Current News

Due to technical issues, we're extending the deadline for the Health Physics Society (HPS) annual membership survey, which will gather feedback from HPS members that will be used to guide Society activities that best serve our membership.

We hope that you will give us a few minutes of your day to provide us with your perspectives and opinions. Click here to give us your feedback. The survey will close on 24 January 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact Membership Committee Chair Bae Chu. Thank you in advance for your feedback!

Early-Career Professionals Section Board

The Early-Career Professionals Section (ECP) is thrilled to announce the launch of our first CHP Prep Academy session! We hope this will be the first of many sessions designed to support those preparing for the certified health physicist (CHP) exam.

About the CHP Prep Academy

The goal of this class is to assist participants in their exam preparation by providing complex questions and instructor-led walkthroughs of their solutions. Each session will:

• Focus on one to two long-form problems.
• Provide participants with 2.5 weeks to work on the problems independently before the session.
• Feature seasoned CHPs guiding participants through the solutions during a live, 1.5-hour virtual session with real-time Q&A.

First Session Details

• Instructor: Emily Caffrey, PhD, CHP, University of Alabama
• Date/Time: 12 February 2025, 7–8:30 pm EST
• Format: Virtual

Registration Information

• Cost
  • Free for current ECP members
  • $6 for nonmembers (includes ECP membership)
• To register, please complete the form using this link.

Not a member yet? Join the ECP through the HPS website:

1. Visit the HPS website here.
2. Click "Join or Renew."
3. Under "HPS Members," select "I want to join another section."
4. Follow the prompts through to payment.
5. Save a copy of your receipt—you will need to upload proof of purchase when registering.

Key Dates

• Registration Deadline: 24 January 2025
• Webinar Link and Problem Set Distribution: 27 January 2025

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at hps.ecp@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you in February and helping you achieve your CHP goals!

Will Gibbons and the MHPS Board

Hello Medical Health Physics Section (MHPS) members! We are excited to announce a lunch and learn. "Can We Really Shed the Lead? Evaluation of an 'Apron-Free' Radiation Protection System" by Matt Vanderhoek, PhD, DABR, will be held 21 March 2025 at 12 noon Eastern. Details for the webinar are soon to follow.

Additionally, the MHPS board is soliciting volunteers to join task groups for current and upcoming Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rulemaking topics and collection of industry best practices. The board of the MHPS has been working with the board of the Health Physics Society (HPS) to best serve as medical health physics subject-matter experts with the intent of preparing statements and material for use by the Board of the HPS (as needed), and we want to ensure the voices of our entire membership are heard in the statements.

Multiple task groups will be formed based on pending rulemaking activities by the NRC and membership needs, including:

1. Extravasations.
2. Patient release guidance (8.39 rev. 2).
3. Rb-82 Generators, Emerging Technologies, and other uses.
4. Research radiopharmaceutical best practices (non-rulemaking).
5. Other (suggest a topic).

If interested, please send a short biosketch outlining your relevant experience, availability, and ranked task group preference to MHPS President Will Gibbons and/or MHPS President-elect Diana Thompson. Depending on the level of interest, the board may assign task group members and alternates, or members may serve on several task groups as your schedule permits. Please be able to commit a few hours per month to ensure working group efficiency.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out!

Target – 8 to 10 members per working group (including at least one board member of MHPS and one board member of HPS).

Liz Brackett, HPS President, 2023–2025
Mike Lewandowski, HPS President-elect, 2024–2025

Are you looking for a way to build your personal and professional network while accomplishing something worthwhile? Join a Health Physics Society (HPS) committee or task force and work with other health physicists from across the country while making life better for fellow HPS members and members of the public. Each year we need to fill positions on many HPS committees and task forces, and this is your opportunity to connect with other health physicists. Check out the list of HPS committees and pick one that aligns with your interests. Member terms start in July of each year and typically run for three years. Contact the chair and director if you have questions about what the committee does and the needs it has, and when you have found the committee for you, click the Volunteer button on the committee page. If you want to get involved, but don't know exactly where, feel free to contact President-elect Mike Lewandowski directly at pe@hps.org to talk about what might be a good fit for you.

If you're eager to get started before July, we have an immediate need for members (including a chair!) on a few committees.

