Current News

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

Laser Safety Officer (LSO) Training—Kentek Corporation

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

Gamma Spectroscopy—ORAU's Professional Training Programs

MARSSIM for Managers Online Training Course—ORAU's Professional Training Programs

Facility Decommissioning Training Course—Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Have you heard? The Health Physics Society (HPS) website is being reimagined and redesigned! A dedicated team of HPS members, Headquarters staff members, and the KnockMedia company has been hard at work meeting every week for the past year. Some weeks we held multiple meetings, and three weeks ago we started meeting twice a week. We are very excited about the changes ahead—wait till you see what has been accomplished! Watch this space for information about our go live date this spring. 

Brant Ulsh, CHP, PhD, Health Physics Editor in Chief

It's time to head out to the deck or patio and enjoy some spring sunshine and warm weather! Don't forget to take your tablet or laptop with you so you can soak up some knowledge along with the rays. The May issue of the Health Physics Journal is crammed full of the latest radiation protection research:

• "Evaluation of a Commercially Available Radiochromic Film for Use as a Complementary Dosimeter for Rapid In-Field Low Photon Equivalent Radiation Dose (≤50 mSv) Monitoring" by Nicky Nivi, Helen Moise, and Ana Pejovic-Milic
• "Study on the Effect of Adipose Tissue on Neutron Dose Evaluation for the Human Body Using Voxel Phantoms with Different Weight" by Xu Xu, Yong Yuan, and Xiao-Min Zhang
• "A Study of Radium Content and Radon Exhalation Rates in Soil Samples from Abi-Adi Town, Ethiopia, Using LR-115 Type-II" by Nigus Alene Assefa and Yisak Arbese
• "Three Developments Related to ANSI/HPS Standard 13.56" by William Evans
• "Gafchromic Films as a Complementary In-Field Dosimetric Tool to Monitor Low Photon Radiation Doses (≤50 mSv)" by Nicky Nivi, Helen Moise, and Ana Pejovic-Milic
• "Characterization of Radionuclide Resuspension via Aeolian Processes at a Uranium Mill Tailings Site" by Vanessa Adriatico and Camille Palmer
• "Implementation of Stochastic Gradient Descent in an Automated Glow Peak Identification Software for Multiple Thermoluminescent Dosimeter Types" by Jordan D. Noey, Colin J. Stewart, Wenjin Yu, and Kimberlee J. Kearfott
• "Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Thresholds Based on Waveform Shape and Implications for Guideline Limits" by Gregory B. Gajda
• "Systematical Theoretical Study of the Nonpoint Source Effects in Nuclear Medicine Shielding Calculation" by Tianlian Gu
• "Pre-Declaration Fetal Dose Assignment and Predictive Full-Term Fetal Dose at Medical Facilities" by James Kyle Underwood

The birds singing, a cold glass of iced tea, flowers blooming everywhere, and the May issue of Health Physics! What could be better?

Wayne Glines, Health Physics News Contributing Editor

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.

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 [email protected] to register today and secure your spot as a student or a mentor!

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.

PDS Deans Ramona Gaza, PhD, and Charles Wilson IV, PhD, CHP, CLSO, CSP

The Health Physics Society (HPS) Professional Development School (PDS) on nonionizing radiation protection will be held 1–4 April 2025 at the Hilton Birmingham at UAB, 808 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205.

Sponsored by the HPS Nonionizing Radiation Section, this is a 3½-day PDS, immediately following the HPS 2025 Workshop, that will cover the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum.

This course provides attendees with an overview of nonionizing radiation protection, including theory, biological effects, instrumentation, hazard assessments, control strategies, exposure standards, and regulations. The agenda is designed to provide a solid foundation of knowledge for individuals who need a clear overview of nonionizing radiation essentials.

It is well suited for the those beginning their career in the nonionizing realm, as well as for the experienced health physicist seeking a refresher. The university, medical, US Department of Energy, US Department of Defense, and industry communities may all benefit from the material being presented. The topics covered in this course include Electromagnetic Theory, DC Fields, EME Fields, Incoherent Light (Infrared, Visible, and UV), and Lasers.

