A Journey Through Time: The History of the Education and Training Committee of IOMP on the occasion of 60th Anniversary of IOMP

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Prof Arun Chougule, PhD, FIOMP, FAMS
Chair ETC IOMP
Chairman IOMP Accreditation Board
Immediate Past President of AFOMP
Member Board of Directors IMPCB
arunchougule11@gmail.com

In the early 1960s a group of passionate medical physicists envisioned an international organization that would transcend borders and foster collaboration among professionals across the globe. Recognizing the immense potential of medical physics in revolutionizing healthcare, these pioneers sought to create a platform that would facilitate knowledge exchange, research, and the establishment of best practices. Founded in January 1963, initially with 4 affiliated national member organizations, the IOMP emerged from a visionary endeavour to unite medical physicists worldwide and advance the understanding and application of physics in medicine. IOMP is the world’s largest professional organization in the field of medical physics and has official non-governmental organization status with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Since its inception, IOMP has embarked on a remarkable journey, dedicated to the welfare of medical physics professionals and the enhancement of healthcare globally and is on its extraordinary path towards fostering excellence and innovation in medical physics. The founding members laid the foundation for an organization that would shape the future of medical physics and its role in modern medicine.

In its initial years, IOMP focused on establishing a strong network of medical physicists, creating a framework for collaboration and knowledge sharing. The organization encouraged the formation of national and regional medical physics societies, forging connections between professionals from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The Council is the ultimate authority of the IOMP and is guided in all its decisions by the tradition of free international scientific cooperation. The IOMP Council consists of delegates appointed by the national organizations, the officers, the immediate past Secretary-General, representatives of the Regional Organizations, IOMP Committee chairs, the Editor of Medical Physics World, non-voting representatives of the corporate members and non-voting observers. The IOMP Executive Committee (ExCom) is responsible for implementing the decisions of the council, for performing the operational business and consists of the Officers and the Chairs of Committees and is chaired by the IOMP President.

Over the period, IOMP also initiated efforts to standardize education and training in medical physics. Through the development of curricula and the establishment of educational guidelines, the organization aimed to ensure consistent and high-quality training for medical physicists worldwide. Further as the field of medical physics progressed, IOMP assumed a leading role in promoting research and scientific advancements. The organization facilitated international conferences, workshops, and symposia, providing platforms for researchers to present their work and exchange ideas. Through these events, IOMP fostered a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration. IOMP actively engaged with policymakers and regulatory bodies to promote the importance of medical physics in healthcare systems. It advocated for the establishment of standardized guidelines and regulations that ensure patient safety and quality assurance in medical procedures. IOMP’s influence reached far beyond the confines of medical physics as it contributed to international efforts in radiation protection, imaging, and oncology. By collaborating with organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organisation [ILO]and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), IOMP played a vital role in shaping global policies and standards in medical radiation applications. ILO in 2010 has classified medical physicists as a health profession in the International Standard Classification of Occupations-08 (ICSO-08), which is an important reference document for governments for recognition and classification of occupations. IOMP also collaborates with professional bodies such as IRPA and ICRP. To provide guidance on education, training, and professional development of medical physicists, IOMP is publishing some policy documents on such issues. The mission of IOMP is to advance medical physics practice worldwide by disseminating scientific and technical information, fostering the educational and professional development of medical physicists, and promoting the highest quality medical services for patients. IOMP is dedicated to improving medical physics worldwide by disseminating systemized knowledge through education and training of medical physicists, to advance the practice of physics in medicine by fostering the education, training, and professional development of medical physicists, and to promote internationally sponsored education and training programs sponsored or endorsed by IOMP, National Member Organizations and Regional Organizations. IOMP sponsors and endorses a number of educational events worldwide and also organizes the widely recognized IOMP school as a major tool to support education and professional development of medical physicists.

Furthermore, IOMP initiated various research projects and supported scientists through grants and awards, encouraging groundbreaking discoveries and novel applications of medical physics in healthcare. The International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP) stands tall as a beacon of collaboration, research, and progress in the field of medical physics. IOMP is celebrating is Golden Jubilee, 6th Anniversary and today organization has a membership of 88 national member organizations, 2 affiliate and 6 regional organizations, represents over 30000 medical physicists across the globe.

