AMERICAN ASSOCIATION of PHYSICISTS IN MEDICINE
AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
AAPM NEWSLETTER Advancing the Science, Education and Professional Practice of Medical Physics
IN THIS ISSUE: ▶ President-Elect’s Report
▶ Work Group on IMRT Report
▶ Person in the News
▶ Education Council Report
▶ Upstate NY Chapter Report ▶ Bangladesh Medical Physics Society
▶ IROC Report
▶ Imaging Practice Accreditation Subcommittee Report
▶ IOMP News and more...
JUL 30–AUG 3
AAPM 2017 DATES TO REMEMBER March 9 at 8PM Eastern, 5PM Pacific Time
Deadline for receipt of 300-word abstracts and supporting data. There will be NO EXTENSION OF THIS DEADLINE. Authors must submit their abstracts by this time to be considered for review.
March 22
Housing and Registration open!
June 21
Deadline to receive Discounted Registration Fees.
This Year at AAPM: •
Interact with vendors and learn about the latest technology. Evaluate new equipment to inform purchasing decisions.
•
Earn continuing education credit by attending scientific, educational, and professional presentations.
•
Pick the sessions you want to attend and get the credit you need — AAPM is scheduling more sessions that offer SAM.
•
Share knowledge and solutions, catch up with colleagues, and compare notes on similar clinical issues.
For the most up-to-date meeting and abstract submission information, visit www.aapm.org/meetings/2017AM/
CONTENTS ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE 5 13 17 19 21 23 25 31 33 37 39 41 45 47 49
President-Elect’s Report Executive Director’s Report Treasurer’s Report Website Editor’s Report Education Council Report ABR News Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Report ACR Accreditation Report Imaging Practice Accreditation Subcommittee Report Work Group on IMRT Report Upstate NY Chapter Report Bangladesh Medical Physics Society Report Person in the News IROC Report IOMP News
AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
AAPM NEWSLETTER The AAPM NEWSLETTER is published by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine on a bi-monthly schedule. AAPM is located at 1631 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2818
EDITORIAL BOARD Editor Jessica B. Clements, MS Kaiser Permanente
EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS 2 4 4 6 7 15 20 26 35 36 38 48
AAPM 2017 Annual Meeting & Exhibition Important Dates AAPM 2017 Spring Clinical Meeting AAPM 2017 Summer School AAPM 2017 TG100 AAPM 2017 Annual Meeting & Exhibition Program Information Condolences — AAPM Deceased Members AAPM 2017 Career Expo AAPM 2016 Contributors — Thank You Med Phys 3.0 AAPM 2017 Annual Meeting & Exhibition — New Member Symposium AAPM 2017 Awards & Honors Recipients AAPM Professional Survey
E-mail: JessicaClements@gmail.com Phone: 818-502-5180 John M. Boone, PhD Robert Jeraj, PhD George C. Kagadis, PhD E. Ishmael Parsai, PhD Charles R. Wilson, PhD SUBMISSION INFORMATION Please send submissions (with pictures when possible) to: E-mail: nvazquez@aapm.org AAPM Headquarters Attn: Nancy Vazquez 1631 Prince Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: (571) 298-1300
NAVIGATION HELP Previous/Next Article
PUBLISHING SCHEDULE The AAPM Newsletter is produced bi-monthly. Next issue: May/June Submission Deadline: April 10, 2017 Posted Online: Week of May 1, 2017
Tap the arrows at the bottom of the page to go to the next or previous page. EDITOR’S NOTE I welcome all readers to send me any suggestions or comments on any of the articles or new features to make this a more effective and engaging publication and to enhance the overall readership experience. Thank you.
CONNECT WITH US!
www.aapm.org www.aapm.org
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Online Evaluation System Open: March 18–April 18 www.aapm.org/meetings/2017SCM/
MARCH 18–21, 2017 | Hilton New Orleans Riverside | New Orleans, LA
Early Registration Deadline: May 3
In conjunction with the American Brachytherapy Society The course will provide an intense experience to cover the state-of-the-art for clinical brachytherapy physics. Presentations will include the experiences from experts as well as discussion and dialogue with course attendees. Workshops will provide practical hands-on opportunities for attendees to gain experience on nine key aspects of clinical brachytherapy physics, with opportunities for feedback from
the faculty. The course textbook will archive the contents of the presentations and workshops, provide example forms and workflows, and include practical problems and explanative solutions. Course attendees will learn up-to-date methods for the responsibilities associated with clinical brachytherapy physics. *This event is not endorsed or sponsored by Lewis & Clark
www.aapm.org/meetings/2017SS/
AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
AAPM PRESIDENT-ELECT’S REPORT Bruce Thomadsen, PhD, Madison, WI
Physics Summit on Imaging Physics
T
he situation with imaging physicists is becoming critical. Or maybe not. We wish we knew. There are indications that there may not be enough imaging medical physicists coming into the workforce. Some hospitals and consulting groups cannot find board-certified imaging physicists to fill positions. To assess the situation, AAPM President Melissa Martin convened a Physics Summit, with representatives of the American Board of Radiology, the American Board of Medical Physics, the Commission on the Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP), the American College of Radiology, and the Society of Directors of Academic Medical Physics Programs. For AAPM, in addition to the members of the Executive Committee, Jim Dobbins of the Education Council and Joann Prisciandaro, Chair of the Education and Training of Medical Physicists Committee (ETC) participated. An important part of this situation plays out through the tandem limits to entry: the requirement by the ABR that candidates complete a residency and the limited number of imaging residencies available. Currently, there are 15 CAMPEP-accredited imaging residencies and seven more in the process of applying for accreditation. The existing programs graduate about 20 residents per year, and it looks as if those programs in the application process should produce approximately another 10. So, how does that match the need? Aside from the anecdotal comments about the difficulty in finding imaging physicists, we have no real data on the issue. To address the question, the ETC will study the supply and projected need for imaging physicists and CAMPEP will have graduate programs and residencies provide more data on what graduates do after leaving the programs. Funding for the existing imaging residencies remains precarious, sometimes depending on grants. Regardless of the uncertainty on the supply and demand sides of the equation for imaging physicists, the future of imaging physics is very much more uncertain than the issues discussed at the summit. Many states do require, through regulation, the quality testing of x-ray equipment by qualified medical physicists and federal regulations require medical physics evaluations for mammography units. Aside from such requirements, for those modalities that ACR accredits, qualified medical physicists are responsible for commissioning the equipment and establishing the quality program and reviewing the results. The frequency of review may only be annually, which coincides with most state required QA. Other than this testing and review, further interactions between the medical physicist and the facility depends on the largess of its director since there is no identifiable revenue stream for imaging physics as there is for therapy. And this is a big loss for the facility, the patients, and the medical physicist. Another indication of the invisibility of imaging physics comes, for example, with the ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Participants in the 2017 Physics Summit on Imaging Medical Physics
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
President-Elect, cont.
Medical Education, for example, in Interventional Radiology. Those requirements include that residents must learn diagnostic physics, but there is no requirement that a medical physicist teach the course. The requirements dictate that the program takes place in a large institution to allow for a good number and distribution of cases and to provide meaningful interactions between the residents and other relevant persons, and specifies that the program must have a qualified interventional radiology technologist and a nurse qualified to administer moderate sedation. A medical physicist is not mentioned. The writers of the standard apparently have no understanding or appreciation of the valuable contributions medical physicists make in imaging other than the annual performance checks on the equipment. Imaging physicists played a more direct role in patient care and improving quality in individual departments in days gone by. Funding for an expanded role of the medical physicists in diagnostic and nuclear medicine facilities will only come if accreditation and education standards call for it. If that were to become the standard, programs to educate and train imaging physicists would have to grow to supply the need. AAPM needs to publicize the role of imaging physicists so both graduate students and the radiological community appreciate the value. Our voice alone will not lead to necessary changes. Medical physics has strong allies in the Radiological Society of North America and the American College of Radiology and we need to work with them to effect change. n
Quality, Safety and TG100 MARCH 17, 2017 | HILTON NEW ORLEANS RIVERSIDE | NEW ORLEANS, LA
O
n March 17, just prior to the Spring Clinical Meeting, plan to attend this full day interactive workshop to develop competence with the tools of TG 100, a structured systematic risk-based approach to quality management in radiation therapy.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Multidisciplinary participation is encouraged. The registration fee is the same for Medical Physicists, Dosimetrists, Therapists, Regulators and Administrators. Online evaluation system opens: MARCH
17
To allow full and active participation by all participants, no lecture is longer than 15 minutes. Participants will work on exercises in multidisciplinary groups of 4-8. Faculty will provide mentorship during the exercise sessions.
www.aapm.org/meetings/2017TG100/ 6 | www.aapm.org
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he theme for AAPM's 2017 Annual Meeting is “Connecting Our Pathways. Unifying Our Profession.” As many of us have observed in recent times, our profession of medical physics that had been functioning in fairly discrete segments not that long ago is now moving together at a rapid pace: Imaging with dual mode capabilities such as PET/CT or PET/MR and Therapeutic Modalities incorporating MR or X-ray localization immediately prior to energizing the treatment beam to ensure accurate placement of the treatment dose. Imaging is now an integral part of a radiation oncology department to the extent that radiation oncology physicists must be thoroughly familiar with all types of imaging modalities. The accuracy of treatment planning is totally dependent on the accuracy of the imaging information available for the patient. How we integrate the training of each of the current disciplines in medical physics is crucial to the success of our field in the future.
The Presidential Symposium this year will feature leading physicians speaking on the integration of each of the three branches of medical physics: diagnostic imaging physics, nuclear medical physics and radiation oncology physics, into their practice. Their outlook concerning future developments that may be occurring as we speak with other modalities, particularly with the incorporation of the immunological therapy agents and genomic sequencing, will provide us valuable insights into our potential future work. The radiology profession has already incorporated Imaging 3.0 into their practice as we incorporate Medical Physics 3.0 into ours. This year’s Annual Meeting in the Mile-High City of Denver will provide the perfect opportunity to showcase the highlights of our profession, which requires that all of us work together to bring into the clinic those exciting and significant developments being made by our researchers. Only when we utilize all of the talents of our multi-faceted profession will true success be obtained in providing the best possible diagnosis and treatment of our patients. Our Annual Meeting provides unique opportunities for you to share your scientific and clinical knowledge and skills. Ensure your professional development for the sake of our future in the field of Medical Physics by attending this year’s Annual Meeting in the Mile-High City. —Melissa C. Martin, 2017 AAPM President
NEW AND EXCITING FEATURES THIS YEAR… • New Symposium Structure and Special Joint Symposium at
this Year’s Annual Meeting Each year the Professional Council and Education Council host symposia at the Annual Meeting on timely topics of interest to the membership. This year, the chairs of the four councils (Professional, Education, Science, and Administrative) are joining forces to have a coordinated set of symposia on the general theme of new trends in medical physics. There will be three symposia on Sunday morning, starting with the Professional Council Symposium on "New Trends in Medical Physics Professional Practice,” followed by a Joint Symposium co-sponsored by all four councils on the topic of “New Opportunities for Medical Physics.” The morning session will conclude with the Education Council Symposium on “Future Trends in Medical Physics Education.” The joint symposium will include talks about new research horizons, the important new skills needed for medical physicists across all work environments, and a look at the challenges and opportunities of medical physics around the world. We encourage members to attend these three symposia to get a broad view of new directions in the many facets of medical physics.
• Special 3-Day Program on Ultrasound covering advances
in ultrasound guided radiotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound, and diagnostic imaging (Monday - Wednesday, July 31 – August 2, 2017) • NEW and IMPROVED General ePoster Discussions
In addition to the moderated ePosters in the ePoster Theater, we will expand our ePoster capabilities and include ePoster stations throughout the lounge areas in the Exhibit Hall. General ePosters include a select group of high-scoring posters identified by the Program Directors to be of special interest to attendees of the scientific program. This is an alternative to the hardcopy general poster to allow the authors to present their general poster electronically at a large screen display, dedicated to only their poster during a specifically assigned 30-minute timeslot. These General ePoster presentations will occur in the ePoster Theater and throughout the Exhibit Hall promoting lively discussion and scientific exchange. • The Science Council Session — Big Data, Deep Learning,
and AI in Imaging and Radiation Oncology (see below).
