Current News

28 March 2024

Student Profile: Peter Aina, University of Miami

Written by Peter Aina, University of Miami
Edited by Johnson Aina, HPS Student Support Committee

The Student Support Committee is proud to showcase another outstanding graduate student, Peter Aina, who is a chemical engineering PhD student in the Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Miami. We hope you get to know Peter through learning about his background and current PhD research.

Peter is a third-year PhD student working under Dr. Fateme Razaei, PhD. He obtained his bachelor's in chemistry with emphasis on physical/analytical chemistry for environmental applications at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. His undergraduate research was focused on the removal of heavy metals in industrial wastewater using an eco-friendly adsorbent. Here he developed a passion to pursue his master's degree in chemistry at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla where he was exposed to the use of advanced analytical techniques such as GCMS, LC-MS/MS, and NMR, amongst others. He applied his newly acquired knowledge towards evaluation of bromide ion in Ohio State drinking water and characterization of hydrogels.

Peter developed a porous material (UiO-67) for the removal of radioactive iodine (129I) in industrial wastewater. The 129I was immobilized using UiO-67 and consolidated in a type III cement. This consolidation offers a permanent trap, where the radioactive iodine was kept in a "sealed loop." Hence, it's difficult for this radioactive iodine to leach back and cause secondary contamination in the environment. Through this opportunity, Peter was able to publish his findings in the ACS applied materials and interface and applied engineering materials.

Peter also led a team that was comprised of three undergraduate research assistants on another project, which is centered on the development of a novel bifunctional material which functions as both absorbent and photocatalyst. This bifunctional material absorbs volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air and destroys adsorbed VOCs in the presence of visible light. He led a US Department of Defense funded project on the design and fabrication of a 3D-printed catalytic filter that protects military personnel and first responders against the lethal effect of chemical warfare agents. This project involves synthesis of reactive polymeric material and investigation of chemical warfare agent destruction mechanism using NMR.

Peter is expected to graduate in the fall of 2024. He looks forward to obtaining a full-time appointment at any national laboratory where he can adequately apply his skills to bolster the national security of the United States. Peter seeks to participate in projects that would allow him to contribute a greater understanding of the protection of military personnel against Type-G and Type-X nerve agents while applying this knowledge to a variety of high-priority projects (e.g., forensics, weapons, medicine, and energy). Through the combination of his chemical engineering, radiation protection, and chemistry backgrounds, Peter hopes to convey the importance of these technologies in an effective manner.

28 March 2024

Rio Grande Chapter Technical Meeting – Together Again!

Kris Hyatt, Chapter President

Together again! The Rio Grande Chapter of the Health Physics Society (RGCHPS) held its technical meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 17–18 March 2024—the first since the pandemic in 2020. The RGCHPS, founded in 1962 in New Mexico, represents professionals working in government, national laboratories, universities, and medical facilities or as consultants, among others.

Some of the participants of the RGCHPS technical meeting.
Photo courtesy of Kris Hyatt

 

Groves' and Oppenheimer's snow-covered statues on the morning of 17 March Los Alamos.
Photo courtesy of Dave Fuehne

On a rather cold Sunday, with Groves' and Oppenheimer's statues covered with snow, the meeting kicked off with a presentation from Bob May, ES&H director at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility for over 30 years and the main speaker of the 2024 RGCHPS Technical Meeting. May presented the invited lecture "Accelerators and Electron Accelerator Radiation Safety."

The first day of the meeting also included presentations from Ken Groves, who delivered "Duck & Cover, It's Back Again"; Steven Rademacher, who discussed the "Palomares Dose Reconstruction – Part 1"; a talk from our sponsor, Mirion Technologies; and the concluding presentation from Glen McDuff, "Underground Nuclear Testing."

Over 23 attendants joined the meeting, most representing Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories. The meeting program focused on accelerators and included presentations from experts from the field!

The second day started with a talk from John Bliss, titled "Response to the Harborview Research and Training Building (Seattle) Contamination," followed by a presentation on "The NCRP: Who, What, and Why?" by Jeff Whicker. Several talks from our sponsors, Ludlum Measurements and Berthold Technologies, were also delivered, followed by a presentation from Mike Duran on "Interactions between Accelerator Safety Order 420.2D and 10CFR835 Occupational Radiation Protection."

Some of the meeting speakers, left to right, Steven Rademacher, Marius Stein, John LeJune, John Bliss, RGCHPS President Kris Hyatt, Ken Groves, John Klumpp, Jeff Wicker, and Mike Duran.
Photo courtesy of Kris Hyatt

 

The program concluded with additional discussions on the "Palomares Dose Reconstruction – Part 2" by Steven Rademacher, a student presentation from Nick Wehmann on "Evaluation of the Domino Micro-Structured Semiconductor Neutron Detector for Applications in Nuclear Material Measurements," a talk from Kirk Rector on "Modern Day Alchemy at LANL," and the last presentation, delivered by John Klumpp, on "The Use of the QUIC-DEPDOSE Application in a Radiological Emergency."

Top row, left to right, Steven Rademacher, Nick Wehmann, John Bliss, and Glen McDuff. Bottom row, left to right, Mike Duran, Kris Hyatt, Kirk Rector, and John Klumpp.
Photo courtesy of Kris Hyatt

 

The RGCHPS Technical Meeting concluded with a chapter business meeting round table, where new chapter officers were elected: President-elect Esteban Gonzalez, President Kris Hyatt, Secretary Matthew Hill, Treasurer Steven Rademacher, and Directors Jonathan Reynolds, Nicholas Wehmann, and Richard Hacker. Congratulations to new officers and thank you to all speakers and those who attended the 2024 RGCHPS Technical Meeting—you made it a fruitful meeting, filled with questions and relevant discussions!

Kris Hyatt and John LeJune leading a discussion with the audience.
Photo courtesy of Kris Hyatt

28 March 2024

IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting: Program Available Online

The electronic version of the program for the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting is now available on the meeting website.

Click here to take a look at the program and see all the wonderful oral presentations that will be given at the meeting, which will be held in Orlando, Florida, 7–12 July 2024.

Click here to register for the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting.

28 March 2024

IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting: IRPA Late Abstracts Closes 15 April!

Charles Wilson, IRPA 2024 Task Force

It has been 51 years since the United States hosted a full IRPA congress, which means that for most of us, the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting is the only chance to present at IRPA in our home country. The IRPA Program Committee has reopened the ability for attendees to submit abstracts for the poster session here! There are space limitations to the number of posters we can have, so please do not wait! Abstracts will still be reviewed by the Main Area leaders and rejected abstracts will not have another opportunity to be submitted. Abstracts rejected in the previous call may be resubmitted for this call if they incorporate reviewer feedback, which is available in the abstract portal. Please don't miss this fantastic opportunity to contribute and collaborate at our international conference in Orlando!

Don't have time to put together an abstract? That's OK. Come and meet with experts across the world to discuss your ideas, research, projects, and experiences. Register here!