• The Public Information Committee (PIC) is responsible for gathering, organizing, and presenting information within the Society's objectives. This includes the handling of our social media posts, so a very important committee! The PIC is in need of a chair and several members. Contact Director Angela Leek for more information and to volunteer.
• Serving as a member of the Nominating Committee is an excellent way to help guide the future of HPS. The Nominating Committee is currently in need of a few members. As its name indicates, the committee nominates board members and officers for the annual ballot. This includes four candidates for director; two candidates for treasurer-elect or secretary-elect in alternating years; and two candidates for president-elect in alternating years. The work of discovering, encouraging, and cajoling HPS members to volunteer to be considered is important work for the future of HPS. The workload mostly occurs in the early months of each calendar year. Craig Little chairs this committee.
• The Awards Committee is a member short at the moment. This committee does not require a large time commitment. The nomination process is currently underway and when that wraps up the committee will meet virtually in the spring to review submission packets and vote on the various award categories. Please contact Committee Chair Liz Brackett at ebrackett@mjwcorp.com if you're interested in serving on this committee.

We look forward to hearing from you and finding a way for you to be more involved in your professional society.

Emily Caffrey, 2025 Workshop Cochair

Dates have been finalized for the THIRD Health Physics Society (HPS) Workshop, on fusion and nonionizing health physics! The workshop will be held 31 March–1 April 2025 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in Birmingham, Alabama. But wait, that's not all! The Professional Development School "Overview of the Nonionizing Radiation Spectrum" will be held after the workshop, 1–4 April 2025. Make plans now to attend both!

Join us for a comprehensive workshop that delves into the latest advancements and challenges in both fusion and nonionizing radiation. Topics include fusion machine regulations, tritium management, and neutron shielding and activation issues. Learn from industry experts and network with peers as we explore the potential of fusion energy and the importance of safeguarding human health in a nonionizing radiation environment. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and contribute to the future of radiation safety.

Abstracts on fusion and nonionizing radiation topics are welcome! Please submit your abstract through the link here. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 31 January 2025. Please note, there will be no extensions. INSTEAD, if you need a little more time, reserve a slot by contacting the task force chair with your subject and topic.

Abstract submittal link

Registration link

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is looking for potential volunteers from academia who are willing to serve as technical reviewers to evaluate the FY25 research grant proposals. The NRC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), Research and Development Grant, Fiscal Year 2025 was posted to Grants.gov on 29 November, with a close date of 31 January. Reviewers will have approximately 2–3 weeks to review proposals (3–21 March) and then another 1–2 weeks to participate in a review panel teleconference (estimated 24 March–4 April). We estimate 8–10 proposals to be assigned to each review panel.

Subject areas include:

• Advanced Materials and Manufacturing for Nuclear Applications
• Aging/Degradation of Nuclear Plant Systems, Structures, and Components
• Digital Engineering/Analytics and Controls for Nuclear Applications
• Risk Analysis, Probabilistic Risk Assessment, and External Hazards for Nuclear Applications
• Fuels Analysis
• Source Term and Radiation Protection Analysis
• Advanced Technology Approaches (e.g., Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning)
• Thermal Hydraulics and Neutronics Analysis
• Cybersecurity Associated With Digital Instrumentation and Controls, Remote Monitoring/Control, Wireless Communications at High-Consequence Facilities
• Application of Innovative and Advanced Technologies for Space Nuclear Launches
• Activities in the areas of neutronics, thermal hydraulics, and several accident analyses, which will help validate the NRC's scientific computer codes
• Fire, External Hazard, and Human Factors

If interested, contact Sr. Grants Administrative Specialist Sarah Shaffer by 20 January.

Craig Little, Nominating Committee Chair

The Health Physics Society (HPS) Nominating Committee is in the process of soliciting candidates for next year's election of officers. The offices that will be up for election during the vote in late 2025 are president-elect, secretary-elect, and two directors. The winners will take office at the HPS 2026 Annual Meeting.

Nominations can be accepted from just about anywhere: from chapter or committee recommendations, from sections, and from individuals. If you have an associate or colleague who has been active in HPS as a committee, section, or chapter member, encourage them to submit their name or do it for them. Of course, it's good to have their permission to do so. Also, unsuccessful nominees and candidates from previous years are strongly encouraged to try again; just let the Nominating Committee know.

I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for supporting HPS!

To submit a nomination or receive more information, contact Nominating Committee Chair Craig Little.

Students, it is time to apply for awards to help toward your health physics education. The Students area of the Health Physics Society (HPS) website offers an abundance of information on scholarships, fellowships, and grants available to health physics students.

For 2025, HPS is offering several scholarships and fellowships. The HPS also offers travel grants for HPS member students planning to attend the next annual meeting of the HPS. The application process is open and the deadline for submission of applications for scholarships, fellowships, and travel grants is 19 March 2025.

