• 15 May 2025

    New HPS Website

    Kendall Berry, MSPH, HPS Website Redevelopment & Deployment Task Force Chairperson

    We have launched the new version of hps.org and our new membership platform. We have received many positive comments, and we are thrilled that you like the website. Naturally, there were some unexpected issues, and we are continuing to work daily to improve the functionality of the new website. If you happen to stumble upon something that doesn’t seem to be working correctly, please email a description of your observation and include the URL address where the issue is occurring to webeic@hps.org. We are actively working on the following issues and hope to have these resolved in the coming days: job and résumé postings, updating affiliates, and the Ask the Experts tool.

    Committee leadership, please take a moment, review your committee pages, and provide updates to webeic@hps.org.

    All HPS members were transferred to the new HPS membership database so you should not need to create a new profile. Please use your previous HPS member email to log into the new platform using this email as your name and password initially. Once in, you will have the option to update any information including your password. You will also have access to the journal and access to register for the Annual Meeting. If you have many e-mail addresses and forget which is associated with your HPS membership, please reach out to members@hps.org for assistance. The membership directory is currently unavailable, and we are working with the membership platform company to address this situation as soon as possible.

    Thanks for your support and patience!

  • 15 May 2025

    2025 HPS Raffle!

    AI-generated image courtesy of GROK

    Support the Health Physics Society (HPS) and win an amazing Hyundai Ioniq 5 or a bunch of cash in the 2025 HPS raffle! Chances of winning are excellent because only a limited number of entries will be allowed; we are only offering 2,000 total tickets for this raffle.

    Click here to donate today for a chance to win one of our three prizes:

                      • Top Prize: $42,600 credit toward a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or $42,600 cash (or 50/50, see below)
                      • 2nd Place: $1,000
                      • 3rd Place: $500

    This raffle has a twist. It is a 50/50 raffle until we sell 1,082 tickets. The Health Physics Fund and the Top Prize winner will equally split the proceeds minus $1,500 for the 2nd and 3rd place prizes. Once we sell 1,082 tickets, the top prize is $42,600 towards a Hyundai Ioniq or cash.

    The winners will be announced on 16 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.

  • 15 May 2025

    HPS Webinar — Intro to Intelligence: How AI and ML Are Changing Radiation Protection

    Manar Sakalla, HPS Society Support Committee

    Curious about how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are reshaping radiation protection?

    Join us for an introductory webinar designed to demystify these powerful technologies and explore their growing impact on our field. Whether you’re new to AI/ML or looking to better understand the fundamentals, this session will prepare you for the exciting innovations to be discussed during the plenary session at the upcoming 70th Health Physics Society Annual Meeting in beautiful Madison, Wisconsin!

    Speakers will be Shaheen Dewji, Martin Graffigna, and David Gonzalez. The webinar will take place Friday, 30 May, noon–1pm Eastern.

    Don’t miss this opportunity to get ahead of the curve! Register here.

     

  • 15 May 2025

    70th HPS Annual Meeting: Technical Tour of SHINE Isotope Production Facility

    Mike Lewandowski, FHPS, CHP, Local Arrangements Committee

    It’s time to register for the 70th Health Physics Society (HPS) Annual Meeting, which will be held 13–17 July 2025 at Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin. In addition to excellent oral and poster presentations and outstanding continuing education courses, there’s an opportunity to visit a state-of-the-art isotope production facility. Spend the morning of Tuesday, 15 July, on a technical tour of the SHINE isotope production facility in Janesville, Wisconsin. A bus will take tour attendees from the Hilton Monona Terrace hotel to the SHINE facility, where we’ll get an introduction to the exciting work done at this facility. Learn about the technologies used to produce Lu-177 (shipping now) and Mo-99 (under construction). Learn more about SHINE here. Tour information is available on the annual meeting microsite.

    No HPS meeting is complete without a commemorative shirt, hat, or other swag. The Local Arrangements Committee has partnered with Madison Top Company to offer logo shirts, hats, and water bottles. Check out the site here. Order before 15 June for pickup at the annual meeting.

    You can find more details about all the social events, technical presentations, and continuing education on the Madison meeting microsite. Check back often as the Local Arrangements Committee, Program Committee, and HPS Headquarters staff will be adding information about the meeting to this site up until the meeting.

