Health Physics News

Andrew Najjar, MS, CHP, Society Support Committee Chair

We are excited to announce another year of CHP Study Group! Like last year, we will be offering 10 study sessions leading up to both Part I and Part II American Board of Health Physics examinations. There is no cost and all are welcome to attend. The study group will be held virtually 19:00-21:00 EST on the below dates:

We are actively looking for:

1. Participants
2. CHP mentors to help facilitate technical discussion.
3. Volunteers to develop and/or identify study material to be reviewed for a specific session.

For CHP mentors and volunteers, please choose your session based on the topic for effective and efficient learning.

Please email SocSupport.Chair@hps.org to register and for follow-up questions.

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Sponsorship and exhibit sales for the 71st Health Physics Society Annual Meeting are now open. The meeting will be held 6‒9 July 2026 in National Harbor, Maryland. Many levels of sponsorship opportunities and exhibit hall booth space are available. Please contact exhibits@hps.org to become a sponsor or exhibitor. More information is available in the sponsorship guide.

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The Editorial Board of the Health Physics journal has selected the paper “A Novel Shielding Device for Cardiac Cath Labs” (Health Physics 28[1]:52-59, January 2025) as the 2025 winner of the Michael T. Ryan Outstanding Paper of the Year Award. Authored by Lancer Smith, Emily Caffrey, and Charles Wilson, this paper was selected from among all those published in Health Physics in 2025. The papers were judged on scientific merit, accuracy, balance, innovation, and impact.

The Michael T. Ryan Outstanding Paper of the Year Award is named in honor of the late Michael T. Ryan, who served as the Editor in Chief of the Health Physics journal from 1999 to 2017.

“A Novel Shielding Device for Cardiac Cath Labs” is available to Health Physics Society members.

Congratulations to the authors!

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Brian Serencsits, CHP, Mentorship Committee Chair

The Health Physics Society (HPS) Mentorship Committee is happy to continue its online virtual educational webinar series with the free webinar Important Radiation Biology Concepts for Radiation Protection. Focused on providing a thorough overview of the basics of various topics spanning the health physics practices, this webinar series is perfect for all careers and experience levels. At this seminar, we are happy to be hosting Dr Kathryn Held, who will be providing a one-hour presentation on the many facets of radiobiology in the health physics field, including work pertaining to the safety of workers, the public, and radiation therapy patients. We will then have a 30-minute open Q&A session for all individuals to ask questions about the presentation or any questions you may have related to radiobiology!

The virtual event will be taking place on 6 May 2026, 2‒3:30 pm ET. For more information and to register, click here.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Brian Serencsits.

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Tom Johnson

The Central Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Health Physics Society (CRMCHPS) had the radiation safety officer from Helion, Devin Mussell, speak at our 26 March 2026 meeting. The meeting was held at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) facility in Denver, Colorado. The following day, a seminar was given by Helion at Colorado State University for graduate students. The talk provided technical details on the Helion fusion power plant and on expected radiation risks.

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Jim F. Herrold, CHP, RRPT, Chair, United States Technical Advisory Groups for ISO/TC 85 and ISO/TC 85/SC

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a federation of national standards bodies. US participation in ISO is through accredited American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs)[1]. The scope of ISO Technical Committee 85 (ISO/TC 85) is “standardization in the field of peaceful applications of nuclear energy, nuclear technologies and in the field of the protection of individuals and the environment against all sources of ionising radiations[2].”

Every two years, selected participating countries host meetings of ISO/TC 85, subcommittees, and working groups. For 2026, the US Nuclear Technical Advisory Group (NTAG) is hosting ISO/TC 85 17‒21 August. This event will bring together stakeholders (Industry & Commerce, Government, Consumers, Labor, Academic & Research Bodies, Standards Application, and Non-governmental Organizations) nominated by their participating member countries in the following crucial areas:

• ISO/TC 85 (Nuclear energy, nuclear technologies, and radiological protection)
  • 27 participating countries, 21 observing countries, 2 working groups, 11 standards
• ISO/TC 85/SC 2 (Radiological protection)
  • 31 Participating countries, 11 observing members, 12 working groups, 132 standards
• ISO/TC 85/SC 5 (Nuclear installations, processes and technologies)
  • 23 Participating countries, 9 observing members, 5 working groups, 88 standards
• ISO/TC 85/SC 6 (Reactor technology)
  • 20 Participating countries, 9 observing members, 3 working groups, 23 standards

Although the meetings are coordinated by ANSI and ISO, the NTAG receives no financial support from these institutions. The Health Physics Society (HPS), through the HPS Standards Committee, pays for HPS members’ NTAG fees and reimburses some travel expenses to ISO/TC 85 meetings. Kudos to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), which has graciously offered the use of their facilities this year. However, the costs for providing the usual meeting extras – such as coffee breaks, lunches and a social event – must be covered through solicitation of outside sponsors.