The current Regional Federations of IOMP are,

  • European Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (EFOMP) – formed in 1980.
  • Latin American Medical Physics Association (ALFIM) – formed in 1984.
  • Asian-Oceania Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (AFOMP) – formed in 2000.
  • Southeast Asian Federation for Medical Physics (SEAFOMP) – formed in 2006.
  • Middle East Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (MEFOMP) – formed in 2008.
  • Federation of African Medical Physics Organizations (FAMPO) – formed in 2009.

 

IOMP is affiliated to International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine [IUPESM], International Union of Pure and Applied Physics [IUPAP] and International Council for Science [ICSU]and is officially connected to International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering [IFMBE]. IOMP is charged with a mission to advance medical physics practice worldwide by disseminating scientific and technical information, fostering the educational and professional development of medical physics, and promoting the highest quality medical services for patients. Information on IOMP activities, development priorities, and external relations are given in strategic policy document. The IOMP website www.iomp.org provided the updated information about various activities of IOMP.

The International Day of Medical Physics (IDMP) is celebrated every year on 7th November, the birthday of Marie Skłodowska–Curie. It was established in 2013 and celebrated every year since then. It unites medical physicists throughout the world under different activities related to our profession. This year IOMP is celebrating its 60th Anniversary[Diamond Jubilee]and theme of IDMP2023  is very appropriately chosen as

“Standing on the Shoulders of Giants”. 

A poster to celebrate IDMP2023 is selected from 23 competitive entries received from IOMP members and released. 

Education and Training Committee [ETC] of IOMP

As the field of medical physics rapidly expanded in the following years, it became evident that a standardized approach to education and training was essential to ensure the competence and professionalism of medical physicists worldwide. Recognizing the significance of education and training, IOMP established committees and initiatives to enhance the skills and knowledge of medical physicists. In 1985, the IOMP Education and Training Committee (ETC) was established at the 7th ICMP, at Espoo, near Helsinki, Finland. The intent was to develop task oriented educational and training programs and to organize short refresher courses, seminars, and workshops to improve medical physics education, to advance the practice of medical physicists worldwide, to support on matters relating to education and training, and development of training materials. ETC developed a system for assessment, endorsement, and funding of such activities. ETC set out to develop guidelines and recommendations that would ensure the highest standards of education and training for future medical physicists. One of the primary objectives of the ETC was to establish uniformity in the educational curricula for medical physicists. By collaborating with leading educational institutions and professionals, the committee developed guidelines that addressed core competencies, knowledge areas, and practical skills required for medical physics practice. These guidelines have since become the backbone of many academic programs worldwide.

Over the years, ETC faced various challenges, some of which were intrinsic to the rapidly evolving field of medical physics. Technological advancements, such as the introduction of advanced imaging techniques and treatment modalities, necessitated continuous updates to the training curricula. Moreover, the committee encountered difficulties in accommodating diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds of its members, making it a challenge to design inclusive and effective educational programs. Despite the constraints and challenges, the Education and Training Committee of IOMP demonstrated resilience by implementing adaptive strategies and embracing innovations.

The Education and Training Committee, in particular, worked tirelessly to develop standardized curricula, e-learning platforms, and mentorship programs, enabling access to quality education regardless of geographical boundaries. As a result, IOMP’s efforts have empowered generations of medical physics professionals, ensuring the continuous advancement of the field and the delivery of safe and effective healthcare services. The field of medical physics owes much of its progress and success to the dedicated efforts of the Education and Training Committee (ETC). For several decades, this committee has been at the forefront of shaping the education, training, and professional development of medical physicists worldwide. In this article, we explore the history and enduring contributions of the ETC to the medical physics profession.

The ETC Chairs who established and stabilised ETC since its inception in 1985 are,

  • Carlos E. de Almeida (1985-1989),
  • Norman Baily (1990- 1992),
  • Nagalingam Suntharalingam (1993-1997),
  • Azam Niroomand-Rad (1997-2000),
  • Slavik Tabakov (2000-2006),
  • Anchali Krisanachinda (2006-2009),
  • Maria do Carmo Lopes (2009-2012l),
  • John Damilakis (2012-2015)
  • John Damilakis (2015-2018)
  • Arun Chougule [2018-2022]

