Advancing Radiation Safety in Medicine

3 July 2024: Advancing Radiation Safety in Medicine: Insights from IOMP and UNSCEAR on Ionizing Radiation Exposure
Organizer: John Damilakis, President IOMP
Moderator: John Damilakis, President IOMP
Title 1: Setting the stage: A short introduction to IOMP’s role in enhancing radiation safety in medical practices
Speaker: John Damilakis, MSc, PhD, FIOMP, FIUPESM
President, IOMP
John Damilakis is a professor and director of the Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, University of Crete and director of the Department of Medical Physics of the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. He holds the position of President within the ‘International Organization for Medical Physics’ (IOMP) and has previously held leadership roles, including President, in organizations such as the ‘European Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics’ (EFOMP), the ‘European Alliance for Medical Radiation Protection Research’ (EURAMED), and the ‘Hellenic Association of Medical Physics’.
Professor Damilakis also contributes to international initiatives, serving as a member of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Committee 3, Chair of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) AC4 and participating in the steering committee of the ‘EuroSafe Imaging Campaign’ organized by the European Society of Radiology. He has shared his expertise as a Visiting Professor, delivering lectures on medical dosimetry and medical radiation protection at Boston University in the United States.
His body of research work encompasses a wide range of research areas, including medical dosimetry, medical radiation protection, and the application of artificial intelligence in medical imaging. He has played significant roles as an editor, author, or co-author in several influential books within the field. Professor Damilakis has published 260 research articles listed on PubMed, accompanied by 9728 citations, and an h-index of 53 as documented on Google Scholar (May, 2024). His contributions to the field have garnered him numerous awards and recognitions for his scientific achievements.
Title 2: Insights and future directions in medical radiation exposure: A detailed analysis from UNSCEAR’s 2020/2021 Report
Speaker: Peter Thomas
Dr Peter Thomas is the director of the Medical Imaging section at the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). The section runs the Australian National Diagnostic Reference Level Service, provides educational material and advice, contributes to codes and safety guides, and promotes optimal use of medical radiation. Dr Thomas served as the chair of the UNSCEAR Expert Group on Medical Exposures from 2019 to 2020 and was a lead writer for the 2020/2021 UNSCEAR report summarising the global level of ionizing radiation exposures in medicine. Dr Thomas was a member of the Australian delegation to UNSCEAR in 2005 and from 2019 to 2024. Dr Thomas has a PhD in Chemistry from Monash University and has worked at ARPANSA since 2000.
Abstract:
This webinar focuses on critical developments and findings in the field of medical exposure to ionizing radiation. The webinar will begin with a brief introduction by IOMP, presenting IOMP’s role in enhancing radiation safety across medical practices globally, key areas of focus in ionizing radiation medical exposure, and the importance of collecting data related to frequency, distribution, and trends of radiation usage in medical diagnostics and treatment. Following this, a detailed presentation by UNSCEAR will focus on the comprehensive “Evaluation of Medical Exposure to Ionizing Radiation” report. The webinar aims to equip participants with insights into the global state of medical radiation practices, advancements in the field, and upcoming evaluations by UNSCEAR.
Learning Objectives
For IOMP’s presentation:
To understand the role of IOMP in promoting radiation safety and effective practices in medical imaging.
To identify key areas and recent advancements in radiation protection in medical settings.
To discuss the importance of global collaboration in improving patient and staff safety.
For UNSCEAR’s presentation:
To present key findings from the UNSCEAR 2020/2021 Report regarding medical exposure to ionizing radiation.
To discuss trends in radiation exposures in medicine noted by UNSCEAR and any research needs
To present UNSCEAR’s plans for a future evaluation.