New and Exciting Features (continued) • SPS Undergraduate Research & Outreach
The Society of Physics Students (SPS) Undergraduate Research & Outreach poster session highlights the work of undergraduate students with an interest in medical physics. The first author (and presenter) of all posters in this session MUST be an undergraduate at the time of submission. Posters should reflect either research related to medical physics or outreach to promote the importance of and relationship between physics in medicine. All undergraduate members are invited to submit. • 2017 Certificate Course — A day-long track on Advanced
Imaging for Clinical Trials and Advanced Practice (see below) • Joint Scientific Symposium with the World Molecular Imaging
Society — Imaging Hypoxia • Joint Scientific Symposium with ESTRO — From Bench to
Bedside via veterinary Radiation Oncology • Distinguished Lectureships:
§ The Carson/Zagzebski Distinguished Lecture on Medical Ultrasound — Lihong Wang, Gene K. Beare Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, will present Photoacoustic Tomography: Multiscale Imaging from Organelles to Patients by Ultrasonically Beating Optical Diffusion. This presentation will be held during the diagnostic ultrasound imaging sessions within the Special 3-day Ultrasound Track. § The Anne and Donald Herbert Distinguished Lectureship in Modern Statistical Modeling — Daniel Krewski, PhD, MHA, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Chair in Risk Science, Professor and Director, McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa will discuss the statistical modeling involved in making conclusions from analysis of accumulated data on the effects of radiation at low doses.
and therapy physicists, including those who may have missed the MRgRT certificate course offered previously. Coordinated sessions will be held in the Imaging Education, Therapy Education, Professional, and Practical programs. • MPLA Leadership Session (Pre-registration required) Tuesday,
August 1, 2017 | 1:45-3:45 In the symposium, Leading From the Middle, experts in the field of Leadership Effectiveness will focus on methods to enhance and grow your current leadership skills focusing on networks and interactions to maximize performance and outcomes. Participation by each attendee is expected; space is limited for this interactive program. • Attend sessions aligned with your interest and get SAM
Credit: Similar to last year, with only a few exceptions, all invited sessions in the Education, Science, Professional, and Practical Tracks will offer SAM. SAM questions can be answered on your own following the completion of the session. Attendance is verified using a participation device on your badge. Registration for the Participation Device is required for the SAM Program. • Dedicated time in the meeting program for Visit the
Vendors. • Guided Tours on the Exhibit Floor. SAM credit will be offered.
Pre-registration required. See below. • Partners in Solutions — an exciting venue on the exhibit floor
(see below). • Expanding Horizons: The Expanding Horizons ePoster session
on Tuesday morning gives a venue for AAPM conference attendees to meet and discuss with awardees, learn the hot topics and emerging research areas presented at these conferences, and understand the relevance to future medical physics research.
• MR-in-RT mini-series: MR-in-RT is a multi-part course on
the role of MRI in radiation therapy, intended to offer comprehensive and focused education to both imaging
www.aapm.org/meetings/2017AM
All sessions and technical exhibits will take place in the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St, Denver, CO. The education program and professional program will offer a significant opportunity to gain practical knowledge on emerging technical and professional issues. This year, the scientific program will also offer a special three-day track on Ultrasound.
CERTIFICATE COURSE — Beyond Clinical Imaging: The Role of the Medical Physicist in Clinical Trials and Response Assessment This year’s Certificate Course will be on Wednesday of the meeting (August 2) on the topic of “Beyond Clinical Imaging: The Role of the Medical Physicist in Clinical Trials and Response Assessment”. This course will be open to all registrants and will focus on the important roles that medical physicists - both diagnostic and therapeutic - play in clinical trials and in clinical practice where the assessment of patient response to treatment is being evaluated. This course will consist of 4 sessions: (a) an education session that will focus on clinical trials — both those using radiation therapy and those that involve diagnostic imaging - and on the roles that medical physicists may play in each; (b) an education session on advanced technologies such as MR-PET and MR/RT that are being used for trials and response assessment; (c) a scientific session with proffered talks on these topics and (d) a session that will describe several active clinical trial settings and the roles that medical physicists are playing now and in the future. All sessions aim to be relevant to both diagnostic and therapeutic medical physicists, will seek to identify the unique requirements
of trials compared to clinical practice and seeks to increase the communication between physicists in these important activities. All those who register for the AAPM meeting (weekly or Wednesday daily) will have access to these sessions as usual. The mini-track will also serve as the certificate course at this year’s meeting, which provides an in-depth review of a particular topic with verification of learning objectives through on-line homework. Attendees may enroll in the certificate program for an additional fee. Enrollment in the program entitles participants to dedicated seating in the mini-track sessions as well as additional online materials. Following the meeting, certificate program participants will be required to take an online examination which covers the material presented throughout the day-long mini-track. Enrollees who demonstrate satisfactory attendance at the course and successful completion of the online examination (available after the meeting) will receive a framed certificate of completion for this course.
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM Therapy Track
Proffered Abstract Submissions
Symposia
• Photon Therapy – SBRT/SRS
• Microscopic Monte Carlo Simulations for Radiobiology
• Photon External Beam Therapy
Modeling: Advances and Challenges [SAM]
• Immobilization Technology
• QA for Modern Radiation Therapy [SAM]
• Electron Beam Therapy
• From Bench to Bedside via Veterinary Radiation Oncology
• Brachytherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals
• • • • •
[SAM] In Memoriam of John "Jack" F. Fowler: The Mathematics of Dose-fractionation Effects [SAM] The Role of Physics in Long Term Epidemiological Studies of Pediatric Radiotherapy Patients [SAM] Quantitative Imaging Guided Adaptive Radiotherapy [SAM] Recent Advances in Brachytherapy [SAM] Normal Tissue Dose-volume Effects of Head/Neck and Liver/ GI SBRT [SAM]
• Particle Therapy (Protons and Heavy Ions) • Outcome Modeling and Assessment • Patient Safety and Quality Improvement • Informatics • Radiobiology and Small Animal Systems • Radiation Protection and Shielding • Targeted Radionuclide Therapies • MedPhys3.0
www.aapm.org/meetings/2017AM
Scientific Program (continued) Imaging Track
Proffered Abstract Submissions
Symposia
• Science Council Session – Big Data, Deep Learning, and AI in
• Deep Learning and Applications in Medical Imaging [SAM] • 2017 ICRU Gray Medal: Presentation of the Medal and
Lectures by the Pioneers [SAM] • Photon Counting Detectors and Their Applications in
Medical Imaging [SAM] • Non-conventional Multi-Source X-Ray Imaging: Cardiac, Breast Imaging and Cone Beam CT [SAM] • Emerging and New Generation PET: Instrumentation, Technology, Characteristics and Clinical Practice [SAM] • Low Dose CT [SAM]
• • • • • • • •
Proffered Abstract Submissions
•
• Radiography/Fluoroscopy
•
• Multi-detector CT • Cone-beam CT
Imaging and Radiation Oncology Imaging in Treatment Planning and Adaptive Radiation Therapy MRI in Radiation Therapy Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) Motion and Uncertainty Assessment and Management Treatment Response Assessment Imaging for Particle Therapy Image Guidance for Surgical and Other Interventions (not Radiation Therapy) Radiobiology and Small Animal Systems Radiomics MedPhys3.0
Ultrasound (Special 3-Day Program)
• Mammography/Tomosynthesis
Symposia
• Nuclear Medicine, PET and PET/MR
• Ultrasound Imaging and Therapy Hands-On Workshop
• MRI
• US Guidance for RT Interventions [SAM]
• Pre-Clinical (Small Animal) Imaging Systems
• US Guided Systems for Brachytherapy [SAM]
• Optical
• Therapeutic Ultrasound and Immunotherapy: A Primer [SAM]
• New and Emerging Technology
• HIFU in Oncology
• Multi-Modality Imaging
• Advanced Novel Technologies & Delivery Strategies in HIFU
• PACS/Informatics
• Therapeutic Strategies and Image Guidance in HIFU [SAM]
• MedPhys3.0
• HIFU Treatment Planning, Modeling, and Dose • Advances in Ultrasound Contrast Agents for Diagnosis &
Joint Imaging/Therapy Track Symposia • In Memoriam of Michael Sharpe: The Future of Precision in RT
[SAM] • Machine Learning Role in Radiomics and Radiogenomics
[SAM] • Targeting Tumors with Nanoparticles [SAM] • Radiomics for Lung Cancer [SAM] • Design for Care [SAM] • Roles of In-vivo Dose Verification in Radiation Therapy [SAM] • MR-guided Radiotherapy [SAM] • Optical Image-guided Surgery [SAM] • Research Funding [SAM] • ROC: A New Method in Radiotherapy QA [SAM] • Auto-segmentation Grand Challenge [SAM]
Therapy • Advances in Ultrasound Imaging Technology • Ultrasound in Monitoring Treatment Response Proffered Abstract Submissions • Ultrasound for Diagnostic Imaging • Ultrasound for RT Therapy • Therapeutic Ultrasound
www.aapm.org/meetings/2017AM
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM Therapy Track • In Memoriam of Michael Goitein: Milestones in Treatment
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Planning, Biophysical Modeling, and Delivery of Proton Therapy [SAM] In Memoriam of Bob Gorson: Radiation Programs in Medical Centers [SAM] MR in RT: MR Image Processing, Registration and Planning in Radiation Therapy [SAM] Proton therapy: Pencil beam scanning Personalized Electron Beam Therapy using Custom Treatment Devices Medical Physics 3.0 in Design & in Practice (Joint Therapy & Imaging Session) [SAM] Big Data in Radiation Oncology: Current Resources, Technology & Emerging Strategies [SAM] Electronic Charting in Radiation Oncology and Integration with Hospital EMR [SAM] Best Practices for Physics Plan and Chart Review: Report of AAPM Task Group 275 [SAM] Strategies for Quality Improvement Based on RO-ILS Information [SAM] Contour Quality Assurance & Decision Support (Primer for the Auto-Segmentation Grand Challenge) [SAM] Machine Learning in Medical Physics Changing paradigms for linac QA using EPIDS [SAM] Intra-Operative Radiotherapy (IORT): Breast and Beyond [SAM] HDR Brachytherapy: Interstitial Treatments for GYN (Panel Discussion) & Methods of Treatment Verification [SAM] Developments in Clinical Reference Dosimetry [SAM] SRS/SBRT: Clinical Implementation and Small Volume Dose Limits for Intra-cranial and Spine [SAM] Inverse Optimization Meets High Performance Computing [SAM] Clinical IGRT: In-room Technologies, Image Processing for Patient Alignment, IGRT Protocol Considerations and Informed Margins [SAM]
Imaging Track • Multi-modality 4D Imaging: From Principles to Applications • MR in RT: MR Pulse Sequences and Image Acquisition
(Including Radiation Therapy Applications) • EI DI Oh! Implementation and interpretation of the Exposure
• A Concise Introduction to MRI • Best Practices in Pediatric Imaging • Anne and Donald Herbert Distinguished Lecture in Modern
Statistical Modeling • ALARA Debate • General Nuclear Medicine • In Memoriam of Robert O. Gorson: Radiation Protection and
Shielding of Modern Facilities • Advanced Breast Imaging: Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
Updates and Contrast Enhanced Spectral Mammography • Implementation of the 2016 ACR Digital Mammography
Quality Control Manual • Medical Physics 3.0 in Practice • Quantitative Multi-Energy Computed Tomography: Imaging
and Therapy Advancements • How to select and evaluate a PET auto-segmentation (PET-
AS) tool - insights from AAPM TG211 • Computed Tomography Imaging: From the Order to Dose
Monitoring and Review • General Radiology (Radiography/Fluoroscopy)
Practical Medical Physics • Tailoring CT Protocols to the Patient's Age, Size, and Clinical
Scenario • Statistical Failings that Keep Us in the Dark & Practical
Statistics [SAM] • From the Trenches: Implementing the Changes of the New
MR QA Manual [SAM] • Identifying Image Artifacts, Their Causes, and Solutions [SAM] • MR in RT: Implementation in RT Planning and Delivery [SAM] • Compliance with AAPM, ACR, TJC Guidelines on CT Clinical
Practice [SAM] • An Interactive Safety Session for New Brachytherapy
Practitioners [SAM] • Good, Bad and Ugly of Patient Exposure and Dose Tracking
[SAM] • Perspectives in MRI Safety for Medical Physicists [SAM] • Improving Dose Prescriptions for Safety, Reporting, and
Clinical Guideline Consistency [SAM] • Management of Radiotherapy Patients with Cardiac
Implantable Electronic Devices [SAM] • DBT Quality Assurance: Medical Physicists Role, From
Equipment Evaluation to Soft Copy Image Display [SAM]
Indicator for Digital Radiography
www.aapm.org/meetings/2017AM
PARTNERS IN SOLUTIONS Partners in Solutions continues to offer a unique way for physicists to interact with and learn from our vendors, with vendors providing physics-level applications training classes in a special-purpose lecture room located on the exhibit floor. These are not sales pitches, but practical information for the clinical physicist from the people who know their systems in depth. Topics for this year are: • Imaging: Metal Artifact Reduction. Metallic implants in
a patient undergoing CT produce artifacts in the image set which can mask the anatomy and interfere with the accurate interpretation of the images. Learn about techniques and algorithms that vendors have introduced to minimize these artifacts.