The lead instructors for this program include Ken Barat, CLSO; Don Haes, CHP, CLSO; Dwayne Holcomb, CHP, CLSO; Ramona Gaza, PhD; Fred McWilliams, CHP; and David Sliney, PhD.

Please consider attending and Register here.

Hilton Birmingham UAB website

Craig Little, Nominating Committee Chair

The Health Physics Society (HPS) ship isn't sinking, but it needs crew to keep it on the correct path. In this case, the crew is Board members and officers. To keep the ship operating safely, the Nominating Committee needs willing candidates to agree to be considered for the open positions of President-elect (2 candidates), Secretary-elect (2 candidates), and Board Member (4 candidates) to take office at the 2026 HPS Annual Meeting. Please help us! We need names to consider, so think about your future involvement with the Society and also that of your talented and committed friends.

Individuals, committees, chapters, and sections can suggest and support names of willing nominees. If you have an associate or colleague who has been active in HPS and wants to try being a Board member or an officer, encourage them to submit their name; ask their section, chapter, or committee to do so; or nominate them yourself. If they've run before, but not been chosen or elected, we encourage trying again by letting the committee know of that interest. To submit a nomination or receive more information, contact a member of the Nominating Committee or committee Chair Craig Little. 

Mike Lewandowski, FHPS, CHP, Local Arrangements Committee

Spring is right around the corner and it's now time to start planning for the 70th Annual HPS Annual Meeting in Madison. The meeting microsite was recently launched. The Local Arrangements Committee (LAC), Program Committee, and Headquarters staff will be adding information to this site over the next few months to make it easier for you to plan your visit to Madison.

Screenshot of annual meeting microsite taken on 25 February 2025

We encourage you to check out this site every few weeks to see what's new. The LAC will be adding the following categories of information for you:

• Social and technical tours led by an LAC member
• Activities you can do on your own, including recommendations for families
• Our favorite restaurants, watering holes, and cheese shops
• Details on the 5K run/walk

Now is the time to visit the Lodging and Travel section of the microsite and reserve a room for the meeting.

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

The Cincinnati Radiation Society (CRS) Chapter of the Health Physics Society (HPS) cordially invites you to attend a free virtual CRS Zoom meeting with David J. Allard, MS, CHP, FHPS, presenting "Three Mile Island Challenges: Past, Present, and Future" on Wednesday, 19 March 2025, 7–8 pm ET.

The Three Mile Island nuclear generating station was commissioned in the mid-1970s and consisted of two pressurized water reactors. An accident occurred in 1979 in the Unit 2 reactor due to a faulty valve, and the uncovered core caused the fuel to melt, completely disabling the reactor. The other reactor, Unit 1, continued to operate until 2019.

Dave Allard has been associated with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for a number of years and will share his interesting insights into the legacy of Three Mile Island.

Register here by 18 March to attend.

Save the Date: The next CRS meeting will be 30 April 2025 at the MadTree Alcove in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine district. HPS President-elect Mike Lewandowski will present "Radiation Gauging: A Practical Application of Basic Science."

The Health Physics Society (HPS) Medical Section and Early-Career Professionals Section will be hosting a joint special session at the 70th HPS Annual Meeting, which will be held in Madison, Wisconsin, 13–17 July 2025. The session will be held on a date to be announced and will last four hours, with an expert presentation and a panel discussion.

To kick off the session, a management coach will present on effective communication in the workplace, focusing on:

• Why misunderstandings happen—even when speaking the same language.
• The emotional component of communication and the impact of stress.
• Strategies for managing difficult conversations and workplace feedback.
• Advanced listening skills and the neuroscience behind communication styles.

