IOMP SCHOOL WEBINARS 2025

18 Aug 2025 at 12 pm GMT; Duration 1 hour

1 CPD point is applied to this event. 

View Recording here

Organizers: Simone Kodlulovich Renha, Arun Chougule, Ibrahim Duhaini

Moderator: Arun Chougule

Speakers: Dr. Dayanand Sharma, Helio A Salmon Jr, Rabih Hammoud

Topic 1: Adaptive Proton Therapy

Abstract:

Adaptive proton therapy (APT) aimed at optimizing treatment by adapting to anatomical and physiological changes during the course of therapy. Its clinical rationale stems from the proton beam’s susceptibility to tissue density changes, which can alter dose distribution and range. APT workflows rely on 3D-imaging modality, deformable image registration, and dose accumulation to maintain target coverage and minimize exposure to healthy tissues. Despite its promise, implementation poses challenges due to the proton’s range uncertainties, resource demands, and the absence of standardized criteria for adaptation and its clinical impact. Nevertheless, adaptive strategies offer a pathway to improve clinical outcomes and reduce toxicity, especially in anatomically complex or variable tumour sites.

The learning objectives of adaptive proton therapy (APT) are to understand:

1. Clinical rationale of APT;
2. Image-guided adaptive workflows, including tools for daily imaging, deformable image registration, and dose accumulation; 

3. Challenges in implementing APT emphasising on unique sensitivity of proton range and dose distributions to changes in tissue density;

4. Adaptive strategies in improving clinical outcomes and minimizing toxicity in patients.

Speaker:
Dr. Dayanand Sharma PhD, Dip R P, MCMPI
Professor and Head, Department of Medical Physics, Apollo Proton Cancer center, Chennai

28 years of professional experience with enrich knowledge of clinical medical physics required for planning, setting-up and running of radiotherapy facility.

Publications:

• 56 full length original articles in peered reviewed journals + Counting
• Two Book Chapters
• More than 200 abstracts in various journals & conference proceedings

Membership:

• Scientific committee member “Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group-Asia Oceania (PTCOG-AO)”
• Past Education and Training Committee (ETC) Member, “Asia-Oceania Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (AFMOP)”
• Past Registrar & current executive member of “College of Medical Physics of India (CMPI)”
• Member Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group (PTCOG)
• Executive committee member of Association of medical physicist of India (AMPI) 2009-2011.
• Life member of AMPI,
• Life member of AROI (Association of radiation oncologist of India)          
• General Secretary – AROI Maharashtra Chapter
• Past Editorial board member, JCRT
• Member ESTRO

Achievement: First Medical Physicist to clinically commissioned the first Proton therapy Facility in South East Asia and Middle East

Awards: Recipient of many best paper awards in different international and national conferences

Leadership role: Organizes various International and national conferences in different capacity

Teaching:

• Visiting faculty to various Institute of national repute (BARC, Anna University etc)
• Teaching of MD in Radiotherapy, Radiology and Nuclear Medicine

Invited Plenary Talks: Most sought speaker in Medical Physics and Radiation Oncology. Deliver more than 200 invited talks covering various topic related to clinical medical physics at various international and national conference/workshop/training program.

Topic 2: Brazilian Experience: Steps to Organizing a Proton Therapy Project

Abstract:

This presentation will address the challenges of a proton therapy project in Brazil and its impact on society.

Learning Objectives:

• Reimbursement
• Legislation
• Clinical Protocols
• Project management

Speaker: 
Helio A Salmon Jr

Chief Medical Physicist and Executive Director, Fusve – RJ – Brasil

Executive Director in Mario Kroeff Hospital

Mr Helio Salmon, is a medical physicist and radiotherapy specialist with a proven track record in implementing and managing operational efficiency in medical, outpatient, and hospital units. Responsible for strategic planning, process structuring, routine development, business development, and partnerships.

Success in radiotherapy operations and services, leading projects (end-to-end) in Brazil and abroad, including the approval of over 110 bunker projects and CNEN licenses for construction authorization, ensuring safe and sustainable growth.

Executive Director

Main achievements:

• Medical Physicist for the Oncology Unit at DASA, COI Group and Oncoclinicas Group for 18 years; Director of Radiotherapy at Vassouras University (since August 2022); and shared management of the radiotherapy unit at the Mário Kroeff Hospital (since March/2022).
• Leading Medical Physics and Radiotherapy projects, setting indicators for tracking, developing action plans, and creating management reports for client updates.
• Participation in merger and acquisition (M&A) projects, from diagnostic analysis and implementation to business management.

Topic 3: AI in Medicine: Opening the Black Box for Patient-Centered Care

Abstract:

This presentation aims to explore various applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, with a particular focus on radiotherapy. It also highlights the key challenges and open questions that must be addressed to enable the widespread adoption of AI in this field.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understanding the basics of what artificial intelligence entails
2. Gain insight into the historical development of AI in healthcare
3. Explore the potential applications of AI in radiotherapy
4. Identify the benefits of AI and the key challenges to its implementation

Speaker: 

Rabih Hammoud, PhD., DABR
Chief Medical Physicist, NCCCR – HMC, Qatar
Assistant Professor of Medical Physics Research in Radiation Oncology – WCM -Q

Dr. Rabih Hammoud presently holds a position as Chief Medical Physicist at National Center for Cancer Care & Research, Hamad Medical Corporation and an Assistant Professor of Medical Physics Research in Radiation Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar. He is an American Board Certified Medical Physicist since 2004.

He obtained his Master of Sciences Degree in Medical Physics from Wayne State University in US and completed his PhD at Universite De Bretagne Occidentale, in France in the same field.

He is an active member of several Medical Physics Societies locally and internationally like ASTRO, AAPM & ESTRO and acts as Vice President of the Middle East Federation of Organizations of Medical Physics (MEFOMP). He has been invited as Faculty & Speaker of various activities of the medical and scientific societies as well as within HMC. He has also published numerous papers, book chapters & abstracts. Further, he is actively involved in IAEA activities as a participant to regional workshops and scientific meetings and an auditor for QUATRO expert mission. He hosted more than one IAEA Radiotherapy Courses. In addition, Dr. Hammoud is an examiner for the International Medical Physics Certification Board (IMPCB). Dr. Hammoud received the International Day of Medical Physics (IDMP) award for the year 2022 from the International Organization of Medical Physics (IOMP). Dr. Hammoud has also made significant contributions to teaching and research in the field of medical physics. He has mentored numerous students, guiding them through complex concepts and inspiring them to pursue excellence in radiation oncology. His research focuses on advancing technologies and methodologies in medical physics, with a particular emphasis on improving cancer treatment outcomes through innovative image guided approaches.