• Therapy: Patient Treatment Delivery Verification. A variety
of methods are now available for clinical verification of radiation treatment delivery, particularly for IMRT/VMAT treatments but also applicable to static fields. Vendors will present their solutions, describing how they work, how to interpret the results, and the pros and cons. A better understanding of the available options will help the clinical physicist chose the best solution for his or her clinic. Look for the Partners in Solutions sessions on the meeting program. CE credit will be offered. Come learn with us!
PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM Symposia • International Symposium: Advanced Training of Medical
Physicists Beyond North America • Recent Therapy Medical Physics Practice Guidelines and
Your Delivery Path • Recent Changes to the ABR MOC Process • Physicists’ Roles and Workload for NCTN (National Clinical • • • • • • • • •
Trials Network) Clinical Trials [SAM] MR in RT: Professional Requirements for Physicists in MRI Guided Radiation Therapy What to Do: Medical Physicist Assistants Leading From the Middle [SAM] New Member Symposium Code of Ethics: Practicing Our Values [SAM] Legal Issues in Medical Physics Economic Issues in Medical Physics History Symposium - Radionuclide Therapy: Dr. Saul Hertz to Present Diagnostic Workforce Study Report
• Adult Learning (Andragogy) Techniques for Medical Physics
[SAM] • In Memoriam of Ann Wright: Promoting Diversity Through
Active Mentoring • Session in Memory of Alex Turner: Medical Physics Journal
Workshop • Panel Discussion: Mentor and Mentee Roles • Question Writer Workshop • IP Issues in Medical Physics • How to prepare for and navigate the board certification
process in Diagnostic and Nuclear Imaging • Navigating the board certification process: Therapy Physics
Proffered Abstract Submissions • Professional Practice of Medical Physics • Education (Clinical) • Legislation and Regulation • Administration and Management • Compliance and Quality Management
EXHIBIT HALL GUIDED TOURS Therapy Track Come visit our vendors as part of a guided tour. Tourists will first hear a short introduction on the selected topic by one of the leaders in the field, then follow their AAPM-member Tour Guide
to the vendor booths to hear about their related products. SAM credit available. Topics for this year are: • Imaging: Phantoms • Therapy: Dose Calculation Check Programs
www.aapm.org/meetings/2017AM
AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT Angela R. Keyser, Alexandria, VA
Did You Know? Do you receive Medical Physics in print and would prefer to get it online only? If so, click here. • •
Look for Journal Preferences – Medical Physics in Print.
If your current preference is “I wish to receive Medical Physics in Print and Online” click the “change” button and it will read “I wish to receive Medical Physics Online Only.”
That’s it! In 4-6 weeks, you will no longer receive a print copy! Change your mind? Click the change button to revert to print at any time! If you have retired from the field after being a Full or Associate member of AAPM for 10+ consecutive years and are over the age of 55, you are eligible for Emeritus Membership. • •
To request a change to Emeritus, click here. Under “Need an Account?” click Sign Up and follow the instructions. Once you have an account, sign in and choose the Emeritus application. Complete the application and submit and our membership team will do the rest!
The ABR Offers Video Instructions for Annual MOC Attestations Unlimited access to the Virtual Library is included as a benefit of AAPM membership at no extra charge. Presentations posted in the Virtual Library include: •
Streaming video and/or audio of the speakers
•
Transcription of the audio for numerous presentations
•
Slides of the presentations
Members have the ability to take online quizzes and earn CAMPEP credit via the Online Learning Center for a $75 annual fee. Who does what on the AAPM HQ Team? See a list with contact information and brief descriptions of responsibilities online. An Organization Chart is also provided.
Research Seed Grant Application Deadline is April 5 Three $25,000 Research Seed Grants will be awarded to provide funds to develop exciting investigator-initiated concepts, which will hopefully lead to successful longer term project funding from the NIH or equivalent funding sources. Funding for grant recipients will begin on July 1 of the award year. Research results will be submitted for presentation at future AAPM meetings. Sponsored by the AAPM Science Council through the AAPM Education & Research Fund.
AAPM Graduate Fellowship Application Deadline is April 29 The fellowship is awarded for the first two years of graduate study leading to a doctoral degree in Medical Physics. Both BSc and MS holders are eligible to apply. A stipend of $13,000 per year, plus tuition support not exceeding $5,000 per year is assigned to the recipient. Sponsored by the AAPM Education & Research Fund.
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
Executive Director, cont.
New Online NCRP Publication Available Commentary No. 026 - Guidance on Radiation Dose Limits for the Lens of the Eye (2016)
AAPM Meeting News
Mark your calendars for four upcoming AAPM meetings: Quality, Safety and TG100 Workshop
March 17, 2017 – just prior to the Spring Clinical Meeting Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans, Louisiana Earn 7 SAM credits in one day!
AAPM Annual Spring Clinical Meeting
March 18-21, 2017 The Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans, Louisiana Register Now! The Spring Clinical Meeting program is available online. Also, note that several AAPM groups plan to meet during the 2017 AAPM Spring Clinical Meeting. A list of AAPM activities is available online. Please make time during the meeting to visit the vendors and thank them for their support of AAPM and the medical physics profession.
AAPM 2017 Summer School Clinical Brachytherapy Physics June 10-14, 2017, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon View program and register now! The deadline to register with discounted registration fee is May 3. Campus housing reservations must be made by May 17.
AAPM 59th Annual Meeting and Exhibition July 30 – August 3, 2017, Denver, Colorado This year’s program focusing on “Connecting Our Pathways, Unifying Our Profession” will be held in the Colorado Convention Center.
Staff News
Congratulations to Robert McKoy, CPA on his promotion to Director of the Finance Team. Robert joined the HQ team as Controller in April 2014 and very soon proved to be invaluable during the Ad Hoc Committee on HQ Space Needs deliberations and ultimate building purchase and relocation of AAPM HQ operations. I have come to rely heavily on his input and he has the respect of the rest of the team. Michael Woodward, Lisa Rose Sullivan and Robert will continue to serve with me as the AAPM management team. I am pleased to report that Karen MacFarland has been recertified as a “Certified Meeting Planner” (CMP). The CMP designation recognizes those who have achieved the meeting industry’s highest standard of professionalism. The requirements for certification are based on professional experience and an academic examination. Karen received her initial certification in 2007. n
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
Our Condolences Paul T. Ortiz • John “Jack” F. Fowler, DSc • James C. Carlson, MS
Our deepest sympathies go out to their families. We will all feel the loss in the medical physics community. If you have information on the passing of members, please inform HQ ASAP so that these members can be remembered appropriately. We respectfully request the notification via e-mail to: 2017.aapm@aapm.org Please include supporting information so that we can take appropriate steps. vc AAPM Clr Ad 6.75x4.75_17Feb10.pdf
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
TREASURER’S REPORT Mahadevappa Mahesh, PhD, Baltimore, MD
W
ith the tax season looming, I think an appropriate topic to discuss in this issue is the types of contributions an AAPM member can make to the organization. In this regard, here is a short discussion on the two types of contributions, namely unrestricted and restricted contributions.
Unrestricted and Restricted Contributions Not-for-profit organizations have several streams of revenue to support their missions. Organizations often receive a significant portion of their revenue from membership dues, special events, grants, publications, and investment income. For organizations, another source of significant revenue is contribution revenue. Contributions to a not-for-profit organization often take two different forms: •
Unrestricted
•
Restricted
When making a gift or reviewing an organizations financial statements, it is important to understand the difference between the two types of contributions.
Unrestricted Contributions Unrestricted contributions are donations to an organization that the not-for-profit can use for any purpose. Unrestricted contributions are often used by non-profits to cover operating expenses or they can be used for any purpose management or volunteer leadership so determines. Occasionally the board of directors for a not-for-profit will designate unrestricted contributions for a particular program or event. The process of a board designating funds for a particular purpose does not make these restricted contributions, however they still remain as unrestricted contributions.
Restricted Contributions On the other hand, the second type of contributions is restricted contributions. It should be noted that only the donor can determine if a donation is restricted or not. The donor typically communicates the restriction in writing. On occasion an organization can solicit donations for a restricted purpose. As long as that restriction is communicated in advance the donation is deemed restricted. For instance, an organization can solicit donations for a building fund. A donor makes contributions and restricts its use for a particular program, activity, or event. Restricted contributions often follow into two categories: Temporarily Restricted and Permanently Restricted. Temporarily Restricted are those items that were received with a donor-imposed restriction that will be satisfied in the future (generally within one year). The donor’s restriction may be for a particular purpose or program or for use in a specified time period. Permanently Restricted items are those received with a donor-imposed restriction that states that the donation must be maintained permanently, but may permit the organization to use up or expend part or all of the income derived from the asset.
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
Treasurer, cont.
For fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, the accounting standards will change and at that time donations will be designated only as unrestricted and restricted.