We encourage HPS members to participate in the management coach's presentation by submitting discussion topics, questions, and concerns related to the session theme. Submissions will be collected via Google Form and reviewed by the board. Reminder emails will be sent in March, April, and May, with the final deadline for submissions in June. Submit your questions and discussion topics here. Even if you don't submit a question in advance, you will still have the opportunity to ask questions during the live session.

Following this engaging talk, we will transition into a panel discussion featuring:

• An early-career representative.
• A mid-career representative.
• A radiation safety officer (RSO).

For any questions or additional information, please reach out to [email protected].

We look forward to your participation and a great discussion in Madison!

Colorado State University (CSU) students participated in the "Little Shop of Physics" on 2 March 2025. This open house showcases hands-on experiments and activities to help learners explore science. The CSU students brought a cloud chamber, a few GM detectors and various common radioactive items for demonstrations (Fiesta^® ware, smoke detector). The cloud chamber demonstration was a hit! Several people came in specifically to see the uranium rock and the cloud chamber tracks because a friend or colleague recommended it.

Anilu, Ben and Raissa set up a cloud chamber in anticipation of students' arrival
Photo courtesy of Raissa Chunko

Ben demonstrates the use of a radiation detector on Fiesta® ware
Photo courtesy of Kristina Yepez

Raissa discusses radiation with a group of students
Photo courtesy of Kristina Yepez

HPS Web Operations

Have you written or edited a book that is important in the health physics field? Would you like to share your knowledge with students and health physicists? Would you like to promote your book to people who may not have heard of it yet?

At each Health Physics Society (HPS) annual meeting, there is always excitement in the exhibit hall at the HPS Publications Booth. We gather new copies of health physics-related books throughout the year and then hold a drawing during the meeting to give the books away—free!—to many lucky winners.

The 70th HPS Annual Meeting is being held 13–17 July 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. We would like to offer a large selection of books this year and are asking you for your help. If you have edited or authored a book related to health physics and would like to donate new copies for this year's Publications Booth drawing, contact News Editor Mary Walchuk.

The 2024 Health Physics Society (HPS) Salary Survey has been posted on the HPS and CHP Salary Surveys page of the HPS website. Survey data was collected by having health physicists submit their responses to survey questions on a web-based data entry form.

Health Physics Society (HPS) President Emeritus Frank Massé died 26 February 2025. An In Memoriam piece will be posted on the HPS website at a future date.

Mike Mahathy, Chapter President

Scott Schwahn, left, receives the Dickson Lecture award from Mike Mahathy
Photo courtesy of Mike Mahathy

The East Tennessee Chapter held the 15th Annual James E. Turner Back to School Lecture Series on 15 February 2025. The symposium honors the legacy of James E. (Jim) Turner (1930–2008), former member of the East Tennessee Chapter. Many of his authored handbooks are still used as references in the radiation safety field.

Three years ago, chapter leadership established the Howard Dickson Memorial Lecture, which is awarded to one of the symposium speakers. This award honors the late Howard Dickson, who was a past president of both our chapter and the Health Physics Society. He was also one of my mentors. The chapter presented the very first Dickson Lecture award to Elizabeth Brackett in 2023. This year, the Third Annual Howard Dickson Memorial Lecture award was presented to Scott Schwahn, who talked about the varied programs at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL). Incidentally, both Howard Dickson and Jim Turner worked at ORNL during their distinguished careers.

Tom Johnson

The Central Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Health Physics Society (CRMCHPS) held a joint meeting with the CSU Student Branch of the HPS on 20 February 2025 at the Anschutz Campus of the University of Colorado. Dr. Milan Gadd was the featured speaker with the talk "60+ Years of In Vivo Bioassay at Los Alamos National Laboratory." Gadd was also able to give a presentation at Colorado State University on 21 February, "The LANL External Dosimetry Program." He gave excellent presentations that were both entertaining and informative. He has the unique ability to make history come alive while providing technical details that further enhance his talks. The Central Rocky Mountain Chapter and CSU Student Branch thank Dr. Gadd for his outstanding talks and support.