28 March 2024

IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting: Win Some Great Books!

HPS Web Operations

Look at these great books! These are what we have received so far for the Health Physics Society (HPS) Publications Booth book drawing that will be held at July's IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting in Orlando. Make sure you come visit us in the exhibit hall Monday through Wednesday for your chance to win.

Each year, we gather new copies of health physics-related books and then hold a drawing to give the books away—free!—to many lucky winners. This year's meeting, being held 7–12 July 2024 in Orlando, Florida, will be bigger than ever and will include a great number of international attendees. We would like to offer a larger selection of books this year and are asking you for your help.

This is your chance to share your knowledge with students and health physicists and to promote your book to people who may not have heard of it yet. If you have edited or authored a book related to health physics and would like to donate new copies for this year's Publications Booth drawing, contact News Editor Mary Walchuk.

Thank you to the authors, editors, and publishers who have donated nearly $3,500 worth of books (and more are coming):

  • American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer – Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin (available from Penguin Random House, ISBN 9780375726262)
  • An Introduction to Radiation Protection in Medicine – Edited by Jamie V. Trapp and Tomas Kron (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN 9781584889649)
  • The Atomic City Girls Janet Beard (available from HarperCollinsPublishers, ISBN: 9780062666710)
  • At Work in the Atomic City: A Labor and Social History of Oak Ridge, Tennessee – Russell B. Olwell (available from The University of Tennessee Press, ISBN 13: 978-1-57233-644-5, ISBN 10: 1-57233-644-7)
  • City Behind a Fence: Oak Ridge, Tennessee 1942–1946 Charles W. Johnson and Charles O. Jackson (available from The University of Tennessee Press, ISBN: 978-0-87049-309-6)
  • Dead Hot – M.K. Coker (available from Amazon, ISBN-10: 1545120609, ISBN-13: ‎978-1545120606)
  • Decommissioning Health Physics: A Handbook for MARRSIM Users, Second Edition – Eric W. Abelquist (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780367867133)
  • Environmental Health, Fourth Edition Dade W. Moeller (available from Harvard University Press, ISBN: 9780674047402)
  • Fundamentals of Health Physics & Radiation Protection Dr. Philip C Fulmer (available from Amazon, ISBN-13: ‎979-8989597901)
  • The Girls of Atomic City Denise Kernan (available from Simon & Schuster, ISBN: 978-1-4516-1752-8)
  • The Health Physics Solutions Manual, Third Edition – Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN: ISBN-10: 1929169051, ISBN-13: 978-1929169054)
  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot (available from Penguin Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-5218-9)
  • Khan's The Physics of Radiation Therapy, Sixth Edition John P. Gibbons (available from Wolters Kluwer, ISBN: 9781496397522)
  • Laser Safety Management – Ken Barat (available from CRC Press, ISBN 9780824723071)
  • Low Dose Radiation: The History of the U.S. Department of Energy Research Program Antone L. Brooks (available from WSU Press, ISBN: 978-0-87422-354-5)
  • Principles of Nuclear Radiation Detection – Geoffrey G. Eichholz and John W. Poston (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9781315895970)
  • Radiation Answers: Answers to Your Questions About Radiation and You – Health Physics Society (out of print, ISBN: 978-0-9825161-0-2)
  • Radiation Protection: The Essential Guide for Technologists, Second Edition – Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-16-0, ISBN-13: 978-1929169160)
  • Radiation Protection: The Essential Workbook for Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169078, ISBN-13: 978-1929169078)
  • Radiation Protection: Solutions Manual – David J. Dolan and Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169153, ISBN-13: 978-1929169153)
  • Radiation Protection: The Essential Guide for Canadian Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson and Francis E. Tourneur (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-17-7, ISBN-13: 978-1929169-17-7)
  • Radiation Protection: The Essential Workbook for Canadian Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson and Francis E. Tourneur (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-21-4, ISBN-13: 978-1929169-21-4)
  • Radiation Protection: Canadian Solutions Manual – David J. Dolan, Francis E. Tourneur, and Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-18-4, ISBN-13: 978-1929169-18-4)
  • Radiation Protection in Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology – Edited by Richard J. Vetter and Magdalena S. Stoeva (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 978-0-367-57521-2)
  • Radiation Risks in Perspective – Kenneth L. Mossman (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780367453435)
  • Radioactive Air Sampling Methods – Edited by Mark L. Maiello and Mark D. Hoover (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780849397172)
  • Radiobiology for the Radiologist, Eighth Edition – Eric J. Hall and Amato J. Giaccia (available from Wolters Kluwer, ISBN-13: 978-1-4963-3541-8, ISBN-10: 1-4963-3541-4)
  • The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women – Kate Moore (available from Sourcebooks, ISBN: 978-1-4926-5095-9)
  • X-Ray Imaging: Fundamentals, Industrial Techniques and Applications – Harry E. Martz, Jr., Clint M. Logan, Daniel J. Schneberk, and Peter J. Shull (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780849397721)
28 March 2024

HPS Board Candidates Needed

Craig Little, Nominating Committee Chair

As most of you know, the Health Physics Society (HPS) is governed by its Board of Directors. To keep that system viable, the Nominating Committee needs willing candidates to agree to be considered for the open positions of Treasurer-elect (2 candidates) and Board member (4 candidates). Please help us!

Individuals, committees, chapters, and sections can suggest names of willing nominees. If you have an associate or colleague who has been active in HPS and wants to try being a Board member or an officer, encourage them to submit their name; ask their section, chapter, or committee do it; or do it for them. If they've run before, but not been chosen or elected, we encourage trying again by letting the committee know of that interest. To submit a nomination or receive more information, contact a member of the Nominating Committee or committee Chair Craig Little

26 March 2024

Colorado State University Student Branch News

Thomas Johnson, Student Branch Advisor

Students who participated recently in the collaborative exchange program, left to right, Raisa, Soren, Noah, and Anilu.
Photo courtesy of Donovan Anderson

Colorado State University sent four students to the Institute of Emergency Radiation Medicine at Hirosaki University in a new collaborative exchange program over spring break (10–19 March 2024). The students were able to perform a dicentric chromosome assay on irradiated cells, conduct health physics training, and visit the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant site. Future collaborative student exchanges have already been planned, as well as a plan to create a new graduate course to be offered in English based on the students' trip. The new course is estimated to be offered in spring of 2025 for one credit. If you are interested in attending this new course, please contact Dr. Thomas Johnson at Colorado State University.

26 March 2024

Did You Know? - HPS Website Serving the Society for Over 25 Years

HPS Web Operations

Did you know the Health Physics Society (HPS) website, hps.org, has been around for over 25 years? In 1996, Brett Burk and Heide Rohland at the Secretariat designed the format and worked with a provider to get the website established. At the start, hps.org included upcoming events; the HPS Mission Statement; the Strategic Plan; position papers; contact listings for chapters, sections, and committees; a link to the Health Physics Journal website; and links to other sites of interest.

