ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S53 ESTRO 2024 therapeutic approach to overcome radioresistance. The outcome of clinical trials is influenced by the validity of the preclinical proofs of concept, the impact on normal tissue, the robustness of biomarkers and the quality of the delivery of radiation. Herein, Innovative studies are discussed with the aim of optimizing and implement future precision drug–radiotherapy trials. Invited Speaker

3365

Innovative interdisciplinary medical physics education and training

Cristina Garibaldi

European Institute of Oncology, Radiation Research, Milano, Italy

Abstract:

Medical physicists have roles and responsibilities within interdisciplinary clinical and scientific environments. As radiotherapy (RT) is quickly evolving with the constant introduction of new technology and approaches, medical physicists must adapt their knowledge, skills, and competencies on a regular basis to maintain patient safety and quality of care. Advanced treatment modalities such as proton therapy and MR-guided RT, personalized and combined treatments, require broader multidisciplinary skills, such as multimodality imaging and advanced data analysis. The ESTRO/EFOMP core curriculum (CC) for Medical Physics Experts (MPEs) in RT has been recently updated to account for the new developments in the field in the last ten years and to raise the professional profile of the MPE. The most relevant updates were: 1) defining the minimum requirements to access the training, 2) emphasizing competency-based education by introducing the Canadian Medical Education Directives for Specialists (CanMEDS) framework to align the MPE training with the highest professional training level, 3) including developments in treatments technology and techniques since 2011, and 4) emphasizing the role of quality management as a means to ensure the safety of increasingly complex treatments. As new techniques or tools, such as artificial intelligence (AI), emerge, MPEs will need to update their skills to safely implement these into clinical practice. The necessary level of expertise with increasing proficiency can vary as reflected in the 4 levels of competencies (Awareness, Contributive, Collaborative, Expert). An EFOMP working group has recently developed a combined curriculum on AI for all disciplines of Medical Physics intended as an addendum to core curricula by elaborating on specific items. A Basic and an Advanced level have been defined with the latter including more specialty-specific elements reinforcing the role of medical physicists in ensuring that the AI tools are used safely and effectively in the related fields of radiology, nuclear medicine, and RT. The role of AI is foreseen as an important driver for the merging of the different disciplines. The current education and training program for medical physicists varies across European countries. In most countries, the training period, ranging from 1 to 5 years, is dedicated to the three disciplines of medical physics (RT, nuclear medicine and radiology). The ESTRO/EFOMP CC for MPE in RT aims to be compatible with different national education and training programs where MPEs may be certified to practice either in RT alone or in all three disciplines. The CC recommends a total training period to 4 years including a 6-month period for general topics common to the three disciplines (fundamental of Medical Physics, quantitative image analysis, AI, quality management and other), 6 month period of training in research/innovation and 1 year to cover topics of other specialties of Medical Physics. The ESTRO/EFOMP CC aims to tackle the ambitious challenge to provide a common standard training framework in Europe. A survey has been launched to understand the perception of each European national society of the 3rd ESTRO/EFOMP CC with the aim to identify barriers that might impact its implementation at a national level.