Please note: Participation in meetings is limited to officially registered country delegates (not open to the public), but sponsors may host a table at events such as coffee breaks and the social reception.

Why should you sponsor?

• Showcase your leadership in nuclear energy, emerging technologies, and radiological protection.
• Engage directly with international delegates and technical experts.
• Increase visibility among government, academic, and industry stakeholders.
• Support the advancement of global standards and innovation.

Suggested sponsorship options

• Gold – $7,500 (includes Silver plus recognition at social reception)
• Silver – $3,500 (includes Bronze plus recognition at coffee breaks)
• Bronze – $1,000 (includes a table at coffee breaks/reception and recognition on banners)

Contacts

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact US NTAG Administrator Steve Mawn.

For general inquiries about ISO/TC 85 participation, contact:

• ISO/TC 85 and ISO/TC 85/SC 2 TAG Chair Jim Herrold,
• ISO/TC 85/SC 5 TAG Chair Mike Brisson,
• ISO/TC 85/SC 6 TAG Chair Michael LaFontaine, or
• HPS Standards Committee Chair Antonio Triventi.

[1] https://ansi.org/iso/us-representation-in-iso/introduction

[2] https://www.iso.org/committee/50266.html

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Please join us for the spring meeting of the Western New York Chapter of the Health Physics Society (HPS). This hybrid meeting will be held Friday, 1 May 2026, 9 am‒3 pm EST, in Buffalo, New York. A virtual option will be available by Zoom on the same day, 10 am‒3 pm.

Virtual RSVP Details

You must register in advance for this meeting

Use https://burkinc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SOjlSyOrR7aJNIKgqAxJPg

Complete the information and submit. You will receive an invitation with joining instructions.

Please call in by 9:30 am.

In-Person RSVP Details

Email Yandong Chen directly. We would like a head count for lunch.

Meeting Agenda

In-person ONLY: 9:00‒10:00 am arrival and welcome chapter members, networking

10‒11 am: “Radiation Gauging, a Practical Application of Basic Science” ‒ HPS President Michael Lewandowski

11 am‒noon: “Regulatory Hour/CRESO Update” ‒ Charles Burns, New York State Department of Health Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection

Noon‒1:00 pm: Break for lunch. In-person attendees will be provided lunch.

1‒2:00 pm: “Determination of the Sterilization Capabilities of the Kimtron Box Irradiator to Meet US Food and Drug Yeast and Bacterial Content Levels for Commercial Marijuana Consumption Use” ‒ Dr. Fred Mis, M.I.S., Inc.

2‒2:30pm: “Health Physics News and Updates” ‒ HPS President Michael Lewandowski

2:30‒3 pm: Chapter business

Credits: 2.0 American Academy of Health Physics continuing education credits are available to attendees

Questions: Contact YandongChen or Richard Harvey

Meeting Sponsor: Multi-Industrial Services, Inc. (providing imaging modality QA/QC testing for medical and industrial devices)

In-Person Meeting Details:

Lunch: provided for members and a small fee for nonmembers

Location: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, 665 Carlton Street, Buffalo, NY 14263

We warmly invite all members and nonmembers to attend in person and connect with fellow health physics colleagues!

Parking is free!

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Aly Prior, Chapter President

The North Carolina Chapter of the Health Physics Society held its annual spring meeting in Wilmington, North Carolina, 12–13 March 2026, drawing 44 attendees and five supporting vendors for two days full of professional development. The program featured a guided tour of the GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Fuel fabrication facility alongside technical presentations on laser safety, aerial site surveys, and emergency management planning. A highlight for many was the regulatory update provided by the North Carolina State Radiation Protection Section. This session offered a valuable forum for direct dialogue, allowing members to engage with regulators and gain clarity on current requirements and expectations through an interactive question-and-answer session. This spirit of collaboration was also evident at the first night’s social event, where a strong turnout allowed a relaxing environment for professionals to connect over life experiences and discuss the specific operational and licensing challenges unique to their respective facilities.

