Activities of MEFOMP Duhaini (President of MEFOMP) and Prof. 1. WC 2009 Annual Meeting, September Ishmael Parsaie. As the information exchange Introduction 2009, Germany (Of cial MEFOMP elections) among world famous scientists and young scientists/ The establishment of Middle East 2. Radiation Safety Course, Oct.2009, UAE. students was the main goals of the conference; a Federation of Medical Physics (MEFOMP) 3. IRPA Radiation Protection Workshop, workshop entitled “Advanced Methods of is part of the IOMP effort to organize January 2010, Egypt. Radiotherapy” was held on the 1st of November regional medical physics societies under 4. ICRM International Conference on 2011, one day before the conference. its umbrella to further enhance and Radiation Medicine, March 2010, KSA. The major achievements of this conference were the improve the status of medical physics 5. Radiation Safety Course, 2010, Lebanon. following: across the Globe. 6. Radiation Safety Course, 2010, Lebanon. 1. Strengthening the link between Iranian medical Main Goals of MEFOMP 7. ISEP-AAPM, the 22nd King Hussein physicists and their counterparts abroad. • Promote advancement of medical Cancer Center Conference, 2010, Jordan. 2. Establishing the Global Center for Advanced physics in the Middle East Region. 8. Radiation Safety Course, 2010, UAE. Research in Medical Physics and Biomedical • Educate and train local society members 9. ICRP 105 Translation Project Meeting, Engineering. GCARMPE which is nancially on new procedures and technologies October 2010, Tunisia. supported by a multi national NGO’s. • Encourage exchange of expertise and 10. IMRT & IGRT ADAC Planning Attracting some of the world famous medical information among societies Workshop, December 2010, Lebanon. physicists for membership in the editorial board of • Organize regional conferences and 11. Radiation Safety Course, Dec 2010, KSA. the Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering. symposia. 12. BMPS International Conference on Call for future Actions: Logo: The Middle East Region map with Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology and 1. Strengthen the number and level of the Atomic Structure representation. Imaging, March 2011, Bangladesh. academic programs throughout MEFOMP Of cers of MEFOMP 13. Radiation Safety Course, 2011, UAE. Member states. • President:Mr.Ibrahim Duhaini, Lebanon 14. Radiation Safety Course, April 2011, UAE. 2. Establish regulations for clinical training of • Vice President: Dr. Seyed Mahdavi, Iran 15. Radiation Safety Course, 2011, Lebanon. Medical Physicists. • Secretary General:Dr.Ahmad Oteif,KSA 16. AAEA, Authorization and Inspection of 3. Issue certi cations for Medical Physicists in • Treasurer: Mr. Adel Mohamad, Bahrain Radiation Sources in Radiotherapy, May 2011, the region. Representatives of MEFOMP: Tunisia. Finally, MEFOMP will continue to work • Bahrain - BSMPBE - Lama Sakhnini 17. Iraqi Medical Physics Society Training closely with all its Sister organizations in • Iran - IAMP - Seied Rabi Mahdavi Course, June 2011, Erbil-Iraq. IOMP and all other related originations • Iraq - IMPS - Nabaa Naji 18. Radiation Training Course, 2011, KSA such as IAEA, AAPM, ACMP, WHO, • Jordan - JAMP - Shada Ramahi 19. First MEFOMP Workshop & Conference, ESTRO, ASTRO, …in order to enhance • KSA - SAMPS - Adnan Al-Watban November 2011, Iran the development of the medical physics • Lebanon - LAMP - Ibrahim Duhaini Shiraz University of Medical Sciences welcomed profession world wide.  • Oman - OMPS - Afkar Al Farsi more than 750 participants for the 1st MEFOMP • Qatar - QMPS -Huda Al Naemi International Conference on Medical Physics that www.IOMP.org 17

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20 years ICTP College on Medical Physics Slavik Tabakov, Co-Director of ICTP College on Medical Physics, Vice-President IOMP

Conference in 2008 (including almost all Physics is one of the most oversubscribed IOMP Of cers). ICTP operates under the activities of ICTP. Each College aegis of UNESCO and IAEA and participant receives a full set of training naturally hosts many IAEA Workshops and teaching materials and a and Symposia. In 2005 ICTP was the number of them have already initiated Co-Organiser of the World Conference on new Medical Physics courses/workshops in Physics and Sustainable Development in their own countries. Many MSc and Durban, South Africa, where one of the Training programmes in Medical Physics main directions for applied physics in the in Africa, Asia and South America have XXI century was voted to be Physics in been underpinned by these materials and Medicine. are led by former ICTP students. During 2012 the International College on From the beginning, cornerstones for the The IAEA has also hosted many of its Medical Physics at ICTP, Trieste, Italy, ICTP involvement in Medical Physics Medical Physics training courses in the celebrates its 20th anniversary. This were Luciano Bertocchi (then Deputy ICTP – spanning from Radiation activity has made ICTP one of the Director of ICTP) and Anna Benini (then Protection and Diagnostic Radiology to important ‘homes’ for many young IAEA Of cer). Additionally, a number of the most recent developments in colleagues and renowned scientists in prominent professionals were engaged Radiotherapy. To further expand its Medical Physics. with the College on Medical Physics, activities ICTP planned a special External From the beginning of the regular including John Cameron (USA), Sergio College in India (2007) with Dr Perry International College on Medical Physics Mascarenhas (Brazil), Perry Sprawls (USA) Sprawls and Dr S. D. Sharma as Academic at ICTP, the focus of the activity had been and Slavik Tabakov (UK). The current Directors. Additionally top students from toward developing countries. The College Co-Directors include also Franco Milano the developing countries bene t as ICTP has always been supported by eminent (Italy) and George D Frey (USA), while Associate Members, and take part in the specialists from various countries, many of the Hospital training is organised by Programme of Research and Training in them being senior of cers of AAPM and Mario De Denaro (Italy). During the last Italian Laboratories (TRIL). IOMP. During the period this regular decade the Governors of ICTP and the The current ICTP Medical Physics (now- biannual) activity of the ICTP has Directors Prof. Sreenivasan and Prof. College 2012 includes young specialists educated more than 1000 young medical Quevedo extended special support to the from 40 countries, and provides physicists mainly from developing College and provided funding for all accommodation and travel support to the countries. The College specially participants from developing countries. majority of those from developing and low concentrates its activities on Medical The International College on Medical income countries. Imaging Physics. In fact ICTP (Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics) has hosted a number of Medical Physics activities, starting in 1982 with the International Conference on the Applications of Physics to Medicine and Biology and continuing with many other Conferences, including one of the EFOMP Conferences in 1996, the First International Conference on Medical Physics Training (EMERALD) in 1998 and the EMITEL Encyclopaedia ICTP College on Medical Physics, Trieste, 2010

