AAPM/IOMP INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGE PROGRAM

REGIONAL COURSE &WORKSHOP

CURRENT PRACTICES AND ADVANCES IN

RADIATION THERAPY PHYSICS

MANILA, PHILIPPINES

August 1-5, 2005

The 14^th AAPM / IOMP International Scientific Exchange Program course and workshop in radiation therapy physics was held successfully in Manila, Philippines, August 1-5, 2005. This program was co-sponsored by the Philippines Organization of Medical Physicists (POMP) as host organization.

The objectives of this course/workshop were to update the knowledge of medical physics, to present advanced radiation therapy physics to clinical physicists, to inter compare calibration of photons beams using IAEA and AAPM TG-51 protocols, to exchange information concerning medical physics profession in Philippines and nearby countries. Even though this course/workshop was intended for medical physicists, but some radiation oncologists, dosimetrists and radiation therapists also attended. A total number of 73 participants were registered including one dosimetrist from Singapore and one medical physicist from Korea. Basically almost all the medical physicists in Philippines were able to attend this program.

Mr. Gil Palcone, President of POMP was the Host Director and Co-Director of this program. Ms. Agnette Peralta, Director Bureau of Health Devices and Technology, Philippines and Mr. Raffy Solis from St. Luke Medical Center, also helped in organization and planning of this program. The AAPM faculty were: Drs. Faiz M. Khan, Azam Niroomand-Rad, Ceferino H. Obcemea, Bhudatt R. Paliwal, Saiyid M. Shah, and Raymond K. Wu. The program began with a welcoming address by Celia Anatalio, MD, Assistant Director of Elicano Cancer Clinic, also known as the “Mother of Medical Physics in Philippines”. The program ended with presentation of Certificates of Participation and Certificates of Appreciation to the participants and faculty.

Evaluation forms were distributed to the participants and were collected upon completion of the program. Various aspects of the program including the quality and the quantity of the lectures as presented by each faculty during the course/workshop were evaluated. General comments were noted by some of the respondents at the end of the evaluation form. As noted, faculty did a great job and this program provided a unique opportunity to the participants to interact with the faculty and benefit from their experiences. The participants had ample opportunity to ask questions even after the scheduled times. The results of the evaluation were summarized and distributed to the faculty and ISEP / IAC members.

The local expenses of the faculty were supported by the Host Institution and their travel expenses were financed by funds provided by the AAPM, and vendors: Advance Radiation measurements, Assurance Controls Technologies Co., Brain Lab, Best Industries, Computerized Radiation Scanners, Elekta, Global Medical Solutions, Integrated Energy Systems and Resources, MDS Nordion, PTW, Scanditronix/Wellhofer, Siemens, Sun Nuclear and Varian. The Corporate Sponsors were offered a tabletop space for exhibition of their products in a room adjacent to the lecture hall. We are grateful to these companies for their generous contributions. The local expenses of this program were supported by POMP, Philippines Bureau of Health Devices and Technology, IOMP, North American Chinese Medical Physicists Association (NACMPA), and local vendors. This program was not possible without the supports of these organizations and vendors. We would like to express special thanks for their generous contributions.

We also wish to acknowledge the commitment and effort of Ms. Agnette Peralta, Mr. Gil Palcone, POMP President, Ms. Josephyn Limbo, POMP Treasurer, and all other staff of Local Organizing Committee who worked very hard in the past few years to organize and implement this program. They did a great job and local arrangements (including companion programs) were superb. Their hospitality was extraordinary. Unforgettable friendships were made possible among the faculty and the participants. We also like to thank the AAPM faculty for volunteering their time and efforts in this endeavor.

Lastly, it is worth noting that there are several state of the art radiation treatment centers in Philippines and that every radiation treatment center is required by law to hire at least one medical physicist. This achievement is largely due to active efforts and leadership of Ms. Agnette Peralta as Director of the Philippines Bureau of Health Devices and Technology.

Saiyid M. Shah

Course Director

Last update: Feb 27, 2006