Click here to access the scholarships and fellowships application form.

Click here to access the travel grant application form.

Advisors and HPS members, please encourage health physics students you know to apply soon.

The election for Health Physics Society (HPS) leaders who will take office at the 2025 HPS Annual Meeting opened 18 December 2024 at 9 am EST and will close 31 January 2025 at 5 pm EST. Some proposed changes to the HPS Bylaws will also be included on the ballot.

To make sure you have a voice in choosing your leadership for the coming years and to take part in the Bylaws process—sign in to Members Only on the HPS website and find the HPS Election icon under Resources for You. If you need assistance in casting your ballot, call the HPS Secretariat at 703-790-1745.

Candidates for treasurer-elect:

Deirdre Elder

Kathy McLellan

Candidates for director (vote for 2):

Henry Bolen

William Irwin

George Tabatadze

Zach Tribbett

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is seeking suggestions for experts to the Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board (NRSB). You are invited to submit your suggestions by 2 February 2025.

The NRSB is tasked with four core missions:

1. Nuclear and radiation technologies
2. Radiation health effects
3. Nuclear materials and waste management
4. Nuclear safety and security

To meet its mission, NRSB is seeking four board members with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Nuclear Engineering and Fuel Cycle
• Nuclear Waste Management
• National Security and Terrorism
• Nuclear Safety
• Epidemiology and Radiation Statistics
• Radiation Research and Health Effects
• Radiation Protection

In addition to advising in these disciplines, nominees should (1) have relevant expertise, (2) work well within an advisory group, and (3) be available to help NRSB's staff develop new projects for National Academies' studies or workshops and sponsor access and engagement.

Board members are expected to serve a three-year term and to attend two annual meetings.

For more information and to submit suggestions, click here.

Laura Atwell, NCRP Director of Operations

The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) 2025 Annual Meeting—"The Million Person Study: Current Results and Vision for Radiation Epidemiology and Protection"—will be held 24–25 March in Bethesda, Maryland. Registration is free this year.

Visit the NCRP website for more information and to register.

Health Physics Society (HPS) member Lynn R. Wallis died 30 November 2024. Lynn's obituary can be found on the HPS website In Memoriam page.

On 5 January 2025, a new message was posted to the thread "Shewhart's Rules (Control Charts)" under the Instrumentation category on the Members Forum on the Health Physics Society (HPS) website. To join the discussion, HPS members should log in to Members Only and then click here. To read all discussions in the Members Forum, click here.

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

Recent activities in the United States have sparked new opportunities for building next-generation light water reactors to produce reliable, clean energy. However, significant barriers remain to nuclear deployment, including technical challenges, regulatory hurdles, and investment risks.

The National Academies are hosting the workshop Pathways for New Nuclear Development, both online and in person in Washington, DC, on 29–30 January 2025 to explore pathways for new nuclear development in the United States. The workshop will facilitate in-depth discussions among policymakers, regulators, community leaders, and technical experts regarding the challenges of deploying more nuclear power.

This workshop is free and open to the public. Registration and additional information may be found here.

Jess Joyce, Mentorship Committee Chair

The Health Physics Society (HPS) Mentorship Committee is hosting the free webinar "Radiation Safety as a Career in Higher Education" on 30 January 2025, 12 pm Mountain, 2 pm Eastern. The presenter will be Robert Emery of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

While many radiation safety professionals have spent some time in an institution of higher learning, they may not have thought of the setting as a career pathway of choice other than becoming a faculty member. But inherent to the college and university operational missions of teaching, research, and service are a vast array of potential risks that must be actively controlled, inclusive of sources of radiation. Given the exotic nature of some of these risks and the myriad of regulatory compliance requirements to be considered, the status of college and university safety programs has become elevated all the way to the executive level and represents a career opportunity. This presentation will provide insights into how colleges and universities work, the types of risks to be managed (in particular, sources of radiation), and the pathways for career entry and development, along with sources for professional networking.

To register, click here. Contact the Mentorship Committee with any questions.

Jess Joyce, Committee Chair

The Health Physics Society (HPS) mentorship platform, Mentorloop, has space for eight new participants to sign up over the holidays!

Please consider whether you have time to share your experience with someone else in the Society or are looking to make a new connection – we would love to have you join us! We are especially seeking mentors to offer guidance and support for a group of unmatched mentees.