Gift Acceptance Policy To help protect itself from accepting gifts that will cost the not-for-profit organization time, money, and possibly its reputation, many organizations have developed a gift acceptance policy to provide guidelines for what gifts it will or will not accept. Gift acceptance policies define the types of assets that are acceptable, and establish the gift forms that are acceptable. Although it may seem counterintuitive, some potential gifts would serve an organization better if they were refused. Some potential gifts might include hidden costs, burdening the resources of the organization in either using or disposing of the gift. Through the years, organizations have received gifts of boats, airplanes, and timeshares. The resources required to maintain the gift and the resources (time, manpower and expense) needed to execute the sale of the assets have in some cases exceeded the net proceeds received from the sale of the gift. Overall, restricted gifts help donors support causes within organizations that are nearest and dearest to their heart. At the same time, if an organization reliant upon donor contributions receives a substantial amount of restricted gifts as opposed to unrestricted gifts it might find itself struggling to cover its operating costs. However, the use of restricted gifts is a great opportunity for donors to support those causes most important to them. There is always a dilemma for any not-for-profit organizations to accept restricted gifts (especially if the contributions are small and too many because they increase operating costs for the organizations). On the other hand, if a donor contributes under non-restricted funds, they do provide organizations such as AAPM more flexibility to utilize the funds in the right way. I welcome members to support AAPM activities either through unrestricted or through restricted contributions. In fact, the Development Committee chaired by Colin Orton, PhD, have developed mechanisms to maximize member contributions such as matching funds to those who commit to contribute to AAPM above certain amount over a period of time. In fact, the Development Committee added the following information regarding matching funds: “The AAPM Board just approved providing matching funds (1:1) for any ‘five-year pledge’ donations of at least $500/year starting from January 1, 2016. Note that, as far as your donation level indicated in the list of donors is concerned, once you make this pledge and submit your first donation, you will immediately be credited not only with your full five-year donation amount, but also the matched full donation from AAPM, i.e. if you pledge a donation of $1,000 for each of the next five years, you will immediately be recognized as a Platinum Donor ($10,000 or above).” I welcome AAPM members to check this out for more information and keep AAPM in mind during your tax seasons for tax-deductible contributions. Please feel free to reach out to me by email, Twitter, or call me at 410-955-5115 if you have any questions concerning this report. I would like to thank Robert A. McKoy, AAPM Finance Director, for his subject matter contribution to this column. n
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
WEBSITE EDITOR’S REPORT George C. Kagadis, PhD, Rion, Greece
Y
ou must have all already come across our new home page. This is a generous revamping of our society’s website over the last few years. Everything has changed regarding the look, feel, and the structure the information is based on. We have put effort into making the webpage cleaner and more easily accessible to our membership. To this direction, our Information Services (IS) personnel are working to streamline information as they work to convert to the new look and feel. The transition to the new website isn’t over yet, and it will be an ongoing process. You will continue to experience improvements as time goes by. Should you have any comments, suggestions, and/or additions please send them to our webmistress Ms. Farhana Khan for consideration. I would like to thank Farhana Khan, Rohan Tapiyawala, Abby Pardes, and Michael Woodward for their diligent work all these years in the IS Department, and for preparing a state of the art website which I am very proud of. We are all getting prepared for the AAPM Annual Meeting, which this year is going to take place in Denver, CO (July 30 – August 3). The 59th AAPM Annual Meeting & Exhibition website is now up and ready to receive your submissions. The AAPM Virtual Library now has 1,539 videos available (as of February 28, 2017) to our membership. All of the educational material dating back to 2001 is concurrently available in AAPM’s Amazon Web Services and Vimeo. As already explained in the past, when somebody tries to access a video he/she is first connected to Vimeo and if, due to their institution’s policy, they cannot access Vimeo, he/she then has the ability to view it on our AWS. We are proud to say that all of the traffic is maintained through our website. I am pleased to report that as of February 28, 2017 we have 41,901 images posted to AAPM’s Flickr, 5,555 likes on Facebook, 9,905 members on LinkedIn, and 5,637 followers on Twitter. Our website is mainly visited by people in the USA (69.52% of the sessions), Canada (4.10% of the sessions), and Japan (2.14% of the sessions). The majority of our site visits are through Windows (68.64%), and MacOS (14.04%). With regard to our friends accessing our website through their mobile the main operating system is iOS (10.73%), Android (4.96%), and Windows (0.13%). I hope you find the AAPM website useful, visit it often, and send me your feedback. n
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The Student and Trainee’s Subcommittee and the Working Group to Promote Non-Clinical Career Paths for Medical Physicists (WGNCMP) present the
2 ANNUAL CAREER EXPO ND
Student Day July 30, 2017 | 11:30 am–1:00 pm This event brings students, trainees, and new medical physicists together with physicists who are currently employed within a non-clinical setting. We are looking to gather employers who regularly hire medical physicists for positions within industry, regulation, and research in one convenient location. Our aim is to to help connect employers with students and trainees to discuss the wide range of careers and opportunities available within non-clinical medical physics. There is no fee to register and
employers may bring as many representatives (physicists ideally) as you would prefer. To register your company, please fill out this Google Form as soon as possible as space is limited. For more information, please e-mail Humza Nusrat or Kurt Van Delinder. (Lunch will be provided for employer representatives.)
We look forward to seeing you in Denver!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: www.aapm.org/meetings/2017AM/AssociationMtgs.asp
AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
EDUCATION COUNCIL REPORT Anna Rodrigues, PhD, Durham, NC At the request of the Education Council Chair Jim Dobbins, the Students and Trainees Subcommittee (STSC) would like to update the membership on our activities on behalf of the Education Council. It’s a pleasure to serve as the chair of the STSC when you get to work with such an engaged and dedicated group of students, trainees, and mentors and I am excited to share the ongoing efforts of our subcommittee: Our efforts to streamline and improve both the diversity and scheduling of events at the Annual Meetings led to the first-ever Student and Trainee Day at the 2016 meeting in Washington D.C. The events were exclusively geared towards students and trainees with minimal conflicting sessions, thus allowing SUGGESTION BOX for the maximum number of students and trainees to attend the following events: Attendees enjoyed talks from a panel of professionals with industry, academic, regulatory, and clinical backgrounds on The Many Paths of Medical Physics at the Annual Student Meeting. This was followed by a discussion on the Core Aspects of a Medical Physics Education at the Working Group on Student and Trainee Research (WGSTR) Lunch co-hosted by the STSC. At the Residency Fair over 130 attendees mingled with 60 Residency Programs, allowing prospective applicants to get to know program directors and residents face-to-face before application season. Complementary to the Residency Fair, the Working Group to Promote Non-Clinical Career Paths for Medical Physicists (WGNCMP) organized the first-ever Career Expo allowing attendees to meet physicists working in a variety of roles at companies, government agencies, and academic research. The Student and Trainee Night Out “kicked off” in the box suite of RFK Stadium, providing a relaxing atmosphere to network with fellow students, residents, and post-docs. Additionally, we held an Interview Workshop and continued our support of HQ on the Partners for the Future initiative. With the resounding success of these events, we are already in the midst of planning this year’s Student and Trainee Day! Since the inception of our subcommittee, we have rapidly expanded our initiatives beyond just the annual student meeting and every year we have more students and trainees joining the STSC. We have an active social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and also manage our own blog. One of our goals is to engage with our constituents on a regular basis and the blog has especially been a great resource for the STSC to showcase topics such as An Inside Look into the Med Phys Match: Part 1, Pursuing Medical Physics as an International Student in the US, and Interview With AAPM Student Volunteers. We have also recently revamped the Student page on the AAPM website to create a better landing page for prospective and current students and trainees. Successful collaborations and liaisonships with other groups have reduced duplicative efforts and facilitated higher throughput of tasks. For example, we collaborated with the WGSTR, to co-host the Student Luncheon and members of the FUTUREs Working Group supported our Career Expo. One of our goals for the upcoming year is to incorporate more events at the AAPM meeting for undergraduate students by working closely with Brad Conrad, the Director of the Society of Physics Students, the WGSTR, and the Undergraduate Summer Fellowship and Outreach Subcommittee. Additionally, we have liaisons on the New Professionals Subcommittee, SDAMPP, and Medical Physics Residency Training and Promotion Subcommittee (MPRTP).
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
Education Council, cont.
The Working Group to Promote Non-Clinical Career Paths for Medical Physicists (WGNCMP) has been writing a paper that explores non-clinical career options for medical physicists as well as outlining what additional training may be needed for such careers. The increasingly stringent requirements to become a board-certified medical physicist predicated this work as there are not enough residency slots to accommodate all graduating medical physics graduate students. The WGNCMP has surveyed graduate program directors about the training they provide students for nonclinical careers, new physicists about how they perceive non-clinical careers, and current students about how much they know about non-clinical careers and their interest in pursuing them. The results of this research were summarized in a poster at the 2015 Annual Meeting and can be found on the minutes page of the committee website. The final piece of our research has been to interview medical physicists working across the non-clinical career spectrum to ascertain what they do, what they like about their jobs, how best to prepare for these careers. All of these aspects will be found in the paper which has been written for students to take charge of their own education. Watch the STSC blog for installments focusing on each career path and the AAPM Students and Trainees Subcommittee Facebook page for the finished product. For more details about the STSC's efforts and initiatives, we will be publishing a newsletter in the coming weeks. Finally, all our activities are part of a greater effort to integrate students, residents, and post-docs and to show that they are welcomed and valued members of AAPM. If you have ideas on how to further support and include students and trainees within the AAPM organization, get in touch with us. We look forward to working with you! n
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
ABR NEWS Geoffrey Ibbott, PhD, ABR Board of Governors and Jerry Allison, PhD, J. Anthony Seibert, PhD, and Matthew B. Podgorsak, PhD, FAAPM, ABR Trustees
Introduction The American Board of Radiology (ABR) could not function without a large and diverse group of hard-working volunteers. Presently, there are 526 volunteers, including 108 medical physicists. Physics is an integral part of almost all ABR examinations, and without the many medical physics volunteers, production of the exams would not be possible. ABR volunteers write physics content for exams listed in the following table.
Medical Physics
Diagnostic Radiology and IR/DR*
Part 1– Clinical
Core
Part 1 – General
Certifying
Part 2 – DMP
RISE**
Radiation Oncology Physics
Part 2 – NMP Part 2 – TMP Oral – DMP Oral – NMP Oral – TMP OLA*** – DMP OLA*** – NMP OLA*** – TMP *IR/DR candidates also take the Core Exam and part of the Certifying Exam. **Radioisotope Safety Exam ***Online Longitudinal Assessment, which is currently under development and will eventually replace the traditional 10-year Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Exam.
After each question is written, it is reviewed by a group of medical physicists before it is accepted into a pool of available physics questions. This pool of questions is used by another group of ABR volunteers to assemble content for each of the examinations.
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
ABR, cont.
How Can I Volunteer? We strongly encourage all medical physics diplomates of the ABR to volunteer. In particular, we are actively seeking nuclear medical physicists for various committee assignments. Almost all ABR volunteers begin as question writers for one of the many examinations. The training that question writers receive is valuable for anyone who writes questions for any cognitive examination. Because we encourage diversity in our volunteers, we welcome medical physicists with either MS or PhD degrees, as well as those from academia or private practice. Please contemplate the needs of the profession and consider volunteering here, where a form is available for you to complete and submit online. ABR VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS •
Must be certified by the ABR or the ABMP.
•
Question writers must be one year post certification.
•
Oral examiners must be three years post certification.
•
Must be clinically active in the profession.
•
Must be enrolled in and meeting the requirements of MOC.
It generally takes a while for the ABR to process a volunteer application. You can help by making sure you include the email addresses of your references and listing your areas of expertise and areas where you would like to help. As the ABR changes from the decennial MOC exam to ABR OLA (Online Longitudinal Assessment), we are seeking additional volunteers to participate in this exciting new activity.
Welcome Matthew B. Podgorsak and a Note of Thanks to Mike Herman Dr. Podgorsak, who has a therapeutic physics portfolio, has recently become an ABR trustee. He has filled the position previously held by Dr. Michael Herman. We would like to thank Dr. Herman for his innumerable hours of volunteer service to the ABR. Dr. Podgorsak is the chief physicist at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Department of Radiation Therapy, in Buffalo, New York. Like Dr. Herman, he has a long history of volunteer service to the ABR and previously received a Volunteer Service Award. He has served on question-writing committees and also as an oral examiner. Welcome, Dr. Podgorsak!
New Question Types You are reminded that new question types will be included on the Part 1 and Part 2 exams, which will be given in August. Please consult the ABR website for further details. n
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
LEGISLATIVE & REGULATORY AFFAIRS REPORT Richard Martin, Alexandria, VA
FDA Rolls-Out EQUIP Inspection for Mammography Quality
L
ate last year, the Food and Drug Administration, Division of Mammography Quality Standards (DMQS) launched the Enhancing Quality Using the Inspection Program (EQUIP) initiative. The initiative adds three questions to the inspection to underscore the importance of routine, regular image quality review in keeping mammography quality high. The EQUIP questions are process-focused and designed to gauge whether appropriate procedures are in place for image quality feedback and review. Facilities can tailor these procedures to their needs. The EQUIP questions are: 1. Does the facility have procedures for corrective action when clinical images are of poor quality? 2. Does the facility have procedures to ensure images continue to comply with clinical image quality standards of the facility’s accreditation body? 3. Does the facility have a procedure for interpreting physician oversight of QA/QC records and corrective actions? While inspections under EQUIP began January 1, 2017, no facility will receive citations related to the EQUIP questions during the first year of the initiative. Inspectors will use this initial year to educate facilities about EQUIP. DMQS hopes EQUIP will help facilities identify image quality problems early and encourage timely corrective action. For more information, see EQUIP’s Website.