The aims and objectives of ETC are,

  • To improve medical physics worldwide by disseminating systemized knowledge through education and training of medical physicists especially in developing countries.
  • To advance the practice of physics in medicine by fostering the education, training and professional development of medical physicists, and by promoting highest quality medical services for patients worldwide.
  • To promote internationally sponsored education and training programs sponsored or endorsed by IOMP, National Member Organizations and Regional Organizations.
  • To identify the need for international education and training activities, prioritizes and assesses the applications, and recommends to the IOMP EXCOM the method of support. The ETC can also assist with the organization of the event and suggest suitable changes in the curriculum and faculty of the activity.
  • To consider applications from national and regional organisations for sponsoring or endorsing meetings. Applications to be considered in accordance with the document ‘IOMP policy on Scientific, Educational and Professional Meetings’.
  • To consider requests for review, comment or endorsement of documents in accordance with the policy and procedure document ‘Documents Submitted to IOMP by External Organisations for Review, Comment or Endorsement’.
  • To work on evaluation and promotion of medical physics education and training programs and on any alternative mechanisms supporting international cooperation addressing the education/training needs of medical physicists.
  • To stimulate the foundation of regional centres for education and training in collaboration with IAEA, WHO and other agencies.
  • To compile and update listings of medical physics educational opportunities worldwide for posting on the IOMP web page.
  • To support and collaborate with the education and training committees of Regional Organizations on matters relating to education and training, including development of training materials and training methodology.

The IOMP ETC members for 2022-25 are,

  1. Prof. Arun Chougule, India – Chair
  2. Prof. Ana Maria Marques da Silva, Brazil
  3. Prof. Eva Bezak, Australia
  4. Prof. Franco Milano, Italy
  5. Prof. Hasin Anupama Azhari, Bangladesh
  6. Prof. Hayashi Naoki, Japan
  7. Dr. Jaydev Dave, USA
  8. Prof. Jin Xiance, China
  9. Prof. Loredana Marcu, Romania
  10. Prof. Renato Padovani, Italy
  11. Dr. Riad Shweikan, Syria
  12. Dr. Stephen Inkoom, Ghana
  13. Dr. Supriyanto Ardjo Pawiro, Indonesia
  14. Dr. V. Subramani, India

Accreditation and Certification

Another significant contribution of the ETC was the establishment of accreditation and certification processes. IOMP Accreditation Board [AB] was set up in 2016 to ensure that accredited medical physics programs satisfy the highest standards established by IOMP in collaboration with other international organizations. Working in conjunction with relevant authorities, the committee devised rigorous evaluation criteria to assess the quality and effectiveness of educational programs. Accreditation is the means by which IOMP assesses the quality of medical physics postgraduate degree programs, residency programmes, CPD courses and keeps the medical physics community informed. Accredited programs ensure that aspiring medical physicists receive comprehensive training and preparation to excel in their careers, while certifications authenticate their competency and professionalism.

The IOMP Accreditation Board accredits medical physics postgraduate degree programs, residency programs, medical physics education and training institutions/centres and education and training events. Since 2016, the IOMP Accreditation Board has accredited/ reaccredited medical physics postgraduate programmes, residency programmes and CPD accreditation of conferences and other education and training events. The ETC played a crucial role in promoting accreditation and certification processes for medical physics educational programs. The  IOMP Accreditation Board ensures the standards are met by the institute/University imparting the Medical Physics education covering all the aspects. Resources alone are not sufficient to assure quality. Evidence must be obtained that assures that  the educational institution and specifically the Medical Physics education program monitor the  performances of the graduate, postgraduate  and that they are indeed able to demonstrate successful  achievement of the program goals. By collaborating with regional and national authorities, the ETC helped establish evaluation criteria that ensured accredited programs met the required standards, fostering excellence and consistency in education. The details regarding the accreditation program, manuals, forms, and the list of accredited programmes is available at https://www.iomp.org/accreditation/

The IOMP accreditation board members for 2022-25 are,

Prof. Arun Chougule, India – Chair
Prof. Golam Abu Zakaria – Vice Chair
Prof. Rodolfo Alfonso, Cuba
Dr. Huda Al Naami, Qatar
Dr. Christoph Trauernicht, S. Africa
Prof. Shinji Kawamura, Japan
Dr. S.D Sharma, India
Prof. Laura Padilla, USA

The very first MPE program accredited by IOMP accreditation Board [AB] was master’s Medical Physics [MMP] program of ICTP- Trieste University, Trieste, Italy for 3 years from 1 November 2016 and process continued. IOMP AB has accredited and re-accredited the following MPE programs.

