From imaging in a war zone to the latest on stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) and the progress of the UK’s proton beam therapy programme, UKRCO 2018’s plenary and keynote sessions offers exciting and stimulating programme
Pioneering medical scientist, Dr Kevin Fong, Consultant in Anaesthesia at University College Hospital in London, and an emergency doctor with the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance, opens this year’s plenary presentations at UKRCO 2018 (UK Radiological and Radiation Oncology Congress 2-4 July) with his lecture ‘Extreme disaster response’.
Following Dr Fong on the first day of the event, Surgeon Commander Richard Miles, from Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust in the UK, will be talking to delegates about the difficulties and challenges of imaging in a war zone.
Other highlights on 2 July, include the College of Radiographers’ (CoR) William Stripp Memorial Lecture: ‘Contrasting views: un-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of synovitis’, which will be given by Lead Radiographer Carole Burnettfrom Leeds Teaching Hospitals in the UK; and the British Institute of Radiology/Canon Mayneord Award keynote session: ‘The natural history of colorectal neoplasia’, presented by Perry Pickhardt, Gastrointestinal Radiologist, Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
On 3 May, Hazel Pennington, Lead Operational Radiographer for Protons at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust will be speaking about the NHS England High Energy Proton Service. This year, the Christie will become home to one of only two high energy NHS proton beam therapy (PBT) centres in the UK.
In the afternoon Emily Grossman, science broadcaster, writer and editor will present ‘Too sensitive for science? Demolition of stereotypes’.
The UKRCO debate, to be held on Wednesday 4 May: ‘Knowledge: How much is too much?’ will be chaired by Paul McCoubrie, Consultant Clinical Radiologist, North Bristol NHS Trust. He will be joined by ethicist Stacy Carter, Deputy Director Centre for Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine (VELiM), Sydney University, Australia; barrister Daniel Sokol; and geneticist Katie Snape, Consultant, St George’s London and Joint Lead Consultant for Cancer Genetics, SW Thames Regional Genetics Service.
Later that day, The Welbeck Memorial Lecture will be presented by Penny Owens, Radiology Manager at Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The closing plenary session on the final day of the congress features two eminent and highly respected speakers from the world of radiotherapy: David Palma, Radiation Oncologist at the London Health Sciences Centre and a Clinician-Scientist with the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research in Canada, and Daniel Gomez, Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. David will present ‘Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for metastatic cancers: New standard, or false hope?’ while Daniel discusses ‘SABR for Oligoprogressive disease – helping systemic therapy go the extra mile’.
UKRCO is the largest multidisciplinary congress worldwide, showcasing the knowledge, skills and contribution of all professional groups and industry within diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology.
Organised for the British Institute of Radiology (BIR), the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) and the Society & College of Radiographers (SCoR), this year’s event theme, ‘Disease and Diversity’, offers delegates a comprehensive and challenging scientific and educational programme, comprising a wide range of sessions and formats, including lectures by international speakers recognised as the authorities in their fields; interactive presentations with voting opportunities; OsiriX workstation sessions; and live hands-on ultrasound demonstrations.
Delegates are also encouraged to visit the exhibition, the largest in the UK, to engage with technology advances in the demo zone, and to take advantage of the wide-ranging, open learning programme which focuses on a different area of practice each day.