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Deepesh Poudel, Bae Chu, HPS National Harbor Task Force Chairs; Emily Caffrey, HPS Program Committee Chair

The Health Physics Society (HPS) National Harbor Task Force recently met in National Harbor, Maryland, where we reviewed submitted abstracts and finalized the technical program for this year’s annual meeting. We received a strong number of abstract submissions, and through a careful review process, developed a balanced and engaging program that reflects both the breadth of work across our field and emerging topics.

The meeting will take place 6–9 July 2026, with technical sessions scheduled 7–9 July. This year’s program will feature the following, all packed into 2.5 days of programming:

• 28 oral presentation sessions, including 13 special sessions
• 215 talks
• 52 poster presentations

We are excited about the strength of this technical program and the wide range of topics it will cover.

The full program is now live here.

Registration is open here.

We look forward to seeing you all in July at National Harbor!

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It is time for the 2026 Health Physics Society (HPS) raffle. Donate today for a chance to win one of our three prizes:

Top Prize: 50/50 split of all of the money collected after prizes 2 and 3

2nd Place: $1,000

3rd Place: $500

You can support the HPS and also have a shot at some serious cash this summer! Chances of winning are excellent because only a limited number of entries will be allowed.

This raffle has a twist. It is a 50/50 raffle. The Health Physics Fund and the Top Prize winner will equally split the proceeds minus $1,500 for the 2nd and 3rd place prizes. Click here to get your tickets now; we are only offering 2,000 total tickets for this raffle.

You don’t have to be a member to buy a ticket, but all sales benefit the Society.

The winners will be announced in July at the HPS Members/Business Meeting!

Proceeds from the raffle will support the work of HPS committees and core services—including those focused on education, science support, standards, public information, and professional development—helping to advance initiatives that promote radiation safety, foster collaboration across sectors, and strengthen the professional community.

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Stars, stripes, and science come together at the 2026 Health Physics Society Annual Meeting (HPS 2026) as the meeting coincides with America’s 250th birthday—the United States Semiquincentennial! To mark this historic occasion, the Baltimore–Washington Chapter Local Arrangements Committee is offering exclusive, patriotic HPS 2026 merchandise.

Stars, Stripes, and Seriously Good Apparel

Show off your HPS pride with bold, American flag-inspired apparel, including navy or white performance polos, navy t-shirts, and navy hats—a sharp, professional look that carries you from opening plenary to the closing session without missing a beat.

Our performance polos feature a comfortable poly/spandex moisture-wicking fabric with four-way stretch, an embroidered meeting logo with a Capitol-fireworks theme, and additional patriotic details, including red-and-white stripes on the inner collar and a star pattern on the inner placket. Professional and polished enough for the office, flexible enough for health physicists on the move.

The cotton t-shirts and vented snapback hats offer a clean, modern look that’s ideal for a DC-area summer—breathable, stylish, and field-tested by busy health physicists.

Presales Are Open — Don’t Let This Offer Decay Away!

Discounted presale pricing is available through 1 May, with convenient pickup at the conference center 6–9 July 2026 at Gaylord National Harbor, Maryland. Order now through our web store. Ordering early guarantees the size and color you want!

• Navy polos and hats will be available by presale and on-site at the conference in limited quantities and sizes—once they’re gone, they’re gone (no half-life extensions).
• White polos and navy t-shirts are presale only, with no plans for on-site sales.

Gear up, show your stars and stripes, and celebrate 250 years of America with pride, purpose, and HPS spirit. Please contact Matthew Mille for more information.

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Nominations are open for four leadership roles within the Medical Health Physics Section (MHPS). This is a great opportunity to contribute to MPHS’s growth and future direction.

