Answer to Question #5190 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

The Human Capital Report indicated specific shortages in qualified health physics professionals and that demand currently outstrips supply. Though the possibility of it happening is not likely, has the Health Physics Society predicted a forecast that if the current supply of qualified personnel does not increase, then a situation could arise where there may be almost no health physics professionals in the field (due to retirement, lack of interest in academic programs, etc.)? What would this mean to the profession?

A

As mentioned in the Health Physics Society Human Capital Crisis Task Force Report, a human capital crisis can occur whenever one of the four Rs is not addressed—recruitment, resources, retention, and retirement. The greatest human capital crisis concern for radiation protection professionals relates to professional demand outstripping supply. Most technology related professions, including health physics, will experience an increase in individuals eligible for retirement over the next decade. The goal is to ensure properly trained professionals are in the pipeline to fill these vacated positions. Positions filled by improperly trained personnel could impact public health. As indicated in your question, it is difficult to envision a scenario where health physicists would no longer be needed, especially in the energy and medical employment sectors. The challenge is to ensure proper funding of our health physics academic programs and continue to push title protection for health physicists.

Kevin L. Nelson, PhD, CHP