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

  • 15 May 2025

    Homeland Security and Emergency Response Section 2025 Award

    William Irwin III, CHP, FHPS, Section Awards Chairman

    The president of the Homeland Security and Emergency Response Section, Steve Sugarman, CHP, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Homeland Security and Emergency Response Section Distinguished Service Award: Doug Draper, CHP, FHPS, and K.L. “Ken” Groves, FHPS.

    The awards will be formally presented at the Homeland Security and Emergency Response Section Business Meeting at the 70th Health Physics Society Annual Meeting in Madison this year.

    Congratulations to the awardees. Their award citations and pictures will be in the December 2025 Health Physics Journal.

  • 15 May 2025

    State of Texas Chapter Research Update

    Latha Vasudevan, Chapter Public Relations Chair

    Zavier N. Ndum presenting during the STC_HPS meeting on 11 April
    Photo courtesy of Latha Vasudevan

    At the recent State of Texas Chapter of Health Physics Society (STC-HPS) spring meeting, Zavier N. Ndum, a PhD candidate at Texas A&M University, Department of Nuclear Engineering, and past president of STC-HPS, presented the talk “Advancing Health Physics & Radiation Protection Through Domain-Knowledge-Embedded Large-Language-Model Agents.”

    Zavier’s work shows how locally deployed generative-AI or large language model (LLM) agents can automate complex workflows and slash the time it takes to:

    • Navigate bulky Nuclear Regulatory Commission/International Atomic Energy Agency regulations.
    • Set up dose simulations in MCNP, FLUKA, GEANT4.
    • Draft shielding or ALARA reports from hours to minutes, while keeping proprietary data secured.

    Zavier’s work, which builds upon a proof-of-concept paper AutoFLUKA, is paving the way for innovative solutions in radiation detection, dosimetry, and shielding.

    Zavier is running a short, anonymous survey of health physics practitioners to gauge where the profession most needs automation. It takes less than 8 minutes, and no identifying information is collected.

    Add your voice: Take the survey. Your insights will steer the next iteration of his open-source framework, AutoFLUKA, and related AI helpers. Thank you for advancing the field!

  • 14 May 2025

    State of Texas Chapter Spring Meeting

    Latha Vasudevan, Chapter Public Relations Chair

    The State of Texas Chapter of the Health Physics Society (STC-HPS) hosted a two-day spring meeting 11–12 April 2025 at the Rudder Tower, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. On the evening of 10 April, the chapter had its executive council meeting, where the members discussed all the chapter activities and the new initiatives. We are so grateful to Radiation Detection Company for their generous sponsorship of our breakfast on the morning of 11 April. The meeting started off with opening remarks from STC-HPS President Erich Fruchtnicht, followed by his presentation “Industrial NORM: Where It Comes from and Why.”

    The highlight of the meeting was the visit from HPS President-elect Mike Lewandowski, who spoke about the HPS and the advantages of Society membership. Mike was very cooperative and shared his knowledge and experience with the students and professionals. Students from Kenyatta University, Kenya, were able to participate virtually and presented their radon study. The chapter also hosted an instrumentation workshop on the evening of 11 April, and undergraduate nuclear engineering students from Texas A&M participated.

    The spring meeting is typically meant as a platform for undergraduate/graduate students to display their project presentations and network with health physics professionals. The following individuals won the best paper presentation awards for graduate and undergraduate categories, respectively: first place ($250) Sofia Lara-Ramos, “Electron- Beam Technology: Fundamentals, Applications, and Safety”; second place ($150): Emily Schaefer, “Dosimetry 101-Basics of an Occupational Radiation Dosimetry Program”; third place ($100): Zavier Ndum Ndum, “Leveraging a Large Language Model (LLM)-Based Agent Framework for Enhanced Knowledge Retrieval in Radiation.” Zavier also wants to explore future AI tools in the health physics profession. For the undergraduate category, first place ($250): Jimmy Huynh, “The Comparison of Radiation Use in Common Procedures Amongst Didactic Pediatric Fluoroscopic Units”; second place ($150): Giraud Griffin, “Comparative Study of Scintillator Materials for Optimizing Energy Resolution in Electromagnetic Calorimeters Using the Geant4 Monte Carlo Toolkit”.

    Linda Morris and Latha Vasudevan served as science fair judges for the 2025 Texas Science and Engineering Fair and, on behalf of the chapter, awarded a plaque for high school student Yosef Herrara for his radiation-related project. Yosef presented his project “The Power of a Star in a Jar: Using Nuclear Fusion for Radioisotope Production” at the STC meeting. Aylin Ozus, Bellaire High School, Texas, also presented her project “Fetal Radiation Exposure Monitoring of Pregnant Employees Across Multiple Departments and Areas in a Hospital” at the meeting. It was quite impressive to note the detailed study performed by the high school students. The chapter presented Amazon gift cards to the high school students as a token of appreciation.