The website evolved over the next couple of years under the leadership of the Secretariat and HPS President Emeritus/Interim Web Site Editor Genevieve Roessler to include more information. In November 1998, a call went out for applicants for editor in chief. The intention was to establish the website as another HPS publication, with an organizational structure similar to that of the newsletter and Health Physics. In February 1999, Roessler was appointed as the website editor in chief, with Fred Baes as webmaster and Richard Swaja serving as associate editor.

During this time, the website was being redesigned, reorganized, and updated to add more information and features, and in April 1999 a new HPS website debuted. With the aim of providing information for Society members, the general public, and the media, the website also included interactive features enabling users to join the Society, register for a conference, and participate in online discussion forums. Roessler's desire to provide a place for health physicists, and members of the public to ask a question about the Society, radiation protection, or health physics and get a factual response resulted in the beginning of the "Ask the Experts" feature in June 1999. It has become one of the most visited areas of the website.

HPS President Emeritus Howard Dickson became the HPS web editor in September 2010, working with Roessler until September 2011, when he became editor in chief of Society Web Operations, overseeing the website, the newsletter, and most other Society communications (not including the Journal). The website continued to grow, providing more features on the public side and the Members Only side. HPS ventured into social media with a presence on Facebook and LinkedIn and, in January 2012, the newsletter, Health Physics News, became an online-only publication, available to members as a PDF document on the website. In 2015, Web Operations staff worked with a web design company to redesign the HPS website, giving it a more modern look and function.

Kelly Classic, who was instrumental in creating the HPS "Radiation Answers" website and book, became the website editor in chief in 2018, continuing the evolution of the website as needs, interests, and technologies changed. In February 2018, the newsletter was fully incorporated as an online publication, taking on the form that it currently holds—news items are posted on the home page of the website as they come in and members receive an email blast twice a month that lists and links to the news items. A PDF compilation of those news items is then posted in the newsletter archives area of the website.

In June 2020, HPS President Emeritus Barbara Hamrick took over the helm as Web Operations editor in chief, and when Baes retired in December, she was joined by our current webmaster, Ramesh Reddy Bobbu. Under Barbara's direction, the Web Operations crew is continuing to help the website evolve to meet the needs of the Society and its members.

Our ever-growing and changing website has served the HPS well since its beginnings over 25 years ago, and it is now getting a complete overhaul to improve its look and function. The HPS Website Development Planning Task Force is in the process of researching the needs and wants of Society members as we move forward. If you have not yet shared your ideas and wishes for the new website, please fill out this survey now. This is your chance to be a part of this important project.

More information on the history of the HPS website can be found in the following archived newsletters (must be logged into Members Only to access):

November 1995: HPS to Have a Home Page on the Internet

May 1996: HPS On the Web

November 1998: Request for Applications for Web Site Editor-in-Chief

December 1998: Photos Needed for HPS Website

April 1999: From the President

April 1999: HPS Has Newly Designed and Reorganized Web Site

May 1999: HPS Website—What's in the Future?

September 1999: The Spotlight Shines on the HPS Web Site

December 1999: Be an Expert

February 2000: Web Site Feedback Wanted

July 2000: Ask the Expert

November 2010: Passing the HPS Communications Baton

December 2011: Health Physics News Exploring New Territory

March 2012: Discussion and Networking Through HPS Social Media Channels

May 2020: Web Operations Transitions

June 2020: Your New Web Ops EIC

26 March 2024

Health Physics Journal Editor's Note: Look North

Brant Ulsh, CHP, PhD, Health Physics Editor in Chief

For the May issue of the Health Physics Journal, we again look to our northern neighbors in Canada. The last time we did a special issue highlighting radiation sciences and research was 2019. A lot has happened in the world since then, and I am excited to check in with our Canadian colleagues. This issue gives readers a good snapshot of Canadian work in our field and presents abstracts from the 2023 conference of our sister organization, the Canadian Radiation Protection Association. I think readers will be surprised to learn about the diverse, cutting-edge radiation research going on in Canada. Much credit goes to David Niven for assembling this issue and (as always) to the journal's staff, Deanna Baker and Mary Gene Ryan, working with David to pull this off. I hope you enjoy this very special issue from our friends up north!

14 March 2024

ISO/TC 85 Website Launched

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

A new website has been launched for ISO/TC 85 "Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Technologies, and Radiological Protection." ISO/TC 85 develops standards in the fields of radiological protection; nuclear installations, processes, and technologies; and reactor technology. For more information, visit the ISO/TC 85 website.

14 March 2024

A New HPS Website: What Do You Want?

Kendall Berry, Website Development Planning Task Force Chair, HPS Treasurer

The Health Physics Society (HPS) is getting a new website! Now is your chance to let the Website Development Planning Task Force know what you like, what you don't like, and what you feel is most important in keeping the HPS website current and usable.

Fill out this survey now—it won't take long. We'd like your feedback by 22 March 2024. Your opinions are important and are needed as soon as possible so the task force can get the ball rolling on creating a website that represents you and your Society. Don't miss out on your opportunity to be a part of this important project!

The survey is set up to prompt for ideas—feel free to enter only one or two ideas or ideas in every possible field. All of your ideas will be discussed at the weekly task force meetings. Please feel free to reach out with any questions! On behalf of the entire Website Development Planning Task Force, thank you!

14 March 2024

Upcoming HPS Meetings

Add the dates of the following Health Physics Society meetings to your calendar. Check the Meetings and Conferences page of the website for the most current information.

13 March 2024

Medical Health Physics Section Call for Volunteers

Will Gibbons, Section President-elect

The Health Physics Society Medical Health Physics Section (MHPS) is looking for individuals interested in joining the section's board. We currently have three upcoming vacancies including president-elect and two MHPS board directors.

  1. President-elect (Election as president-elect includes a following year as president and a subsequent year as past president.)
  2. MHPS Board Director (three-year term).

Board members are expected to actively participate in frequent meetings. As a board member to the medical section, you must be section members and in good standing. Additional information can be found on the MHPS website.

If you are interested in joining the board, please contact me and send a biosketch by 1 April. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out!

13 March 2024

IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting: IRPA 16 and Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources as Well as Industrial, Agricultural, Veterinary, Aerospace, and Military Applications

Renate Czarwinski, IRPA 16 Program Chair

The IRPA 16 Congress to be held in Orlando, Florida, 7–12 July 2024 is an important international conference, attracting radiation protection practitioners from around the world. This is an opportunity to share practices, reconnect with colleagues and friends, and build your network.

For this congress, the topics of safety and security of radioactive sources have been combined with industrial, agricultural, veterinary, aerospace, and military applications into a main congress area theme. The organizers received almost 70 abstracts, 20 of which were selected to be oral presentations delivered in parallel sessions for the various topics mentioned above. The remaining abstracts will be offered as poster presentations. It was a difficult task selecting the final oral presentations as all abstracts were of high quality. The decision was based on the review of at least three experts in this area.