NRC Considers Category 3 Protection and Accountability at Public Meeting The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held a public meeting on January 31, 2017 seeking input on potential modifications to Category 3 source protection and accountability requirements. (See meeting notice and request for comment published in the Federal Register on January 9, 2017.) Category 3, which includes high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy sources, affects medical use of isotopes. Potential enhancements addressed at the meeting are verification of Category 3 licenses through the License Verification System (LVS), inclusion of Category 3 sources in the National Source Tracking System (NSTS), and expansion of physical security requirements to include Category 3 quantities of radioactive material. The number of licensees impacted would be approximately 5,500. Stakeholders at the meeting told NRC staff that current protections were adequate and little or no benefit would be gained by adopting any of the suggested enhancements. In addition, they expressed concern whether current licensing and source tracking systems would be robust enough to handle the increased volume. NRC staff will use information gathered at the meeting and in the public comment process to evaluate whether it is necessary to revise NRC regulations or processes governing source protection and accountability. NRC is particularly interested in quantifying any perceived benefit or burden of any actions it may take, and the agency is looking to stakeholders for this information. AAPM anticipates filing comments by the March 10, 2017 deadline. Let us know if you have any questions on this issue, or if you would like to provide information to include in AAPM’s comments. Contact Richard J. Martin, JD, AAPM’s Government Relations Specialist (571) 298-1227. n
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focus on
our future thank AAPM wishes to acknowledge and thank the
following individuals for their 2016 contributions: AAPM Education & Research Fund B. (Wally) Ahluwalia Ayoola Akinradewo Ismail AlDahlawi Scott J. Alleman Jerry D. Allison Maxwell Amurao Jacqueline M. Andreozzi Ryan Andreozzi John A. Antolak David M. Applebaum Michalis Aristophanous Samuel G. Armato Shahid B. Awan Bulent Aydogan Rajeev K. Badkul Esther Baer John P. Balog Jonathan K. Bareng Margaret C. Barker Amar K. Basavatia John E. Bayouth Magdalena Bazalova-Carter Frederick D. Becchetti Areg Bejanian Clyon Wayne Bell Matthew D. Belley Jon Berens
Ryan C. M. Best Paul J. Black Tyler A. Blackwell Rex Allen Boone Evan J. Boote David Borrego Cristina Boswell J. Daniel Bourland Arthur L. Boyer Stephen L. Brown Thomas Brown Harry S. Bushe Terry M. Button Warren G. Campbell Kari L. Cann Gene A. Cardarelli Laura I. Cervino Sarah Chamberlain Marc J.P. Chamberland Maria F. Chan Edward L. Chaney Chang Chang Weishan Chang Vorakarn Chanyavanich Jean Jacques Chavaudra Yan Chen Yie Chen Alice A. Cheung Charles L. Chipley Suzanne J. Chungbin
you!
Andrei Ciura John Phillips Clewlow Kristen Cline Charles Collins-Fekete Jeffrey T. Colvin Leigh A. Conroy Nathan A. Corradini LaToya G. Crayton Wesley S. Culberson Seth Cupp Joanna E. Cygler Maria A. Czerminska Ingvild Dalehaug Indra J. Das Rabten Datsang Jaydev K. Dave Marie-Eve Delage Domenico Delli Carpini Dharmin D. Desai Anees H. Dhabaan Deon M. Dick Renato Dimenstein George X. Ding Derek Dolney Godwin Dorbu Joseph P. Driewer Kathleen M. Driggers Donald F. Dubois Nancy Dubois Justin L. Ducote
focus on
our future Jenny Dueck Michael J. Dumas Laura Durance James M. Eddy Issam M. El Naqa Scott J. Emerson Franz Englbrecht Nsikan Esen Jessica M. Fagerstrom Benjamin P. Fahimian Austin M. Faught Derek A. Fiedler Eric C. Ford Martin W. Fraser G. Donald Frey Sandra Gabriel Brenden D. Garrity Steven Anthony Gasiecki Caryn H. Geady Bruce J. Gerbi Eduard Gershkevitsh Ermias Gete Joseph Giardina John P. Gibbons Maryellen L. Giger Gurtej S. Gill Andrew R. Godley Lee W. Goldman Daniel A. Gollnick James H. Goodwin Anne W. Greener Bennett S. Greenspan Peter B. Greer Shelby M. Grzetic Mariana Guerrero Suveena Guglani Madhup Gupta Bryce A. Gustafson Scott W. Hadley Per H. Halvorsen Russell J. Hamilton Abdelkhalek Hammi Lydia L. HandsďŹ eld Nicholas Hardcastle Jamie M. Harris Wendy B. Harris Vijay A. Harwalkar
Katelyn E. Hasse Lauren Haver Chris M. Hearn Robert A. Hearn Bret H. Heintz Joseph P. Hellman Frank William Hensley Michael G. Herman Joe Ho Simeon P. Hodges Dimitre Hristov Tom C. Hu Jessie Y. Huang Long Huang Kristina E. Huffman Geoffrey D. Hugo Margie A. Hunt Martina H. Hurwitz Abrar M. Hussain Geoffrey S. Ibbott Mark S. Ingram Razvan Iordache Michael A. Jacobs Daniel J. Januseski Glenn T. Jennings Xun Jia Zheng Jin Jennifer Lynn Johnson Joshua D. Johnson Loretta M. Johnson Chandra Prakash Joshi Christopher Kabat Philip J. Kallenberg Kalpana M. Kanal Haejin Kang Alireza Kassaee James A. Kavanaugh Carl R. Keener Timothy R. Keys Angela R. Keyser Hwiyoung Kim Jinkoo Kim Sung-Kyu Kim Bernadette L. Kirk Assen S. Kirov David M. Klein Tom IL Knoos
Robert J. Kobistek Sion Koren Margaret (Peggy) A. Kowski Wendy S. Kresge Andrew Krill Jon J. Kruse Stephen F. Kry Louis Kuchnir Hsiang-Chi Kuo Takehiro Kuroda Roger O. Ladle M. Terry LaFrance Jeongeun Lah Michael A. S. Lamba Bhujanga R. Lankipalli Donald W. Laury Jaegi Lee Joerg Lehmann Sabrina Lehmann Yu Lei Peter Leon Min Y. Leu Daphne Levin Craig E. Lewis Hua Li Shidong Li Bruce Libby Liyong Lin Mu-Han Lin Teh Lin Haydee Maria Linares Rosales Wu Liu Salmen Loksen Michele F. Loscocco Joel Thomas Love Daniel A. Low Hsiao-Ming Lu Zhengfeng Lu Anne Lucas-Quesada Wendell R. Lutz Gary Luxton Rongtao Ma Thomas R. Mackie Alphonso W. Magri Joseph J. Mahoney Ernesto Mainegra-Hing Sadiq R. Malik
focus on
our future Anant K. Mandapaka George Mardirossian Andrey Markovich Christopher H. Marshall Rachael M. Martin Matteo Maspero Martha M. Matuszak Astrid Mayer-Hoss Rafe A. McBeth James E. McDonough Malcolm R. McEwen Ross McGurk Sarah E. McKenney Aimee L. McNamara Michael F. McNitt-Gray Daniel L. McShan James D. Meade Matthew A. Meineke Christopher S. Melhus Juergen Meyer Ivaylo B. Mihaylov Donald L. Miller Jessica R. Miller Robin A. Miller Mani Mirzasadeghi Sabee Molloi Pasquale J. Montanaro Kevin L. Moore Mary E. Moore Jose A. Morales Monzon Alvin Raymond Moses Sina Mossahebi Herbert W. Mower Guangwei Mu Mark E. Mulvey Tony D. Murphy Lee T. Myers William J. Myers Michele Nash David M. Nelson Chor-yi Ng Yury Niatsetski Frederic Noo Prashanth K. Nookala James T. Norweck Patrik Nowik Kevin J. O’Grady
Takeshi Ohno Arthur J. Olch Cheri Oquist Matthew R. Palmer Jatinder R. Palta Xiaoning Pan Brent C. Parker Stephanie A. Parker Norris J. Parks E. Ishmael Parsai Kishor M. Patel Baldev R. Patyal Daniel C. Pavord Adam B. Paxton Angelica Perez-Andujar Joseph Perl John C. Pfund James T. Pierno Tina L. Pike Bhaskaran K. Pillai Tarun Podder Brian W. Pogue Richard A. Popple Robert A. Praeder Michael J. Price Ryan G. Price Jennifer M. Pursley Lihong Qin Leith J. Rankine John F. Ready Nicholas B. Remmes Susan L. Richardson Madison Rilling Miguel A. Rios Dante E. Roa Donald M. Roback David R. Roesener John C. Roeske Tino Romaguera Joseph E. Roring Ivan Rosenberg Carl G. Rowbottom Thomas Ruckdeschel Megan K. Russ Habib Safigholi James S. Sample Stephen A. Sapareto
Vythialingam Sathiaseelan David A. Scaduto Daniel J. Scanderbeg Matthew C. Schmidt L. John Schreiner Alexander W. Scott Ioannis Sechopoulos Anil Sethi Jan P. Seuntjens Shakil Bin Shafique Efrat Shekel S. Jeff Shepard Ren-Dih Sheu Deborah J. Shumaker Michael D. Silver Douglas J. Simpkin Kamal Singhrao Angela M. Smith Maria Smith Rene J. Smith Flavio Augusto P. Soares Justin B. Solomon Kelly M. Spencer Shiv P. Srivastava Jennifer M. Steers Joseph R. Steiner David Sterle David A. Sterling Keith J. Strauss Steven G. Sutlief John W. Sweet Kentaro Tamura Bruno Tchong Len Philip M. Tchou Tovi Tedrow James A. Terry Francois Therriault-Proulx Amy Threlkeid Suzanne E. Topalian Sugata Tripathi Wilfgang Ullrich Richard Umeh Jaime Urribarri Satoru Utsunomiya Frank Van den Heuvel Christine Van Dyk Jacob Van Dyk
focus on
our future Lisa Vandenberg Rafaela Varela Rohena Linda A. Veldkamp Tessa Vike Yevgeniy Vinogradskiy Kevin M. Vredevoogd Alisa I. Walz-Flannigan Lu Wang Shuo Wang Steven J. Wang Xiaoyang Betsy Wang Yagang Ray Wang Yuenan Wang John T. Washington Christopher J. Watchman Peter G. Watson Emily Weissenuh Jered R. Wells Richard E. Wendt Marilyn C. Wexler Thomas A. White Brian D. Wichman Krishni Wijesooriya John Willins John F. Wochos Jochem Wolthaus John W. Wong Kaley E. Woods Qing-Rong Jackie Wu Qiuwen Wu Raymond K. Wu Li Xiong Susu Yan Yulong Yan Claus Chunli Yang Wensha Yang Fang-Fang Yin Ellen D. Yorke Lifeng Yu Victoria Y. Yu Ning J. Yue Lee Anne Zarger Irene J. Zawisza Di Zhang Hualin Zhang Jingjing M. Zhang Qinghui Zhang
Xiping Zhang Ningsheng Zhu Timothy C. Zhu Tong Zhu X. Ronald Zhu Xiaofeng Zhu Jeananne M. Zink Imran Zoberi Jacqueline E. Zoberi
AAPM Endowed Education & Research Fund Contribution Shahid B. Awan Evan J. Boote Harry S. Bushe Jean Jacques Chavaudra Zhe (Jay) Chen Mary K. Cox J. Adam M Cunha George X. Ding Richard Dunia Doracy Fontenla D. Jay Freedman Assen S. Kirov Jean M. St. Germain Cal Glisson Steven J. Goetsch David Lloyd Goff Madhup Gupta Russell J. Hamilton Abrar M. Hussain Sunil A. Kavuri Roger O. Ladle Tae Kyu Lee Eugene Mah Sivasubramanian R. Manoharan Sharon K. McMillan Tariq A. Mian Ivaylo B. Mihaylov Eduardo G. Moros Mark E. Mulvey Tony D. Murphy Xiaoning Pan Niko Papanikolaou Brent C. Parker Shashi A. Perera
Nicole T. Ranger John F. Ready Mark J. Rivard Rafaela Varela Rohena Justin R. Roper Narayan Sahoo Vikren Sarkar Anil Sethi Chengyu Shi Angela M. Smith Sugata Tripathi Dongxu Wang Thomas A. White Robert John Wilson Qinghui Zhang
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Asia/Oceania Subcommittee Jian-Yue Jinn Charles Y. Shang
Cameron Memorial Harry S Bushe Jean Jacques Chavaudra Cupido Daniels Martin W. Fraser William R. Geisler Robert A Hearn Philip F. Judy Frank N. Ranallo Lawrence N. Rothenberg David P. Spencer Bruce R. Thomadsen Thomas A. White
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
ACR ACCREDITATION: FAQS FOR MEDICAL PHYSICISTS Priscilla F. Butler, MS, Senior Director and Medical Physicist ACR Quality and Safety
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oes your facility need help on applying for accreditation? In each issue of this newsletter, I’ll present frequently asked questions (FAQs) of particular importance for medical physicists. You may also check out the ACR’s accreditation web site portal for more FAQs, accreditation application information, and QC forms. The following questions are for the new ACR Digital Mammography Quality Control Manual. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions about mammography accreditation. Q. Will the ACR or FDA require that we follow the 2016 ACR Digital Mammography QC Manual to be ACRaccredited or MQSA-certified?