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The e-Learning Modules EMERALD and EMIT Available for Free Use Slavik Tabakov, Coordinator of EMERALD and EMIT, Vice-President IOMP

During the period 1998 – 2004 the EU projects Consortia • DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND IMAGING EMERALD and EMIT published 5 volumes with e-Learning • MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING materials to support the training in Medical Physics. These The partners in the projects include a Consortium of Universities materials are now widely used all over the world. The EMERALD and Hospitals: King’s College London; University of Lund; project developed e-Learning materials in 3 areas of Medical University of Florence; King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Physics (X-ray Diagnostic Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Trust; Lund University Hospital; Hôpital Albert Michallon Radiotherapy), while the EMIT project developed e-Learning Grenoble, Portuguese Oncological Institute Francisco Gentil; materials in 2 further areas - Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Trieste; Imaging. The modules include speci c training tasks and Centre Alexis Vautrin, Nancy; St James's Hospital, Dublin; thousands of related images, now used in some 65 countries. Northern Ireland Medical Physics Agency, Belfast; Prague EMERALD developed the rst e-books in Europe, and the later Technical University; Inter-University Medical Physics Centre, EMIT project used the same web-platform for the next 2 e-books. Plovdiv, and also the European Federation of Organisations for These innovative projects and their global impact brought to Medical Physics (EFOMP) and later the International Medical Physics the inaugural award for education of the Organisation for Medical Physics (IOMP). European Union – the Leonardo da Vinci Award. All colleagues who would like to contribute to the above training Over the years these e-Learning materials were commercially modules by developing additional tasks, updating existing tasks, available through King’s College London and from this year they or adding images and other material should contact the are available for free use over Internet through the web address: Co-ordinator at [email protected].  http://emerald2.eu/cd/Emerald2/ The modules will now be subject to update through IOMP and its societies. The rst project to address this is between King’s College London, UK and the University of Sao Paolo, Brazil. Each of the 5 e-books has a speci c Training Timetable, showing the main topics for training, the training tasks, the time for their completion and the competencies these develop. Many Universities use part of these materials and images for lecturing and laboratory exercises. The main subjects of the 5 modules have the following structure: • X-ray DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY PHYSICS • NUCLEAR MEDICINE PHYSICS • RADIOTHERAPY PHYSICS EMERALD/EMIT e-Learning materials online

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History Sub Committee Report to IOMP Council World Congress 2012, Beijing, China Azam Niroomand-Rad, Chair, History Subcommitte the past and present WCs, ICMPs, ISEPs, by AAPM Workshops, Endorsed or Sponsored • Table 8: IOMP Sponsored Meetings Courses (Not including ICMP, WC, ISEP) • To interview prominent members. • Table 9: Medical Physics World (MPW) • To digitally archive interviews Editors and Editorial Boards However, despite our proposal for • Table 10: Outline of MPW Reports, establishment of a standing History Announcements and Information Committee, EXCOM recommended • Table 11: IOMP Adhering National establishment of a History Sub Organizations as enlisted in MPW Committee as part of Publication • Table 12: MPW Advertisements Committee. Subsequently their • Table 13: Membership of Awards and History: It is important to collect and recommendations was approved by Honors Committee (AHC) archive history and heritage of IOMP in a Council at WC-2009 in Munich, • Table 14: Awards Recipients (including comprehensive manner for the bene t of Germany. This has created some IUPESM and IUPAP) future medical physicists worldwide. This dif culties for us to perform our tasks. As • Table 15: Membership of Education and is especially essential since IOMP does not a Sub Committee under Publication Training Committee (ETC) have a permanent of ce and Of cers Committee, we are not in direct contact • Table 16: Membership of Science change every three years. Therefore all with Of cers and Committee Chairs to Committee (SC) IOMP documents have been kept in extract information and data for historical • Table 17: Membership of Developing various les and boxes and have been purposes. We hereby strongly suggest that Countries Committee (DCC) and shipped and handed over to the next History SC should become a standing Professional Relations Committee (PRC) Secretary General. As the result of ce of committee, par to other standing • Table 18: International Library Secretary General was and still is IOMP committees. Programs (ILP), Co-Sponsored by AAPM Of ce. In 2008, some IOMP members Activities: Since 2009 members of • Table 19: Membership of Publication including myself, Colin Orton and Slavik History Sub Committee (C. Orton, S. Committee (PC) Tabakov recognized the need for Tabakov and A. Niroomand-Rad (Chair)) • Table 20: Membership of Nomination establishment of a Committee to collect have collected and compiled various Committee (NC) and preserve IOMP history. This included, IOMP historical data in 27 Tables: • Table 21: Membership of Rules but not limited to, recognizing • Table 1: IOMP Officers (P, VP, PP, S-G, Committee (RC) individuals who have made contributions Treasurer) • Table 22: Membership of Finance to the advancement of medical physics • Table 2: IOMP Member Countries Committee (FC) and our profession particularly by their • Table 3: International Union on • Table 23: Membership of International services in IOMP as described: Physical and Engineering Sciences in Commission on Medical Physics • To recognize the IOMP members who Medicine(IUPESM) Of cers (P, VP, PP, (IComMP) Af liated with International have made major contribution(s) S-G, Treasurer) Union of Pure and Applied Physics • To acknowledge the contributions of • Table 4: IOMP Affiliated Regional (IUPAP) EXCOM (P, VP, PP, S-G, Treasurer) Organizations and Member Countries • Table 24: Membership of History Sub • To acknowledge the contributions of • Table 5: IOMP Corporate Members Committee (HSC) Committee Chairs • Table 6: International Conferences on • Table 25: AAPM Delegates to IOMP • To acknowledge the contributions of Medical Physics (ICMP) and World • Table 26: Membership of Industrial Editors of MPW Congresses on Medical Physics and Affairs Committee (IAC) • To acknowledge the contributions of Biomedical Engineering (WC) • Table 27: List of Video Interviews of Curator, International Library Program • Table 7: International Scientific Prominent Physicists  • To digitally archive photographs from Exchange Programs (ISEP), Co-sponsored