    The chapter appreciates all the speakers for their outstanding contribution and all the EC team members for their unwavering support for making this meeting tremendously successful.

    Mike Lewandowski and Zavier Ndum introducing the students from Kenyatta University, Kenya
    Photo courtesy of Erich Fruchtnicht

    Linda Morris (left) and Latha Vasudevan (right) presenting STC-HPS plaque to high school student Yosef Herrara
    Photo courtesy of STC-HPS

    STC_HPS EC members and others with Mike Lewandowski
    Photo courtesy of Abby Kurwitz

  • 14 May 2025

    May Course Listings

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

    Applied Health Physics—ORAU’s Professional Training Programs

    Health Physics Statistics Online Training Course—ORAU’s Professional Training Program

    Facility Decommissioning Training Course—Argonne National Laboratory

    Laser Safety Officer (LSO) Training—Kentek Corporation

  • 14 May 2025

    Central Rocky Mountain Chapter and CSU Student Branch Annual Technical Meeting

    Thomas Johnson, Faculty Advisor

    Best presentation awardees, left to right, Best Master’s – Christian Grabowski, Best PhD – Nathaniel Rutter, and Best Overall – Maelle Coupannec with chapter president Deirdre Elder.
    Photo courtesy of Tom Johnson

    The joint Central Rocky Mountain Chapter and Colorado State University Student Branch Annual Technical Meeting was held on 17 April 2025.

    There were 12 presentations by graduate students and 4 by undergraduates. Student presentations were evaluated by members of the chapter, and awards given in the categories of best undergraduate or master’s presentation, best PhD presentation, and best overall. All were in agreement that evaluation of the presentations was difficult, due to both excellent presentation skills and outstanding content of all the presentations. Health Physics Society President-elect Mike Lewandowski presented to finish a great meeting.

  • 14 May 2025

    Western New York Chapter Spring 2025 Meeting Recap

    Hollie Zimmerman, Chapter Secretary

    The Western New York Chapter of the Health Physics Society was excited to host its spring 2025 meeting on 30 April 2025! We kicked off the day with a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of the Cardinal Health Radiopharmacy in Rochester, New York. Attendees had the opportunity to explore the facility, meet with an experienced pharmacist, gain valuable insights into the day-to-day operations of a working radiopharmacy, and learn about their internal and external radiation protection programs.

    From there, we headed over to the office of Upstate Medical Physics P.C. for lunch and a pair of outstanding virtual presentations, attended both in person and online by our members.

    Dr. Ian Waugh from the University of Utah presented an engaging talk titled “Radiotheranostics Update.” His presentation provided a timely overview of the field, tracking its evolution, current landscape, and future direction—particularly relevant as many institutions in our region are actively building or expanding radiotheranostics programs.

    Next, Dr. Ronald Goans of MJW Corporation delivered the insightful presentation “Fetal Thyroid Dose from Maternal Administration of Radioiodine: The REAC/TS Experience.” Drawing from a wealth of data and collaborative insights, his talk offered a deep dive into this critical topic and was very well received by our audience.

    We extend our sincere thanks to Cardinal Health for welcoming us into their facility and to Upstate Medical Physics P.C. for hosting the second half of our event. Most importantly, we are grateful to our guest speakers for their engaging, informative presentations.

    This hybrid meeting format—offering both in-person and virtual attendance—continues to be a success, and we look forward to building on that momentum as we grow and connect our chapter in the year ahead.

  • 14 May 2025

    Military Health Physics Section 2025 Awards

    Steven Rademacher, Section Awards Chairman

    The president of the Military Health Physics Section, H. Timothy Mikulski, is proud to announce the section’s 2025 awards:

    • The John C. Taschner Leadership Award: CAPT Greg Fairchild, MSC, USN
    • The Superior Civilian Service Award: Dr. David Schauer
    • The Young Military Health Physicist of the Year: LCDR David Boozer, MSC, USN

    The awards will be formally presented at the Military Health Physics Section business meeting at the 2025 Health Physics Society Annual Meeting in Madison this year.

    Congratulations to the awardees; their award citations and pictures will be in the December 2025 Health Physics Journal.