Speakers from 11 countries will be giving presentations on a wide range of topics in four separate sessions: on standards, directives, and regulations; on industrial, veterinary, and space applications; on military applications; and on safety and security of radioactive sources.

There will also be exciting presentations on radiation protection issues at accelerator facilities.

This is a great opportunity to meet in person with radiation protection practitioners from all over the world to discuss a great variety of topics and share experiences.

8 March 2024

Intersociety Relations Committee Seeks Liaison

Krishendu Saha, Committee Chair

The Health Physics Society (HPS) Intersociety Relations Committee (IRC) is looking for an individual who can act as liaison between the HPS and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC). The goal of the IRC is to foster relationships between HPS and partner organizations through joint efforts in related areas. The liaison needs to be an HPS member, spearhead these efforts in collaboration with the corresponding IRC designee, and furnish an annual report on any collaborative steps. Please reach back with any questions to Krishnendu Saha.

8 March 2024

2023 HPS and CHP Salary Surveys 

The 2023 Health Physics Society (HPS) Salary Survey and the 2023 CHP Salary Survey have been posted on the Careers in Health Physics page of the HPS website. Survey data was collected by having health physicists submit their responses to survey questions on a web-based data entry form.

7 March 2024

AIRRS Section Call for Officer Nominations

Latha Vasudevan, Section President

The Academic, Industrial, and Research Radiation Safety Section (AIRRS) is seeking nominations, including self-nominations, for the following positions:

  1. Secretary-elect (one-year term as secretary-elect, two-year term as secretary, 2024–2027)
  2. Director (three-year term, 2024–2027)

Board members are expected to attend monthly/quarterly Executive Board meetings to discuss planning for special sessions at the annual Health Physics Society meeting, AIRRS initiatives, AIRRS awards, and any other special projects that may come up. More information on officer roles is listed on the AIRRS website.

Please submit your nominations (including a brief biosketch) to the AIRRS Section Officers by 1 April 2024 to be considered for the ballot. All officers and board members must be HPS members in good standing to run. 

6 March 2024

ICNIRP Statement on Short Wavelength Light

For years, scientists have expressed concern about potential adverse health effects of excessive exposure to short wavelength light (SWL), which includes the "blue light" from smartphones, laptops, and tablets. However, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has identified a lack of consensus among public health officials about whether SWL from artificial sources disrupts circadian rhythm, and if so, whether SWL-disrupted circadian rhythm is associated with adverse health outcomes. ICNIRP presents an extensive statement on SLW exposure in the April issue of Health Physics, published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer. For more information, read here.

29 February 2024

March Short Course Listings

The March short course offerings have been posted on the Short Courses page of the HPS website. Information on the following courses is available:

Certification Review Course Part I and Self Study Course Part I—Bevelacqua Resources

Certification Review Course Part II and Self Study Course Part II—Bevelacqua Resources

Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) School and Refresher Class—RSO Services, Inc.

MARSAME Online Training Course—ORAU's Professional Training Programs

Site Characterization Online Training Course—ORAU's Professional Training Programs

Facility Decommissioning Training Course—Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

Laser Safety Officer (LSO) Training—Kentek Corporation

28 February 2024

Books by HPS Members: Fundamentals of Health Physics & Radiation Safety

Fundamentals of Health Physics & Radiation Safety, by Philip C. Fulmer, PhD, CHP, has been recently published. This is an all-new twenty-first century textbook on nuclear radiation safety and health physics. It is not an all-purpose reference book but a solid introduction to the science of radiation protection. Based on the author's career as a health physicist and 20+ years of teaching classes to university students and in nuclear facilities, the chapters are organized in a logical progressive manner. The content is aimed for first-time students who have had basic classes in nuclear radiation interactions and radioactivity so that the learning begins immediately with principles of radiation safety. Modern calculational methods are taught along with techniques to use online resources and software to quickly advance beyond rudimentary hand calculations. Over 350 pages of solid learning material show the technical basis for how professional-level radiation protection personnel approach problems in the workplace. Foundational in its approach, this book prepares the reader to understand why things work as they do and then apply the principles to specific workplace environments where radiation and radioactive materials are used.

Click here for more information and to order Fundamentals of Health Physics & Radiation Safety.

28 February 2024

IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting: IRPA 16 and NORM

Renate Czarwinski, IRPA 16 Program Chair

The IRPA 16 Congress to be held in Orlando, Florida, 7–12 July 2024 is an important international conference, attracting radiation protection practitioners from around the world. This is an opportunity to share practices, reconnect with colleagues and friends, and build your network.

For this congress, the topics of NORM and radon have been combined as a main congress theme, with papers delivered in parallel sessions with other interesting scientific themes. The organizers received almost 80 abstracts with 20 selected as oral presentations for the main topical area NORM and Radon. The remainder will be offered as poster presentations. It was a difficult task selecting the final oral presentations as all abstracts were of high quality. The decision was based on the review of at least three experts in this area.

Speakers from 15 different countries will be giving presentations on a wide range of topics, with a focus on practical aspects of NORM and radon management. Topics include implementing NORM policy through to the results of radon survey results in African countries.

An exciting presentation will be given on the work of the active IRPA NORM Task Group, which will provide highlights of task group activities in particular on the development of a practitioner's guide for NORM.

This is a great opportunity to meet and discuss with international radon and NORM practitioners in person and share experiences.

28 February 2024

IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting: The IRPA Program Closes in on Completion! 

Charles Wilson, IRPA 2024 Task Force

This February, the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) International Congress Programme Committee met in Orlando, Florida, with the Health Physics Society (HPS) Organizing and Program Committees to complete the process of reviewing and organizing 750 abstracts into sessions (called tracks by IRPA). We are extremely proud to announce a five-day program for the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting that is sure to interest health physicists across the world! The online program will be published in the next few days and authors will receive notices of whether their abstracts were accepted. Authors whose abstracts were rejected may submit new poster abstracts if they incorporate reviewer feedback.

Register now and don't miss this excellent opportunity to interact and collaborate with experts from across the country.

28 February 2024

Public Information Committee: National Women's History Month

Sara Dumit, Committee Chair

March is National Women's History Month!

Due to popular demand, the Public Information Committee will once again highlight historical and contemporary contributions of women health physicists to honor the past, inform the present, and inspire the future.

Please, take a moment to visit the HPS celebratory web page Celebrating Women in Radiation Protection and submit nominations so we can feature more notable women. Also, you may take the opportunity to join and support the HPS Women in Radiation Protection Section!