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 We have video interviewed prominent medical physicists who have served IOMP:

Prof. Fridtjof Nusesslin (Germany) & Prof. David Twaites (UK) By: Prof. Colin Orton (USA) Prof. Andree Dutreix (France) By: Prof. Azam Niroomand-Rad (USA) Prof. Anchali Krisaanachinda (Thailand), Prof. Peter Smith (UK), Dr. Anna Benini (Italy), Dr. Inger Lena Lamm (Sweden), Prof. Stelios Christo des (Cyprus) By: Prof. Slavik Tabakov (UK)

Lastly we suggest that these information be placed at IOMP new web site under IOMP History so it can easily be accessed. They should also be updated periodically. Your comments and input in updating IOMP historical data are appreciated. Please send them to the History Subcom. Thank you. 

ICMP 2013 organising committee The International Organization of Medical Physics (IOMP), the European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics (EFOMP), and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) are delighted to invite you to attend the International Conference on Medical Physics 2013 (ICMP 2013) This is going to be an exciting and signi cant event in the Medical Physics calendar, and will take place in Brighton from the 1st – 4th September 2013 at the Brighton Conference Centre, Brighton.

www.IOMP.org 21 Medical Physics World eMPW

Diagnostic Physics Course, Patras, Greece, June 17-20, 2011 Report on the 2011 AAPM International Scientiﬁc Exchange Program (ISEP), George Kagadis (Host Co-Director) & Eugene Lief (AAPM Faculty)

The AAPM-ISEP workshop in Diagnostic Physics was held on well-attended and were highly interactive. The attendees asked June 17-21, 2011 at Patras University in Patras (Greece). The many questions and continued to communicate with the faculty course organizers were Prof. George Nikiforidis and Prof. George and with each other in their free time. Many participants were Kagadis from the Univeristy of Patras, Greece (local organizers) interested in CAMPEP credits which were offered to them. The and Prof. Mahadevappa Mahesh (AAPM-ISEP). The main topics University of Patras has well-established traditions in Medical included Medical Imaging and its Quality Metrics, Digital Physics. Several University Rectors were Medical Physicists, Imaging, Imaging Modalities, Patient Dose and its Reduction, including Professor G. Panayiotakis who is Rector now. One of Radiation Safety, Image Display and Perception, Nuclear the organizers of this course Professor Nikiforidis has served as a Medicine, Shielding Calculation, Quality Control, and Medical Dean of the School of Medicine. Several world-famous physicists Physics Certi cation. Nearly 21 hours of academic material were had been working here. The world-famous graduate program here delivered at Patras House of Sciences Center – new and beautiful awards 12-15 MS degrees and 6-8 PhD diplomas in Medical building with interesting scienti c exhibits. There was also a visit Physics annually. Unfortunately, during the course one of the to the Patras University Hospital where the attendees were shown world legends in Medical Physics, Professor Emeritus Basil the classic and modern clinical equipment. More than 90 Proimos, died in a car accident at his home town on the island of participants registered for the course . Their experience range was Crete. This sad news along with Professor Proimos short very broad; from students to senior physicists. They represented biography and achievements were announced to the participants 10 countries of Europe, Asia, and America. The course faculty to the participants by Professor Nikiforidis. were Distinguished Professor William Hendee from Medical Overall, the course was a success. The material was comprehensive College of Wisconsin, Professors Donald Frey from Medical and relevant to the needs of practicing medical physicists. University of South Carolina, Anthony Seibert from the Communication between the participants and faculty was very University of California Davis, Mahadevappa Mahesh from Johns ef cient. The social program included an opening reception and a Hopkins University School of Medicine, Drs. Habib Zaidi from gala dinner. Transportation between the hotel and the Science Geneva University Hospital and Eugene Lief from White Plain Center was perfectly arranged. All that was possible because of Hospital – Marsden Medical Physics. tireless efforts of local organizers: Professor George Nikiforidis The faculty had a dif cult task of giving talks interesting to a and Professor George Kagadis from Patras University. Their work broad spectrum of Diagnostic Physicists attending the course. was appreciated by the AAPM and was acknowledged by special Nevertheless, the course reached its goal. The lectures were plaques provided to the local organizers by the AAPM. 

AAPM faculty: Mahadevappa Mahesh, Habib Zaidi, William AAPM President Tony Seibert, William Hendee, Mahadevappa Hendee, Tony Seibert, Eugene Lief and Don Freywith local hots and Mahesh with the local hosts and co-directors of the workshop Dr George co-directors George Kagadis and George Nikiforidis some of the Kagadis and Prof George Nikiforidis after presenting special recognition workshop attendees. plaques.