Open Positions

• President-elect (1)
  • Serves a one-year term as president-elect before transitioning into a one-year term as president, then staying on another year as past president for a total of three years on the board.
  • Ensures leadership continuity and strategic planning.
• Secretary/Treasurer (1)
  • Serves a two-year term.
  • Maintains organizational records and meeting minutes while overseeing financial documentation, budgeting, and reporting.
• Director (2)
  • Serves a three-year term.
  • Supports board initiatives and plays a key role in MHPS governance.

How to Nominate

We encourage all prospective nominees to review the responsibilities outlined in our bylaws prior to submitting a nomination.

If you or someone you know is interested in serving, please submit nominations by Friday, 24 April 2026, to both:

• MHPS President Diana Thompson
• MPHS Secretary Jessica Rodgers

Please include a brief bio for yourself or the person you are nominating in the email.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to help shape the future of MHPS. We look forward to your nominations!

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George Tabatadze, HPS Director, Science Support Committee

The Science Support Committee of the Health Physics Society (HPS) will once again host its Summer Science Teacher Workshop, a virtual program designed to support middle and high school educators in teaching one of the most widely misunderstood yet essential topics in science: ionizing radiation.

This free, five-hour workshop offers a practical and accessible introduction to radiation science, with a strong emphasis on classroom application. Led by experienced health physics professionals, the program combines clear explanations of fundamental concepts with real-world examples that help students understand how radiation is used safely and effectively across society.

Participants will explore a broad range of topics, including radiation fundamentals, instrumentation, biological effects, and applications in medicine, industry, energy, and everyday life. The workshop also highlights current issues such as radioactive waste and introduces students to career pathways in health physics, helping educators connect classroom content to real opportunities.

A key feature of the program is its focus on hands-on learning. Selected participants will receive a classroom instrumentation kit at no cost, which includes a working Geiger-Mueller counter, safe naturally occurring radiation sources, and ready-to-use teaching materials. These resources are intended to support ongoing instruction well beyond the workshop itself.

Workshop Details

Dates: 21 July and 23 July 2026

Time: 1–3:30 pm Central Time each day

Format: Virtual

Registration fee: Free

Registration deadline: 26 June 2026

Certificates of completion will be awarded.

Instrumentation kits are limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Kits will be shipped only within the United States.

Educators interested in strengthening their confidence in teaching radiation science and bringing engaging, evidence-based content into their classrooms are encouraged to apply.

HPS chapter members and officers are encouraged to share this opportunity with local science teachers, school districts, and educational partners. Broad outreach at the local level is essential to ensuring that this program reaches educators who can benefit most and helps expand awareness of radiation science education.

Registration is available here. The deadline to register is 26 June 2026.

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Thomas Johnson, CSU Student Branch Advisor

Colorado State University (CSU) had a very busy March and beginning of April! We kicked off the month with several students and a professor from Fukushima University performing research with our graduate students. Next, five graduate students attended a two-week short course at Hirosaki University. One of our undergraduates was awarded best STEM presentation at the Multicultural Undergraduate Research Art and Leadership Symposium (MURALS), and finally, on 1 April we had an outstanding seminar from Idaho National Laboratory’s Seth Kantor, CHP. Thank you again to all our wonderful alumni and friends who have made donations to help make CSU the best!

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Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

Netflix is currently showing a five-part drama series, titled Radiation Emergency, on the 1987 radiological accident in Goiânia, Brazil. This accident involved the abandonment of a cesium-137 (Cs-137) (in the form of a highly soluble and readily dispersible cesium chloride salt) teletherapy unit. This unit was subsequently partially disassembled, and the source capsule ruptured, resulting in the widespread contamination of Cs-137 and the direct deaths of four individuals.

This Netflix series follows the course of the accident, the extent of the contamination, the response following discovery of the contamination, and the impact on effected communities.

I would be most interested in Health Physics Society members’ “critique” of the historical accuracy and presentation of this series, as well as opinions as to whether this series would be useful to radiological protection professionals, regulatory authorities, or the general public. Please provide any critiques, comments, and opinions, to me at wglines34@charter.net. Based on the response, I will issue an article summarizing the response.

For those who are interested, there are numerous reports and accounts of this accident in the literature. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has published two reports devoted to this accident: IAEA Report (1988) and IAEA TECDOC-1099. The January 1991 issue of the Health Physics journal was devoted to the Goiânia accident. Also, several years ago, the Herbert M. Parker Foundation hosted a Parker Lecture on this accident by Dr. Luiz Bertilli, who was directly involved in the recovery actions for Goiânia.