CRMCHPS combined meeting with CSU students, 20 February 2025, with Dr. Milan Gadd
Photo courtesy of Tom Johnson

CSU Students at CSU campus with Dr. Milan Gadd, 21 February 2025
Photo courtesy of Tom Johnson

Sara Dumit and Angela Meng

Join us in celebrating the remarkable contributions of women in health physics—past, present, and future. Throughout March, we'll spotlight both historical and contemporary women who have made a lasting impact in radiation protection.

Visit the HPS web page Celebrating Women in Radiation Protection to explore their achievements and submit nominations to help us recognize more outstanding women in our field.

And don't forget—Saturday, 8 March, is International Women's Day! Let's take this opportunity to honor and uplift the women shaping the future of radiation protection.

Since the 2024 Health Physics Society (HPS) Annual Meeting in Orlando, members of the HPS Accredited Standards Committee N13 continue to be actively involved and meet on a regular basis to ensure that the HPS N13 Standards are current. The past few months were quite busy, with the following activity:

• N13.3 Reaffirmation "Dosimetry for Criticality Accidents" – approval date of final action 6 January 2025
• N13.32-2018 (R2024) Reaffirmation "Performance Testing of Extremity Dosimeters" – approval date of final action 20 November 2024
• N13.41 (R2024) "Criteria for Performing Multiple Dosimetry" – approval date of final action 3 December 2024
• N13.44-2014 (R2024) Reaffirmation "Thyroid Phantom Used in Occupational Monitoring" – approval date of final action 20 August 2024

Ken Gavlik, Section President
Kevin Banks, Section President-elect

Call for Abstracts

The Health Physics Society (HPS) Decommissioning Section is issuing a call for abstracts for the 70th HPS Annual Meeting, which will be held 13–17 July 2025 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

Members are encouraged to submit abstracts (and later presentations or posters) describing their decommissioning topics and projects, focusing on unique solutions and lessons learned.

When submitting, please specify that you would like your presentation to be included in the Decommissioning Special Session. The deadline for abstract submission has been extended to 7 March 2025. Abstracts should be submitted through the 2025 HPS Abstract Submission page,

Abstracts should not be submitted via email.

Other Matters

One thing the section Board would like to do is initiate a monthly spotlight on current decommissioning projects, regulatory issues, and/or recent Health Physics Journal papers relevant to decommissioning. We intend to do this through monthly webinars. Please reach out to us with your interest.

We look forward to hearing your feedback via email (President Ken Gavlik, President-elect Kevin Banks).

Nominations deadline is 1 March for most awards.

Elizabeth Brackett, Awards Committee Chair

The Health Physics Society (HPS) annual meeting takes a lot of preparation, so planning starts early. Now is the time to start thinking about awards that will be presented at the 70th HPS Annual Meeting, which will be held 13–17 July 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. I've heard rumblings recently that the same small group of people seem to get all the recognition, so now is your chance to nominate a deserving individual.

The Society has several awards designed to recognize the achievements of our members and, in some cases, nonmembers who have made significant contributions to the field of health physics. Complete details of the criteria and nomination requirements for each award can be found in HPS Rule 13. All nominations must be submitted to the HPS Awards Committee chair. A brief summary of each award is given here.

The following require nominations be made by chapter presidents, section presidents, or a petition of any six members and are due 1 March.

• Elda E. Anderson: Presented to a young member of HPS to recognize excellence in research or development, discovery or invention, devotion to health physics, or significant contributions to the profession of health physics.
• Distinguished Scientific Achievement: Recognition for accomplishments of fundamental importance to the practice, acceptance, and advancement of the profession of health physics.
• Founders: Recognizes exceptional service to the HPS or the health physics profession.
• Robley D. Evans Commemorative Medal: Acknowledges specific outstanding scientific achievement that emulates the scientific characteristics, principles, integrity, and stature associated with and characterized by Professor Robley D. Evans, a past president of the HPS.
• Distinguished Public Service: Recognition for accomplishments of fundamental importance to the practice, acceptance, and advancement of health physics or for public education in radiation science that is above and beyond the normal, accepted performance for the position held.
• Geoffrey G. Eichholz Outstanding Science Teacher: Honors teachers of grades K–12 who have made significant contributions to educating students in topics related to the field of radiation safety.