Masters in medical physics Program accreditation by IOMP Accreditation Board till 31 July 2023 are,

  1. The Catholic University of Korea – Full Accreditation
  2. KAIST University – Full Accreditation
  3. Yonsei University – Full Accreditation
  4. ICTP-Trieste University joint Master of Advanced Studies in Medical Physics-Full Accreditation
  5. Fundación Médica de Río Negro y Neuquén (FMdeRNyN), and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad Nacional del Comahue (UNCo), Río Negro, ARGENTINA-The postgraduate program (3 years) in Medical Physics specialized in Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine, and Diagnostic/Interventional Radiology- Full accreditation.

Master’s in medical physics Program Re-accreditation by IOMP Accreditation Board

  1. ICTP & Trieste University joint Master of Advanced Studies in Medical Physics, Trieste, Italy. Re-accredited for 5 years (1 August 2022 – 31 July 2027)
  2. The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul Republic of Korea – Re-accredited for 5 years
    (1 January 2023 – 31 December 2027)
  3. KAIST University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea – Re-accredited for 5 years
    (1 January 2023 – 31 December 2027)
  4. Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea – Re-accredited for 5 years
    (1January 2023 – 31 December 2027)

IOMP accreditation of Medical physics residency Programs

The objective of the medical physics residency program is to develop human resources as a professional medical physicist (Clinically Qualified Medical Physicists – CQMP) who is competent to participate actively in the individual clinical field independently. To accomplish this goal, adequate organization, facilities, staff, patient, and educational environments should be provided. The major outcome of the residency program should be to provide residents with clinical training in a hospital under certified/qualified medical physicists so as to acquire the required practical skills and professionalism. The medical physics residency programme should be conducted in a clinical environment, having adequate infrastructure and the facilities to support resident education and training. The staff involved in teaching and training should have adequate training and experience. Further the equipment and instruments specific to the specialty concerned should be available. The duration of clinical training should be as per IAEA guidelines for various regions specified in IOMP accreditation manual available at IOMP website [https://www.iomp.org/accreditation/]. The training should be carried out under the direct supervision of a qualified/certified and well experienced medical physicist in the area of specialty who can be designated as clinical training supervisor of the resident.

Residency Program accreditation by IOMP Accreditation Board

  1. The Residency program (1 year) in Radiotherapy Physics at Fundación Médica de Río Negro y Neuquén (FMdeRNyN), and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad Nacional del Comahue (UNCo), Río Negro, ARGENTINA- Full accreditation
  2. The Residency program (1 year) in NM&DIR Physics at Fundación Médica de Río Negro y Neuquén (FMdeRNyN), and Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad Nacional del Comahue (UNCo), Río Negro, ARGENTINA- Initial accreditation

Continuing Professional Development (CPD):

Over the time, ETC expanded its scope to encompass various aspects of professional development, beyond initial education and training. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) became a key focus area, encouraging medical physicists to engage in lifelong learning, attend conferences, workshops, and stay updated with the latest advancements in the field. Recognizing the dynamic nature of medical physics and the rapid advancements in technology, the ETC played a pivotal role in promoting Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This emphasis on CPD was vital in keeping medical physicists at the forefront of technology and best practices, ensuring the highest standard of patient care. ETC ensured that professionals stay up to date with the latest developments and best practices, enhancing the quality of patient care. As per IOMP policy statement 1, Medical Physicists working in healthcare environment are health professionals and need to be certified as Clinically Qualified Medical Physicists [CQMP] according to IAEA HHS 25 guidelines endorsed by IOMP. To maintain and enhance the professional competence, and the ability to work independently, practising medical physicists should undertake a continuing professional development (CPD) programme which should include attendance at national and/or international conferences and courses on topics related to their field of specialization. They should also regularly consult relevant scientific journals and literature. To maintain the certification/licence as CQMP, medical physicists need to acquire certain CPD points by attending/participating in educational/training programmes. CPD is one of the essential measures in maintaining professional competency, particularly for certified CQMPs. Its goal is to keep professional knowledge and skills up to date. The educational /training programmes awarding CPD points needs to be accredited by authorised/recognised accreditation board. Formal CPD programmes should include an evaluation mechanism, such as a credit-based system, where CQMPs are awarded CPD points for each activity they participate in.

