International Travel Scholarship
Each year the AIR is pleased to offer four International Travel Scholarships (ITS) to current members of the AIR. Two provisional scholarships are offered for $3500 to provisional AIR members, one in diagnostic imaging and one in radiation therapy. Two $5000 scholarships are offered to ordinary AIR members, one in diagnostic imaging and one in radiation therapy.
The aim of the scholarship is to assist AIR members to experience medical radiation science on an international stage such as attendance at an international conference, participation in an international training program or the undertaking of small study tours. Practitioners are encouraged to share their experiences with their colleagues on their return to Australia. Members who are interested in applying should keep an eye out for details in the July, August and September editions of Spectrum and on the website. Guidelines and application information will be posted on the website from July each year.
To download guidelines for Ordinary Members, please click here
To download guidelines for Provisional Members, please click here
Previous Scholarship Winners
Diagnostic Imaging
Edmund Arozoo - Diagnostic Imaging (2008)
Edmund Arozoo is currently the Senior Radiation Protection Officer, Diagnostic X-ray Group, Environmental Protection Authority, SA. He is a Fellow of the AIR and has been actively involved in AIR committees. Edmund will use the International Travel Scholarship to attend RSNA 2009.
The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting is the largest international medical meeting and the premier international forum for radiologic science and technology. However, the primary objectives of most delegates from Australia are often linked to equipment selection and a big drawback is that the educational and technical knowledge gained is not commonly distributed amongst the profession.
Edmunds objective during his visit will be to focus on the radiation perspective at both the educational and technical sessions. Enable him to explore, examine and learn about the radiation dose implications associated with emerging medical imaging technologies. In the rush to adopt and use new imaging technologies radiation dose is often not considered or perhaps forgotten. Edmund would like to bring back knowledge about the latest dose reduction capabilities and strategies being introduced.
Alison Evans - Diagnostic Imaging (2007)
Alison is the Senior Scientist in charge of the Bone & Mineral Research Unit (B&MRU) at Austin Health in Victoria. Alison's position at Austin Health has allowed her to be involved in numerous research projects and activities. Currently the B&MRU is involved in 15 International clinical trials and at least six in-house funded research projects. The B&MRU at Austin Health is the only site in Australia with in-vivo micro CT technology and consequently Alison has the wonderful opportunity to work on original research projects that enable for the first time imaging and quantification of bone structure and micro-architecture.
Alison used her ITS grant to present at the International Society for Clinical Densitometry Conference in San Francisco in March 2008.
To download a copy of Alison Evans' report of the ISCD conference, please click here.
Radiation Therapy
Angela Neville - Radiation Therapy (2008)
Angela entered the Radiation Therapy scene relatively late in life after a previous career in medical research, and many years as a professional student. In addition to a degree in Medical Radiation from the University of South Australia and a Masters in Radiation Science from the University of Sydney, she also holds a Science degree from Flinders University and a First Class Honours degree in breast cancer immunology from the University of Adelaide. She has been employed as a Radiation Therapist at the W.P. Holman Clinic in Launceston Tasmania since graduating in 2002.
Angela's professional interests include the 'bystander' effect, where tissue outside the radiation beam can react as if irradiated. This is possibly cytokine mediated, and has obvious ramifications from multi-beam techniques such as IMRT. She is also heavily involved in assessing organ motion in lung cancers, and the impending implementation of Respiratory Gating in Launceston.
Angela is currently undertaking three small research projects. She is assessing the effect on surface dose of deodorants within the radiation beam. She is also assessing the effectiveness of stabilising equipment for lung patients using pre-treatment and post-treatment OBI, and is assessing the use of CBCT to confirm PTV coverage in lung patients.
Angela will use the International Travel Grant to attend the 2009 Annual ASTRO meeting in Chicago, and to undertake site visits to hospitals in the USA and Canada currently using Respiratory Gating.
Nigel Anderson- Radiation Therapy (2007)
Nigel is a second year qualified Radiation Therapist at Austin Health; his work includes IMRT planning and treatment, and cone beam CT research. Nigel will use his ITS grant to attend the ESTRO teaching course on IGRT in Brussels in December 2008. He will also be visiting a range of Radiation Therapy departments throughout Europe and North America during his trip to investigate current practices in IGRT and IMRT.
To download a copy of Nigel Anderson's report of the ESTRO teaching course, please click here.
Previous Provisional Scholarship Winners
Diagnostic Imaging
Arion Wood - Diagnostic Imaging (2008)
Arion completed his PDY in 2008 and it currently employed as a radiographer in regional NSW. He is very interested in computer aided detection systems (CAD), digital image display and image manipulation.
Arion will use the AIR International Travel Scholarship to attend the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Scientific Assembly and Annual meeting. The RSNA conference offers a unique opportunity for education, as it houses all of the major innovators in the wider medical imaging field and as such will allow Arion to experience and access the latest research and techniques available through various educational seminars and technical demonstrations.
No Scholarship Awarded in 2007
Aoife Reid - Diagnostic Imaging (2006)
Aofie has worked at both Frankston Hospital and the Alfred Hospital and has recently been involved in a research project with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. Aoife will use her scholarship to attend the 94th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiologic Society of North America. She hopes to be able to present her research findings in a paper titled Is Computed Radiography or Computed Tomography More Accurate in Determining Post Mortem Metacarpal Index?
Radiation Therapy
Robert Tobler - Radiation Therapy (2008)
Rob Tobler completed his PDY in 2008 with Radiation Oncology Queensland in Toowoomba. During his time at Radiation Oncology Queensland Rob was involved in the development of the planning protocol and treatment of patients on the PROFIT prostate radiotherapy trial, ROQ being the coordinating centre for the trial in Australia.
In March 2009 Rob moved from warm and sunny Toowoomba to take up a position at the WP Holman Clinic in Hobart. He is involved in the implementation of a paperless patient treatment and management system.
Rob will used the AIR International Travel Scholarship to travel to Brussels in December 2009 to attend the ESTRO Image-Guided Radiotherapy in clinical practice course, he is particularly interested in learning more about the most recent innovations and implementations of Image guidance systems in radiation therapy.
Alison Beal- Radiation Therapy (2007)
Alison Beal is a Radiation Therapist at the William Buckland Radiotherapy Centre; her main roles are planning and delivery of radiation treatment for cancer patients and the maintenance of high quality patient care. Alison will use her ITS to travel to Belgium in December 2008 to attend the ESTRO teaching course on Image Guided Radiotherapy.
To download a copy of Alison Beals' report of the ESTRO IGRT course, please click here.
All documents listed are published in PDF format. 