IOMP SCHOOL WEBINARS 2026

The full-scale war in Ukraine has created unprecedented challenges for the delivery of radiation medicine services. Medical physicists have been required to maintain safe and effective patient treatments while operating under conditions that include infrastructure disruption, power outages, staff displacement, security threats, equipment relocation, and significant workforce shortages. This presentation provides an overview of how medical physics services in Ukraine have adapted to these circumstances while continuing to support radiotherapy, diagnostic imaging, and nuclear medicine activities. Practical examples cover quality assurance programmes, treatment continuity, contingency procedures, workforce development, and professional standards during prolonged crisis conditions. The presentation also highlights the role of national and international professional collaboration, educational initiatives, and capacity-building activities in sustaining medical physics practice throughout the conflict. Lessons learned from the Ukrainian experience may provide valuable insights for preparedness planning, resilience building, and continuity of care in other regions facing natural disasters, humanitarian crises, or armed conflicts.

Radiation oncology services are essential for cancer treatment, yet armed conflicts and humanitarian crises can severely disrupt their delivery. This presentation examines the current status of radiation therapy services in conflict-affected regions of the Middle East based on original survey data collected in early 2025 from professionals working in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, and Libya. A structured survey was distributed to radiation oncology professionals and medical physicists to evaluate infrastructure damage, workforce displacement, equipment functionality, power availability, patient waiting times, funding, and international support. The findings reveal substantial reductions in operational radiotherapy facilities and linear accelerators, particularly in Sudan and Syria. Limited backup power, disrupted supply chains, and prolonged treatment delays — often exceeding six months — have significantly affected patient access to cancer care. Many patients are forced to seek treatment in neighbouring countries or are unable to receive treatment altogether. Despite these challenges, remarkable resilience has emerged through innovative solutions, including remote medical physics support, relocation of services to safer areas, assistance from international organisations and NGOs, and governmental efforts to protect healthcare professionals. The presentation concludes by emphasising the urgent need for coordinated international action to rebuild infrastructure, replace damaged equipment, strengthen supply chains, expand workforce training, and foster sustainable global collaboration to ensure continued access to radiation oncology services during and after armed conflicts.

Disasters involving radiation emergencies, pandemics, and other large-scale technological incidents are both scientific and communication challenges. While medical physicists possess the technical expertise to understand and manage complex physical hazards, they are seldom trained to communicate effectively under conditions of uncertainty, fear and rapidly evolving misinformation. Drawing on concepts from his recent book, Understanding Crisis Communication, this presentation argues that crisis communication is an essential professional competency for medical physicists. Using experiences from the Fukushima nuclear accident and the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof. Ng illustrates how timely, transparent, empathetic and audience-centred communication can counter misinformation, reduce unnecessary anxiety, and strengthen public confidence in health authorities. The presentation discusses practical communication principles before, during, and after a crisis, demonstrating that effective communication is not an adjunct to scientific expertise but an integral component of disaster preparedness, response and recovery. In times of crisis, trust is a cornerstone for effective communication and public safety.

Taiwan’s frequent earthquakes test not only hospital infrastructure but also the safe continuity of radiation-based care. This presentation brings together 20 years of national earthquake records, documented hospital disruptions, regulatory guidance, institutional procedures, first-hand accounts from clinical medical physicists, and relevant international recommendations. The findings highlight three complementary layers of preparedness: hospital-wide emergency management, regulatory reporting and control of specified radioactive sources, and physics-led technical clearance of medical equipment before clinical restart. The institutions reviewed show established strengths in patient protection, source accountability, and facility inspection, while the definition of medical physicists’ responsibilities and the scope of post-earthquake QA vary across facilities. Building on existing Taiwanese practices, a practical recovery sequence is proposed: protect patients and staff; confirm the safety of rooms, utilities, shielding, and radioactive sources; inspect equipment for displacement, damage, faults, and interlocks; perform risk-based mechanical, geometric, imaging, and dosimetric QA; and document technical authorisation before resuming use. Regulatory reporting and technical clearance are distinct decisions. A graded framework combining local seismic intensity with observed damage and equipment status — rather than earthquake magnitude alone — can help institutions recover efficiently while maintaining safety, accuracy, and continuity of care.