Women in leadership in the HPS: top row, President Elizabeth Brackett; middle row, left to right, Treasurer Kendall Berry, Director Adela Salame-Alfie, Director Shaheen Azim Dewji, Director Angela Leek, and Director Tanya Palmateer-Oxenberg; bottom row, left to right, Web Operations Editor in Chief Barbara Hamrick, Health Physics Journal Managing Editor and Special Publications Editor Mary Gene Ryan, Parliamentarian/Rules Chair Jan Braun, Student Support Committee Chair Jillian Newmyer, and Ask the Experts Editor in Chief and Program Committee Chair Emily Caffrey
Submitted photos and copyright-free graphic from Pixabay

28 February 2024

Rad Air NESHAPS – Call for Abstracts 2024

J. Matthew Barnett and Christine Lobos

Typical ambient air surveillance station
Submitted photo

Typical radiological stack exhaust system with sampling cabinet
Submitted photo

On Tuesday, 23 July 2024, the Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are hosting a no-cost virtual/hybrid Rad Air NESHAP meeting. Like past years, the basic structure of the meeting will include DOE, EPA, and ANSI/ISO presentations. The remainder of the meeting will be filled with presentations from submitted abstracts related to Rad Air/NESHAP programs.

Consider submitting an abstract to this year's meeting. Abstracts are due by 22 March 2024 and should be submitted by email to Matthew Barnett and Christine Lobos. Notification of acceptance will be sent to individuals by 30 April 2024. Accepted abstracts will require a presentation submittal by 28 June 2024.

Abstract Instructions:

1. Title: Descriptive title in upper and lower case. Acronyms should not be used.

2. Author(s): Use First Middle Last name format. Indicate the presenting author by underline.

3. Affiliation(s): Provide basic affiliation(s) information, e.g., US Department of Energy, Headquarters.

4. Contact: Address(es), email addresses, and cell phone number for presenting author.

5. Abstract: The abstract must be one concise paragraph that contains a summary of the problem, work conducted, and results. Abstracts should be between 150 and 300 words.

With the approval of presenters and their organization, copies of the presentations are expected to be available online shortly after the meeting. There may be conference rooms available in Richland, Washington, and Washington, DC, for this session. Please contact Matthew and Christine for more information (email addresses are above). Additional information, including time and weblink, will be provided as it becomes available.

The organizing committee includes Christine Lobos, DOE-HQ; Jonathan Walsh, EPA-HQ; Joe Rustick, EPA-HQ; Sandra Snyder, PNNL; and Matthew Barnett, PNNL.

28 February 2024

IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting Registration Open

Charles Wilson, IRPA 2024 Task Force

Register now for IRPA 2024!!!

As you likely know by now, the Health Physics Society (HPS) is hosting the 16th International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) Congress in Orlando, Florida—one of the most exciting tourist destinations in the world. Once the meeting has adjourned, whether you're looking for a quick getaway between business sessions or an all-day excursion, Orlando offers something for every schedule and every interest. At no point will you feel like there is nothing to do.

The scientific program includes more abstracts than multiple previous HPS meetings combined into at least five jam-packed tracks, sessions all week long, and the availability of all sorts of after-conference activities—golf, shopping, superb restaurants, destination spas, and museums await.

In the past few years, Orlando has been ranked as the number-one destination for family vacationers by USA Today's Tripology and tops the list of affordable destinations by Priceline. The New York Times named Orlando one of its most popular places in 2015.

You've likely heard of Disney, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and the nearby John F. Kennedy Space Center. But Orlando also features several other amazing attractions like the Orlando Eye, Blue Man Group, Cirque du Soleil, and Escapology Orlando.

Register here now.

See you in Orlando at the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting!

22 February 2024

NRC Notice of Funding Opportunity

On 16 February 2024, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued its Fiscal Year 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the University Nuclear Leadership Program for Research and Development Grants.

Click here for more information on this grant opportunity. The NOFO closes on 1 April 2024.

22 February 2024

Support HPS Advertisers

When you see advertisements on the Health Physics Society (HPS) website and in Health Physics News, please click on them and discover what these companies and organizations have to offer. When you are at HPS meetings, visit the sponsors and chat with them. The more clicks the ads receive and visits the sponsors receive, the more eager the companies will be to advertise with HPS and sponsor meetings, and the more the HPS will benefit. And you will discover a myriad of products and services that can help you as a health physicist.

25 January 2024

AIRRS Section Call for the 2024 Outstanding Radiation Safety Program Award

Latha Vasudevan, Section President

The Academic, Industrial, and Research Radiation Safety (AIRRS) Section of the Health Physics Society (HPS) is opening the application for the "2024 Outstanding Radiation Safety Program." This award is intended to acknowledge such a program in an academic, industrial, or research institution that uses radioactive materials or radiation-producing devices.

The award consists of an HPS plaque and paid registration to attend the HPS annual meeting. The 2024 AIRRS Section Award for Outstanding Radiation Safety Program application form is currently available on the AIRRS Section web page. The selection criteria can be found under Awards tab. The deadline for submission of the application packet is 31 March 2024

30 November 2023

68th HPS Annual Meeting Highlights - More Meeting Photos 

HPS Section Awards

Accelerator Section

H. Wade Patterson Memorial Award: Sherry Adadi
Submitted photo

Lutz Moritz Memorial Award: Patrick Connolly
Submitted photo

 

Academic, Industrial, and Research Radiation Safety Section

AIRRS Section Travel Grant: Ashli Nieves
Submitted photo

AIRRS Section Travel Grant: Dan Strom
Submitted photo

 

Professional Education Program

Continuing Education Lectures

Dave Allard, CEL-9, Geiger-Mueller Counters 101
Photo courtesy of Edward Wallace

 

Professional Enrichment Program

William Irwin, PEP1-C, Critical Improvements for Health Physicists in Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies, Part 1: Nuclear Power Plant Emergencies
Photo courtesy of Edward Wallace

Phil Egidi, PEP2-B, Revisiting and Redefining TENORM for the 21st Century
Photo courtesy of Edward Wallace

C. Maddigan, PEP2-A, Alpha Spectroscopy for the Health Physicist
Photo courtesy of Edward Wallace

 

Professional Development School

Dr. Thomas LaBone (MJW Companies) and Dr. Charles "Gus" Potter (Sandia National Laboratories) taught the 2023 PDS class, Occupational Internal Dosimetry.
Photos courtesy of HPS Professional Development School

 

Bingo in the Exhibit Hall

Visitors to the exhibit hall at the 68th HPS Annual Meeting were given bingo cards with a random selection of the meeting's vendors listed. They were encouraged to visit the vendor booths listed on their card to get a stamp. Once they had a bingo, they dropped their cards at the HPS Publications Booth. All winning cards were then entered into a drawing. Douglas Smith, Ed Kelly, and Dawn Montgomery's names were drawn and they each won an Amazon gift card. The bingo game encouraged attendees to visit many booths and was great fun for the players and vendors.

 

31 October 2023

68th HPS Annual Meeting Highlights – More Photos

Photos courtesy of Edward Wallace unless otherwise indicated

Elda Anderson Breakfast

Professor Paul Ziemer, who wrote Elda E. Anderson's biography for the Health Physics Society website, and Dr. Sara Dumit, who edited it, together at the Elda Anderson breakfast at the 2023 HPS Annual Meeting.
Photo courtesy of Shaheen Dewji

 

2023 Members Meeting

Left to right, John Cardarelli reports on his two-year term as HPS president, Cardarelli passes the gavel to new HPS President Liz Brackett, Brackett presents her goals as the new HPS president.

