On March 2-3, 2007, ASTRO convened the first Intersociety Radiation Oncology Summit, which brought together leaders from around the globe to examine the current scope of practice, strategies for enhancement and a vision for the future of radiation oncology. Many in the field believe that we are at a crossroad in our path to the future and that the choices we make today will determine our future role in cancer treatment.
In addition to ASTRO, participating societies included the American Association of Directors (ADROP), the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), the American Board of Radiology (ABR), the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS), the American College of Radiology (ACR), the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Association of Freestanding Radiation Oncology Centers (AFROC), the Association Latin American for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ALATRO), the Association of Residents in Radiology Oncology (ARRO), the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO), the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO), the Japanese Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (JASTRO), the Radiation Research Society (RRS), the Radiological Society of North American (RSNA), the Residency Review Committee (RRC), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR), and the Society of Chairman of Academic Radiation Oncology Programs (SCAROP).
On Friday, March 2, several participants made formal presentations on issues within the field of radiation oncology including defining the scope of current practice, shaping our future with respect to the process of care and how the field is viewed by the broader “House of Medicine”. The presentations stimulated dialogue in the afternoon break out groups, which led to a number of recommendations pertaining to economics, research, testing, training, technology and the role of radiation oncologist. On Saturday, March 3 the summit participants discussed the recommendations and collectively developed a plan of action.
ASTRO is committed to working with the participating societies to implement the action steps which resulted from this meeting. We are currently working on a commentary for the ASTROnews, ASTRO's quarterly news magazine, and a detailed article for the Red Journal that will include an implementation timetable and expound the agreed upon action steps. We will make both available to all participating societies when completed so that they can take action to help us ensure the future of the field.
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1st row: Jonathan Tward, M.D.; Prabhakar Tripuraneni, M.D.; K. Kenneth Chao, M.D.
Seated: Laurie Gaspar, M.D.; Yoshio Hishikawa, M.D.; Paula Schomberg, M.D.; Steve Leible, M.D.; James Borgstede, M.D.; Mary Conti, M.D.; Tsujii Hirokiho, M.D.; and Robyn Watson, Ph.D.
3rd row: K. Kian Ang, M.D., Ph.D.; Laura Thevenot; Gerald White, M.S.; Alvaro Luongo, M.D.; Allen Lichter, M.D.; David Beyer, M.D.; David Rice, M.D.; C. Norman Coleman, M.D.; Tom Pickles, M.D.; Gillian Duchesne, M.D.; Dag Olsen, M.D.; David Panicek, M.D.; Adela Poiteban, M.D.; Arl Van Moore, M.D.; Patricia Eifel, M.D.; Michael Steinberg, M.D.; Francine Halberg, M.D.; and Michael Barton, M.D.
Back row: Christopher Rose, M.D.; Larry Kun, M.D.; Daniel Bourland, Ph.D.; Jeffrey Demanes, M.D.; Phillip Devlin, M.D.; Anthony Zietman, M.D.; Bharat Mittal, M.D.; Bruce Haffty, M.D.; Ann Spangler, M.D.; Louis Harrison, M.D.; and Christopher Willett, M.D.