22 eMPW, Vol.3 (1), 2012 Medical Physics World eMPW

Workshop on Physics of Advanced Radiotherapy Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai; India, 17-19, March, 2011 Report on the 2011 AAPM International Scientiﬁc Exchange Program (ISEP) Dr. D. D. Deshpande (Organizing Secretary AMPI) Dr. Jatinder R. Palta (Course Content Coordinator AAPM) Objective: To update the knowledge of Medical Physicists in In the IGRT session, various commercial solutions and associated India about the advanced radiotherapy planning and delivery challenges were discussed. There was a separate session on QA of techniques. all advanced techniques. The clinicians from the host institution Goals: In India large number of centers have come up in last discussed their perspective of precision in clinics. The session on decade and are equipped with the advanced state of art machines dosimeters dealt with Commissioning & QA issues of treatment and are practicing techniques like IMRT, IGRT, rotational planning systems and computer controlled treatment delivery. A IMRT, motion management techniques etc. However, Physicists separate session on small eld dosimetry was also conducted. & other team members need to be updated with various aspects of The workshop also included practicum sessions in the afternoons. these techniques in order to achieve the precision in the There were 4 work stations for 2 days. On the rst day 4DCT treatment. Simulator, Eclipse TPS Planning system were demonstrated in American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) four groups, followed by IGRT demonstration on Varian Trilogy supported a workshop focusing on these advanced techniques and motion management on Novalis TX. Tomotherapy QA under International Scienti c Education Program (ISEP). Process was demonstrated. A special session; “Meet the expert”, Departments of Medical Physics and Radiation Oncology at Tata provided an opportunity for the participants to closely interact Memorial Hospital, Mumbai hosted this workshop titled, with the invited faculty members. “Physics of Advanced radiotherapy” from 17-19 March 2011. In the concluding session, dosimetry audit in US and India were Scienti c Program: The Scienti c Program was designed in discussed. There was some discussion on AAPM and AMPI consultation with the local host. The faculty members from collaboration in the future. AAPM included; Drs. Howard Amols, M. Saiful Huq, Daniel Feedback from Participants: Overall the delegates were Low, Radhe Mohan, Jatinder Palta, S. Rao and David M. Shepard. extremely satis ed with AAPM faculty lectures and the content of From India experts were Drs. D Deshpande, P.S. Negi, Paul the course. The majority opinion was to conduct such workshop Ravindran, S.D. Sharma, and Sathyanarayan. on a frequent basis; may be yearly or biannual. The participants, The faculty reviewed and discussed the implementation of who were new to the advanced technology, were very satis ed advanced radiotherapy technologies in India both from clinical with on-site practical demonstrations by the host faculty and physical aspects. There were didactic lectures and discussion members and the visiting faculty members from AAPM. The sessions on advanced Imaging, IMRT, IGRT, adaptive informal and personal interactions amongst participants and radiotherapy, motion management, dose calculations, quality AAPM faculty during the afternoon practicums were very well assurance, and safety. received. 

21www.IOMP.org www.IOMP.org23 Medical Physics World eMPW

IOMP Policy Statement No. 1 The Medical Physicist: Role and Responsibilities

1 Introduction 2.4 Further Professional Classi cation of MPs This policy statement provides general guidelines for member Depending on operational needs, there may be other classi cation of organizations in de ning the role and responsibilities of medical MPs, e.g., Trainee/Resident Medical Physicist, Consultant Medical physicists. It serves as a reference for medical physics professional Physicist, etc. organizations and health care authorities in their planning and 3 Roles and Responsibilities of Medical Physicists development of the medical physics services in a clinical environment, Medical physicists are mainly involved with the application of medical and for academic institutions for education and training of medical physics principles and techniques for treatment and diagnosis of human physicists. This document should be read in conjunction with IOMP disorders, illnesses and disabilities, and the protection of the patients, Policy Statement No. 2 (Basic Requirements for Education and Training staff and members of the public from ionizing and non-ionizing radiation of Medical Physicists). hazards. The role and responsibilities of medical physicists may be 2 De nitions oriented toward clinical service (which includes technical and radiation 2.1 Medical Physics safety aspects), management, education, and research and development. Medical Physics is a branch of Applied Physics, pursued by medical Some key roles and responsibilities of medical physicists are listed in the physicists, that uses physics principles, methods and techniques in Appendix. The principal functions and responsibilities of medical practice and research for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of physicists can be summarized as follows: human diseases with a speci c goal of improving human health and • Establishment and implementation of health care technologies with well-being. Medical physics may further be classi ed into a number of emphasis on patient diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. sub- elds (specialties), including the following 1. • Supervision of radiation protection and safety programs 2.1.1 Radiation Oncology Physics • Measurement of radiation 2.1.2 Medical Imaging Physics • Establishment, implementation, and supervision of quality assurance 2.1.3 Nuclear Medicine Physics programs 2.1.4 Medical Health Physics (Radiation Protection in Medicine) • Optimization of physical aspects of diagnostic and therapeutic 2.1.5 Non-ionizing Medical Radiation Physics procedures 2.1.6 Physiological Measurement • Commissioning and supervising the delivery of complex or new clinical 2.2 Medical Physicist (MP) procedures 2.2.1 Medical physicists are professionals with education and specialist • Technical speciﬁcation of equipment and design of installations training in the concepts and techniques of applying physics in medicine. • Acceptance and commissioning of equipment Medical Physicists work in clinical, academic or research institutions. • Technical supervision of maintenance 2.2.2 Medical physicists working in clinical environment are health • Research and teaching professionals, with education and specialist training in the concepts and The exact role and responsibilities of medical physicists may vary among techniques of applying physics in medicine, competent to practice countries, depending on socio-economic background, training, service independently in one or more of the sub elds (specialties) of medical models, and national health and regulatory policies. Furthermore, the physics. tasks of medical physicists evolve with time as new medical technologies This document is focused on medical physicists working as health and methodologies are introduced into the clinic. For this reason, the list professionals. The requirements for education and specialist training of should be subject to regular review and update. medical physicists working as health professionals are set out in IOMP 4 Education and Training of Medical Physicists Policy Statement Number 2. Competence to practice independently as a Medical physicists should have received appropriate education in physics health professional is demonstrated by Certi cation by a national or an or engineering science and professional competency training in one or international professional certi cation body and/or Registration (or more sub- elds of medical physics. To maintain and enhance their Licensing) by the State. Further guidance on this is given in IOMP professional competence, practicing medical physicists should each Policy Statement Number 2. undergo a continuous professional development program. The 2.3 Certi ed Medical Physicist 2 (CMP) recommended basic requirements for education, training and continuous A CMP is a medical physicist who has been certi ed by a national or an professional development of MPs are given in IOMP Policy Statement international professional certi cation body to have the competence to No. 2. practice independently in one or more sub- elds of medical physics. 5 Professional Certi cation of Medical Physicists

