Last month saw a record turnout for the 72nd RANZCR Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Adelaide, with over 1400 delegates coming together for the very first face to face ASM in three years. There was a real buzz around the Adelaide Convention Centre over the course of the 3.5-day program, packed with quality scientific content and ample opportunities to connect with peers.
Dr Anita Mahajan speaks at Women in Leadership Breakfast
The ASM kicked off with the Women in Medical Leadership Breakfast. Over 110 attendees heard from a panel of impressive female leaders, who presented their research on gender disparity in clinical radiology and radiation oncology and shared their own inspiring leadership journeys. The thought-provoking discussion about barriers and opportunities for women in leadership certainly gave everyone a lot to think about as we strive to improve gender diversity in the professions.
The program was then opened with a Welcome to Country from First Nations Kaurna People Elder Cliffy Wilson. This was followed by an official welcome from President, Clin A/Prof Sanjay Jeganathan and the ASM Organising Committee, together with Sarah Andrews MP representing the South Australia Minister for Health and Wellbeing, and Dr Richard Harris SOC OAM as the Nisbet Orator. Dr Harris shared his story as a doctor and expert cave diver involved in the Thai cave rescue operation that captured the world’s attention and imagination. What a rousing way to begin the conference!
Dr Richard Harris speaks at ASM plenary session
All-star keynote speakers from home and abroad gathered to present more than 250 presentations across 70-plus sessions and workshops, showcasing the latest in medical technology advancements, leading multi-disciplinary collaborations, and exciting milestones in cancer treatments.
Highlights of the clinical radiology program included the Space Radiology Session, a fascinating exploration of the critical role of clinical radiology, medical imaging, and aerospace medicine in a multi-planetary future for humankind. The National Imaging Facility (NIF) Showcase delved into opportunities for NIF and RANZCR to collaborate on cutting-edge research and innovate at a strategic level to deliver benefits to Australian healthcare. In a session on Advances in CT we heard an in-depth expert review of Australia’s first application of the latest revolutionary photon-counting CT scanner in South Australia.
The radiation oncology program was equally as impressive, with highlights including the Proton Therapy Session, in which keynote speakers addressed current controversies and further developments in proton therapy, model-based approaches for patient selection and proton therapy in head and neck cancers. The Particle Therapy Session presented exciting updates about the national progress towards treating the first patients with proton beam therapy at the Australian Bragg Centre in Adelaide in 2025. Masterclasses and workshops in Head and Neck Contouring and Lung cancer were also highlights.
Alongside our keynote sessions, there were many opportunities for early career researchers to present their work, with the Varian Prize session for radiation oncology trainees and the Branch of Origin session for clinical radiology trainees. We also offered a series of non-clinical workshops for the first time, with sessions on health and wellbeing, financial management and medico-legal issues.
Another first for the 2022 ASM was the introduction of the Everlight Kids Club, a free children’s creche service that allowed delegates to engage in the scientific program while their little ones enjoyed their own program of exciting activities.
Gala dinner
The conference program was complemented by a series of social events, in which delegates had the opportunity to relax and connect while sampling the best that the South Australian culinary scene has to offer. Highlights of the social program included the Clinical Radiology Quiz and Faculty of Radiation Oncology Dinner, the Trainee and Junior Consultants Reception, and of course the Gala Dinner, where the theme of “To Infinity and Beyond” inspired many a sparkly outfit, light sabres and a special rendition of “A Whole New World” performed by our 2022 ASM Conveners, as a love song to their hometown of
To infinity and beyond
Adelaide.
Special mention must be given to the more than 180 new Fellows (graduates from 2020-22), who were welcomed into the College in front of a standing-room only audience of family, friends, and colleagues at the Annual Ceremony. It was a joyful occasion.
100 runners gathered to join the 7th Targeting Cancer Fun Run 2022 at the Torrens riverbank in the early morning of 29 October to run for closing the care gap and raising awareness of radiation therapy. Fresh air and beautiful sunrise injected energy to every participant to start off a busy conference day.
Targeting Cancer Fun Run
In addition, the ASM welcomed a group of Indigenous medical students and junior doctors from Australia and New Zealand who won the 2022 ASM Sponsor Grant for Indigenous Medical Students and Junior Doctors to extend their knowledge in radiology.
The 2022 ASM was an energising and collegial event which reminded everyone of the importance of coming together to reflect, revive and reimagine. We hope that delegates left feeling inspired and reinvigorated. Also, participants can claim up to 24.5 points for their ASM attendance via the RANZCR ePortfolio system.
RANZCR would like to thank all who attended – both in person and online – particularly conference speakers, exhibitors and sponsors, for their support of the meeting.
RANZCR 2022 ASM Hall of Fame
2022 ASM Organising Committee
Clinical Radiology Convenor – A/Prof Christen Barras
Radiation Oncology Co-Convenor – Dr Ramkumar Govindaraj
Radiation Oncology Co-Convenor – Dr Laurence Kim
Clinical Radiology Trainee Representative – Dr Upuli Pahalawatta
Radiation Oncology Trainee Representative – Dr Peter Nguyen
2022 Keynote Speakers
Clinical radiology:
Professor Sujal R Desai, UK
Professor Elizabeth Dick, Imperial College NHS Trust, UK
Professor Mark Jenkinson, AUS and USA
Dr Melissa McCradden, Canada
Professor Elizabeth Morris, USA
Professor Perry Pickhardt, USA
Dr Asif Saifuddin, UK
Professor Tarek Yousry, UK
Radiation oncology:
Dr Anita Mahajan
Professor Hans Langendijk
Dr Nancy Lee
2022 International Guests
American College of Radiology
American Roentgen Ray Society
Asian Oceanian Society of Radiology (virtual)
College of Radiology, Academy of Medicine, Malaysia (virtual)
European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) (virtual)
European Society of Radiology
Faculty of Radiologists, Ireland
Hong Kong College of Radiologists (virtual)
Indian Radiological & Imaging Association
Japan Radiological Society (virtual)
RANZCR ASM 2022 in Numbers
1110 in person delegates
343 virtual delegates
63 exhibitors
200 speakers
76 sessions
91 poster presentations
182 new Fellows at Annual Ceremony
12 ASM prizes awarded
100 Targeting Cancer fun runners
Save the Date: RANZCR 2023 ASM
19–22 October
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, QLD