  • 14 May 2025

    Accelerator Section Seeks Articles for Section Newsletter

    Martha Dibblee, Section Newsletter Editor

    The Health Physics Society (HPS) Accelerator Section is seeking articles about ongoing research, regulatory issues, incidents, new technology, decommissioning, targets, physics and engineering, student projects, and general news from the accelerator industry. Articles about recent government grant cuts and layoffs and general enterprise disruption would be appreciated.

    Any current news that would be useful to the section from other HPS sections is welcome. Send news article to HPSaccelerator@gmail.com. Please send pictures separately from text. The second quarter newsletter is slated for June.

  • 14 May 2025

    Committee Profile: HPS Standards Committee

    Andy Karam, HPS Marketing Committee

    Tucked away on the Health Physics Society (HPS) website in the Member’s Section are the HPS committees, where valuable, information-packed links are found. Therefore, I wanted to launch the Committee Profile feature by telling you about the Standards Committee (chaired by Antonio Triventi), how the standards work, and what they have to offer. With 40 standards available for download by members, there’s bound to be at least one thing you’ll want to take a gander at.

    What the Standards Committee does is to help develop accredited standards that affect various aspects of our profession. If you’re trying to set up a tritium bioassay program or a company rad worker training program, to develop radiation safety policies and procedures for x-ray diffraction or fluorescence analysis equipment, to start up a cargo security screening system, or to work in any of a number of other areas – there’s a standard you can download to help you with your task. With two major subcommittees – N43 (Equipment for Non-Medical Radiation Applications, chaired by Craig Jones) and N13 (Radiation Protection, chaired by Matthew Barnett) the Standards Committee works directly with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop the standards that you and I can download for free.

    How the standards process works begins with selecting a topic – something for which no standard yet exists, or an existing standard that’s become stale, perhaps due to changing technology or updated practices. Then the appropriate work group chair needs to form a working group, likely beginning with cajoling a poor, overworked, highly qualified health physicist (HP) to chair the working group and then pleading with other HPs to fill out the working group. These people might all be HPS members, but they might also come from any of a number of government agencies or industry or even be individual HPs with an interest in (and, hopefully, knowledge of) the topic in question. And then they start to work!

    Some of the most important work comes at the start, when the members of the working group scope out their work. If they’re revising an existing standard (for example), then they’re trying to decide what needs to be changed – are they doing minor updates and revisions or a major overhaul. In either case, exactly what needs to be changed and why? What will the new standard look like? Do they need new graphics as well? What’s the best way to present the information? Who’s the intended reader and what level of writing and technical information is appropriate for them? And so forth. For a new standard, they’re building it from scratch, addressing those questions and more. And then the researching and writing begins.

    The hardest part, however, comes at the end – that’s when the members of the working group have to put all the pieces together and then reach consensus amongst themselves on their work. And after that, it’s sent out for review/approval by the respective standards committee, where comments are provided and addressed. Sometimes the comment resolution phase can take many months, and it is possible not every comment will be accepted. It’s a lot of work, but when it all comes together it’s a nice feeling – almost as nice as seeing the final document online and ready for download. And – in case you’re wondering – yes, I’ve been through the process a few times, albeit not as a member of the HPS Standards Committee, and I’ve got a lot of respect for those who keep signing up for more. Especially since this work tends to be done after dinner and on weekends – and for no pay.

    Anyhow – there’s a lot more I could say, but I’m already past the word count, so I should wrap up here. If you’ve read this far and you’re already using these standards – good for you! And, if your schedule permits, contact Antonio, Craig, or Matthew to ask them if you can help out! If, on the other hand, you’re not all that familiar with what they’ve done, click here and take a look – see what’s there that looks useful, or just plain interesting.

  • 14 May 2025

    Women in Radiation Protection Section Leadership Nominations Open

    Kendall Williams, WiRP President

    The Women in Radiation Protection (WiRP) Section is excited to announce that nominations are now open for two leadership roles within our Section. This is a meaningful opportunity for committed members to contribute to WiRP’s growth and future direction.

    Open Positions

    President-Elect

        • Serves a one-year term before transitioning into a two-year term as president
        • Ensures leadership continuity and strategic planning

    Director

        • Serves a three-year term
        • Supports board initiatives and plays a key role in WiRP Section 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 21 May 2025 to both:

    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 WiRP. We look forward to your nominations!