24 eMPW, Vol.3 (1), 2012

To help strengthen the training and professional development of MPs and radiobiological aspects of patient treatments. to promote professional competency and high standard of practice, IOMP 14 Advising and consulting with physicians on the development of safe recommends that an appropriate means for professional certi cation of and effective techniques and procedures in the application of ionizing and medical physicists be established by national member organizations, non-ionizing radiation in diagnosis and therapy of human diseases. either by implementing their own national certi cation schemes or in 15 Performing or supervising others to perform acquisition, analysis and collaboration with other established national or international certi cation interpretation of clinical image and/or data for the purpose of bodies. studying/diagnosis/treatment of human disorders and illnesses. 16 Providing consultation and support on medical informatics and Appendix computer network management. Roles and Responsibilities of Medical Physicists Working as Health Management and Planning: Professionals 17 Conducting or providing consultation/support on the conduct of The key roles and responsibilities of medical physicists include the specialised examinations of patients, improving patient care and clinical following: services, developing innovative imaging and other diagnostic procedures Safety: for speci c medical applications. 1 Establishing and implementing programs to ensure the quality, safety, 18 Planning, directing, conducting, and participating in supporting correct maintenance, and effective use of therapeutic and diagnostic programs and remedial procedures to ensure effective and safe use of medical equipment 3. ionizing and non-ionizing radiation in patients. 2 Supervising the management and custody of radiation sources. 19 Performing or providing consultation on planning, development and 3 Formulating radiation protection guides and procedures speci c to implementation of new clinical services and facilities. hospital environment and other professional groups and organizations; 20 Providing consultation on strategic planning of medical equipment conducting specialized measurements and producing protocols to technology; preparing speci cation for equipment acquisition; optimize radiation exposure of patients, and minimize radiation dose to performing or supervising testing, commissioning, and management of staff and the general public. medical equipment. 4 Performing risk assessment, radiation protection design, shielding Research and Development: calculation on radiological installations. 21 Conducting research and development of new technology, 5 Participating in and contributing to the development and methodology and procedure in radiation therapy, diagnostic radiology, implementation of national and international standards, laws and nuclear medicine and other clinical services. regulations relating to patient safety, particularly to radiation and 22 Conducting research into human disorders, illnesses and disabilities; radioactive materials. investigating biophysical techniques associated with any branch of 6 Supervising and managing radiation workers and other health medicine. professional workers as relevant. 23 Supporting the physical aspects of clinical trials and research Clinical: involving the delivery of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation to patients 7 Calibrating radiation sources, external and internal, and measuring for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. radiation in therapeutic and diagnostic radiological procedures to ensure 24 Developing novel instrumentation and physiological measurement the correct and accurate delivery of radiation dose to a patient. techniques, mathematical analysis and applications of computers in 8 Optimizing the physical aspects of diagnostic and therapeutic medicine in response to clinical need for patients. procedures. 25 Preparing, publishing and presenting scienti c papers and reports. 9 Implementing, advising, and supervising the delivery of new clinical Teaching: procedures. 26 Teaching the principles of medical physics and radiation safety to 10 Developing, implementing, and supervising a quality assurance physicians, residents, graduate students, medical students, technologists, program for equipment and procedures involving the delivery of ionizing and other health care professionals. and non-ionizing radiation in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. 27 Mentoring trainees and junior staff in medical physics. 11 Participating at patient discussion conferences and advising healthcare personnel with regard to issues involving delivery of radiation dose. 1Depending on the professional environment there may also be close links to 12 Performing or supervising the performance of others in radiation neighbouring sciences as Biophysics, Biological Physics, Health Physics, etc. treatment planning and dose calculation, and design and fabrication of 2Different terminologies are used in member organizations, e.g. Quali ed Medical treatment aids and treatment-beam modi ers for individual patient Physicist, Quali ed Expert in Medical Physics, or Medical Physics Expert. treatments. 3“Equipment” in this context is taken to include hardware and associated 13 Advising and consulting with physicians on the physical and software, when applicable.  1 Introduction 2.4 Further Professional Classi cation of MPs This policy statement provides general guidelines for member Depending on operational needs, there may be other classi cation of organizations in de ning the role and responsibilities of medical MPs, e.g., Trainee/Resident Medical Physicist, Consultant Medical physicists. It serves as a reference for medical physics professional Physicist, etc. organizations and health care authorities in their planning and 3 Roles and Responsibilities of Medical Physicists development of the medical physics services in a clinical environment, Medical physicists are mainly involved with the application of medical and for academic institutions for education and training of medical physics principles and techniques for treatment and diagnosis of human physicists. This document should be read in conjunction with IOMP disorders, illnesses and disabilities, and the protection of the patients, Policy Statement No. 2 (Basic Requirements for Education and Training staff and members of the public from ionizing and non-ionizing radiation of Medical Physicists). hazards. The role and responsibilities of medical physicists may be 2 De nitions oriented toward clinical service (which includes technical and radiation 2.1 Medical Physics safety aspects), management, education, and research and development. Medical Physics is a branch of Applied Physics, pursued by medical Some key roles and responsibilities of medical physicists are listed in the physicists, that uses physics principles, methods and techniques in Appendix. The principal functions and responsibilities of medical practice and research for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of physicists can be summarized as follows: human diseases with a speci c goal of improving human health and • Establishment and implementation of health care technologies with well-being. Medical physics may further be classi ed into a number of emphasis on patient diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. sub- elds (specialties), including the following 1. • Supervision of radiation protection and safety programs 2.1.1 Radiation Oncology Physics • Measurement of radiation 2.1.2 Medical Imaging Physics • Establishment, implementation, and supervision of quality assurance 2.1.3 Nuclear Medicine Physics programs 2.1.4 Medical Health Physics (Radiation Protection in Medicine) • Optimization of physical aspects of diagnostic and therapeutic 2.1.5 Non-ionizing Medical Radiation Physics procedures 2.1.6 Physiological Measurement • Commissioning and supervising the delivery of complex or new clinical 2.2 Medical Physicist (MP) procedures 2.2.1 Medical physicists are professionals with education and specialist • Technical speciﬁcation of equipment and design of installations training in the concepts and techniques of applying physics in medicine. • Acceptance and commissioning of equipment Medical Physicists work in clinical, academic or research institutions. • Technical supervision of maintenance 2.2.2 Medical physicists working in clinical environment are health • Research and teaching professionals, with education and specialist training in the concepts and The exact role and responsibilities of medical physicists may vary among techniques of applying physics in medicine, competent to practice countries, depending on socio-economic background, training, service independently in one or more of the sub elds (specialties) of medical models, and national health and regulatory policies. Furthermore, the physics. tasks of medical physicists evolve with time as new medical technologies This document is focused on medical physicists working as health and methodologies are introduced into the clinic. For this reason, the list professionals. The requirements for education and specialist training of should be subject to regular review and update. medical physicists working as health professionals are set out in IOMP 4 Education and Training of Medical Physicists Policy Statement Number 2. Competence to practice independently as a Medical physicists should have received appropriate education in physics health professional is demonstrated by Certi cation by a national or an or engineering science and professional competency training in one or international professional certi cation body and/or Registration (or more sub- elds of medical physics. To maintain and enhance their Licensing) by the State. Further guidance on this is given in IOMP professional competence, practicing medical physicists should each Policy Statement Number 2. undergo a continuous professional development program. The 2.3 Certi ed Medical Physicist 2 (CMP) recommended basic requirements for education, training and continuous A CMP is a medical physicist who has been certi ed by a national or an professional development of MPs are given in IOMP Policy Statement international professional certi cation body to have the competence to No. 2. practice independently in one or more sub- elds of medical physics. 5 Professional Certi cation of Medical Physicists

