News Archive
2021 Annual FCHPS Meeting in St. Augustine, Florida
Finally, We Meet Again!!
Mike Phillips, Chapter Newsletter Editor
Following a successful virtual meeting in the fall of 2020, the Florida Chapter of the Health Physics Society (HPS) held its 2021 Annual Fall meeting in person on 24 September at the Radisson Inn World Golf Village and Resort in St. Augustine. Close to 50 people attended, including affiliates.
FCHPS President Tom Morgan introduces HPS President John Cardarelli
Photo courtesy of Joe Danek
HPS President Dr. John Cardarelli II presented "The Value of HPS Membership" and the thought-provoking presentation/discussion "Why It's Time to Move Beyond LNT."
Kurt Geber, radiation protection officer at Kennedy Space Center, gave the presentation "HP Support Operations During the Launch of Mars Perseverance." Kurt provided Mars 2020 patches and pins and Mars 2020 Perseverance adhesive labels to the attendees.
Debbie Gilley (she's back!!) presented "IAEA Safety Report Series No. 104-Radiation Protection and Safety in Veterinary Medicine."
Kevin Nelson, medical health physicist and radiation safety officer at Mayo Clinic Arizona, presented "IRPA 16 Update—FCHPS Role." This renowned international conference will be held in Orlando in July 2024. Kevin is the International Congress Organizing Committee chair. This meeting is planned to be a combined International Radiation Protection Association and national HPS conference.
Patrick Murphy, executive director for the International Laser Display Association presented "Consumer Laser Pointers: Eye Injuries and Aircraft Illuminations." Patrick provided a demonstration on the power of various types of lasers by popping black balloons.
Steve Rima of North Wind Group presented "Experience With Characterization and Remediation in Japan After the Fukushima Daichi Accident." The local residents did a tremendous amount of hands-on clean up to return to their evacuated land, special decontamination area.
FCHPS President Tom Morgan leads the FCHPS business meeting
Photo courtesy of Sherri Nickell
Tom Morgan finished with the "State of the Chapter." He also reviewed some of the benefits of membership in the national HPS and listed a number of areas where HPS is working with national and international agencies to advance the science of health physics. He also led a general discussion of how the chapter could support IRPA 16 in 2024. He finished with a discussion of efforts of the HPS Title Protection Committee.
An election was held in the spring of this year and our newly elected officers include President-elect Roland Branly (professor of physics at Broward College), Secretary James Holland (Mayo Clinic), and Executive Board Member-Membership Coordinator Jamie Gurney (NASA). Tom Morgan, our current president, has agreed to stay on one more year to mentor Roland as he fulfills his president-elect duties. Current Treasurer Rod Nickell is going to step down after five years filling this position—thanks Rod!
Our next planned meeting is for April 2022 at the Marriott Resort in Hutchinson Island. And the FCHPS golf tournament is back! The hotel has a par-61 executive golf course on-site, which is the perfect opportunity to bring back this tradition.