  • 14 May 2025

    Health Physics Editor’s Note: Bracing for Turbulence

    Brant Ulsh, CHP, PhD, Editor in Chief

    As I write this, many of our colleagues are experiencing significant professional turbulence. You have no doubt heard of the massive downsizing and reorganization of the federal workforce, and this is directly affecting many in our field. Some of our colleagues will be looking for new work opportunities in the private sector. Some will choose retirement, and others will remain in government service facing a dramatically changed landscape.

    In challenging times like this, I am grateful for the professional connections and friendships I have formed through the Health Physics Society. Let’s commit to look out for each other. Share employment opportunities with those who suddenly need them. Check in on each other to offer a friendly ear and encouragement. Strengthen our engagement through the various social media channels the HPS operates. Read the journal to keep up on the latest research, and the newsletter for the latest developments in our field. Most of all, be patient with each other, and extend a little more grace than usual, as we never know what stresses our colleagues are dealing with. We will get through the current turbulence, and new opportunities will develop. We just have to hold on, help each other, and ride out the storm.

    The June issue of the Health Physics Journal is now available online. The Editor’s Pick for June is “Investigation of the Ocular Response and Corneal Damage Threshold of Exposure to 28 GHz Quasi-millimeter Wave Exposure” by Masami Kojima and colleagues.

  • 18 April 2025

    In Memoriam: Bryce Dixon Breitenstein

    Health Physics Society (HPS) member Bryce Dixon Breitenstein died 27 November 2024. Dr. Breitenstein’s obituary can be found on the HPS website In Memoriam page.

  • 17 April 2025

    New HPS Website Launch Is Getting Closer!

    Kendall Berry, MSPH, HPS Website Redevelopment & Deployment Task Force Chairperson

    We are getting closer!

    I am thrilled to report that the new Health Physics Society website is getting closer to being launched! The Membership Committee has jumped in and quickly worked with the vendor developing our new member database, which has allowed us to get closer to launch.

    Change is always exciting, but we know there will be bumps along the way. Once we launch, if you find any problems, please reach out to HPS Web Editor in Chief Barbara Hamrick, and the Web Ops team will work to find a solution.

    I hope you are as excited as we all are!

  • 28 March 2025

    Social Program During 70th HPS Annual Meeting in Madison

    Mike Lewandowski, FHPS, CHP, Local Arrangements Committee

    Wisconsin State Capitol from Monona Terrace

    Photo by Sharon Vanorney, courtesy of Destination Madison

    Sample a variety of local beers

    Photo by Sharon Vanorney, courtesy of Destination Madison

    We're just three months away from the 70th Health Physics Society Annual Meeting, being held 13–17 July 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. It's time to book a hotel and prepare to visit Madison. In addition to an excellent technical program, you'll be able to enjoy an exceptional sampling of what the city has to offer. The Local Arrangements Committee (LAC) has developed a comprehensive program of social tours and events that are sure to please.

    This month we'll highlight two components of the social program: social tours and the microbrewery tour. Start your week in Madison by getting oriented to the city and state. Highlights of Monday's social program include a guided tour of the Wisconsin State Capitol (located a few blocks from the meeting hotels and Monona Terrace Convention Center). Follow the Capitol tour with a guided tour down State Street, which is filled with shopping and dining options that are sure to keep you busy for the rest of the week. After lunch there is a Cultural Landscape Tour to learn more about this part of Madison and the people who have occupied this area for more than 12,000 years.

    Tuesday's event is a day-long tour of the nearby New Glarus community. This historic Swiss village transports the visitor to a European environment uniquely blended with Wisconsin culture. Be sure to enjoy the Swiss Historical Village and Museum, Bailey's Run Vineyard, and the New Glarus Brewing Company. A bus will leave from and return to the Monona Terrace Convention Center.

    Wednesday's events include a sampling of the famous Dane County Farmers Market on the Capitol square. This is a perfect way to start your day with fresh fruits, vegetables, and baked goods. Don't miss a self-guided tour of the Olbrich Botanical Gardens and Bolz Conservatory. The variety of colors and textures is a feast for the eye.

    No visit to Wisconsin is complete without paying homage to our beer-brewing history. German immigrants brought their brewing expertise with them and established Wisconsin as a center of the beer industry. After all, our Major League Baseball team is called the Brewers. Join us on Tuesday evening for "A Curie for Your Ales" brewery tour. We'll walk to three different microbreweries in downtown Madison so you can sample their wares and choose your favorite. Each registered tour attendee will receive a commemorative pint glass in addition to a free drink at each stop.

