Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) marked the International Day of Medical Physics recently by honouring outstanding medical physicists.
They were hounored with HMC’s ‘Medical Physicist of the Year’ Award in recognition of their contribution to the science of radiation during a celebratory event organised by the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Department at HMC. More than 100 healthcare professionals including medical physicists, biomedical engineers, radiographers, oncologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine specialists, technicians and radiation safety officers were present at the event.
Medical physicists assess radiation doses and associated risks to patients and personnel, especially to pregnant women and children. In addition, medical physicists play an important role in radiation protection education and training of healthcare professionals, and also participate in research and development to improve patient care.
International Day of Medical Physics aims to raise awareness of the role that medical physicists play in patient care. The theme for the day this year is ‘Education in Medical Physics – the Key to Success.’
Dr Huda Al Naemi, Executive Director of HMC’s OHS Department and Vice President of the Middle East Federation of Organizations of Medical Physics (MEFOMP) said, “Because of their complex and highly specialized work, medical physicists are required to obtain an advanced postgraduate degree and then undergo specialized clinical training in one or more medical physics disciplines, such as radiation oncology, diagnostic and interventional radiology, nuclear medicine and radiation protection.
"Due to this high level of training, we are very confident that our medical physicists will continue to positively contribute to the safe and accurate use of radiation to achieve the best possible outcome of the prescribed medical procedure for either diagnosis or therapy.” The OHS Department, in collaboration with MEFOMP and the European Federation of Organizations of Medical Physics also organised a scientific workshop in observance of the day, which was initiated by the International Organization for Medical Physics.