Mentoring through HPS is a rewarding opportunity to shape the next generation of professionals in our field. As a mentor, you'll play a crucial role in guiding students and early- to mid-career members, sharing your expertise and fostering their growth in health physics and radiation safety. Mentorship not only allows you to give back to the community, but also offers fresh perspectives and opportunities to expand your own professional network. Your support can inspire confidence, spark innovation, and leave a lasting impact on both individuals and the profession at large.

The HPS mentorship platform is a project of the Mentorship Committee and is open to HPS members of any career stage. Through the platform, members can enter areas of expertise and interest, browse and connect with other participants, chat, schedule and attend Zoom meetings, and ask questions. There is also an active discussion group for members who have indicated "preparation for CHP" in their goal.

There are currently 92 HPS members on Mentorloop out of our rolling, 100-participant subscription. Of these, 87% are matched in 1-to-1 mentoring "loops," and 30% are engaged in group loops. We're especially excited about having 53 new 1-to-1 loops in 2024 and an overall mentoring quality score of 4.51 out of 5!

Mike Lewandowski, FHPS, CHP, Local Arrangements Committee

We hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season and are getting ready for a fantastic 2025. This is the time of year to make resolutions. Eating healthier and getting more exercise are common goals (they're among my personal goals for 2025). I would like to suggest that one of your resolutions should be to attend the 70th Health Physics Society (HPS) Annual Meeting in Madison. This resolution should be one of the easiest to keep. You can start out on the right foot by reserving your room at one of the conference hotels listed on the HPS website.

Dane County Farmers' Market
Photo by Sharon Vanorny, courtesy of Destination Madison

If one of your resolutions is to eat healthier, you'll find many restaurants catering to fresh and healthy food near the meeting hotels and Monona Terrace Conference Center. One of the best ways to get a healthy snack is to visit the Dane County Farmers' Market, which occupies the entire capital square on Saturdays and Wednesday mornings. You'll find fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, along with freshly made wholesome snacks just begging to be enjoyed. Attending the market is a great reason to come to Madison a day or two early.

View of Madison's Capitol Square from south side of Lake Monona
Photo by Sharon Vanorny, courtesy of Destination Madison

If one of your resolutions is to get more exercise, you won't find a better destination than Madison. Madison is extremely walkable and there are a lot of great shops and restaurants on the isthmus. If you're feeling a need for some serious exercise, consider biking, jogging, or walking the 13-mile Lake Monona Lake Loop.

Start the new year off on the right foot by resolving to attend the 70th HPS Annual Meeting in Madison, 13–17 July 2025. Reserve your hotel room, submit an abstract, renew your HPS membership, and don't forget to vote in the HPS election.

If you have questions about the meeting or Madison, feel free to contact LAC Cochairs Jessica Joyce and Jason Rusch.

On 27 November 2024, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued its Fiscal Year 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the University Nuclear Leadership Program for Research and Development Grants. The NOFO closes on 31 January 2025. For more information, click here.

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

Online Health Physics Certification Review Course—Colorado State University Professional Education

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

MARSSIM—ORAU's Professional Training Programs

MARSSIM for Managers Online Training Course—ORAU's Professional Training Program

Laser Safety Officer (LSO) Training—Kentek Corporation

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

The February 2025 issue of the Health Physics Journal catches a visit from ghosts of health physics past with Steven Dapra's "A Critique of Edward Calabrese's and James Giordano's Review Article about Ernest Sternglass" and a response by Ed Calabrese and James Giordano. We also look ahead at the ghost of health physics future with "The Future of Health Physics: Trends, Challenges, and Innovation" by Lekhnath Ghimire and Edward Waller. Then we throw in a couple of phantoms too: "A User-Friendly Posture Deformation Program for Mesh-Type Computational Phantoms" by Haegin Han and colleagues and "A Novel Anthropometric Phantom for Rapid Radiological Triage: A Quick Sort Triage Solution" by Hanan Datz and colleagues.

While you are curled up with your favorite warm beverage, you can get a double shot of nonionizing radiation health physics: "An Alternative Approach for Evaluating Induced and Contact Currents for Compliance with Their Exposure Limits (100 kHz to 100 MHz) in IEEE Std. C95l1-2019" by Richard A. Tell and Robert Kaver and "Gaps in Knowledge Relevant to the ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz)" by Carmela Marino and colleagues.

Here's looking forward to longer, warmer days ahead!

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

The National Academies Board on Science Education has released the report Understanding and Addressing Misinformation About Science.