    You can find more details about these events as well as details about the entire meeting on the Madison meeting microsite. Check back often as the LAC, Program Committee, and Headquarters staff will be adding information about the meeting to this site up until the meeting.

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

  • 28 March 2025

    Health Physics Society Annual Meeting – July 2025 (Planning in Progress)

     

    This article was written by ChatGPT with some input from me. Its style is a bit more exuberant than mine, but I am excited about the plenary session and would like to thank Drs. Emily Caffrey and Shaheen Dewji for their efforts in putting it together.

    –Liz Brackett

    HPS President Liz Brackett

    Picture generated with Apple's Image Playground app with a request to make the submitted profile headshot professional

    We are thrilled to share that we are currently in the planning stages for our 70th HPS Annual Meeting, set to take place 13–17 July 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. While we are still finalizing details, we wanted to give you a sneak peek at what promises to be an exciting and highly informative event.

    Plenary Session: The Role of AI in Radiation Protection

    One of the key highlights of this year's conference will be our plenary session, "The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Radiation Protection." AI is making significant strides in many fields, and radiation protection is no exception. During this session, we will delve into the transformative potential of AI for improving radiation safety, from enhanced monitoring and real-time risk assessment to more efficient radiation treatment and protection protocols.

    Our expert speakers will discuss how AI can help us address ongoing challenges and create new opportunities for safety and efficiency across a variety of industries, including medical applications, dose reconstruction, nuclear energy, and environmental protection. This will be a unique chance to learn about the intersection of cutting-edge technology and radiation safety.

    Premeeting Teaser Webinar: Introduction to AI

    To build anticipation for the plenary session and ensure our members are prepared for this exciting topic, we are hosting a teaser webinar in the coming months. This introductory session will provide a comprehensive overview of AI, its applications in radiation protection, and the broader implications for our profession. Whether you're new to AI or looking to expand your knowledge, this webinar will serve as a valuable primer on the topic ahead of the July meeting.

    We encourage all members to register for the teaser webinar and stay tuned for further details about the annual meeting. Whether you're a radiation safety professional, researcher, or industry leader, this meeting will offer valuable insights into the future of radiation protection and the transformative role AI will play in shaping it.

    Mark Your Calendars

    • Teaser Webinar on AI: Date TBD (stay tuned for updates)
    • Annual Meeting: 13–17 July, Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, WisconsinI

    We look forward to engaging with our members on these exciting developments and sharing the latest advancements in radiation protection. Your participation is what makes this event a hub of innovation, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing. Together, we can continue to ensure a safer and more innovative future for our field.

    Stay connected through Health Physics News and the meeting website for more details and registration information. We hope to see you in July!

  • 27 March 2025

    George Tabatadze Project on Radon in Tbilisi Funded

    George Tabatadze

    Health Physics Society member George Tabatadze's three-year project, "Protecting Public Health through Comprehensive Radon Monitoring and Dosimetry in Urban Tbilisi," has been funded by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (SRNSFG) and will be conducted at Georgian Technical University. This initiative aims to enhance public health protection by advancing radon monitoring and dosimetry research in Georgia. George says thank you to everyone who has supported this work, and he looks forward to the impact this research will have.

  • 27 March 2025

    Sara Dumit, Philip Egidi, and Angela Leek Elected to NCRP

    At the 2025 NCRP Annual Meeting, left to right, Philip Egidi, Angela Leek, and Sara Dumit

    Photo courtesy of Sara Dumit

    Health Physics Society members Sara Dumit, PhD, Philip Egidi, and Angela Leek, PhD, CHP, were recently elected as members of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP). Members are selected on the basis of their scientific expertise and serve six-year terms.

    The NCRP was chartered by the US Congress in 1964 (Public Law 88-376). Its mission is to develop and disseminate information, guidance, and recommendations on radiation protection and measurements, reflecting the consensus of leading scientific expertise.

    The NCRP plays a crucial role in fostering collaboration among organizations engaged in the scientific and related aspects of radiation protection and measurements.

  • 27 March 2025

    San Diego Chapter March Meeting

    Bridget Smith, Chapter Secretary

    The San Diego Chapter of the Health Physics Society met on 20 March 2025, hosted by the Radiological Health Program of the San Diego Department of Environmental Health and Quality. Host Ron Yonemitsu, San Diego County senior health physicist, shared a new tool that the county has acquired to analyze and identify unknown radioactive sources. Dr. Daniel Scanderbeg, associate director of the Division of Medical Physics at UCSD, gave the excellent presentation "Innovations in Radiation Medicine and Infraguard." You can view Scanderbeg's talk on the San Diego Chapter YouTube Channel.