Student Science Award nominations can be made by any full member of the Society or by a chapter or section of the Society. This award recognizes outstanding contributions by students in grades 6–12 to the understanding of the applications of radiation and its impact on the environment and health. These nominations have a deadline of 30 May.

Nominations for the Fellow Award, which honors senior members of the Society who have made significant administrative, educational, and/or scientific contributions to the profession of health physics and/or the Society, can be made by voting members of HPS. The deadline for nominations is 1 March.

Health Physics Society (HPS) President Emeritus Edward F. Maher died 26 July 2024. Ed's obituary can be found on the HPS website In Memoriam page.

Health Physics Society President Emeritus Nolan Hertel has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Randall S. Caswell Award for Distinguished Achievements in the Field of Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards by the Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards (CIRMS).

The CIRMS stated in its letter to Hertel:

Your contributions to radiation protection and measurement science have been truly remarkable. As a pioneer in neutron dosimetry and radiation shielding, you have shaped international standards through your leadership on key committees, including the ANSI/ANS 6.1.1 working group on fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients and the development of ICRU Report 95, which established operational quantities for external radiation exposure.

Your tenure as CIRMS President advanced national measurement standards, while your three decades at Georgia Institute of Technology and work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have left an indelible mark on our field.

CIRMS went on to say that Hertel's dedication while supervising over 80 graduate student PhD dissertations and MS theses and his innovations in detector materials and radiation detection instruments "exemplifies the kind of impactful leadership that the Caswell Award celebrates."

The Randall S. Caswell Award will be presented on 9 April 2025 at the CIRMS annual meeting, where Hertel will give the Caswell Award lecture. More information about the award can be found on the CIRMS website.

IRPA 16 Young Professionals holding their certificates
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US Delegation to IRPA 16: Front row left to right, Sara Dumit, Caleigh Samuels, Carolyn MacKenzie, Kevin Nelson, Mike Mahathy, Elizabeth Brackett, Latha Vasudevan, Emily Caffrey, Kendall Berry, and Mike Boyd. Back row left to right, Scott Schwahn, Derek Jokisch, Jonathan Napier, Mike Lewandowski, Nolan Hertel, and Charles Wilson.
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Health Physics Society Women in Radiation Protection Section social event at IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting
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Held jointly by the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) and the Health Physics Society (HPS), the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting took place 7–12 July 2024 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. The schedule on Monday, 9 July, included the Opening Ceremony, Keynote Lecture, Sievert Lecture, Plenary Panel #1, and Plenary Panel #2.

Photos courtesy of Stan Bravenac

Opening Ceremony Remarks

Kevin Nelson
IRPA 16 Congress President

Bernard le Guen
IRPA President

Elizabeth Brackett
HPS President

Renate Czarwinski
IRPA 16 Program Committee Chair

Charles Wilson
Task Force Chair
HPS Program Committee

Opening Ceremony Keynote Lecture

Norman Thagard
NASA (Retired)

Sievert Lecture

Dr. María del Rosario Pérez
La Autoridad Regulatoria Nuclear Board of Directors Advisor

Plenary Panel #1: "The Systems of RP for Ionising & Non-Ionising Radiation"

Plenary Panel #1, left to right, John O'Hagan (Cochair), Emilie van Deventer, Sigurður Magnús Magnússon, Kathryn A. Higley, Werner Rühm, Sara Dumit (Rapporteur), Rodney Croft, and Christopher Clement (Chair)

Plenary Panel #2: Current Status of the Scientific Basis for Radiation Safety, Protection Recommendations, and International Standards