Our current information ecosystem makes it easier for misinformation about science to spread and harder for people to figure out what is scientifically accurate. Improving access to high-quality scientific information can fill information voids that exist for topics of interest to people, reducing risks of exposure to and uptake of misinformation about science. Misinformation is commonly perceived as a matter of bad actors maliciously misleading the public, but misinformation about science arises both intentionally and inadvertently and from a wide range of sources.

More information about this project, including the link to download the report, can be found here.

The Gilbert W. Beebe Symposium is hosting a two-day workshop on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications in radiation therapy/oncology, diagnostics, and occupational health and safety on 13–14 March 2025.

The symposium will include a community discussion on algorithm development and pathways to success, a focus on future directions and opportunities in AI/ML methods and technology to advance the fields of the radiation health sciences, and discussions on the intentionality of data collection for algorithm development and training, as well as focused breakout sessions on current and emerging applications of AI and ML in the radiation health science fields.

Sessions will consider such topics as:

1. Broader AI Community Discussions
2. Future Directions and Opportunities for AI/ML Applications in the Radiation Health Sciences
3. Data for AI Readiness
4. AI in the Clinic – Applications in Radiation Oncology and Medical Diagnostics
5. AI Applications in Occupational and Public Health
6. AI Applications in Predictive Modeling
7. Education and Workforce Development
8. AI Regulations and Ethics

Register now for the Gilbert W. Beebe Symposium on AI and ML Applications in Radiation Therapy, Medical Diagnostics, and Radiation Occupational Health and Safety to stay updated on future announcements, including the public agenda.

Visit the event web page to register and for additional details. If you have a question about this event, email NRSB@nas.edu.

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Discovery Channel are working together on "Good to Know," an educational video series on nuclear science and technology. The series will start in January 2025 on television and online. For more information see an article by Katy Laffan with the IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication.

Have you ever thought about putting your name forward to join the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Main Commission or one of its four committees? ICRP is seeking nominations for committee membership for the next term: 1 July 2025–30 June 2029. Nominations will also be retained for consideration for membership in ICRP task groups as opportunities arise.

The Main Commission and committees operate on four-year terms, while task groups generally continue until their work is complete. Current members come from more than 50 countries and all disciplines relevant to radiological protection. Selected based on their recognized competence and experience, members are volunteers invited to join ICRP as independent experts.

Click here for more information.

Nominations must be submitted by 31 January 2025.

HPS Web Operations

Did you know that you can play a role in determining the governance of the Health Physics Society (HPS)? Toward the end of each year, the HPS holds an election for officers and directors who will take office at the next annual meeting. Candidates for the open positions are chosen in a nomination process that begins long before the election and includes the HPS Nominating Committee and HPS members.

Elective positions of the Society consist of directors and the elective officer positions of president-elect, treasurer-elect, and secretary-elect (depending on which offices need to be filled each year).

Any voting member of the Society may be nominated for an elected position, except members of the Nominating Committee, provided the individual has agreed to serve the complete term of the office if elected.

Any member of the HPS may make a nomination; however, the nomination is stronger with chapter president, section president, or HPS committee chair recommendations or endorsements.

Nominations should be submitted to the chair of the Nominating Committee by 1 April. However, nominations submitted after this date may be considered if time permits.

Click here to find more information about the officer and director nomination process.

Click these links to the HPS Bylaws and Rules for more information:

• Elective Offices and Voting Procedures
• Officers of the Society
• Board of Directors
• Nominating Committee

The call for Board member and officer nominations for the 2025–2026 election year is currently in place, so think about the people you know who would best serve the HPS. And then send their names in to the Nominating Committee. You can have a voice in your HPS!

To submit a nomination or receive more information, contact Nominating Committee Chair Craig Little.

Text and photos courtesy of Thomas Johnson, Faculty Advisor

NCRP President Dr. Higley and students after the seminar at CSU

Students on the site of the training exercise that involved the CSU Radiation Safety Office and Wyoming CST

Students on the site of the exercise, with CST member and CSU RSO discussing the scenario and response

The Colorado State University (CSU) Student Branch of the Health Physics Society has had a very busy end of semester!

Students were able to participate in the Central Rocky Mountain Chapter meeting on 5 December where National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) President (and CSU alum) Dr. Kathy Higley presented on the NCRP. Higley also gave an exceptional presentation at CSU on Friday, 6 December, on radioecology. On 10 December, CSU students were invited to join in an exercise with the Wyoming Civil Support Team (CST). The training exercise involved the CSU Radiation Safety Office and Wyoming CST. The students were able to tour the facilities and also observe the capabilities of the CST.