 

IRPA 16 Planning Meeting

Left to right, Jason Harris, Scott Schwahn, Carolann Inbornone, and Kevin Nelson met to plan the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting, which will be held in Orlando in July 2024.

 

Science Teacher Workshop

The HPS Science Support Committee hosted a science teacher workshop, which was held virtually and in person. Instructors included, left to right, Ken Krieger, Linda Morris, Dan Strom, George Tabatadze, and others.

 

Public Information Committee

The Public Information Committee met to discuss plans for the upcoming year. Members present included, left to right, Geena Quinones, Vice Chair Candace Krout, Chair Sara Dumit, Katharine McLellan, Dan Sowers, and Steve Sugarman.
Photo courtesy of Mary Walchuk

 

Speaker Ready Room

Left to right, Emily Caffrey and Zach Tribbett in the Speaker Ready Room

 

Registration Desk

Burk and Associates staff worked at the Registration Desk in the Exhibit Hall throughout the meeting.

 

HPS Garage Sale

Many interesting instruments and books were among the items donated for the 2023 Health Physics Society Garage Sale. At last count, the items that were bid on added up to more than $1,200 for scholarships and student travel grants for the Society.
Photos courtesy of Rachel Johnson

 

Student Travel Grant Recipients

These students were among those who received the 2023 Health Physics Society Travel Grant for participation in the 68th HPS Annual Meeting.

 

Out and About in National Harbor

The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center presented a daily light show.

 

Irene Goldin enjoying an evening at the Cadillac Ranch in National Harbor.
Photo courtesy of Barbara Hamrick

 

A tour of the Nuclear Ship Savannah, a registered National Historic Landmark and the world's first nuclear-powered merchant ship, was held on 27 July in Baltimore Harbor.
Photo courtesy of Fred Brundick

 

The Capital Wheel at sunset.
Photo courtesy of Mary Walchuk

 

13 October 2023

Highlights of the 68th HPS Annual Meeting – Section Meetings

Military Health Physics Section

Health Physics Society Military Health Physics Section
Photo courtesy of Edward Wallace

Health Physics Society Military Health Physics Section, US Navy contingent
Photo courtesy of Edward Wallace

 

Women in Radiation Protection Section

Health Physics Society Women in Radiation Protection Section
Photo courtesy of Rachel Pope Nichols

13 October 2023

Highlights of the 68th HPS Annual Meeting – Quiz Bowl

Photos courtesy of Edward Wallace

Thank you to the judges and workers who helped make this year's Quiz Bowl a fun and competitive event.

The winning Yellow Jackets team, left to right, Heechan Lee, Ignacio Bartol, Sherry Adadi, and Andrew Rosenstrom (all from Georgia Tech)

The Boilermakers team, left to right, Thomas Grier, Chandler Burgos, and Jacob Farkas (all from Purdue)

The Fermi team, left to right, Niranjan Chavan (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany), Eric Ofosu Asare (University of Ghana), and Mohammad Omar Faruque Fahim (University of Michigan)

The UAB Team, left to right, Alex Baty, Martin Murungi, Spenser Lynn, and Chandler Cotton (all from the University of Alabama)

27 September 2023

Highlights of 68th HPS Annual Meeting - American Academy of Health Physics Awards

Photos courtesy of Edward Wallace

William McAdams
Outstanding Service Award

Cindy Flannery

ABHP Vice Chair Kathleen Dinnel-Jones, left, presented Cynthia Flannery, CHP, with the 2023 William McAdams Outstanding Service Award.

Joyce P. Davis
Memorial Award

Jay Tarzia

AAHP President Carolyn MacKenzie, left, presented James P. Tarzia, CHP, with the 2023 Joyce P. Davis Memorial Award.

 

Nancy K. Johnson
National Service Award

Andy Miller

AAHP Past President Charles A. (Gus) Potter, left, presented Andy Miller, CHP, with the 2023 Nancy K. Johnson Outstanding Service Award.

Bill Fitzgerald
Service Award

Bill Fitzgerald

Bill Fitzgerald spoke after receiving the inaugural Bill Fitzgerald Service Award.

 

AAHP Distinguished Membership 2023
Kenneth Skrable, George Chabot, Kathryn Pryor, Kim Kearfott, Frazier Bronson,
Paul Ziemer, Ruth McBurney, Richard Toohey, Ken Kase, and Kent Lambert

Left to right, Kathryn Pryor, Ruth McBurney, AAHP President Carolyn McKenzie, Frazier Bronson, Paul Ziemer, Kenneth Kase, and Kent Lambert

 

CHP Award for Service
as AAHP President 2021

Scott O. Schwahn

AAHP President Carolyn MacKenzie, left, presented Scott O. Schwahn, CHP, the Award for Service as AAHP President 2021.

27 September 2023

Highlights of 68th HPS Annual Meeting - HPS Section Awards

Photos courtesy of Edward Wallace

Homeland Security and Emergency Response Section

Homeland Security and Emergency Response Section Award
Jacob Kamen

Section Awards Committee Chair Brooke Buddemeier, right, presented the Homeland Security and Emergency Response Section's Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Andrew Kamen, DABHP, CMLSO, Senior Director, Chief Radiation and Laser Safety Officer, Mount Sinai Health System Professor of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, New York.

 

Military Health Physics Section

John C. Taschner Leadership Award
Jeffrey S. Caudill

CAPT Gregory R. Fairchild, right, presented the John C. Taschner Leadership Award to LCDR Jeffrey S. Caudill, MSC USN.

 

Superior Civilian Service Award
Julie A. Clements

CAPT Gregory R. Fairchild, right, presented the Civilian Superior Service Award to Julie Clements.

 

Young Military Health Physicist of the Year Award
Aure J. Stewart

CAPT Gregory R. Fairchild, right, presented the Young Military Health Physicist of the Year Award to LT Aure J. Stewart, MSC USN.

 

Women in Radiation Protection Section

Inclusivity Award
Lisa Manglass

 

27 September 2023

Highlights of 68th HPS Annual Meeting – 2023 HPS Awards

Photos courtesy of Edward Wallace unless otherwise indicated

Elda E. Anderson Award
Deepesh Poudel

Deepesh Poudel, left, was presented the Elda E. Anderson Award by Eric Goldin.

 

Elda E. Anderson Award Acceptance Speech

Deepesh Poudel

Good afternoon,

I feel quite anxious at giving speeches, and even contemplated just waving from my seat, but I feel like it is important for me to step out of my comfort zone and express my gratitude to the wonderful people who have helped me get to where I am.

First on the list are Dr. Richard Brey and Dr. Jason Harris, my professors at Idaho State University. In 2010, I was an undergrad at Idaho State University enrolled in the biology program, but I also wanted to study physics, chemistry, and more. I was flipping through the undergraduate catalog and stumbled upon the health physics program—it had a little bit of everything I wanted to study: physics, biology, computer science, and mathematics! I emailed Dr. Brey right away, talked to him for an hour, talked to Dr. Harris, and I was convinced right there that it was the right field for me. Three degrees in health physics and 12 years later, here I am accepting this incredible honor! I am so grateful to Dr. Brey and Dr. Harris for not only teaching me the fundamentals of health physics, but also instilling in me the love for the field and for always, always being there for me, no matter what I needed.

