March 2024

From The ISR President

February and March have been a busy time for the International Society of Radiology. In conjunction with the the European Congress of Radiology, the ISR held its bi-annual in person meetings of the ISR Executive Committee and the ISR International Assembly. Additionally, we had numerous bilateral meetings with member societies, collaborating international imaging societies and representatives from international governmental agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Anatomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This month’s Illuminations highlights some of these meetings but look for more detailed updates in future issues of our newsletter.

The European Society of Radiology Awards ISR Secretary General ESR Gold Medal

We’d like to congratulate our ISR Secretary General, Dr. Boris Brkljačić, who was awarded the European Society of Radiology (ESR)’s Gold Medal at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2024 by ESR President Carlo Catalano. The ESR Gold Medal is the highest honor that can be awarded to a member of the ESR, and exclusively bestowed to outstanding scientists, who work in radiology or allied sciences, and have been active in the ESR and or international organizations. The Gold Medal is awarded to three recipients each year at the Opening Ceremony of the ECR. Dr. Brkljačić’s outstanding contributions to our profession include his role as past president of the ESR and his current role as chair of EuroSafe Imaging. Congratulations again on this well-deserved honor.

ISR Meets with World Health Organization and International Atomic Energy Agency Officials At the 2024 European Congress of Radiology

ISR officers met with Dr. Ferid Shannoun from the WHO and IAEA at this year’s European Congress of Radiology to discuss updates to the ISR’s on-going collaboration agreements with the two organizations. As a non-state actor (NSA) in official relations with the WHO; the ISR and WHO periodically establish a multiyear workplan to advance our common goal of improving global health. We anticipate updates to continue to focus on traditional ways to increase imaging capacity in underserved areas through increasing educational opportunities for workforce training, but we will also consider how the judicious use of artificial intelligence applications could also help address radiologist and radiologic technologist workforce shortages in low- and middle-income countries. In a separate meeting, ISR officers met with Dr. Miriam Mikhail and Dr. Francesco Giammarile from the IAEA’s section on Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging (NMDI) to review our ongoing educational collaborations with the IAEA including ISR involvement in the upcoming IEAE’s International Conference on Hybrid Imaging (IPET 2024). The ISR focus with the IAEA Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section is to provide high quality education in underserved areas worldwide. We also met with Ola Homberg, the IAEA’s Head of the Radiation Protection of Patients (RPOP) unit to discuss issues relating to radiation safety. Donald Frush and Guy Frija, Co-chairs of the ISR Quality and Safety Alliance (ISRQSA), led this meeting to highlight the work of the members of the Alliance and consider the global health community’s accomplishments and future directions for radiation protection as we continue to review the directives from the 2012 Bonn Call To Action in preparation for a comprehensive IAEA meeting on the subject in December 2025.  

Pan Arab Association of Radiologists Added To ISR Executive Committee

At its most recent meeting at the European Congress of Radiology March 1, 2024, the ISR International Assembly approved an ISR Bylaws amendment establishing a permanent seat on the ISR Executive Committee for the Pan Arab Association of Radiologists (PAARS) as a Regional member. The move strengthens the geographic representation and diversity of thought on the ISR Executive Committee. The ISR welcomes PAARS president Dr. Lamia Jamjoon to the Executive Committee as the current PAARS representative. 

ISR Updates The Global Health Community at an IAEA Technical Meeting on Radiation Protection of Patients in the New Era of Medical Imaging

The ISR thanks Donald Frush for representing the ISR and the ISR Quality and Safety Alliance at a recent IAEA Technical Meeting on Radiation Protection of Patients in the New ERA of Medical Imaging held in Vienna March 4 and 5, 2024. In his presentation to the attendees, Dr. Frush outlined the ISR’s strategy and accomplishments in the promotion and implementation of increasing imaging capacity in low- and middle-income countries including education the available workforce in the safe and effective use of medical imaging in underserved areas. The ISR and ISRQSA resources for radiation protection and imaging education will be valuable to educate a workforce that may not have had previous training in the safe and effective use of medical imaging, including radiation protection for patients and the workforce.

Dr. Frush's presentation>>

The Radiological Society of North America Establishes Practical Arrangements Agreement with The International Atomic Energy Agency 

During this year’s European Congress of Radiology, the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), and ISR Executive Committee member, entered into a Practical Arrangements Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to increase high quality radiological education in underserved areas of the world. Educating the workforce in the safe and effective use of medical imaging will be critical to achieving the ISR mission of increasing imaging capacity in low- and middle-income countries. The ISR welcomes RSNA's ongoing commitment to improve health in underserved areas worldwide.

See more here>>

and here>>