A. No. The FDA approved use of the 2016 ACR Digital Mammography QC through an alternative standard. This means that the 2016 manual may be use as an alternative to using your manufacturer’s QC manual as currently required by the FDA regulations. Neither the FDA nor the ACR can require you to use the 2016 ACR Digital Mammography QC Manual under the current FDA regulations. Q. If we choose to use the 2016 ACR Digital Mammography QC Manual, must we also perform the QC required by our equipment’s manufacturer? A. No. Because the FDA approved use of the 2016 ACR Digital Mammography QC through an alternative standard, if you choose to use the 2016 manual, you will no longer be required to perform any of the manufacturer’s QC tests. Note that you must still perform any calibrations required by the manufacturer (e.g., Manufacturer Detector Calibration). Q. Our facility would like to begin using the 2016 ACR Digital Mammography QC Manual and stop using our manufacturer’s manual as soon as possible. Can we do so as soon as we receive our 2016 manual? A. No, not yet. ACR publishes new QC procedures for its accreditation programs one year in advance of the time they go into effect. This provides time for facilities to become familiar with the new procedures (while using their existing procedures), time for the ACR to make software revisions to evaluate the new QC and phantom images and time for the FDA to integrate the new QC into their MQSA inspection procedures. The new manual should go into effect in July 2017. All accredited facilities will be directly notified once the new manual goes into effect and they may begin using it. Q. After July 2017, may our facility begin using the 2016 ACR Digital Mammography QC Manual and stop using our manufacturer’s manual? A. Yes, but please note that before the facility QC technologist may start using the 2016 DMQC Manual on a unit, the medical physicist must first conduct an annual survey of the digital mammography unit and display devices using the 2016 manual and phantom. This is important to provide testing techniques and procedures for the QC technologist to use during routine QC. After this is done, the QC technologist may start performing routine QC using the 2016 manual.
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Q. We really like some of the Management Forms in the Radiologic Technologist Section (e.g., ACR Technique and Procedure Summaries, Corrective Action Log, Facility Offsite Display Locations). May we use these forms even if we do not use the 2016 ACR Digital Mammography QC Manual and remain with our manufacturer’s QC manual? A. Yes. You may use the forms that do not involve testing even if you do not use the 2016 ACR Digital Mammography QC Manual. Q. We really like some of new “tests” and forms that are in the Radiologic Technologist Section (e.g., Facility QC Review, System QC for Radiologist and Radiologist Image Quality Feedback). These tests are not currently part of our manufacturer’s QC manual. May we use these tests and forms to complement our manufacturer’s QC manual even if we do not use the 2016 ACR Digital Mammography QC Manual? A. Yes. However, you may need to modify some of the forms to be applicable to your manufacturer’s QC manual’s tests. Q. Will the ACR update the Digital Mammography QC Manual to include tests for tomosynthesis? A. Yes. The ACR Subcommittee on Quality Assurance is currently working on an appendix for technologist and medical physicist tests of tomosynthesis features. Once completed, the appendix will be reviewed by tomosynthesis equipment manufacturers for applicability. The ACR draft must be reviewed and approved by the FDA before it becomes final. We hope the approved appendix will be available in 2017. n
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
IMAGING PRACTICE ACCREDITATION SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT Tyler Fisher, Costa Mesa, CA
Practical Advice for Implementing the Changes to the ACR CT Accreditation Program
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ithin the past few months, the ACR CT Accreditation program has been updated with a few minor, but important changes. The changes were made to raise awareness and understanding of Size-Specific Dose Estimates (SSDE) and give flexibility to the medical physicist with respect to pediatric abdomen CTDI, as well as align with the IEC standard. The ACR notified all accredited facilities with an email on December 12 and released the new standards the same week. The changes include an option to measure pediatric abdomen CTDIvol using the phantom reported by the scanner, Pass/Fail criteria when using the 32 cm phantom for the pediatric abdomen, the inclusion of scanner reported CTDIvol data with a calculation of the percent difference between measured and reported CTDIvol, a place to report the Dose Notification value from XR-29, and a calculation of the SSDE for the adult abdomen and pediatric abdomen. The option to measure the pediatric abdomen CTDIvol using the 32 cm phantom allows for a direct comparison of scanner reported to measured CTDIvol for scanners that report pediatric CTDIvol using the 32 cm phantom. The new Reference Value and Pass/Fail criteria for the pediatric abdomen, when measured on the 32 cm phantom, is 7.5 mGy and 10 mGy, respectively. When scanning the 32 cm phantom using a pediatric abdomen protocol, it is important to keep the Scan FOV the same as it is in the clinical protocol, which may be smaller than 32 cm. This will keep the appropriate filter in place, rather than switching out to a filter used for a larger body scan field of view. ACR reviewers will expect to see these CTDI phantom images with the phantom beyond the field of view under these circumstances. A drop down field titled “Size of phantom the scanner uses to report CTDIvol for routine pediatric abdomen protocol (40-50 lb)” must be filled in on the online Pediatric Abdomen CTDI dose calculator spreadsheet. It is important to note that this field must match the size of the CTDI phantom being submitted. If the medical physicist scanned the CTDI images for submission prior to the implementation of these changes, and the CT scanner reports the pediatric abdomen CTDIvol using the 32 cm CTDI phantom, the images do not need to be rescanned with the 32 cm CTDI phantom. The 16 cm CTDI phantom can be submitted and 16 cm should be selected in the drop down field for the pediatric abdomen. The inclusion of scanner reported CTDIvol and the calculation of the percent difference between measured and scanner reported CTDIvol is in line with what has been done in a majority of CT physics reports as recommended by the ACR CT QC Manual and in order to meet Joint Commission standards. The Joint Commission requires that reported CTDIvol be within 20% of measured CTDIvol. Although the ACR CT QC manual indicates that the scanner reported CTDIvol should be within 20% of the measured, it will not contribute to deficiencies for accreditation submissions if the scanner does not meet this criteria. The ACR provided CTDI dose calculator spreadsheet and the ACRedit website CTDI dose calculator spreadsheet automatically calculate the percent difference. The use of the ACR provided forms is highly recommended as they match the data that must be reported on the ACRedit website for accreditation submission. The scanner reported CTDIvol is an optional field and is not required to be completed if the scanner does not report it. Another additional field within the ACR provided forms is for the Dose Notification Value (mGy) as described in XR-29. This is an optional field, meaning that the ACR does not require this field to be filled in. This data is currently being used for informational purposes only. However, many of the CT systems across the country do not have these Dose
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Notification Values configured. The most helpful resource available at this time is the AAPM CT Protocols page under the dose check tab. AAPM provides recommended values as well as manufacturer specific information on how to configure the Dose Notification Values. The recommended Dose Notification Values will help facilities to meet Joint Commission standards and can be easily implemented by most facilities. Note that XR-29 compliance is not a requirement for ACR CT accreditation. The inclusion of a field for SSDE for abdomen scans in the ACR provided dose calculator spreadsheets as well as in the ACRedit website dose calculator forms will help to establish SSDE as a corollary to CTDIvol and provide comparison data for pediatric abdomen scans performed with the 16 cm or 32 cm CTDI phantoms. These data fields, again, are optional and will not contribute to deficiencies for accreditation submissions if they are not included. For details regarding SSDE, refer to AAPM Reports No. 204 and No. 220. A few changes also occurred to the ACRedit website. The “Available Slice Thicknesses” section of the Phantom Site Scanning Data form has been removed. This information is no longer required to be submitted. Additionally, it is important to note that the ACRedit website forms have reversed the order of T (z-axis collimation) & N (number of data channels used) into the way we normally think of them as N & T. Speaking from experience, I had to change a lot of links within my forms to accommodate this change, but once done, it makes the reports easier for inspectors and technologists to follow. For anyone who would like more information on the changes to the program, the ACR website has very helpful FAQ’s. The CT Accreditation Program Requirements, CT Accreditation Program Testing Instructions, and CTAP Phantom Data/ Dose Forms links have been updated to include the changes. While the CT Quality Control manual is not available directly from the website, all accredited facilities have free access to this document. n
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AMERICAN ASSOCIATION of PHYSICISTS IN MEDICINE
THE FUTURE IS IN YOUR HANDS! MEDICAL PHYSICS 3.0 is an initiative to define and practice sustainable excellence in medical physics. Visiting our roots and re-envisioning our desired contributions to quality healthcare, MP3.0 asks the question of whether we are fulfilling our potential, and if we are not, how we can do so.
HELP US REDEFINE AND REINVIGORATE THE ROLE OF PHYSICS IN MODERN MEDICINE! SUBMIT ABSTRACTS • • • • •
ATTEND SESSIONS
New MP3.0 topics at AAPM 2017 Practices of physics that extend to operational activities New domains of practice Physics beyond radiation medicine Case studies
•
Special AAPM 2017 Sessions on Wednesday, August 2: - Medical Physics 3.0 in Design - Medical Physics 3.0 in Practice
GIVE OPINIONS •
Visit the MP3.0 Booth - Smile and speak, tell us what you think!
Learn more about MP3.0 by attending
#AAPM2017, July 30–August 3, 2017 in Denver, CO and by visiting: aapm.org/MedPhys30/
NEW MEMBER SYMPOSIUM Tuesday, August 1 • 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm • Room 108, Street Level, Convention Center
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s a new member of AAPM, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the size and complexity of the association and to be unaware of the benefits and opportunities available to members. At this year’s AAPM Annual Meeting in Denver, CO, we will host a New Member Symposium where you can learn more about the organization, member resources, opportunities to get involved, and about topics of particular interest to new professionals. We encourage you to take advantage of this great opportunity to learn valuable information and to grow your professional network.
Registered attendees will receive a raffle ticket. Enter to win a complimentary registration for the 2018 Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN!! In addition, all new members who register for the Symposium will receive a drink ticket, good for one complimentary soda or beer served after the New Member Symposium during the social with committee chairs from four AAPM Councils: Science, Education, Professional and Administrative.
Get Your Picture Taken. There will be a photographer there to take pictures for your profile in the AAPM directory.
