European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics

European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics
Name	European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics
Abbreviation	EFOMP
Formation	1980
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Brussels
Region served	Europe
Membership	National medical physics societies
Leader title	President

European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics is a federation representing national bodies of medical physics across Europe. It brings together professional societies, scientific institutions, and regulatory agencies to promote medical physics in clinical practice, research, and education across the continent. The federation engages with European Union, World Health Organization, and international bodies to harmonize standards, safety, and training in diagnostic radiology, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine.

History

Founded in 1980, the federation emerged during a period of expansion in medical imaging and radiotherapy across Europe, contemporaneous with developments at European Commission, World Health Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, and International Commission on Radiological Protection. Early interactions involved national societies such as British Institute of Radiology, Deutsche Röntgengesellschaft, Société Française de Physique Médicale, Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica, and Nordic Society of Medical Physics. Milestones included alignment with directives like the Euratom Treaty, engagement with standards bodies including International Electrotechnical Commission and European Committee for Standardization, and collaboration with research infrastructures such as European Organization for Nuclear Research and European Molecular Biology Laboratory. The federation’s evolution paralleled advances by companies and institutions like Siemens Healthineers, GE Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, Varian Medical Systems, and universities including University of Oxford, Karolinska Institutet, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Cambridge, and University College London.

Organisation and Membership

Membership comprises national medical physics societies from countries represented in the Council of Europe, European Union, European Free Trade Association, and wider European states. Constituent members have included organizations such as Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, German Society for Medical Physics, French Society of Medical Physics, Spanish Society of Medical Physics, Portuguese Association of Medical Physics, Hellenic Association of Medical Physicists, Polish Society of Medical Physics, Austrian Association of Medical Physics, Swiss Society of Medical Radiology, Czech Radiation Research Society and others. Governance structures reference models used by World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, European Federation of Radiographer Societies, and European Society of Radiology, with committees akin to those in European Association of Nuclear Medicine. The federation liaises with regulatory agencies including European Medicines Agency and national authorities such as Nuclear Safety Authority (France), Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, and Health Protection Agency (UK).

Activities and Programs

Key activities include development of clinical guidance, safety protocols, harmonization of practice, and promotion of new technologies like magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, positron emission tomography, proton therapy, and intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Programs target collaboration with initiatives such as European Reference Networks, Horizon Europe, COST Action, and European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network. The federation has worked on standards with International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, International Commission on Radiological Protection, and European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization. Outreach and capacity-building have involved partnerships with World Health Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, European Society for Radiology, European Association of Nuclear Medicine, and European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology.

Education, Training and Certification

The federation advances curricula, specialist training and certification, drawing on models from European Qualifications Framework, Bologna Process, European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, International Basic Safety Standards, and national educational institutions like University of Manchester, ETH Zurich, Karolinska Institutet, and Université Paris-Saclay. It collaborates with accreditation bodies used by European Board of Radiology, European Network of Medical Physics Training Schools, and programs such as EFOMP School and national certification schemes in countries like United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Sweden. Training topics align with technological advances from Varian Medical Systems, Elekta, Siemens Healthineers, GE Healthcare, and professional frameworks like European Federation of Psychologists' Associations for interdisciplinary cooperation.

Research and Publications

The federation supports research networks and publications, partnering with journals and publishers including Physics in Medicine and Biology, Medical Physics (journal), European Journal of Radiology, Radiotherapy and Oncology, Nature Medicine, and institutions such as European Organization for Nuclear Research and European Molecular Biology Laboratory. It promotes multicentre trials coordinated with groups like Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group-style collaborations in Europe, links to funding streams from Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and foundations such as Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK. Outputs include position papers, technical reports, and training materials disseminated through collaborations with International Atomic Energy Agency, World Health Organization, and national academies like Academia Europaea.

Conferences and Awards

The federation organizes and sponsors congresses, symposia, and schools, often co-locating with meetings of European Society for Radiology, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, European Association of Nuclear Medicine, and national conferences like those of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine. Awards and recognitions echo prizes from bodies such as European Research Council, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Royal Society, and specialty awards given by European Society for Radiology and European Association of Nuclear Medicine. Events feature keynote speakers from universities such as University of Oxford, Imperial College London, Karolinska Institutet, University of Copenhagen, and technology partners like Siemens Healthineers and Philips Healthcare.

Governance and Partnerships

Governance comprises an elected council, executive board, and scientific committees, following institutional practices similar to European Commission advisory committees and academic senates of University of Cambridge and Sorbonne University. Partnerships span World Health Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, European Medicines Agency, European Society for Radiology, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, European Association of Nuclear Medicine, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Horizon Europe, national ministries of health such as Ministry of Health (France), and professional bodies including Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Medizinische Physik.

Category:Medical physics organizations