Dear Colleagues and Friends,
It gives me great pleasure to share highlights and updates from AFOMP in this special issue of AFOMP PULSE. This year marks a very special milestone for our community—the 25th Anniversary of the Asia-Oceania Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (AFOMP). Since its founding in 2000, AFOMP has grown from a small coalition of national medical physics organizations into a vibrant federation representing of medical physicists across more than 20 member countries. Over the past quarter century, AFOMP has: Strengthened collaboration among regional societies, fostering the exchange of knowledge, resources, and expertise; Supported education and training, through workshops, conferences, and professional development initiatives, helping to raise standards of practice across the region; Advocated for medical physics as a recognized profession, engaging with global bodies such as IOMP, WHO, and IAEA to ensure our voice is heard in health policy and patient care; Advanced scientific contributions, through the AOCMP annual congresses, collaborative research, and active engagement in emerging areas like AI, theranostics, and precision medicine; and Nurtured future leaders, by encouraging the active participation of young medical physicists and early-career professionals in AFOMP activities.
This silver jubilee is not just a celebration of the past, but also a moment to look forward. The challenges of the next 25 years—ranging from addressing workforce shortages, harnessing new technologies, and ensuring equitable access to medical physics expertise—require us to be innovative, collaborative, and resilient. As we celebrate AFOMP’s journey, we are committed to our missionof advancing medical physics for the benefit of patients, healthcare systems, and society across Asia-Oceania and the world.
2025 is also the last year of my term as AFOMP president, and I wish to extend my huge appreciation to the AFOMP Executive Committee (ExCom) for their efforts and achievements in this term. I also wish the very best to the incoming ExCom for the 2025–2028 election term. Personally, I am deeply grateful to all AFOMP members for giving me the privilege to serve as your President during this period. It has been an honour to represent our community and work alongside so many talented and dedicated colleagues.
The recent AFOMP awards, proudly celebrated two outstanding colleagues whose contributions have left a lasting mark on our profession (the official award ceremony will be held in Adelaide, South Australia, during IUPESM Wc2025/AOCMP2025):
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Prof. Agnette Peralta, Philippines, was honoured for her decades of dedication, leadership, and pioneering contributions to medical physics in the region.
- Prof Inamura Oration Award: Prof. Peter Metcalfe, Australia delivered an inspiring address, reflecting on the evolution of our field and the importance of innovation, collaboration, and mentorship.
In other news, in August, I had the opportunity to attend the 31st China Hospeq 2025 International Medical Equipment Exhibition and Scientific Conference, where I presented on the rise of targeted radionuclide therapies. The event was an excellent platform to build meaningful connections with the Chinese medical physics community.
Additionally, I delivered two presentations at WHO parallel meetings, emphasizing the critical role of medical imaging in disease diagnosis. These engagements reinforce AFOMP’s voice and visibility in global health discussions.
Once again, I wish to invite you all to join us at the Asian-Oceanian Congress of Medical Physics (AOCMP) 2025 and the IUPESM World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering (WC2025) to be held in Adelaide, Australia, from 29 September – 4 October 2025(https://wc2025.org/).
The program will feature a GEANT4 and Radiation Shielding workshops, alongside plenary lectures, scientific sessions, and opportunities for professional networking. Importantly, the AFOMP Council Meeting will also take place during WC2025.
Our plenary highlights include Dr Lars Juhl Jensen (Director at ZS Discovery), Denmark – widely recognized for his pioneering work in bioinformatics, AI-driven molecular data analysis, and network-based biomedical insights. His plenary session kicks off the Congress on Monday, 29 September, during the Opening Ceremony and Plenary presentations. Or Dr Jitendra Sharma, Managing Director and Founder CEO of the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) in India, whose leadership in establishing the world’s first medical device manufacturing park and shaping medical technology policy highlights the Congress’s focus on global healthcare innovation.
Our keynote speakers include: Prof Simon Cherry (University of California, Davis) will discuss groundbreaking advancements in total-body PET imaging, emphasizing why a whole-body perspective is vital for understanding complex diseases; Dr Chia-Ho Hua (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital) will present on the latest in paediatric proton therapy, exploring how we can improve tumour control while minimizing harm to developing tissues or Prof Marie-Catherine Vozenin (Lausanne University Hospital & University of Lausanne) will deliver a keynote on FLASH radiotherapy, a revolutionary approach that promises reduced tissue toxicity and enhanced tumour control.
Please note, that theme for IDMP 2025 is:“Medical Physics and Emerging Technologies: Shaping the Next Decade”. IOMP announced that the winning poster was designed by the talented Ms. Yashna M. Seebarruth, Medical Physicist at J. Nehru Hospital, Rose Belle, Mauritius. Her work captures well the rapid developments in medical technology and our professions.
Finally, I thank each of you for your continued commitment to AFOMP and to advancing medical physics in Asia-Oceania and beyond. Together, we will continue to innovate, educate, and inspire.
Yours Sincerely
Eva Bezak
President, AFOMP