www.aapm.org/meetings/2017AM/
AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
WORK GROUP ON IMRT REPORT A Report of the AAPM Working Group on IMRT for the 4th Quarter of 2016 Written by the WGIMRT Kyroudi et al. investigated the discrepancies between Pareto optimal plans and final deliverable plans in Raystation’s multi-criteria optimization (MCO). MCO allows you to interactively compare near-optimal plans created in fluence space, however discrepancies can arise during final dose calculation when machine restrictions and heterogeneities are applied. The largest differences were found for small targets surrounded by low density tissue. The lack of systematic differences between plans made it difficult to predict the direction and magnitude of dosimetric changes. Radiother Oncol. 2016 Aug; 120(2):346-8. Hussein et al. built a knowledge-based planning (KPB) model for prostate and cervix uteri cancer cases using Varian’s RapidPlan. Forty IMRT clinical cases were used for prostate, and thirty-seven VMAT cases were used for the cervix uteri cases. Initial plans generated using KPB had poor superior-inferior target coverage. Adjusting the PTV parameters in the model resulted in the generation of acceptable clinical plans, requiring no planner intervention, in 9 out of 10 cases. Their model has since been used on 100 clinical cases. Radiother Oncol. 2016 Sep;120(3):473-479. Henry Wang et al. reported an interesting IMRT planning approach of incorporating planners’ actual operation (mouse and keyboard interactions) on a commercial TPS and then use the information acquired to improve efficiency of IMRT planning of similar clinical cases. The knowledge is gained by using C# programs to automatically record planners’ operations during the actual planning process. The knowledge is used to help modify TPS optimization parameters subsequently on other similar cases. They demonstrated the method on a head and neck VMAT case and a prostate IMRT case, where significant improvement on planning efficiency is observed. J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2016 Nov 8;17(6):6425. Van Kranen et al. investigated the loss of target coverage from anatomy changes in head and neck cancer patients as a function of applied safety margins. A population of 19 oropharyngeal cancer patients was used in their study. They reported that VMAT for HN cancer treatment plans with 5-mm margins are robust for anatomy changes and show a modest increase in OAR dose. Margin reduction improves OAR sparing at a rate of approximately 1 Gy/mm at the expense of target coverage in a subgroup of the patients they studied. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2016 Nov 1;96(3):653-60. Henke et al. proposed how to characterize potential advantages of online-adaptive magnetic resonance (MR)-guided stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to treat oligometastatic disease of the non-liver abdomen and central thorax. They used a set of ten patients and demonstrated that online-adaptive MRI-guided SBRT may allow PTV dose escalation and/or simultaneous OAR sparing compared with nonadaptive SBRT. They have introduced a prospective clinical trial to evaluate clinical outcomes of this technique. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2016 Dec 1;96(5):1078-1086. n
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Congratulations
to the Recipients of the Following Awards, Achievements & Honors in 2017! All of the award, achievement and honor recipients will be recognized during the 2017 AAPM Annual Meeting in Denver, CO at the Awards and Honors Ceremony and Reception. Monday, July 31 • 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Centennial Ballroom, Level 3, Hyatt Regency
Please join us in congratulating all of the recipients: WILLIAM D. COOLIDGE GOLD MEDAL
JOHN S. LAUGHLIN YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD
Jatinder Palta, PhD
Xun Jia, PhD
EDITH QUIMBY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD G. Donald Frey, PhD John Wong, PhD
MARVIN M.D. WILLIAMS AWARD Stephen Balter, PhD Michael Gillin, PhD
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP Bruce G. Haffty, MD Valerie P. Jackson, MD Arno J. Mundt, MD
FELLOW Michael P. Andre, PhD Stefan Both, PhD Georges El Fakhri, PhD Issam M. El Naqa, PhD Jonathan B. Farr, DSc S. Murty Goddu, PhD James H. Goodwin, MS Walter Grant, III, PhD Kathleen M. Hintenlang, PhD Darryl G. Kaurin, PhD Paul E. Kinahan, PhD
Kenneth F. Koral, PhD Rajat J. Kudchadker, PhD Kenneth L. Matthews, II, PhD Paul M. Medin, PhD Michael T. Munley, PhD Sujatha Pai, MS Bhaskaran K. Pillai, PhD Nicole T. Ranger, MSc John C. Roeske, PhD Bill J. Salter, PhD L. John Schreiner, PhD Anil Kumar Sharma, PhD Ramon Alfredo C. Siochi, PhD R. Jason Stafford, PhD Sugata Tripathi, PhD Thaddeus A. Wilson, PhD
AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
UPSTATE NEW YORK ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICIST IN MEDICINE (UNYAPM) CHAPTER REPORT Lalith K. Kumaraswamy, PhD, Buffalo, NY
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pstate New York chapter of AAPM (UNYAPM) held its semiannual meeting on Jan 28, 2017 at the Twig Auditorium, Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, NY. The UNYAPM comprises members from all across the upstate New York region, from Buffalo to Albany. The first part of the meeting included scientific presentations by graduate students from Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the Toshiba Stroke and Vascular Research Center in Buffalo, and speakers from the University of Rochester.
The second part of the meeting started with an invited presentation by Bob Pizzutiello. Mr. Pizzutiello entertained us with his talk on “A different approach to communicating benefit and risk from low dose radiation” and proposed Dr. Stephen Rudin giving the keynote lecture a method to effectively communicate “patient dose” with patients and at the UNYAPM meeting. colleagues. The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Physics honoring Stephen Rudin, PhD for his outstanding contributions and achievements in Medical Physics throughout his distinguished career. As part of the award ceremony, Dr. Rudin presented a keynote lecture entitled “A Medical Physicist’s Perspective on Medical Imaging and Image Guided Endovascular Interventions,” covering aspects of his early scientific career and some of his current research on endovascular interventional imaging. The next chapter meeting is scheduled for April 2017 and non-members are welcome to attend. Details can be obtained from the Chapter Secretary, Vikas Patel and the Chapter website. n
Dr. Stephen Rudin receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from UNYAPM Executive Members. From left to right: President-elect Mubin Shaikh, Secretary Vikas Patel, Immediate Past President Daryl Nazareth, Award Recipient Stephen Rudin, President Lalith Kumaraswamy, and AAPM Board Rep Iris Wang
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Do You Image Wisely?
Renew your pledge today! Your pledge to Image Wisely® is now an annual event that expires every Dec. 31st.
Pledge for 2017 Ways to show you are imaging wisely: To image wisely every day and provide the best quality and safest adult patient care, make the annual • Take the pledge every year commitment and keep informed by regularly visiting • Stay updated with News and imagewisely.org, which offers imaging professionals, What We’re Reading referring providers and patients easy access to the • Keep your accreditations up-to-date latest information and resources including free • Participate in a dose index registry radiation safety cases*. • Get free online materials for your patients at radiologyinfo.org • Visit imagegently.org for pediatric information
By taking the pledge, you are helping to ensure adults receive only necessary and safe medical imaging procedures.
Learn more at imagewisely.org
Image Wisely® is a collaborative initiative of the American College of Radiology (ACR), the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT). *Approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, Category A Credit and CAMPEP
AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
BANGLADESH MEDICAL PHYSICS SOCIETY (BMPS) REPORT Nupur Karmaker, Abu Kausar, Kumaresh Chandra Paul, Hasin Anupama Azhari, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Gono Bishwabidyalay (University), Savar, Dhaka
Hands on Training of Radiotherapy Treatment Planning and Quality Control of X-ray Imaging Introduction
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he Medical Physics situation is improving step by step in a very organized way to fulfill the demand of medical physicists in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Medical Physics Society (BMPS) has started a journey from 2009 with various dimensions to improve the status of medical physics in the country. Also the Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering (MPBME), Gono Bishwabidyalay (University) has been playing the major role by providing medical physicists (MSc in Medical Physics) to different government and private hospitals since 2001. This year special emphasis is given on the quality of radiotherapy treatment and quality control of diagnostic imaging equipment. In this aspect MPBME, GB and BMPS has started a practical training workshop on treatment planning in MPBME, GB and on Quality Control (QC) of X-ray Imaging devices (X-ray, Mamography and Fluroscopy) in different diagnostic centers. At present for cancer treatment, updated and high technology machines are purchased by different public and private hospitals. The purpose of this training program was to gain knowledge on new methods of treatment planning and to introduce the quality control tests of imaging equipment. In our there is still no protocol for maintenance and quality of these imaging techniques. Also these QC kit are imported for first time in Bangladesh and TPS are installed for the first time to serve the academic purpose (MPBME, GB). The department will liaison with different diagnostic centers and Bangladesh Atomic energy Commission (BAEC) to establish quality control protocol in our country by following international recommended guidelines. Thereby we can assure diagnostic accuracy as well as protect the public from radiation hazards. This training program was conducted by Prof. Dr. Golam Abu Zakaria, Chairman, Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Gummarsbach Academic Teaching Hospital of Cologne, Germany and Akhtaruzzaman, MD, Medical Physicist, The Maria Sklodowska Curie Memorial Cancer Hospital, Warsaw, Poland. In general, based on the interest of participants, two groups are formed having 15 persons each for training purpose. This training program was divided into different parts such as theoretical, practical, group discussion, examination and certification. These training activities were arranged into two parts: Pre-training and Final Training. In pre-training two groups (one for TPS and another for QC of imaging) are assigned for two weeks before final training. Each group comprises of faculty members, students, hospital physicists and technicians. For TPS, group coordinator was Abu Kausar, MD, and included
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the following team members: Mr. Safayet Zaman, Ms. Nupur Karmaker, Mrs. Towmim Afrin Supti and Ms. Naima Jannat. For QC of Imaging, the group coordinator was Dr. Kumaresh Chandra Paul, and included the following team members: Mr. Rashed Al Amin, Atiqur Rahman, MD, Sajon Hossain, MD, Jobairul Isalm, MD, Abu Saif, MD, Mr. Hasib Ahmed Omeo. In addition 15 students were selected for each group for the final two days of training.
Pre-Training
Pre-Training on TPS The coordinator and his group did their planning in Eclipse (AREA 13.6 version) planning system on different cases in advance of a real training period through social media like WHAT’S app and Skype. Also, the trainer sent different reading materials in this regard. In this way the group had shared the knowledge and performed the activities (Fig: 1a). The main goal to train the core members was, they will train the large group members later by using local facilities. Another concern was to use potentials of Bangladeshi people who have a wide range of knowledge in medical physics and are willing to disseminate their knowledge to the young generation.
Pre-Training on QC of Imaging Equipment For the pre-training program a ‘QC team-Discussion’ was formulated in WHAT’S and Skype social media. Training on QC of X-ray, Mammography, Fluroscopy had been organized in different hospitals (28 December 2017: Padma Diagnostic Center; 5 January 2017: Gonoshasthaya Samaj Vittik Medical College & Hospital, Savar; 9 January 2017: Gonoshasthaya hospital Barobaria, Dhamrai; 14 January: Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital, Savar). During the training procedure the realtime problems were posted by the team from the clinic and discussion was carried out on the topic accordingly for the solutions. Also through e-learning method Prof. Zakaria shows all the procedures (Fig: 1b) and at the same time the team members do the same according to the protocol. It gave the field level personnel confident on the QC procedure. After that results were sent to the trainer for further follow up. After a visit of each center, detailed discussion regarding their experiences, strengths, weaknesses and tentative solutions had been carried out by the QC team members, the training of participants and the trainer was proposed. Then a QC sheet was sent to the trainer.
(a)
(b)
Fig 01: Pre-training of training program on (a) TPS and (b) QC of Imaging (From Germany Trainer shows the procedure, same was done in Bangladesh.)
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Final Training
Opening ceremony
Fig 02: Opening Ceremony
On January 30, 2017 an opening ceremony of main training (Fig: 02) was held with all the students, trainers. There was a formal discussion about the training goal and outcome which was clearly elaborated by the team coordinators. Then whole procedure of the program was defined by the trainers. After that assigned students were divided for each program.
TPS Training On January 30–31, 2017 at MPBME, Gono Bishwabidyalay (University), TPS training was organized. Trainers delivered their valuable presentation about basic treatment planning systems and different cases studies such as breast, lung and prostate. Students discussed and shared their knowledge with one another. Fifteen students from MPBME, University of Dhaka, Nepal were divided into five small groups having three members in each group for the workshop (Fig: 3a). In each small group, the leading member sat in front of the treatment planning system and made 3DCRT, IMRT treatment plans with their hands for the above-mentioned cases. Participants learnt how to import patients, make treatment plans and plan evaluation. In addition, attendees also learnt about contouring. After planning of each treatment case, there was an interactive session conducted by experts for plan evaluation and QA. Trainers discussed all cases individually with the participants. On the last day, participants exchanged their views, knowledge, experience and ideas among themselves. Then participants attended a short examination for the assessment followed by distribution of the certificate.
Training on Quality Control of X-ray, Fluoroscopy and Mammography There was a formal training program inaugurated at MPBME on January 30 and on January 31 a practical session on QC took place at Emam Medical College and Hospital, Savar Dhaka (Fig: 3b). Then on February 4 at Ibna sina Diagnostic center a second training was carried out. IBA diagnostic QC complete kit was used for the whole procedure. Finally, all trainees and participants were given the certificates issued by the Chairman of MPBME, Prof G A Zakaria and President of Bangladesh Medical Physics Society (BMPS) Dr. Kumaresh Chandra Paul.
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(a)
(b) Fig 03: Training Program in TPS and QC of Imaging
Outcome of the Training Participants gained theoretical and practical knowledge on treatment planning and on QC of X-ray, Fluoroscopy and Mammography through this workshop that made them motivated and confident. This will definitely enhance their conceptual skills that could be implemented in clinical practice. All participants completed a short examination and they achieved very good scores. In this way these students will disseminate their knowledge to others. In a broader sense, they gathered competence and knowledge that will help to establish QC protocol in Bangladesh through BMPS. Also this type of workshop will improve quality of work force, enhance employee growth and increase both theoretical and clinical knowledge.
Closing Ceremony The closing ceremony (Fig 04) was presided over by the father of Medical Physics in Bangladesh (Prof. Dr. Golam Abu Zakaria) and founding president of BMPS (Prof. Dr. Hasin Anupama Azhari) and they discussed the overall progress of the situation of medical physics and the results of the training program.