Donald Haes, Section Secretary/Treasurer

From the Health Physics Society Nonionizing Radiation (NIR) Section Executive Board to all NIR Section members:

The IEEE International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES) TC95 Subcommittee 2 (Terminology, Units of Measurements, and Hazard Communications) will be holding a meeting 8 am–12 pm PST on Thursday, 23 January 2025, using the Webex platform. The meeting will have a session on RF personal monitors and their use in electromagnetic energy (EME) safety programs.

Those who are not currently members of ICES will be allowed participation in this meeting at no cost. If you are interested in attending, please contact SC2 Secretary Donald Haes for more information.

Liz Brackett, HPS President, 2023–2025

As we come to the close of the year, I'd like to thank all our volunteers who work so hard to keep the Society running, as well as moving forward. Many of you put in a great deal of time and often receive little recognition, but please know that each of you is greatly appreciated! The Society Support Committee is working on ways to recognize more volunteers so keep an eye out for that in the coming year. We'll also be rolling out a new website next year and have several other initiatives in process so there's much to look forward to.

Wishing all our members a happy and peaceful holiday season and New Year!

Mike Lewandowski, FHPS, CHP, Local Arrangements Committee

As 2024 winds down there is always a lot to do. It's time to prepare for the holiday season and get set for the start of a new year. It's also time to renew your Health Physics Society (HPS) membership and start submitting abstracts for the 70th HPS Annual Meeting.

Your Local Arrangements Committee (LAC) continues to plan for the 70th HPS Annual Meeting in Madison, including looking at attractions that are nearby so that you can enjoy your trip to Wisconsin before and after the HPS meeting. Some of our favorite outdoor spaces include Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo for hiking and rock climbing in the Midwest. Governor Dodge State Park is a great place to hike and enjoy Wisconsin's geologic features of steep hills, bluffs, deep valleys, and a waterfall. Closer to Madison is Blue Mound State Park. Both of these parks offer off-road bike trails, hiking and camping. Blue Mound State Park also has the only swimming pool located in a Wisconsin state park.

Monona Terrace from Lake Monona
Photo by Nick Berard, courtesy of Destination Madison

Ice skating outside the historic Edgewater Hotel
Photo by Sharon Vanorny, courtesy of Destination Madison

For a decidedly eclectic mixture of natural and man-made wonders you should consider a day trip to the House on the Rock. Located an hour from Madison (and only minutes from Governor Dodge State Park), the House on the Rock offers the visitor an experience unlike any other. The House on the Rock showcases unbelievable collections of dolls, doll houses, firearms, circuses, automated musical machines, model airplanes, and artifacts from all over the world.

Stay tuned for more information on a potential social tour to New Glarus. This picturesque small town brings a bit of Switzerland to the hills of Wisconsin. Enjoy Swiss-inspired architecture, cuisine, and shopping. You won't want to miss a tour of the New Glarus Brewing Company or Bailey's Run Vineyard and Winery.

Mark your calendar right now for 13–17 July 2025 to attend the 70th HPS Annual Meeting in Madison. If you have questions, feel free to contact our LAC Cochairs Jessica Joyce and Jason Rusch. In the meantime, on behalf of the entire LAC, let me wish you a very happy holiday season.

HPS Web Operations

Health Physics Society (HPS) chapter and section leaders, please make sure the names and contact information for the officers of your chapter/section are updated on the HPS website. This information needs to be current for you to be able to submit the required chapter/section report. Contact Web Ops Editor in Chief Barbara Hamrick or Web Ops Technical Editor Craig Little to update your information.

Please take a moment now to renew your Health Physics Society membership so you continue to receive the many benefits provided to Society members. The HPS Membership Committee kindly reminds you to update your directory information while completing your membership renewal, including specifying up to two health physics specialties.

If you are not yet a member of HPS, but would like to join, please click here to view the benefits of membership and click here to join.

Ken Gavlik, Section President

Attention Decommissioning Professionals!

The Health Physics Society (HPS) Decommissioning Section is excited to announce the continuation of its popular webinar series. Following the successful August 2023 presentation "Overview of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Decommissioning," we're planning four more webinars next year featuring San Onofre personnel.

Topics for 2025, with dates to be determined, include:

• Decommissioning and Partial Site Release
• Unit 1 Subgrade Issues
• Units 2 and 3 Basement Clearance
• LTP (License Termination Plan) Approval

Calling All Decommissioning Experts!

