Interested participants have until June 15 to submit an abstract to present at the IAEA International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine – Achieving Change in Practice, to be held in Vienna, Austria, from 11 to 15 December 2017.
The use of ionizing radiation in medicine is well established, both in diagnosing and in treating diseases. At the same time, growing evidence of unintended and unnecessary use of radiation in medicine highlights the need for stronger radiation protection.
The IAEA International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine is directed at a wide audience with an interest in radiation protection in medicine, from health professionals and health researchers to academics and regulators. Participants will review actions taken and developments since the last conference on the topic, held in 2012 in Bonn.
Reviewing progress made as a result of the Bonn Call for Action, which aims to strengthen radiation protection in medicine in the 2012-2022 period, will be a key task of the conference, said Ola Holmberg, Head of the Radiation Protection of Patients Unit at the IAEA. “The time has come to look back at what has been done — what’s working well and what can be improved — evaluate our approach and fine-tune the strategy for the five years ahead.”
The IAEA welcomes abstracts in all aspects of radiation protection in medicine, Holmberg said. Topics to be discussed include justification in the use of radiation in imaging and radiation protection of patients and staff in radiotherapy.
“When it comes to avoiding unnecessary imaging studies, there is a long way to go still,” said Madan M. Rehani, Director of Global Outreach for the Radiation Protection Programme at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, and Chair of the Program Committee of the conference. “Our mission is that every patient is safe and feels safe while undergoing a test for diagnosing, treating or following up a disease using ionizing radiation, and that every health professional engaged in radiation work is safe.”
The conference will encompass topical sessions and table discussions, including keynote speeches and presentations.
Learn about the conference and submission details here.