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Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant accident and the 15th anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. On 27 April 2026, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) will host global radiological protection experts in presenting the webinar Lessons for Radiological Protection from the Chornobyl NPP and Fukushima Daiichi NPP Accidents.

Since 1986, the ICRP has followed the consequences of these events, reviewing health effects, environmental and non-human biota impacts, and social impacts, assessing their implications for radiological protection and issuing several publications reflecting the lessons learned from these and other radiological events. In this webinar, members from ICRP Committees 1, 2, and 4 will present an overview of key scientific and practical insights from these two major accidents and summarize their impact on radiological protection worldwide. These presentations will be followed by a moderated discussion with international organizations, exploring the central questions: Are we better prepared to protect people and the environment in situations of radiological accidents? What have we truly learned from these accidents?

As with all ICRP digital events, registration is free; however, participants and organizations are encouraged to purchase a paid option wherever possible.

Please visit the event page where you can read the full program and register for the webinar.

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We are saddened to report that Health Physics Society (HPS) member Todd Davidson died 20 March 2026. An In Memoriam piece has been posted on the HPS website.

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

Certification Review Course Part II and Self Study Course Part II — Bevelacqua Resources

Certified Health Physicist Exam Prep Online — Bolen Institute of Excellence Academy and Bevelacqua Resources

Occupational Internal Dosimetry Training — ORAU’s Professional Training Programs

Radiation Safety in Medical Facilities for Non-Technical Ancillary Personnel Online Training — ORAU’s Professional Training Programs

Laser Safety Officer (LSO) Training — Kentek Corporation

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One article per issue of Health Physics is made freely available to nonsubscribers for a limited time (usually 6 weeks). Read the free May article.

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We are saddened to report that former Health Physics Society (HPS) Director Bill Hendee died 14 March 2026. His obituary can be found on the Horan & McConaty website. An In Memoriam piece will be put on the HPS website at a future date.

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We recently conducted an information update for Health Physics Society (HPS) members’ join date. When you log into your membership profile, click on “Manage My Account” and then “Membership” to check your information. You should now see the date that you joined posted:

If you believe the date to be inaccurate, please email members@hps.org. If your email changed or you merged accounts, it might need to be adjusted.

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Mike Lewandowski, FHPS, CHP, HPS President

In response to Executive Order 14300, ”Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” the NRC is releasing proposed rules over the next weeks and months. Many of these proposals will impact Health Physics Society (HPS) members. The public comment period is expected to be quite short and in order for HPS to be able to submit appropriate comments, we need to have an agile response process.

Directors will be contacting each of their assigned technical sections to ask for the sections to take the lead in reviewing the proposed rules and prioritizing an HPS response (see table at the end of this article for possible assignments). Each technical section should take the lead on reviewing proposed rules that affect their fields. The section should prioritize their comments and submit their proposed responses to their director with a copy to the chair of the Government Relations Committee no less than two calendar weeks before the response deadline. The director will forward the proposed response to the Executive Committee. The Government Relations Committee will review the section comments, add their thoughts, and forward to the Executive Committee within one calendar week.

The table at the end of this article suggests sections to take an active role in reviewing and commenting on the proposed rules. This does not mean that any section cannot comment on any proposed rule. In some situations, multiple sections are listed in the table. The first section listed is considered the lead section, but the other sections may also be significantly affected by the proposed rule. All comments from sections are welcome. Nearly half of these proposed rulemakings address areas of interest to the Power Reactor Section and, in some cases, the proposals are limited to commercial nuclear reactors. In this case it may be unreasonable to expect the Power Reactor Section to provide comments on these rules. It is possible that the proposals may only tangentially touch on radiation safety. I expect other organizations, including the American Nuclear Society, the Nuclear Energy Institute, and the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations, will submit appropriate comments in those areas and HPS does not need to weigh in on proposals that are not focused on radiation safety.

The proposed rulemaking titled “Reforming and Modernizing the NRC’s Radiation Protection Framework” is the part that addresses ALARA and the Linear No-Threshold model. All sections are invited to submit comments. In addition, the Government Relations Committee may also review the proposed rules and create a draft response. The Government Relations Committee is responsible for proposing any HPS comment on revised rules which are published as Final or Direct Final.