To encourage CQMP’s to acquire the CPD points through Continuing Professional Development events by acquiring the CME/CPD points, IOMP has started in 2019 the accreditation of CPD events provided by educational institutions, professional and scientific associations, hospital departments, units or divisions, research organizations and other scientific organizations. IOMP does not accredit CPD events organized by the industry. The concept of CPD is related to knowledge, skill and competence acquired during lifelong learning. The outcome of CPD should lead to an improvement in professional practice.

List of CPD accreditation by IOMP Accreditation Board

  1. CPD: Dosimetry of Small Fields in External Beam Therapy: Reference and Relative Dose Determination 2nd – 4th October 2019, SCMPCR Training Room and National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH), Dhaka, Bangladesh
  2. ICMP 2019 (ALFIM), Santiago, Chile, 8 – 11 September 2019
  3. CPD: Hands-on Workshop: Commissioning, Planning and Quality Control for the IMRT/VMAT Treatment Techniques. 25th – 27th April 2020, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka and National Cancer, Institute, Maharagama, Sri Lanka
  4. Universität Heidelberg (Germany) Online Teaching Course: Particle Therapy, September 2020
  5. CPD: SCMPCR E-learning Program (ELP-03): Basic Principles and Advanced Clinical Applications (webinar platform) 5-26 Feb 2021
  6. MEFOMP virtual conference, 5 -7 April 2021.
  7. Virtual Summer School 2021: Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and Advanced Treatment Techniques during Sept. 20th – Nov. 14th, 2021, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
  8. Online Teaching Course Particle Therapy- program during 22- 26 November 2021. German cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
  9. SCMPCR E-learning Program (ELP-05): Advanced Techniques in Radiotherapy1 st October 2021 – 22nd October 2021, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  10. 4th Summer School in Medical Physics: Radiobiology and Biological Modelling for Radiotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)5 – 30 Sept 2022
  11. Course type 3: Online teaching course “Particle Therapy” online phase Oct. 17 -Nov. 20, 2022, online phase Nov. 21-Nov. 25, 2022, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
  12. SCMPCR E-learning Program (ELP-06): Clinical Medical Physics in Modern Radiotherapy Date:01 July 2022 – 22 July 2022
  13. SCMPCR Hands-on Workshop (HW-06): Modern Quality Assurance in Modern Radiotherapy during 15th – 18th February 2023
  14. MEFOMP2023 Medical Physics conference, 19–22 May 2023, Muscat, Oman
  15. Online Teaching Course “Particle Therapy”, OCT. 09 – NOV. 19, 2023, German cancer Research Center (DKFZ)

As IOMP continues to champion excellence and innovation, its legacy lives on in the dedication and passion of medical physicists across the globe. The organization’s commitment to unity and progress remains the driving force behind the advancement of medical physics and its unwavering pursuit of a healthier, safer, and more technologically advanced world.

Conclusion:

The Education and Training Committee has been an integral force in the evolution and advancement of the medical physics profession. Through its dedication to standardizing education, fostering professional development, and encouraging global collaboration, the ETC has raised the bar for medical physicists worldwide. As the field continues to grow and adapt, the enduring contributions of the ETC will continue to shape the future of medical physics, ensuring excellence in patient care and radiation safety for generations to come.

Over the years, the Education and Training Committee of IOMP has continuously adapted to the evolving needs of the field. By collaborating with regional organizations, national societies, and educational institutions, the ETC has become a global force in advancing the profession of medical physics. Its dedication to fostering excellence in education, promoting professional development, and encouraging international collaboration has been instrumental in shaping the future of medical physics and enhancing patient care worldwide.

The history of the Education and Training Committee of IOMP is a testament to its dedication, perseverance, and adaptability in advancing the field of medical physics. From its modest beginnings in 1985, the committee has grown to be a globally recognized authority of IOMP in medical physics education, leaving an indelible mark on the profession’s growth and development. As the field continues to evolve, the committee’s commitment to excellence and innovation promises an exciting and promising future for medical physicists around the world.

I thank all the committee members of ETC and accreditation board for actively participating in the activities and tasks. I also take this opportunity to thank, John Damilakis, President IOMP, IOMP EXCOM and the IOMP NMO’s for the support in fulfilling the aims and objectives of ETC as well as IOMP.

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