    We are looking forward to hosting a possible social event for members, a tour of San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant, and more online and virtual meetings in 2025.

    Dr. Daniel Scanderbeg discussing innovations in radiation medicine

    Photo courtesy of Bridget Smith

     

    Chapter President Brianna Tuma-Marcella conducting chapter business

    Photo courtesy of Rene Michel

     

  • 27 March 2025

    American Nuclear Society Chornobyl Presentation Summary

    Ken Gavlik, Decommissioning Section President

    The Health Physics Society's Decommissioning Section current president and president-elect were pleased to attend the American Nuclear Society's very informative briefing on 19 March 2025 by Dr. Jake Hecia on a drone strike on the Ukraine's Chornobyl New Safe Confinement (NSC) and resulting fire and structural damage.

    Hecia described how, on 14 February 2025, a Russian Shahed-136 drone struck the NSC at the 87.5-meter level, hitting the wall near the northwest crane garage. The impact created a 15 m² hole and a 200 m² major defect area, igniting a fire in the outer clad insulation layers (likely fueled by gasoline from the drone). The fire spread through the EPDM (synthetic rubber) layer and possibly the mastic, despite the EPDM's supposed fire resistance, reaching the southeast end of the facility by early March and damaging the hermetic seal, including a 2 km polyethylene sealing membrane. Firefighting efforts involved punching holes in the Kalzip outer layer and pumping in water, which extinguished open flames by March 6 but led to smoldering and water/ice buildup in the insulation, posing future risks. Thermal drones aided firefighting by identifying hot spots. No increased radiation levels or radioactive aerosol emissions have been detected, though monitoring continues. The inner clad layer sustained minor damage, but the outer cladding is extensively compromised, no longer meeting leak specifications, which could allow dust release. A multi-national structural survey is funded but unscheduled. Short-term, there's no immediate structural danger, but long-term, the NSC may require re-cladding (challenging due to high radiation levels) and replacement of flooded monitoring equipment. The situation was unexpected, and no clear remediation plan exists yet.

  • 27 March 2025

    Decommissioning Section News

    Ken Gavlik, Section President

    The Health Physics Society (HPS) Decommissioning Section is proud to announce continuation of its webinar series with more information about the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).

    In August 2023, the Decommissioning Section hosted the webinar presentation "Overview of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Decommissioning."

    On 24 April 2025, 2 pm PDT (5 pm EDT), the Decommissioning Section will continue the series with participation from San Onofre personnel Bill Barley and Emery Grohregin with the presentation "SONGS Decommissioning and Partial Site Release." See below for registration details.

    Speaker Biographies:

    • William Barley is currently assisting Southern California Edison with the SONGS decommissioning end state determination and License Termination Plan development. Prior to SONGS, he was the site closure manager of Humboldt Bay Power Plant in Northern California, responsible for the License Termination Plan, Final Status Survey Program, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) interface, radiation protection, training, and on-site laboratory support to the project.

    Barley has more than 50 years of experience in nuclear power, with 30 years of that experience being nuclear decommissioning experience in NRC, US Department of Energy, and United Kingdom facilities. He has a BS degree in chemical engineering from Penn State University and is a certified health physicist by the American Board of Health Physics (ABHP). He is a past licensed senior reactor operator engineer, NRC Inspector at TMI-2, and has served on the ABHP Part I and Part II certification panels.

    • Emery Grohregin is an oversight specialist for the final status and license termination project of the SONGS in Southern California. He has been involved in previous nuclear decommissioning projects including Humboldt Bay, Rancho Seco, Crystal River, and Vermont Yankee.

    Grohregin has more than 30 years of experience in the nuclear field, including reactor power operations and maintenance and commercial laboratory experience. He is certified in comprehensive health physics by the ABHP.

    Please click here to sign up for the presentation. The deadline to register is 20 April. A link will be sent to registered attendees by 21 April.

    In addition, the Decommissioning Section is also solicitating volunteers to conduct additional decommissioning-centric webinar presentations. Please email your interest, topic, and summary to Ken Gavlik, Kevin Banks, or Phil Rutherford for consideration.