The Executive Committee will be responsible for formatting the response into a document signed by the president and submitting the response to the NRC. Responses which are consistent with the published HPS Positions and Position Statements will be submitted without additional Board review or approval. Comments which deviate from the published Positions or Position Statements will require Board approval and likely will not be able to meet the expected short turnaround time for public comment. However, this situation may identify areas where the Board needs to review or reconsider existing Positions.

If you have questions regarding any specific policy or the actions of the Board, please contact me.

 

NRC Proposed Rules and HPS Section Assignments

Rule	Parts	Planned Release Date	Section
Licensing Requirements for Microreactors and Other Reactors with Comparable Risk Profiles	1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 30, 40, 50, 57, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 95, 140, 150	3/23/2026	Power Reactor
Modernizing NRC Regulations for Byproduct Material Use	30, 31, 32, 34, 39, 70	4/1/2026	Decommissioning, AIRRS
Modernizing Requirements Relating to the Physical Protection of Category 1 and Category 2 Quantities of Radioactive Material	37	4/1/2026	AIRRS, Medical HP
Modernizing Materials Licensing	30, 37, 40, 70, 72, 140	4/6/2026	Power Reactor
NRC Reviews of Reactor Designs Previously Authorized by U.S. Department of Energy or Department of War	50	4/9/2026	Power Reactor
Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act	51	4/9/2026	Environmental/Radon, Power Reactor
Modernizing Reactor Licensing, Safety Oversight, and Siting Practices	2, 50, 51, 52, 54, 71, 100	4/20/2026	Power Reactor
Reducing Barriers to Medical Use Licensing	35	4/27/2026	Medical HP
Reforming and Modernizing the NRC’s Radiation Protection Framework (ALARA and LNT)	19, 20, 34, 35, 40, 50, 61, 71, 72, 150	4/30/2026	All Sections
In Situ Recovery Monitoring and Decommissioning Timeliness	30, 40, 61, 70, 72, 73, 150	5/5/2026	Decommissioning, Environmental/Radon
Modernizing Package Certification Requirements	71	5/13/2026	Power Reactor, AIRRS
Modernizing Security Requirements	26, 50, 52, 72, 73, 95	5/18/2026	Power Reactor
Regulatory Enhancements for Reactor Licensing, Decommissioning, and Operational Oversight	20, 21, 50, 52, 55, 70, 72, 75	6/5/2026	Power Reactor
Integrated Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal	20, 61, 73, 150	6/30/2026	Decommissioning, Power Reactor, AIRRS, Environmental/Radon

 

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Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

On 9 April 2026, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Task Group 111 will host a workshop to present its draft report on Factors Governing the Individual Response of Humans to Ionising Radiation. Please click here for additional information, to access the draft report (which is currently open for public consultation until 1 May), and to register for this event.

As with all ICRP digital events, registration is free; however, participants and organizations are encouraged to purchase a paid option wherever possible.

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Health Physics Society Agency Liaison Craig Little and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements President Kathryn Higley provided information in an article published in the American Institute of Physics 17 March 2026 FYI: Science Policy News. “NRC Mulls Changes to Radiation Safety Requirements” summarizes possible changes in a total of 28 rules required by Executive Order 14300. Potential rule changes were outlined in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Meeting of 12 March 2026, attended virtually by hundreds of people.

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Dave Niven, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

The Montreal Fund is one the International Radiation Protection Association’s (IRPA) most important initiatives. Since it was created in 1995, it has been used to support the attendance of young professionals from developing countries at IRPA congresses. The Montreal fund relies almost entirely on the support of generous donors, including donations from individuals.

Kevin Nelson, IRPA16 president and current Executive Council member and longtime HPS member, has thrown down the gauntlet—he will match individual contributions made to the Montreal Fund in 2026, up to a total aggregate of $4,000 USD.

Are you up to the challenge? Donate online now to contribute and support young IRPA professionals!

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Two Health Physics Society (HPS) members are making their voices heard in the national conversation on radiation protection policy. HPS President Mike Lewandowski and HPS Ask the Experts Editor and Program Committee Chair Dr. Emily Caffrey of University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Health Physics Program were both quoted in a 17 March 2026 E&E News feature on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s draft proposal to eliminate ALARA from its regulations. The article covers the ongoing scientific debate over the Linear No-Threshold model and perspectives from across the nuclear and radiation protection communities. It’s a timely read for anyone following this rapidly evolving policy debate. Click here to read the full article.