Do you have decommissioning knowledge to share with your peers? The Decommissioning Section is actively seeking volunteers to present on various decommissioning topics. We welcome your expertise!

Interested in presenting?

Email your interest, along with your proposed topic and a brief summary to Ken Gavlik or Kevin Banks.

We look forward to your submissions and another informative year of decommissioning webinars!

Final Deadline – 7 March 2025

The 70th Health Physics Society (HPS) Annual Meeting will be held in Madison, Wisconsin, 13–17 July 2025. Madison is a vibrant and dynamic city that blends the charm of a small town with the energy and opportunities of a capital city. Nestled between picturesque lakes Mendota and Monona, Madison is renowned for its natural beauty, offering a mix of scenic parks, outdoor activities, and stunning waterfront views. As the capital of Wisconsin and home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the city boasts a thriving academic community, a rich cultural scene, and a progressive spirit. Its diverse industries, from biotechnology to education and government, make it a hub for innovation and collaboration. Madison's downtown area is filled with a vibrant mix of restaurants, cafes, and businesses, creating an engaging environment for all to enjoy. The HPS is looking forward to a fantastic meeting, and we want you to be part of it. Give a talk or share a poster! Authors can present live in-person oral or posters.

If there is a special topic that would be of interest to the health physics community, a special session is a great way to introduce it and initiate scientific dialog among your peers. For more information, please contact Task Force Chairs Josh Hayes and Bill Hinchcliffe.

Technical Sessions
Technical sessions are scheduled throughout the week and include many aspects of the practice of radiation safety. Typical session topics include:

• Accelerator Health Physics
• Academic Radiation Safety
• Air Monitoring
• Decontamination and Decommissioning
• Dose Reconstruction
• Emergency Response
• Environmental Monitoring
• External Dosimetry
• Homeland Security Monitoring
• Industrial Radiation Safety
• Internal Dosimetry
• Instrumentation
• Medical Health Physics
• Military Health Physics
• Power Reactor Health Physics
• Radiobiology – Biological Response
• Regulations/Licensing
• Risk Assessment
• Waste Management

Please submit your abstract (including special session abstracts) through the meeting platform website by 7 March 2025.

Note: there will be no extensions! INSTEAD if you need a little more time, reserve a slot by contacting the task force chair with your subject and topic.

Abstracts will be printed directly from your electronic submission. Minor editing (punctuation and grammar) may be performed on your abstract; you will not see a revised version before publication. If you experience problems or it is not possible to submit your abstract electronically, please contact the Secretariat at 703-790-1745 (or fax 703-790-2672) for further instructions.

PLEASE NOTE: Abstracts submitted via email will not be accepted.

A submitted abstract is a commitment to present; cancellations should be avoided. All presenters must register and pay for the meeting by May 2025 to be included in the final program. If extenuating circumstances prevent the presenting author from making the presentation, it is the author's responsibility to find an alternate presenter. Presenters who submit more than one oral abstract and cancel should find alternate presenters; otherwise, you may be limited to one abstract for future meetings.

IRPA 16 Young Professionals holding their certificates
Submitted photo

US Delegation to IRPA 16: Front row left to right, Sara Dumit, Caleigh Samuels, Carolyn MacKenzie, Kevin Nelson, Mike Mahathy, Elizabeth Brackett, Latha Vasudevan, Emily Caffrey, Kendall Berry, and Mike Boyd. Back row left to right, Scott Schwahn, Derek Jokisch, Jonathan Napier, Mike Lewandowski, Nolan Hertel, and Charles Wilson.
Submitted photo

Health Physics Society Women in Radiation Protection Section social event at IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting
Submitted photo

Held jointly by the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) and the Health Physics Society (HPS), the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting took place 7–12 July 2024 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. The schedule on Monday, 9 July, included the Opening Ceremony, Keynote Lecture, Sievert Lecture, Plenary Panel #1, and Plenary Panel #2.