  • 25 March 2025

    Central Rocky Mountain Chapter March Meeting

    Deirdre Elder, Chapter President

    At the Central Rocky Mountain Chapter meeting, left to right, Matthew Gift, Deirdre Elder, Katherine Liberman, Cheri Douglas, and Andrew Halloran

    Photo courtesy of James DeWolfe

    The Central Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Health Physics Society met on 12 March 2025 to discuss Human Use Research with Radiation and Radioactive Materials. Most of us began with a light dinner and social hour, though the meeting was also available virtually. Matthew Gift, CHP, and Katherine Liberman from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shared a regulatory perspective. Andrew Halloran, CHP, described the role of health physicists in human research using ionizing radiation and the approach taken at the University of Colorado Anschutz. Deirdre Elder, CHP, explained the types of studies performed at the academic medical center, University of Colorado Hospital and the process for approval for the UCHealth system. Cheri Douglas, CHP shared the perspective of a contract radiation safety officer for limited scope radioactive materials licensed facilities. The presentations were followed by a lively panel discussion and all came away with an improved understanding of the research being performed using ionizing radiation and the relevant regulations and safety procedures.

  • 25 March 2025

    ICRP Report Available for Consultation

    Wayne Glines, Contributing Editor

    Health Physics News

    International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Task Group 91 draft report "Scientific Evidence Relevant to the Assessment of Solid Cancer Radiation Risk at Low Dose and Low Dose Rate" is now available for public consultation. Individuals and organizations are welcome to provide comments before the deadline on 13 June 2025. This draft report and a link for submitting comments may be found on the ICRP Consultation Page. A digital workshop seeking feedback on the report will be scheduled during the consultation period. Information and registration for this workshop will be provided at a later date.

  • 25 March 2025

    HPS Leaders Attend NCRP Meeting

    Current, future, and past presidents of the Health Physics Society attended the 2025 National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements Annual Meeting in March. Left to right: Ruth McBurney, Eric Goldin, Barbara Hamrick, Armin Ansari, President Liz Brackett, President-elect Mike Lewandowski, Kathy Prior, and Ken Kase

    Photo courtesy of Jim Willison

     

  • 25 March 2025

    Join Our Certified Health Physicist Exam Study Group!

    HPS Society Support Committee

    Preparing for the certified health physicist exam? We've got you covered! Our study group is designed to help you dive deep into the exam topics without the stress. Starting 2 April 2025, we'll meet every Wednesday, 19:00-21:00 EST, to focus on key areas like Measurements & Instrumentation, Standards, Hazard Analysis, and much more.

    These sessions are designed with YOU in mind—perfect for busy professionals balancing work and study. Expect interactive, discussion-based activities that let you reinforce what you've learned, without adding extra pressure. We'll focus on real-world applications, practical exercises, and group discussions to help you build confidence and prepare efficiently.

    What you can expect:

    • Weekly 2-hour sessions (2 April to 4 June, 19:00-21:00 EST)
    • Engaging, relaxed, and collaborative activities
    • Focus on real-world scenarios and exam-relevant content
    • Last-minute exam prep and Q&A before the big day!

    Session Breakdown:

    1. 2 April: Instruments & Measurements – Explore radiation measurement tools, calibration, and quality-control methods.
    2. 9 April: Sampling & Data Analysis – Dive into statistical data analysis, air sampling devices, and internal dose calculations.
    3. 16 April: Standards, Reporting, & Quality Control – Understand regulations, compliance, TEDE calculations, and report analysis.
    4. 23 April: Hazards & Engineering Controls – Learn about hazard identification, engineered controls, shielding, and PPE selection.
    5. 30 April: Hazards & Regulation – Review shielding, compliance, fault tree analysis, and calibration protocols.
    6. 7 May: Controls & Procedures – Discuss emergency response plans, record-keeping, and best practices in operations.
    7. 14 May: Operations & Emergency Protocols – Focus on SOPs, contamination control, and scenario-based procedure development.
    8. 21 May: Programmatic Design & Compliance – Dive into ALARA principles, radiation exposure risk, and effective communication strategies.
    9. 28 May: Training Programs & Fundamentals Review – Review core concepts like radiation effects, training modules, and simplification strategies.
    10. 4 June: Final Review & Exam Prep – Targeted review of key topics, practice problems, and exam prep tips.

    Register and Sign Up:

    Don't miss this opportunity to get exam-ready with the support of your peers. Email SSC@HPS.org to register today and secure your spot as a student or a mentor!