Medical Physics World eMPW

IOMP Policy Statement No. 2 Basic Requirements for Education and Training of Medical Physicists

1 Introduction bilities. For those jurisdictions in which an accreditation program exists This policy statement provides general guidelines for member organiza- for residencies, the residency should be an accredited program. tions in de ning the basic requirements for education and training of medical physicists. It aims to serve as a reference for medical physics 4.1 Minimum duration of training - The duration of clinical competency organizations, education institutions and health care providers and training should not be less than 2 years full-time equivalent. The authorities in planning and development of their national infrastructures training should be carried out under the direct supervision of a Certi ed for education, training and certi cation of medical physicists and for Medical Physicist (CMP) specialized in the same sub- eld or a quali ed maintenance of standards of practice. This policy document should be professional with a level of professional experience and expertise read in conjunction with IOMP Policy Statement No. 1 (The Medical equivalent to that of the CMP. Physicist: Role and Responsibilities) [1]. 4.2 Training for additional sub- elds - Not less than 1 year full-time 2 Education and Training of Medical Physicists equivalent clinical competency training is recommended for each Medical physicists (MPs) working as health professionals shall demon- additional sub- eld. strate competency in their discipline by obtaining the appropriate educational quali cation and clinical competency training in one or more 4.3 The clinical training program for each sub-specialty should be sub- elds of medical physics. Basic knowledge of the other sub- elds is well-structured and designed to provide the trainee with extensive also required. MPs practicing in hospitals/clinical environments shall also hands-on experience on a comprehensive range of clinical physics work participate in a continual professional development program. Recom- processes and services. While suitable clinical training programs exist in mendations on the minimum levels of education and professional some countries, at international level the IAEA training programs for training for MPs are given in the following sections. medical imaging physics [5], radiation oncology physics [6] and nuclear medicine physics [7] are for example, appropriate syllabi for such 3 Education Requirement structured clinical training. 3.1 The minimum educational quali cation for an MP is a university degree or equivalent (level corresponding to a master’s degree) majoring 5 Professional Certi cation in medical physics or an appropriate science subject. Medical physicists practicing in medical institutions or those with clinical responsibilities should be subject to professional certi cation. 3.2 Educational quali cation could be accomplished in two phases. The rst phase of the education program is completion of a bachelor’s degree 5.1 Certi ed Medical Physicist (CMP) - An MP who has ful lled the in physics or an equivalent degree in a relevant physical or engineering education and training requirements as stated in Sections 3 and 4 above science subject. The second phase of the program is completion of a should, where possible, sit for a formal professional certi cation postgraduate program at a master’s degree level in medical physics or an assessment. Upon passing the formal professional certi cation assessment equivalent degree in an appropriate physical science subject . the MP would become a CMP.

