Future goals of EFOMP in education, profession

and science

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Medical Physics in Europe

The „temple ofMedical Physics“

The most urgent open problems Regular education and training programs

are missing in many European countries (see contr. T Eudaldo)

Harmonisation is urgently required

How EFOMP can contribute:

Help NMOs to develop MP education and training schemes Establish own resources: ESMP

ENMPS

Education and Training

EFOMP recommendationson Education, Training and CPD

of Medical Physicists

Continuing Professional Development: 5 - year cycle credit point system

Special Courses, Workshops, Congresses etc.,Self-directed learning

Registration as Specialist Medical Physicist [eq. Medical Physics Expert]

Postgraduate Training:Theory : 300 - 400 hoursformal coursesPracticals: min. 2 yrs hospital practice

Basic Degree:Physics, Engineering or equivalent University

Registration as Qualified Medical Physicist

Hospital(On-the-job training)

European School of Medical Physics (ESMP, jointly organized by ESI and EFOMP)

6 consecutive one week coursesUltrasound and MRI

Imaging

Computing

Radiotherapy

Brachytherapy

Radiation Protection

• EFOMP Travel Award and the EFOMP ESMP Award

ESMP in Archamps/France

Education & TrainingEFOMP Operational Platform

European Network of Medical Physics Schools (ENMPS)

Art. 2. Scope of ENMPS The scope of the ENMPS is:

– to create a network linking the initiatives undertaken by NMOs in their own countries for the continuing education of Medical Physicists (MPs);

– to exchange scientific knowledge and experience between MPs across Europe;

– to offer advanced continuing education to MPs across Europe;

– to offer educational events to small countries and to countries where Medical Physics is in a developing stage.

Education & TrainingEFOMP Operational Platform

Art. 3. NMO collaboration with ENMPS The NMO who voluntary takes part in the ENMPS will agree to: - support EFOMP in the organisation of training events; - contribute to the activities of the Steering Committee.

Art. 4. Steering Committee A Steering Committee (SC) organises the activities of the ENMPS and has the following remit: – to establish contacts with the collaborating NMOs; official contract is established between

EFOMP and NMOs; – to prepare the annual Programme of European Training Courses in Medical Physics; – to align the programme of annual courses with the European School of Medical Physics; – to establish contacts with international organisations and European Union institutions to promote

the ENMPS and to find support in the form of grants, bursary programmes, etc; – to promote the training initiative via the EFOMP website, EFOMP and European journals and

publications; – to assign EFOMP grants; – to maintain a list of Medical Physics Institutes for the on-the-job training of MPs, which

are identified by NMOs.

European Network of Medical Physics Schools (ENMPS)

Education & TrainingEFOMP Operational Platform

• EFOMP Council in September 2007 in Pisa approved the ENMPS action

• Steering Committee will contact NMOs to start the work of Network

European Network of Medical Physics Schools (ENMPS)

Education & TrainingEFOMP Operational Platform

The current situation of Medical Physics in Europe

>2015-2010-15 5-10 1-5 <5

Medical Physics as a profession

The countries which are members of EFOMP have a combined population of 870 million people, and the average number of Medical Physicists in thesecountries is 7.6/million. However there is a wide range, from well below 1 per million to over 30.

• Only 40% of the European countries have an official government accreditation for Medical Physicists

• In 15 countries there is an unofficial accreditation (by societies, universities etc.)

Medical Physics (MP) as a profession

The most urgent open problems

• Mobility of MPs between countries is still a problem

• In the majority of European countries, Medical Physics is not considered to be a regulated profession

How EFOMP could contribute:

Medical Physics (MP) as a profession

• MP is not listed on the list of professions of the ILO

How EFOMP could contribute:

Medical Physics (MP) as a profession

How EFOMP could contribute:

• ALARA & EUTERP Networks• Definition of RPO, RPE & MPE to be included

in the revision of the European Directive on radiation protection of workers, population and patients

• Expert Group of art. 31/EURATOM treaty will provide recommendations to EC on revised Directive: please inform your national representatives on EFOMP position on MPE

Medical Physics (MP) as a profession

Medical Physics is poorly represented as a science in Europe (only very few independent departments or Chairs for Medical Physics at Universities or research institutions)

The most urgent open problems

Science

Medical Physics as a science is distributed to many different areas and scientific societies (ESTRO, EANM, ESMRBM, ESR, ...)

The evolution of Medical Physics

Physics ofIonizing Radiation:X-ray imaging,radiotherapy

1900

Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology

Medical Physicsin Imaging

1950 today

NuclearMedicine

X-rays,CT

MagneticResonanceImaging

Ultrasound

ESTRO

ESR

EANM

ESMRMB

EFSUMB

PET

MRIfMRIMRS

• stronger magnetic fields (3T + 7T)• Improved resolution• faster sequences

2D/ 3D/ 4D imaging• Integrated cone beam imaging/ tomotherapy

• Real-time imaging, 4D US

• MRI ??

Radiation Oncology

The future: imaging and radiation oncology are coming together again

• New tracers Molecular Profiling

Cross-disciplinary research networks that include expert groups from both fields.

Our vision is that EFOMP develops into a roof-organisation providing:

Common workshops, seminars and conferences to improve communication and education across the disciplines. Collaboration on training and education among

relevant professional and learned societies.

Science

Science

• EFOMP actions:– Partner of the European Science Initiative

(ISE) consortium

– Partner in the EIBIR consortium

Evolution of EFOMPOverall goal:Strengthen EFOMP as a professional and scientific society

Introduce a scientific journal (Physica Medica European Journal of Medical Physics) done

organize independent scientific conferences („European conferences on Medical Physics“)

1st Conference in Pisa 2007

Turn EFOMP into a legal body(allowing participation in official projects)

done

Introduce personal membership Changes of Constitution under development

Improve relations to the other scientific societies in progress

EFOMP and the Future

Building European bridges

• Education• Training• CPD• Recognition• Freedom of

Movement