First Impression

Numbers in the News

15
Number of “Connectathons” that have been hosted by the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE®) initiative. Learn more about the annual event, which helps participants work toward achieving interoperability in health information technology systems, here.

25
Minimum number of the 75 CME credits that now must be qualified as self-assessment CME (SA-CME) to meet requirements for Part II of Maintenance of Certification for diagnostic radiologists. Learn about the new requirements, and how RSNA can help physicians meet them, here.

25
Estimated cost, in billions of dollars, of the latest “doc-stop” fix that defers cuts to physician payment rates as mandated by the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. Read more about radiology leaders’ reactions to the latest Congressional actions here.

2,047
Number of retracted papers in the biomedical and life sciences since 1977. Misconduct was the reason for retraction in three-quarters of the cases, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Learn more about the tools and tactics editors are using to combat plagiarism in scientific publishing here.

RSNA Extends Support of Imaging Physics Residencies

 

The board of directors of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) has approved $560,000 for new imaging physics residencies, either diagnostic or nuclear medicine. With an additional $280,000 from RSNA, it will be possible to provide matching support for six new imaging residencies.

RSNA supports establishment of new imaging physics residency programs to fulfill projected staffing needs, provide comprehensive education, and prepare physicists to attain the American Board of Radiology (ABR) Qualified Medical Physicist (QMP) designation. Beginning next year, ABR will require medical physicists to complete an accredited two-year residency program in order to take board exams and achieve the QMP designation. According to a recent AAPM manpower assessment, at least 30 new diagnostic imaging medical physicists will be needed annually to meet current demands as well as those beyond 2014.

“Imaging physics residencies perform an important function by training physicists to work in a clinical environment,” said Beth Schueler, Ph.D., a clinical medical physicist and associate professor of radiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. The Mayo Clinic imaging physics residency was started in 1990 and has graduated 13 residents.

“I encourage others to establish residency programs to ensure the availability of medical physicists with clinical training to support quality, safety and innovation in medical imaging,” said Dr. Schueler, who serves as AAPM secretary.

In 2011, RSNA and AAPM contributed a combined $100,500 toward residents’ salaries at new programs created at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Duke University in Durham, N.C., and Upstate Medical Physics in Victor, N.Y. In addition to financial support, AAPM offers resources including descriptions of existing residencies, self-study documentation and business models.

Departments interested in obtaining funding to create an imaging physics residency can get started at www.aapm.org/education/GrantsFellowships.asp. George S. Bisset III, M.D., 2012 RSNA President, and N. Reed Dunnick, M.D., RSNA President-elect, will join AAPM representatives Robert Pizzutiello, M.D., Donald Peck, Ph.D., and Charles Willis, Ph.D., in reviewing applications.

The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP) offers more information on the requirements for an imaging physics residency. Go to campep.org/resguidelines.pdf.

Set Up Group Billing for 2013

 

Practices or academic institutions with large numbers of RSNA members can take advantage of group billing to receive just one invoice during the next membership renewal cycle. To set up this option, contact the RSNA Membership Department at membership@rsna.org or 1-877-776-2636 (630-571-7873 outside the U.S. and Canada).

Mills Receives Image Gently Butterfly Award

Thalia Mills, Ph.D. (left), was presented the Butterfly Award by Donald P. Frush, M.D., a member of the Image Gently Steering Committee.

 

Thalia Mills, Ph.D., has received the Image Gently Butterfly award from the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging (ARSPI). The award is presented to an individual or organization within or outside of the alliance who makes a significant contribution to radiation protection for children. ARSPI launched the “Image Gently” campaign in 2009 to raise awareness of pediatric radiation safety and to lower radiation dose in the imaging of children.

Dr. Mills is a physicist with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health, Division of Radiological Health, Diagnostic X-ray Systems Branch. Dr. Mills has coordinated the efforts of the U.S. FDA to work with vendors, the public and Image Gently in dose reduction initiatives and education.

RSNA is among the 60 alliance organizations within ARSPI. For more information visit www.imagegently.org.

Radiologist Marries During RSNA 2012

Amid the refresher courses, scientific sessions and special lectures, one RSNA 2012 attendee fit in another important event—Marius E. Mayerhoefer, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of radiology at Medical University of Vienna, wed Beatrix Krauskopf, Ph.D., LL.M., on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, during the RSNA annual meeting.

After getting engaged in Rome in 2011, the couple agreed that RSNA 2012 would be the perfect opportunity to get married, as many of their friends and colleagues would be in town to celebrate. The couple was in search of a unique, unforgettable experience. “She instantly fell in love with Chicago, just like I did,” Dr. Mayerhoefer said. “Both of us find Chicago’s skyline extremely impressive—in particular at nighttime when all the lights are bright—it’s very romantic.”

Their ceremony was held at the Mount Prospect, Ill., home of their officiant, the Rev. Pamela Magnuson. The couple hosted their reception at the Signature Room at the 95th®, atop Chicago’s John Hancock Center. Guests included 2007 RSNA Honorary Member Christian J. Herold, M.D., who postponed his flight to be present.

Apply Now for RSNA Editorial Fellowships

Applications are being accepted for the RSNA William R. Eyler Editorial Fellowship and the RSNA William W. Olmsted Editorial Fellowship for Trainees.

Both fellowships offer the opportunity to work with Radiology Editor Herbert Y. Kressel, M.D., in Boston and RadioGraphics Editor Jeffrey S. Klein, M.D., in Burlington, Vt. The Eyler fellowship lasts one month and the Olmsted fellowship lasts one week. Each fellow will also visit the RSNA Publications and Communications Division at RSNA Headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill. The Eyler Fellow will work with the RadioGraphics editorial team at RSNA 2013.

The application deadline for the Olmsted fellowship is April 1. The Eyler fellowship application deadline is May 1. Learn more at RSNA.org/RSNA_Editorial_Fellowships.aspx.

Third CT Dose Summit Held by AAPM/Massachusetts General Hospital

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and Massachusetts General Hospital Imaging’s Webster Center for Advanced Research and Education in Radiation are collaborating to offer the Third CT Dose Summit: Strategies for CT Scan Parameter Optimization.

The focus will be on demonstrating how scan acquisition and image reconstruction parameters should be selected and managed to improve image quality and reduce radiation dose. The summit will provide invaluable knowledge and experience to radiologists, CT physicists and technologists for managing CT radiation dose. For more information, go to www.aapm.org/meetings/2013CTS.

In Memoriam

RSNA joins the communities of radiation oncology and nuclear medicine in mourning the loss of two renowned physicians: 2005 RSNA Honorary Member Rolf-Peter Mueller, M.D., Ph.D., and 2002 RSNA Honorary Member Henry N. Wagner Jr., M.D.

 

Rolf-Peter Mueller, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Mueller died September 19, 2012, at the age of 66. He developed the radiation therapy program in the German Hodgkin Study Group and was a founding member of the German Society for Radiation Oncology. He received the Herrman-Holthusen Ring, the highest award given to young scientists, from the German Roentgen Ray Society. In 1985, Dr. Mueller became the acting head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Cologne and was appointed director and head of the department in 1987, a position he held until his death.

 

Henry N. Wagner Jr., M.D.

Dr. Wagner died September 25, 2012, at the age of 85. He was professor emeritus of medicine and radiology at The Johns Hopkins University and founder of the university’s PET center. His pioneering work in imaging neuroreceptors paved the way for research in addiction and drug design and increased understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of the brain. In 1993 he was awarded the first SNM President’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Nuclear Medicine. During his 56-year association with Johns Hopkins, Dr. Wagner trained more than 500 radiologists, internists, physicians and scientists.