I must also express my gratitude to Eric Krage, my classmate from Idaho State University, who encouraged me to "get out there" and got me into this addicting—and rewarding—path of volunteering for the Society.

I want to thank my current and past bosses at Los Alamos National Laboratory—Dr. Milan Gadd, Stephanie Archuleta, Jeff Hoffman, and Maria Nappi—for their relentless efforts to overcome the challenges of my foreign nationality and ensuring I could continue my work at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). I am so thankful that my team lead at LANL, Dr. John Klumpp, thought I was the right fit for the job—I am very grateful that he provides an exceptional working environment that allows me to learn and grow. I am so grateful to have gotten a chance to work with Dr. Luiz Bertelli and Dr. Ray Guilmette and for the opportunities to continuously bother them with many questions. I am grateful for the opportunities to collaborate with incredible people in the field: Sergei Tolmachev, Guthrie Miller, Dunstana Melo, Maia Avtandilashvili, Sara Dumit, and George Tabatadze—I have learned so much from them! I am very grateful to Dr. Thomas Johnson for working with me together on many of the things I do for the Society.

I want to thank Dr. Charles Wilson from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) for convincing me that I am a suitable candidate for this award and for putting together the nomination package. I am also thankful to Dr. Emily Caffrey—my role model when it comes to service for the Society—for writing the letter of support. I want to thank Dr. Craig Little and many of the people I mentioned earlier—Drs. Brey, Caffrey, Harris, Johnson, Tolmachev, and Wilson—for their supporting letters.

I would not be standing here without the support of my wife Ramila—her boundless love and her constant presence have been my source of strength. She believes in me more than anyone else does—perhaps not as much as my team leader but definitely more than myself. I am thankful to have someone like her by my side for the last 15 years, constantly reminding me of my potential. I am thankful to my parents for allowing me to leave Nepal to pursue a better future in the Unites States. Now that I am a father myself—I have a 2-year-old—I understand the pain and suffering my parents endured in letting me come to a country thousands of miles away, where I knew no one and barely spoke the language. I am so glad they made that sacrifice for me.

Finally, I want to thank the Health Physics Society that has given me so much over the last decade or so, from travel grants to scholarships and fellowships, but most importantly, for the network it exposed me to and for the opportunities it provided me. I hope to give back to the Society as much as it has given me.

I also hope to be able to live up to the expectations of the award. I was at the award breakfast on Monday, and I looked around at the remarkable individuals who have previously received the award, including my own professors and other individuals I deeply admire. I am incredibly humbled, and I can't help but acknowledge that I still have much to learn and accomplish on my journey! To me, the award is more of a reminder of what I still must do than it is a testament to my accomplishments so far.

Thank you!

 

Elda Anderson Breakfast

The Elda Anderson Breakfast was held Monday, 24 July, in honor of past and present recipients of the HPS Elda E. Anderson Award. Attendees included, front row, left to right, Paul Ziemer, Kenneth Kase, Ali Simpkins, Kathryn A. Higley, Nicole Martinez, 2023 Elda E. Anderson Award recipient Deepesh Poudel, Emily Caffrey, Sara Dumit, and Shaheen Dewji; back row, left to right, Scott O. Schwahn, Richard Brey, Derek Jokisch, Charles Wilson, Jason Harris, Peter Caracappa, and Timothy DeVol.

 

Founders Award
David Connolly

David Connelly, left, was presented the Founders Award by Eric Goldin.

 

Geoffry G. Eichholz Outstanding Science Teacher Award
Ann Marie Dubick

Submitted photo

 

Fellows of the Health Physics Society

2023 Fellows, left to right, Robert Hayes, James M. Shuler, Robert J. Emery, Elaine T. Marshall, Richard R. Brey, Jama VanHorne-Sealy, Kathleen Dinnel-Jones, Allen Mabry, James R. Sherrard, Thomas Morgan III, and John Cardarelli II

 

Lectureship Awards

Robert S. Landauer, Sr., Lectureship Award: James Giordano, PhD, MPhil

G. William Morgan Lectureship Award: Dr. Douglas Boreham, PhD

 

HPS 50-Year Members

Eric Goldin, center, presented HPS 50-year membership certificates to, left to right, David Miller, Craig Little, Stewart Bland, and Michael Wangler.

 

J. Stewart Bland

Arthur Desrosiers

Clayton French

Winborn Gregory

Bruce A. Horn

Eileen Hotte

Judson Kenoyer

Craig A. Little

Larry W. Luckett

Jay A. MacLellan

Robert L. Metzger

David W. Miller

Nicholas Panzarino

Sander C. Perle

Lawrence N. Rothenberg

Alan Schoenfeld

Joseph J. Shonka

Maria Sordi

Michael E. Wangler

 

 

50-Year Affiliate Member: ORTEC

Photo courtesy of Rachel Johnson

 

Student Fellowships

Burton J. Moyer Fellowship
Bryanna Wattier, Clemson University

Health Physics Society Fellowship
Anilu Diaz, Francis Marion University

Health Physics Society Fellowship
Heechan Lee, Georgia Institute of Technology

Robert Gardner Memorial Fellowship
Ignacio Bartol, Georgia Institute of Technology

Robert S. Landauer, Sr., Memorial Fellowship
Dmitri Margot, Georgia Institute of Technology

Richard J. Burk, Jr., Fellowship
Annelise Gonzales, Clemson University

J. Newell Stannard Memorial Fellowship
Emmanuel Mate-Kole, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dade W. Moeller Scholarship
Suman Shrestha, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dade W. Moeller Scholarship Memorializing Kelly Austin
Anna Manfredo, Illinois Institute of Technology

F. Ward Whicker Scholarship
Jonathan Whipple, Oregon University

 

Student Travel Grant Recipients

Sherry Adadi, Georgia Institute of Technology

Johnson Aina, Idaho State University

Andrea Alipio, University of Santo Tomas

Samuel Arnold (AIRRS), University of Alabama at Birmingham

Eric Ofosu Asare, University of Ghana-School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences

Melissa Bailey, Oregon State University

Alex Baty (Decommissioning), University of Alabama at Birmingham

Ridhita Binte Borhan (Decommissioning), University of Massachusetts Lowell

Chandler Burgos (AIRRS), Purdue University

Christine Dulohan, University of Santo Tomas Graduate School

Mohammad Omar Faruque Fahim, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Jacob Farkas (Decommissioning), Purdue University

David Gonzalez, Georgia Institute of Technology

Thomas Grier, Purdue University

Philip Gyan, KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School

Christina Hewett, Illinois Institute of Technology

Chukwuka James, Alcorn State University

Elif Kara, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Maruf Hassan Khan (Decommissioning), Purdue University, West Lafayette

Joeun Lee, Purdue University

William Lynn (Decommissioning), University of Alabama at Birmingham

Arielle Miller (Medical Health Physics), University of Alabama at Birmingham

Martin Murungi, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Stephen Reed, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Andrew Rosenstrom, Georgia Institute of Technology

Ricky Sahagun, Purdue University

Abdullahi Shittu, King Abdulaziz University

Lancer Smith (Medical Health Physics), University of Alabama at Birmingham

Sarah Sublett, Colorado State University

Theodore Thomas, Purdue University

Yi Wei, Georgia Institute of Technology

Paige Witter, Colorado State University

 

27 September 2023

Highlights of 68th HPS Annual Meeting - Meeting Sessions

Photos courtesy of Edward Wallace unless otherwise indicated

Plenary Sessions

Monday Plenary speaker James Giordano, right, with then HPS President John Cardarelli. Giordano presented "Doctrinal Ethics in Research Practice: Professional Probity and Public Good."