3.3 The suitability of a certain education program to provide the 5.2 Medical physics organizations or health competent authorities should necessary academic knowledge for the following professional training establish their own national professional certi cation systems to facilitate could be established through a suitable national or international such process. In countries where the establishment of such a national validation/accreditation body. certi cation system is impractical, considerations should be made to have their MPs certi ed by an appropriate external certi cation body. To 4 Professional Training Requirement ensure that an appropriate level of professional standard can be achieved Medical physicists who have clinical responsibilities should have received and maintained, national certi cation systems should be subject to (additionally to their education) a clinical competency training, appropriate quality audits. This could be achieved through an indepen- preferably in the form of a formal residency or an equivalent clinical dent accreditation process conducted by a well-established national or training program, for a duration appropriate to their roles and responsi- international certi cation or accreditation body.

26 eMPW, Vol.3 (1), 2012

5.3 A professional competency maintenance scheme should be imple- References mented for CMPs who have clinical responsibilities. This could be in the [1] International Organization for Medical Physics, The Medical form of re-certi cation after an appropriate period of time and/or Physicist: Role and Responsibilities, Policy Statement No. 1, IOMP, participation in a mandatory CPD program as described in paragraph 6 http://www.iomp.org below. [2] American Association of Physicists in Medicine, Report No. 197 (2009)- Academic Program Recommendations for Graduate Degrees in 6 Continual Professional Development (CPD) Medical Physics, AAPM, USA, Each MP and CMP should enter a CPD program. Medical physics http://www.aapm.org/pubs/reports/RPT_197.pdf organizations should establish and maintain their own national CPD [3] Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, Training Prospec- systems to support the continual professional development of their tus for Medical Physicists and Clinical Engineers in Health Care, members. In countries in which establishment of such a CPD system is http://www.ipem.ac.uk/docimages/2440.pdf impractical, arrangements should be made for the medical physicists to [4] Tabakov S, et al, IOMP Model Curriculum for Postgraduate enter a well-established external CPD system. Detailed recommendations (MSc-level) Education Programme on Medical Physics, Proceedings, on CPD are given in a separate IOMP policy document. World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, 2009, Munich, Germany 7 Implementation [5] International Atomic Energy Agency, Clinical Training of Medical This document gives recommendations on the minimum requirements Physicists Specializing in Diagnostic Radiology, IAEA, Vienna, Austria for education and clinical training of medical physicists. IOMP member [6] International Atomic Energy Agency, Clinical Training of Medical organizations have the responsibility to establish the appropriate Physicists Specializing in Radiation Oncology Physics, IAEA, Vienna, infrastructures in their own countires to achieve and maintain such Austria, quality standard in the education and training of their medical http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/TCS-37_web.pdf physicists. [7] International Atomic Energy Agency, Clinical Training of Medical Physicists Specializing in Nuclear Medicine, IAEA, Vienna, Austria 1 Introduction bilities. For those jurisdictions in which an accreditation program exists This policy statement provides general guidelines for member organiza- for residencies, the residency should be an accredited program. tions in de ning the basic requirements for education and training of medical physicists. It aims to serve as a reference for medical physics 4.1 Minimum duration of training - The duration of clinical competency organizations, education institutions and health care providers and training should not be less than 2 years full-time equivalent. The authorities in planning and development of their national infrastructures training should be carried out under the direct supervision of a Certi ed for education, training and certi cation of medical physicists and for Medical Physicist (CMP) specialized in the same sub- eld or a quali ed maintenance of standards of practice. This policy document should be professional with a level of professional experience and expertise read in conjunction with IOMP Policy Statement No. 1 (The Medical equivalent to that of the CMP. Physicist: Role and Responsibilities) [1]. 4.2 Training for additional sub- elds - Not less than 1 year full-time 2 Education and Training of Medical Physicists equivalent clinical competency training is recommended for each Medical physicists (MPs) working as health professionals shall demon- additional sub- eld. strate competency in their discipline by obtaining the appropriate educational quali cation and clinical competency training in one or more 4.3 The clinical training program for each sub-specialty should be sub- elds of medical physics. Basic knowledge of the other sub- elds is well-structured and designed to provide the trainee with extensive also required. MPs practicing in hospitals/clinical environments shall also hands-on experience on a comprehensive range of clinical physics work participate in a continual professional development program. Recom- processes and services. While suitable clinical training programs exist in mendations on the minimum levels of education and professional some countries, at international level the IAEA training programs for training for MPs are given in the following sections. medical imaging physics [5], radiation oncology physics [6] and nuclear medicine physics [7] are for example, appropriate syllabi for such 3 Education Requirement structured clinical training. 3.1 The minimum educational quali cation for an MP is a university degree or equivalent (level corresponding to a master’s degree) majoring 5 Professional Certi cation in medical physics or an appropriate science subject. Medical physicists practicing in medical institutions or those with clinical responsibilities should be subject to professional certi cation. 3.2 Educational quali cation could be accomplished in two phases. The rst phase of the education program is completion of a bachelor’s degree 5.1 Certi ed Medical Physicist (CMP) - An MP who has ful lled the in physics or an equivalent degree in a relevant physical or engineering education and training requirements as stated in Sections 3 and 4 above science subject. The second phase of the program is completion of a should, where possible, sit for a formal professional certi cation postgraduate program at a master’s degree level in medical physics or an assessment. Upon passing the formal professional certi cation assessment equivalent degree in an appropriate physical science subject . the MP would become a CMP.