Photos courtesy of Stan Bravenac

Opening Ceremony Remarks

Kevin Nelson
IRPA 16 Congress President

Bernard le Guen
IRPA President

Elizabeth Brackett
HPS President

Renate Czarwinski
IRPA 16 Program Committee Chair

Charles Wilson
Task Force Chair
HPS Program Committee

Opening Ceremony Keynote Lecture

Norman Thagard
NASA (Retired)

Sievert Lecture

Dr. María del Rosario Pérez
La Autoridad Regulatoria Nuclear Board of Directors Advisor

Plenary Panel #1: "The Systems of RP for Ionising & Non-Ionising Radiation"

Plenary Panel #1, left to right, John O'Hagan (Cochair), Emilie van Deventer, Sigurður Magnús Magnússon, Kathryn A. Higley, Werner Rühm, Sara Dumit (Rapporteur), Rodney Croft, and Christopher Clement (Chair)

Plenary Panel #2: Current Status of the Scientific Basis for Radiation Safety, Protection Recommendations, and International Standards

Plenary Panel #2, left to right, John Damilakis, Charles Wilson (Rapporteur), Jing Chen, Pete Bryant, Renate Czarwinski (Cochair), Thierry Schneider, Hildegarde Annie A. Vandenhove, Shengli Niu, Bernard le Guen, and Kevin Nelson (Chair)

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.

• 70th HPS Annual Meeting - 2025
  13–17 July 2025, Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, WI
  
  Hotel Reservations
  HPS has secured discounted room blocks at three hotels for Madison. Below are the links to secure discounted rooms.
  
  The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor's Club
  1 W. Dayton St. | Madison, WI 53703
  Rate: 168/night + tax
  
  Hilton Madison Monona Terrace
  9 East Wilson Street | Madison, WI 53703
  Rate: $211/night + tax
  
  Embassy Suites by Hilton Madison Downtown
  231 S. Pinckney Street | Madison, WI 53703
  Rate: $169/night + tax
  
  Reserve your room before the block sells out!
   
• 71st HPS Annual Meeting - 2026
  5–9 July 2026, Gaylord National Harbor, MD

HPS Web Operations

Stephen Samson Mkoloma, left, accepts his book from HPS News Editor Mary Walchuk
Submitted photo

Stephen Samson Mkoloma from Dar es Salaam Tanzania won a copy of Fundamentals of Health Physics & Radiation Protection, by Philip C. Fulmer, at the HPS Publications Booth book drawing at the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

We gave away more than 50 great books and enjoyed meeting and talking with so many people about HPS publications and the HPS website!

Thank you to the authors, editors, and publishers who donated over $4,000 worth of books, including fiction and nonfiction, covering a wide range of topics.

If you saw a book that you would like, but didn't win, click on the links below for ordering information.

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)

Critical Connections: The University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge from the Dawn of the Atomic Age to the Present – Lee Riedinger, Al Ekkebus, Ray Smith, and William Bugg (available from The University of Tennessee Press, ISBN 13: 978-1621906544, ISBN 10: 162190654X)

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-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)

Nuclear Medicine Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students – D.L. Bailey, J.L. Humm, A. Todd-Pokropek, and A. van Aswegen (available from International Atomic Energy Agency, ISBN: 978-92-0-143810-2)

Principles of Nuclear Radiation Detection – Geoffrey G. Eichholz and John W. Poston (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9781315895970)

Quantitative Environmental Risk Analysis for Human Health, Second Edition – Robert A. Fjeld, Timothy A. DeVol, and Nicole E. Martinez (available from Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-119-67532-7)

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)

Silent Source – Jim Smith (available from Amazon, ISBN: 978-1939398703)

Understanding Radiation Science: Basic Nuclear and Health Physics – James Mannie Shuler (available from Universal Publishers, ISBN: 1-58112-907-6)

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)

Charles Wilson and Emily Caffrey

The largest Health Physics Society (HPS) meeting in years just wrapped up. When new challenges occur, we have the opportunity to grow stronger. The HPS Program Committee tried several new things during the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting and we are eager to get feedback from the rest of the community. A few specific highlights include:

1. CELs at 7:45 am and the technical program at 9:00 am.
2. Blind peer reviews of all abstracts.
3. Scheduled Q&A at the end of sessions.
4. More 20-minute talks.
5. Plenary Panel Discussions.

CELs (refresher courses) had a much higher attendance than usual. It seems like attendees appreciated the extra hour of sleep or being able to visit with colleagues a little later.

Our new program-management software includes the ability to digitally send out abstracts for blind review and ratings. For many reasons, we believe this will drastically improve the quality of the program. If you'd like to be a peer reviewer, please reach out to HPSPCannual@hps.org right after the abstract deadlines.

There were also challenges that we struggled with and hope to omit in the future. These included app duplication bugs, lack of Wi-Fi, visa complications, and a printed program. While not all of these are within our control, we can better prepare and organize for them. We plan to change the format of the printed program to include program at a glance, exhibitors, and notes only. This will increase our flexibility to respond to program changes after printing.

Do you have feedback on the meeting or recommendations for improvement? Reach out to us at HPSPCannual@hps.org!