Acknowledgement
Fig 04: Closing Ceremony
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We are thankful to our colleagues, contributors, coordinator, team members, students and all other people who provided expertise for their assistance in the training program. Special thanks to University Grant Commission (UGC), World Bank and Bangladesh Government, through which MPBME purchased the TPS and QC kits of imaging equipment. n
AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
PERSON IN THE NEWS Charles A. Mistretta, Madison, WI
Dr. Charles Mistretta Selected to Receive 18th Gray Medal
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he International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) is pleased to announce that the 18th Gray Medal will be presented to Charles Mistretta, PhD on July 31, 2017 at AAPM’s 59th Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Mistretta’s talk is entitled “Historical Recollections of Developments in Angiography 1971-2017.” Dr. Mistretta received his degree in High Energy Physics from Harvard University in 1968. He has been doing research in medical imaging since 1971. His group was responsible for the development of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) which was commercially introduced in 1980. His research has focused on time-resolved angiography and has resulted in the introduction of accelerated imaging techniques. Emphasis has been placed on the development of accelerated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods using sparse sampling which significantly violates the traditional Nyquist sampling theorem, the use of non-Cartesian acquisition trajectories, and the application of constrained reconstruction techniques like HYPR and its derivatives. Acceleration factors as large as 1,000 have been achieved in selected MRA applications. These techniques have recently been extended to many areas of medical imaging such as positron emission tomography (PET), photoacoustic tomography, and x-ray computed tomography (CT) where dose reductions of ten have been reported by several groups for perfusion studies. Dr. Mistretta and Dr. Charles Strother introduced 4D DSA, an x-ray technique which adds an additional dimension to traditional DSA by producing a time series of 3D image volumes at high frame rates. Dr. Mistretta is a Fellow of AAPM, American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineering (AIMBE), and International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM). He has received the Laufman Greatbatch Prize for the development of DSA, and the J Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine. He is the recipient of several awards including the 2010 Technology Achievement Award by the MIT Club of Wisconsin; 2015 UW Medical School Folkert Belzer Award; 2015 Distinguished Investigator Award by The Academy of Radiology Research and the 2016 IEEE Medal for Innovations in Healthcare Technology. Dr. Mistretta has generated 54 United States patents with 7 additional patents pending. He has mentored 37 PhD students and 26 postdoctoral associates. For additional information contact David A. Schauer, ScD, CHP, 301-657-2652 (x31) or 301-907-8768 (fax). n
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
IROC REPORT ON IMRT PHANTOM FOLLOW-UP DEVELOPMENTS Stephen F. Kry, PhD, IROC Houston QA Center, Houston, TX
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he IROC Houston anthropomorphic phantom program is an end-to-end test of the radiotherapy process. An institution receives the phantom and treats it like a patient, including simulation, planning, and delivery of a treatment. The head and neck phantom, in particular, is a staple for verification of IMRT dose delivery. This phantom has been irradiated over 2,000 times to credential institutions wishing to participate in IMRT-based clinical trials as well as for institutions simply wishing to verify the accuracy and integrity of their IMRT program. While the pass rate for this phantom has increased over the years,1 10% of institutions still fail to deliver the dose they believe they are delivering. And this failure rate is based on a relatively lax 7% point dose agreement criteria in the target and planar criteria of >85% of pixels passing a 7%/4mm gamma analysis. The failure rate increases to 30% if the criteria are tightened to 5%/3mm.2 The end-to-end nature of the phantom irradiation process is both a strength and a weakness. While it tests the entire process, by the very fact that all parts of the process are involved, it is very hard to identify the underlying cause of any given error that is observed. Why someone fails the phantom, therefore, is a particularly challenging question to answer. However, the general findings on this question are concerning. Qualitatively, the vast majority of phantom irradiations that fail to meet criteria reveal that the delivered dose distribution is of the right shape, and in the right location, it just has the wrong magnitude.2 Systematically, too much or too little dose is delivered compared to what has been planned. This is concerning because it is hard to imagine that such an error would not also manifest in patient cases. At the IROC Houston QA office we are developing infrastructure to help us understand the causes of specific phantom failures. Ultimately, we expect this to help us identify problems and work with institutions to remedy them, thereby providing optimal and consistent radiotherapy for all patients. As a first step, we have developed an independent recalculation tool for phantom plans. Using the Mobius 3D calculation platform, we have created reference models for each make and manufacturer of linear accelerator based on reference measurements on thousands of linacs during IROC Houston site visits.3 We can then use this platform to recalculate phantom plans. Of particular interest are cases where the institution’s dose calculation agrees poorly with the dose that was actually delivered, and significantly better agreement is seen in the dose distribution from our recalculation. Such a situation is indicative of a dose calculation error by the institution. Initial testing of this approach on 259 recent head and neck phantom cases found that in 45 cases (17%), the recalculation was significantly and substantially more accurate (>2% average improvement) than the institution’s TPS calculation. Of the 19 phantoms that failed IROC Houston’s criteria, our independent recalculation was significantly and substantially more accurate for 13 of them (68%). It was more accurate by more than 3% on average over these 19 phantoms, including one case where the recalculation was 6.5% more accurate.4 These results are concerning in terms of IMRT dose calculation accuracy, and highlight that IROC needs to carefully examine aspects of dose calculation (such as beam modeling) when examining a failure of the head and neck phantom.
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
IROC, cont.
Ongoing work to dig further into this issue and understand the actual underlying issues includes doing a sensitivity analysis of TPS parameters on performance of the head and neck phantom, and statistical analysis of the root causes of failure. Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, in the case of a failing result from a phantom irradiation we will be able to isolate the specific probable cause(s) and thereby provide direct and helpful feedback to the institution. n 1.
A. Molineu, N. Hernandez, T. Nguyen, G. Ibbott and D. Followill, "Credentialing results from IMRT irradiations of an anthropomorphic head and neck phantom" Medical physics 40 (2), 022101 (2013).
2.
M.E. Carson, A. Molineu, P.A. Taylor, F. Stingo, and S.F. Kry “Examining credentialing criteria and poor performance indicators for IROC Houston’s anthropomorphic head and neck phantom”. Medical Physics 43(12), 6491-6496 (2016).
3.
J. R. Kerns, D. Followill, J. Lowenstein, A. Molineu, P. Alvarez, P. A. Taylor, F. Stingo and S. F. Kry, "Technical Report: Reference photon dosimetry data for Varian accelerators based on IROC-Houston site visit data" Medical physics 43, 2374-2386 (2016).
4.
J. R. Kerns, F. Stingo, D. Followill, R. Howell, A. Melancon, and S. F. Kry, "Treatment planning system calculation errors are present in the majority of IROC-Houston phantom failures" Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. In Press.
HELP WANTED! Did you know that AAPM members get an average of 21 vacation days per year? Or that those who change jobs report an average increase in salary of 13.3%? Well you can know things like this thanks to the most recent AAPM Professional Survey. The next round of this annual survey will commence in mid-March. Please watch your inbox and complete the questionnaire to help our community compile this useful information. The results will be available on AAPM’s website by mid-May. If you haven’t seen the data from earlier years, you can find it here.
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AAPM Newsletter • Volume 42 No. 2 MARCH | APRIL 2017
IOMP NEWS Magdalena Stoeva, PhD, Editor of Medical Physics World
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he International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP) is now completing another successful year full of activities and achievements in the various aspects of Medical Physics — scientific, educational, professional, as well as the international development of medical physics. The very successful International Conference for Medical Physics (ICMP 2016) was the first such Conference in the South-East Asian Region, and included more than 600 delegates and exhibitors from 41 countries, preparing the way for future similar Conferences with associated IOMP Schools. IOMP would like to thank the ICMP 2016 host — the Thai Medical Physics Society and all colleagues who worked for the Organization of this large Conference in Bangkok, in particular its President Prof. Anchali Krisanachinda, the Presidents of AFOMP and SEAFOMP (Prof. Tae Suk Suh and Dr. James Lee), the Scientific Committee Co-Chairs Prof. Geoff Ibbott, Dr. Howell Round and Prof. Arun Chougule, and all colleagues who contributed to the success of the ICMP2016 in Bangkok. The ICMP marked a great success for our professional community not only by attracting leading worldwide professionals but also by initiating a number of events and initiatives to contribute to the development of medical physics in the region and worldwide. The first IOMP School was held during ICMP 2016, and quickly gained popularity — 42 educational mini-symposia were linked to the ICMP 2016. This presented an excellent opportunity to many students and colleagues to receive more information on some of the hot topics in the profession. One of the IOMP School activities was a Workshop “Building Professional Capacity in Developing Countries” focused on discussing the harmonious development of the profession and shared good practices in low-and-middle-income (LMI) countries. In 2016 IOMP introduced a new award in Medical Physics named after Professor John Mallard in recognition of his crucial role in the development and clinical application of two of the world’s most important medical technologies – Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography, as well as being one of the Founders of IOMP, the first IOMP Secretary General, later IOMP President and Founding President of IUPESM. The IOMP Awards and Honors Committee (AHC) selected the first IOMP John Mallard Award recipient: Prof. Paul Marsden, Director of the PET Centre in St Thomas’s Hospital, associated with King’s College London, UK. Prof. Paul Marsden is awarded as one of the main inventors of the PET/MR Imaging system. He successfully built a prototype of it and introduced it in the clinical practice.
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IOMP, cont.
The third jointly sponsored IOMP-IUPAP Workshop, dedicated to professional growth in developing countries, took place at the International Conference on Medical Physics, ICMP2016, Bangkok. The Workshop discussed the global growth of medical physics in the past 20 years, highlighting the need of more medical physicists specifically in the regions of South-East Asia, Africa and Latin America. It was decided to concentrate on positive examples for building professional capacities. The reports stressed the need of inter-professional collaboration and support for building medical physics educational courses and including research elements, together with practical training. Special thanks were expressed to the ICTP College on Medical Physics and related MSc programme for their support for the development of medical physics in these countries, the IOMP Library programme and the AAPM Virtual Library initiative. The IOMP Regional Coordination Board (RCB) entered successfully its second year. A face-to-face RCB meeting was held at the ICMP2016, Bangkok. The Board discussed the collaboration between IOMP Regional Organizations (Federations) during the year. Special attention was given to joint activities such as the ALFIM and AAPM collaboration for the organization of the Latin American Congress in Argentina and the AFOMP and SEAFOMP collaboration for the organization of the ICMP2016. The joint sessions EFOMP-MEFOMP at the first European Congress of Medical Physics (Athens, September 2016) and AFOMP-SEAFOMP-MEFOMP at the current International Conference on Medical Physics (Bangkok, December 2016) were also highlighted. The IOMP President Slavik Tabakov expressed special gratitude to all Regional Organizations for their support and active participation in the first IOMP School activity at ICMP2016. It was also noted that the exchange of information between the IOMP Newsletter and the Newsletters of the large societies and the Regional Organizations has been very useful for the support of the harmonious global development of medical physics. In this connection the double growth of medical physicists in the past 20 years was discussed as a good background for the future expansion of the profession. AAPM President Melissa Carol Martin underlined the opportunity for free use of the AAPM Virtual Library by the colleagues from Low-and-Middle-Income countries. The IOMP President informed about the global use of the free e-learning materials Emerald, Emit and e-Encyclopaedia Emitel. He also informed about the possibility for IAEA to organize a training centre in Africa. All leads expressed readiness to support the activity with expertise.
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IOMP, cont.
Year 2017 — Dedicated to Women The International Organization for Medical Physics celebrates annually the International day of Medical Physics (IDMP) on November 7, in honor of the birthday of Marie Sklodowska-Curie. IOMP has dedicated IDMP 2017 to women, to commemorate Marie Curie’s 150th anniversary and in recognition of the role of women in the profession of medical physics. Various activities have been scheduled for the upcoming months, including a special issue of IOMP Medical Physics World dedicated to women. For more information on the upcoming events, visit IOMP Women Subcommittee web page. n
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UPCOMING AAPM MEETINGS: March 17, 2017 Quality, Safety and TG100 New Orleans, LA March 18–21, 2017 AAPM 2017 Spring Clinical Meeting New Orleans, LA June 10–14, 2017 AAPM 2017 Summer School Clinical Brachytherapy Physics Portland, OR July 30–August 3, 2017 AAPM 59th Annual Meeting & Exhibition Denver, CO
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