ISRRT at the ECR. Report by Robert George, President of ISRRT

4/7/2009

ECR 2009 – Vienna, 6-10th March

Sandy Yule and I were privileged to attend ECR 2009 in early March on behalf of ISRRT. This was the first time I had attended ECR and I was impressed. Approximately 20,000,000 Radiologists and Technologists attended this year’s annual meeting which has increasingly sought an International focus and is being attended by more and more technologists each year.ISRRT has provided the Chair of the Technologists program and this year Harriet – Jones fulfilled this role. Bodil Andersson, our European Regional Director is scheduled to fill this position in the future.

Above: Entrance to ECR

The technologists program was exceptionally well attended each day – Sandy Yule was invited to moderate one session which focused on radiographer reporting with excellent presentations on skeletal imaging and reporting. There was an excellent session with standing room only on Forensics including a presentation by Mark Viner from the UK.

Above: Robert George ISRRT President, Gunvor Robertsen, Richard Evans CEO UK Society, Sija Geers EFRS President
Dorien Pronk Larive EFRS Secretary, Uwe Busch Roentgen Museum at the ISRRT Booth

ECR gives an opportunity to meet with many of our colleagues and, together with Europe/Africa Vice president Kata Siguradottir and Regional Director Bodil Andersson, we were able to meet with EFRS Executives. Sandy and I were able to meet with many technologists from Europe during ECR as well as from the Sor and some European Societies. It was very interesting to find that many radiologists from Europe took material on ISRRT and our 2010 Congress to pass on to the technologists in their departments. One disappointment at ECR is that Technologists are not identified as such on their badges so it is difficult to specifically target them when walking around the site.

Above: International Group

Sandy and I also met with Dr Madan Rehani of IAEA who gave a revealing but disturbing presentation at the Congress on the increasing does rates to the general population from the increase in CT scan examination in particular. I have suggested that he consider presenting similar updated material at our 2010 World Congress so that we can have a focus on our important role in this area. Following his presentation I was interviewed by IAEA on ISRRT’s position on this subject which is of course very supportive of the work of IAEA , with whom we collaborate. Dr Rehani also offered that IAEA run a workshop for ISRRT in an eastern European country of our choice. We have asked Paivi and Cynthia to liaise with Kata and Bodil on this choice – I also want us to liaise with EFRS on this decision so that we are seen to be involving them in European matters.  At this time Lithuania and Latvia look likely prospects.

We also met with Dr Yves  Menu, ECR Program Director to discuss the ongoing involvement of ISRRT in the Technologists program, and Dr Philip Metcalf of the IAEA, Past President of the International Radiation Protection Association. He also invited Dr Renee  Czarwinski  to meet with us which was very useful given her  position as IAEA Section Head for Radiation Safety and Monitoring.

T here was an excellent Technical Exhibition at ECR and we met with Philip Haldar and Paul Gehris of GE who have agreed to generously support the translation of our Newsletter into French and Spanish on our website.

Above: Sandy Yule ISRRT, Philip Haldar GE Healthcare, Robert George ISRRT,
Tarek El-Rahbani GE Healthcare

The opportunity to attend this meeting to ensure that ISRRT maintains it’s role was very important, as was the opportunity to reinforce our excellent relationship with GE and also IAEA.

I would also like to sincerely thank the indefatigable Alison Yule for supporting ISRRT yet again with her bright and smiling face at our Booth, thereby enabling Sandy and I to attend a series of important meetings for ISRRT whilst maintain a welcoming presence for enquiries. Thanks Alison.

Robert George 22/3/09