Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Special Interest Groups

There are currently six Special Interest Groups (SIGs) being organised by IAPM members. Each SIG has a convener, who organises meetings for the group and act as a liaison between the SIG and the Executive Committee. A report on the activities of the SIG is given each year at the AGM. Information about a SIG can be obtained by contacting the convenor or watching for notices of meetings on the IAPM newsgroup. Members interested in contributing to a SIG can contact the convenor.

Radiation protection
Non-ionising radiation
Radiotherapy
Magnetic resonance imaging
Ionising imaging
Early Career

1. Radiation Protection

The Radiation Protection Special Interest Group (RP SIG) is a forum to discuss matters pertaining to both routine and unusual radiation protection issues that arise in medical healthcare. It is also an opportunity to keep medical physicists informed of the work of other agencies who, from time to time, examine issues relating to radiation protection legislation and guidelines. The SIG meets approximately six times a year and is open to all members of the IAPM.

SIG Convenor: Dr. Louise Bowden, Children’s Health Ireland, Dublin

2. Non Ionising Radiation

The Non Ionising Radiation Special Interest Group (NIR SIG) has a broad remit, covering ultrasound (both diagnostic and therapeutic applications) and non-ionising radiations such as lasers and ultraviolet radiation. We aim to share our knowledge and experience of quality assurance and safety issues in the ultrasound and non-ionising radiation fields.

SIG Convenor: Ms. Aisling McMahon, Cork University Hospital, Cork.

3. Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The Magnetic Resonance Imaging Special Interest Group (MRI SIG) focuses on the role of medical physicists in supporting the clinical MRI service in Ireland. The SIG aims to develop the MRI physics knowledge base through training events, workshops, meetings and ongoing sharing of experiences in MRI safety, MRI scanner acceptance testing, quality control, pulse sequence optimisation and the implementation of new MRI techniques. Membership of the MRI SIG is available to all members of the IAPM.

SIG Convenor: Dr. Michael Kelly, Children’s Hospital Ireland, Dublin

4. Radiotherapy

The Radiotherapy Special Interest Group (RT SIG) is a forum to discuss matters pertaining to radiotherapy physics. The RT SIG objectives are to promote continuous professional development, education and training and be a forum for radiotherapy information transfer. This will be achieved through collaborative research and projects, workshops and sharing experiences and information to benefit the group and educate each other. We hope to meet every four months and stay in contact in between as necessary.

SIG Convenor: Mr. Brian Langan, St. Luke’s Hospital, Dublin

5. Ionising Imaging

The Ionising Imaging Special Interest Group (II SIG) is a forum to meet and discuss issues related to ionising imaging modalities. The SIG organises workshops for members to learn and discuss practical issues such as QA techniques. Two or three workshops are organised each year and are decided upon by the membership.

SIG Convenor: Mr. David Caldwell, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin

6. Early Careers

The Early Careers Special Interest Group (EC SIG) is a forum for junior medical physicists around the country to network amongst themselves and discuss issues relating to their professional education, training and development. It facilitates group training and workshops in areas that fall outside the remit of other SIGS but are still necessary in the medical physics profession. It is aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at those aiming to achieve recognition as a Medical Physics Expert in the future.

SIG Convenor: Dr. Dean McCarthy, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital