Techs bring much to, take much from ISR congress

April saw the Chinese Society of Radiology and Chinese Medical Association host the 26th International Congress of Radiology (ICR 2010). The choice of what is generally regarded as one of the most exciting cities in the world was a dramatic contrast to Marrakech in Morocco, the location of the previous congress. The excitement of Shanghai is evident from the very moment of your arrival, when you can speed into the historic city from the airport on the world’s fastest train: the MagLev Express, which travels the 35 km in less than eight minutes at 430 km/hr!

The ICR 2010 theme of “Better Radiology, Better Healthcare” emphasised the increasingly important role of medical imaging in diagnosis and therapy today. The Chinese Medical Association, through the Chinese Society of Radiology and Chinese Society of Imaging Technology, is striving successfully to make good use of the latest technology to bring medical imaging and radiation therapy to the highest possible standards.

Examples of the focus on delivering quality imaging to such a vast nation include a session hosted by Caresteam, which outlined a comprehensive project to take medical imaging healthcare to rural regions of China, and an excellent session focusing on cardiac MR imaging, with input from Dr. Richard Slaughter of Australia and Dr Valentin Sinitsyn of Russia, that highlighted the international aspects of these meetings.

The International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT) was invited by the International Society of Radiology (ISR) to host a technologists stream at the congress to complement the comprehensive radiological program as we have done at the four previous ICR meetings. The focus of the technologist sessions, which included input from Dr. Lawrence Lau of the International Radiology Quality Network, was radiation protection in imaging-a very topical subject at the moment.

Shanghai was a wonderful and exciting venue for the Congress which was held just prior to the opening of the World Expo. Our Chinese colleagues were warm and generous hosts, and we thank them for their hospitality. Many delegates and their partners took advantage of pre and post Congress excursions to nearby historic tourist locations such as Suzhou, Xian as well as Beijing, Yangtze River cruises and the 3 Gorges Dam and will have taken home fond memories of a stimulating scientific meeting and a memorable cultural experience.

 Rob George is president of ISRRT and is based in Adelaide, Australia.