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The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) is hosting a two-part webinar series in April 2026 marking 40 years since the Chornobyl nuclear accident. These sessions will explore long-term health and environmental impacts, drawing on decades of epidemiological and dosimetric research.

Webinar 1: 40 Years Later: Summary of Chornobyl Accident’s Long-Term Health Effects

Date and Time: 15 April 2026, 11am‒12:15 pm PDT

Registration: https://burkinc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5G_wWK-TRb2QGzXebao2FA

This session provides an overview of epidemiological findings on long-term health outcomes following the Chornobyl accident, including environmental radiation protection and transgenerational effects.

Webinar 2: Radiation Exposure and Long-Term Health Effects After Chornobyl: Evidence From Ukrainian Studies

Date and Time: 22 April 2026, 11am‒12:15 pm PDT

Registration: https://burkinc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_X44ncF3kTuSoothpZdRcsw

This session focuses on evidence from Ukrainian studies, including radiation dosimetry in evacuees and emergency workers, and findings from long-term cohort research.

Both webinars feature leading experts in radiation epidemiology, dosimetry, and environmental health, moderated by Dr. Lydia Zablotska (UCSF).

We hope you will join us for these informative sessions.

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The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued annual letters to the nation’s 95 operating commercial nuclear reactors, regarding their performance in 2025.

The 95 reactors currently in the agency’s Reactor Oversight Process include Palisades in Michigan, which returned to operational status last year but has yet to restart. Ninety reactors reached the highest performance category in safety and security. These include the Waterford plant in Louisiana, which resolved issues of low safety significance during the year. Those reactors remain under the NRC’s “baseline” inspection program, involving thousands of inspection hours for each reactor.

Five reactors were in the second performance category for 2025, as they need to resolve one or two items of low safety significance. For this performance level, regulatory oversight includes additional inspection and follow-up of corrective actions. Plants in this category are Hope Creek (New Jersey), South Texas Project Unit 2 (Texas), V.C. Summer (South Carolina), and Watts Bar 1 and 2 (Tennessee). Assessment letters for each reactor are found on the NRC website.

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Do you have professional health physics books you no longer use but that would be helpful to someone else in the field? As you are doing a year-end cleaning at your home or office, consider listing the books you want to share on HP Professional Book Sharing page of the Health Physics Society website.

Are you looking for professional health physics books, but have a limited budget? Peruse the titles on the page and see if any fit your needs. Then contact the person giving away the book to arrange shipping. The book giver and receiver are responsible for arranging and paying for shipping.

To have your book listed on the sharing page, email the Health Physics Society news editor a photo of the cover; the title, author, publisher, and publication date; and your email address.

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Join the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) for our first Refresher Webinar of 2026! Our Education and Training Task Group is pleased to have prepared this webinar, which will take place on 9 April 2026. Hannah Scott-Rees will be presenting “Radiation Shielding in Interventional Radiology: Wearable Lead, Devices and Barriers.” Click here for more details, including the link to free registration!

 

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Mike Lewandowski, FHPS, CHP, HPS President and Awards Committee Chair

In January we announced the call for nominations for Health Physics Society (HPS) awards. Several nominations have been emailed to the Awards Committee and we’re happy to announce that we have published a Google form to more easily track the nominations. Please submit all future nominations using this form. The form will prompt you for all required information and will let you click a link to upload the necessary documents to a Dropbox established for this purpose. Please contact me or any member of the Awards Committee if you have questions.

As a reminder, following is a list of HPS awards and nomination deadlines. You can find details for each of these awards in Section 13 of the HPS Rules and on the Awards page of our website.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the following awards is 1 March:

• Distinguished Public Service Award
• Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award
• Elda E. Anderson Award
• Fellow Award
• Founders Award
• Geoffrey G. Eichholz Outstanding Science Teacher Award
• Robley D. Evans Commemorative Medal

The deadline for submitting nominations for the Student Science Award is 30 May.

If you have questions about the nomination process, please contact me at awards.chair@hps.org.

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