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Understand the Latest Technology in Medical Physics

Webb’s Physics of Medical Imaging Second Edition M A Flower Catalog no. IP743 | June 2012 | 864 pp. ISBN: 978-0-7503-0573-0 $89.95 / £49.99 Physiology, Biophysics, and Biomedical Engineering Andrew Webster Catalog no. C6513 | February 2012 | 782 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4200-6513-8 $99.95 / £49.99 Encyclopaedia of Medical Physics Edited by Slavik Tabakov, Franco Milano, Sven-Erik Strand, Cornelius Lewis & Perry Sprawls Catalog no. K12085 | December 2012 | 1,160 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4398-4652-0 $595.00 / £379.00 Correction Techniques in Emission Tomography Edited by Mohammad Dawood, Xiaoyi Jiang & Klaus Schäfers Catalog no. K10659 | May 2012 | 287 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4398-1298-3 $119.95 / £76.99 Enter code GKL05 when ordering to receive a 20% DISCOUNT. O er expires December 31st 2012

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

20-24 August 2012 Int'l Conference on Medical Image Engineering & Physical Sciences in Radiological Emergency Planning: Computing and Computer Assisted Medicine Conference (EPSM2012); Gold Terrorism, Security, and Communication; Intervention; Nice, France Coast, Queensland, Australia Boston, MA USA MICCAI 2012 www.miccai2012.org www.epsmconference.org/ 20-24 August 2012 5 October 2012 3 - 7 December 2012 Medical Radiation Safety Training; Oak Image-Guidance and Multimodal Dose IAEA Int'l Conference on Radiation Ridge, TN US www.orau.org/ptp/ptp.htm Planning in Radiation Therapy Workshop Protection in Medicine Bonn, Germany 23-25 August 2012 www.medical.rob.uni-luebeck.de/miccai2012rt 11-14 December 2012 Int'l Workshop on New Technologies in 18-20 October 2012 The 9th SEACOMP and 12th AOCMP , Radiotherapy; Bangkok, Thailand 6th Conference of EFOMP and the 11th Chiang Mai , Thailand www.cccthai.org/en_ National Conference of the Bulgarian 13- 16 December 2012 2-7 September 2012 Society of Biomedical Physics and Regional Workshop on the implementa- 12th Int'l Conference on Radiation Engineering (BSBPE), So a, Bulgaria tion of the International Code of Practice Shielding & 17th Topical Meeting of the www.empec2012.bsbpe.org for external radiotherapy dosimetry, IAEA Radiation Protection and Shielding; Nara, 7-31 October 2012 TRS-398, Doha, Qatar Japan www.icrs12.org 4th Int'l Symposium on Radionuclide 27-30 January 2013 5-8 September 2012 Targeted Radiotherapy and Dosimetry; HPS Mid-Year Topical Meeting on World Molecular Imaging Congress; Annual Congress of the European Medical Health Physics and Accelerator Dublin, Ireland www.wmicmeeting.org Association of Nuclear Medicine, Italy Dosimetry ; Scottsdale, AZ USA 6-9 September 2012 28-31 October 2012 www.hps.org/meetings/meeting33.html 3rd Romanian Conference on Medical ASTRO Annual Meeting; Boston, MA 19–21 February 2013 Physics Sibiu, Romania www.ecmp2012.ro USA www.astro.org/annualmeeting 1st International Iranian Conference on 10-12 September 2012 29 Oct - 3 Nov 2012 Advanced MR Neuroimaging Techniques IPEM Medical Physics and Engineering IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, and procedure, at. Conference; Oxford, UK www.ipem.ac.uk Medical Imaging Conference and 7-11 March 2013 10 Sep - 12 Oct 2012 Workshop on Room-Temperature European Congress of Radiology (ECR), Applied Health Physics; Oak Ridge, TN Semiconductor X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Vienna, Austria, www.myESR.org USA www.orau.org/ptp/ptp.htm Detectors; Anaheim, CA USA 15-16 March 2013 14-16 September 2012 www.nss-mic.org/2012 2nd Annual Conference of Bangladesh Computed Tomography Hands-On 4-8 November 2012 Medical Physics Society (BMPS), Dhaka, Workshop for Physicists Houston, TX 7th Int'l Conference on 3D Radiation Bangladesh. 17–19 September 2012 Dosimetry ; Sydney, Australia 6-9 May 2013 Mathematics of Medical Devices and www.ic3ddose.org 17th Int'l Conference on the Use of Surgical Procedures; London, U.K. 16-17 November 2012 Computers in Radiation Therapy (ICCR); Institute of Mathematics Respiratory Motion Management for Melbourne, Australia www.iccr2013.org; 23-27 September 2012 Radiation Therapy; St Louis, MO USA 4-8 August 2013 Principles and Practices of Radiation http://radonc.wustl.edu/pdf/MMRTCourse.pdf AAPM 55th Annual Meeting; Safety: Occupational and Environmental 25-30 November 2012 Indianapolis, IN USA Radiation Protection; Boston, MA USA RSNA Annual Meeting; Chicago USA www.aapm.org/meetings; 26-29 September 2012 Radiological Society of North America 22-25 September 2013 Annual Meeting of the German Society of www.rsna.org ASTRO 2013; Atlanta, GA USA Medical Physics (DGMP) ; Jena, Germany 28 November 2012 1-6 December 2013 www.dgmp-kongress.de Seminar on Quality Control for Linear RSNA 2013;Chicago US,www.rsna.org 4-6 October 2012 Accelerator and TPS, Dhaka, Bangladesh 13-15 March 2014 Int'l Cancer Imaging Society 12th Annual 30 Nov - 1 Dec 2012 2nd International Conference on Medical Teaching Course ; Oxford, UK Practical Aspects of Stereotactic Body Physics in Radiation Oncology and www.icimagingsociety.org.uk/meetings Radiation Therapy-SBRT,Stanford,CA,US Imaging and 3rd Annual Conference of 1-5 October 2012 2-6 December 2012 BMPS, Dhaka Bangladesh.