Wednesday Plenary speaker Douglas Boreham presented "Biological Responses to Low Dose Radiation: An Evolutionarily Conserved Adaptive Mechanism."

 

Internal Dosimetry Session

Presenters at Tuesday afternoon's Internal Dosimetry session included, left to right, George Tabatadze, Sergei Tolmachev, Anne Van der Meeren, Chair John Klumpp, Martin Sefl, Daniel Hunton, Emmanuel Mate-Kole, Sara Dumit, Dmitri Margot, Deepesh Poudel, and Ignacio Bartol.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Daniel J. Strom, CHP

 

American Academy of Health Physics Special Session

AAHP Past President Charles A. (Gus) Potter highlighted the AAHP Special Session presenters.

Shaddya Rane presented "RDD Risk: A Holistic Model for Radiological Facilities during the AAHP Special Session."

25 September 2023

Highlights of 68th HPS Annual Meeting - 2023 HPS Officers and Board of Directors

HPS leadership for 2023-2024 includes, left to right, Secretary Tim Kirkham, Director Derek Jokisch, Director Tanya Palmateer-Oxenberg, Executive Director Brett Burk, President Liz Brackett, Director Angela Leek, Treasurer-elect Mike Mahathy, Treasurer Kendall Berry, Director Shaheen Dewji, and Director Mike Boyd. Not pictured: Director Adela Salame-Alfie
Photo courtesy of Edward Wallace

14 September 2023

Highlights of 68th HPS Annual Meeting - Publications Booth Book Drawing

Student Holden Snyder won one of the many books given away at the Publications Booth during the 68th HPS Annual Meeting
Photo courtesy of Mary Walchuk

Thank you to the following publishers and authors who donated books for the Publications Booth book drawing in the exhibit hall at the 68th Health Physics Society Annual Meeting. If you would like to purchase one of the books, links for ordering are provided.

  • Dead Hot: A Dakota Mystery – M.K. Coker (available at amazon.com, ISBN: 978-1545120606)
  • Environmental Health, 4th Edition – Dade Moeller (available from Harvard University Press, www.hup.harvard.edu, ISBN: 978-0674047402)
  • The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging, Fourth Edition – Jerrold T. Bushberg, J. Anthony Seibert, Edwin M. Leidholdt, Jr., and John M. Boone (available from Wolters Kluwer, ISBN: 978-1975103224)
  • The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging Study Guide – Jerrold T. Bushberg, J. Anthony Seibert (available from Wolters Kluwer, ISBN: 978-1975103262)
  • The Health Physics Solutions Manual, 3rd Edition – Thomas E. Johnson (available at amazon.com, ISBN: 978-1929169054)
  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot (available at amazon.com, ISBN: 978-1400052189)
  • Low Dose Radiation: The History of the U.S. Department of Energy Research Program – Antone L. Brooks (available from Washington State University Press, wsupress.wsu.edu, ISBN: 978-0-87422-354-5)
  • Laser Safety Management – Ken Barat (available at CRC press, ISBN 978-0824723071)
  • Laser Safety: Practical Knowledge and Solutions – Edited by Ken Barat (available at IOP Publishing, Inc. [ebook, PDF, Kindle], Barnes and Noble (hardcover), Online ISBN: 978-0750355049, Print ISBN: 978-0750355001
  • Radiation Protection: The Essential Guide for Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson (available at Pastime Publications, ISBN: 978-1929169061)
  • Radiation Protection: Solutions Manual – Thomas E. Johnson and David J. Dolan (available at Pastime Publications, ISBN: 978-1929169153)
  • Radiation Protection: The Essential Workbook for Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson (available at Pastime Publications, ISBN: 978-1929169078)
  • Radiation Protection: The Essential Guide for Canadian Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson and Francis E. Tourneur (ISBN: 978-1929169177)
  • Silent Source – James Marshall Smith (available at amazon.com, ISBN: 978-1939398703)
4 August 2023

Highlights of the 68th HPS Annual Meeting – Challenging Health Physics Questions

Jessica Joyce, Mentorship Committee Chair

The Health Physics Society (HPS) Mentorship Committee was happy to host a group of motivated individuals at the 68th HPS Annual Meeting for this year's early-morning Challenging Health Physics Questions (CHPQ) event! Participants worked in small groups to solve written health physics questions about ion chamber detectors, neutron activation, and internal dosimetry. Each question was designed to take 30 minutes to solve and relied on provided information as well as foundational health physics concepts. Volunteer coaches Deepesh Poudel, Thomas Johnson, and Zachariah Tribbett provided coaching and grading. Want to challenge yourself? Reach out to the Mentorship Committee to get a copy of this year's CHPQs or plan to join us for the next event.

CHPQ participants plan their response to an internal dosimetry question related to Iodine-131 exposure from an escaped cat in a veterinary hospital.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Joyce

Our motivated CHPQ participants and coaches tested their problem-solving skills at this year's morning sessions.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Joyce

CHPQ Team 1 reviews their approach to estimating a thermal neutron cross section from a neutron activation reaction with volunteer coach Tom Johnson.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Joyce

CHPQ Team 2 reviews neutron activation calculations from first principles with volunteer coach Deepesh Poudel.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Joyce

4 August 2023

Highlights of 68th HPS Annual Meeting – Student Worker Orientation

Jill Drupa of the Health Physics Society Secretariat presents an orientation to student workers on Saturday, 22 July 2023.
Photo courtesy of Edward Wallace

Student travel grant awardees attend the student worker orientation session Saturday, 22 July 2023.
Photo courtesy of Edward Wallace

4 August 2023

Highlights of 68th HPS Annual Meeting – Outgoing HPS Officers and Board Members

The Health Physics Society (HPS) thanks the officers and Board members who transitioned off the Board at the 68th HPS Annual Meeting in National Harbor, left to right, President John Cardarelli II, Director Jama VanHorne-Sealy, Secretary Nicole Martinez, and Director Kathryn Higley.
Photo courtesy of John Cardarelli II

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