Plenary Panel #2, left to right, John Damilakis, Charles Wilson (Rapporteur), Jing Chen, Pete Bryant, Renate Czarwinski (Cochair), Thierry Schneider, Hildegarde Annie A. Vandenhove, Shengli Niu, Bernard le Guen, and Kevin Nelson (Chair)

HPS Web Operations

Stephen Samson Mkoloma, left, accepts his book from HPS News Editor Mary Walchuk
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Stephen Samson Mkoloma from Dar es Salaam Tanzania won a copy of Fundamentals of Health Physics & Radiation Protection, by Philip C. Fulmer, at the HPS Publications Booth book drawing at the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

We gave away more than 50 great books and enjoyed meeting and talking with so many people about HPS publications and the HPS website!

Thank you to the authors, editors, and publishers who donated over $4,000 worth of books, including fiction and nonfiction, covering a wide range of topics.

If you saw a book that you would like, but didn't win, click on the links below for ordering information.

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer – Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin (available from Penguin Random House, ISBN 9780375726262)

An Introduction to Radiation Protection in Medicine – Edited by Jamie V. Trapp and Tomas Kron (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN 9781584889649)

The Atomic City Girls – Janet Beard (available from HarperCollinsPublishers, ISBN: 9780062666710)

At Work in the Atomic City: A Labor and Social History of Oak Ridge, Tennessee – Russell B. Olwell (available from The University of Tennessee Press, ISBN 13: 978-1-57233-644-5, ISBN 10: 1-57233-644-7)

City Behind a Fence: Oak Ridge, Tennessee 1942–1946 – Charles W. Johnson and Charles O. Jackson (available from The University of Tennessee Press, ISBN: 978-0-87049-309-6)

Critical Connections: The University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge from the Dawn of the Atomic Age to the Present – Lee Riedinger, Al Ekkebus, Ray Smith, and William Bugg (available from The University of Tennessee Press, ISBN 13: 978-1621906544, ISBN 10: 162190654X)

Dead Hot – M.K. Coker (available from Amazon, ISBN-10: 1545120609, ISBN-13: ‎978-1545120606)

Decommissioning Health Physics: A Handbook for MARRSIM Users, Second Edition – Eric W. Abelquist (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780367867133)

Environmental Health, Fourth Edition – Dade W. Moeller (available from Harvard University Press, ISBN: 9780674047402)

Fundamentals of Health Physics & Radiation Protection – Dr. Philip C. Fulmer (available from Amazon, ISBN-13: ‎979-8989597901)

The Girls of Atomic City – Denise Kernan (available from Simon & Schuster, ISBN: 978-1-4516-1752-8)

The Health Physics Solutions Manual, Third Edition – Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169051, ISBN-13: 978-1929169054)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot (available from Penguin Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-5218-9)

Khan’s The Physics of Radiation Therapy, Sixth Edition – John P. Gibbons (available from Wolters Kluwer, ISBN: 9781496397522)

Laser Safety Management – Ken Barat (available from CRC Press, ISBN 9780824723071)

Low Dose Radiation: The History of the U.S. Department of Energy Research Program – Antone L. Brooks (available from WSU Press, ISBN: 978-0-87422-354-5)

Nuclear Medicine Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students – D.L. Bailey, J.L. Humm, A. Todd-Pokropek, and A. van Aswegen (available from International Atomic Energy Agency, ISBN: 978-92-0-143810-2)

Principles of Nuclear Radiation Detection – Geoffrey G. Eichholz and John W. Poston (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9781315895970)

Quantitative Environmental Risk Analysis for Human Health, Second Edition – Robert A. Fjeld, Timothy A. DeVol, and Nicole E. Martinez (available from Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-119-67532-7)

Radiation Answers: Answers to Your Questions About Radiation and You – Health Physics Society (out of print, ISBN: 978-0-9825161-0-2)

Radiation Protection: The Essential Guide for Technologists, Second Edition – Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-16-0, ISBN-13: 978-1929169160)

Radiation Protection: The Essential Workbook for Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169078, ISBN-13: 978-1929169078)

Radiation Protection: Solutions Manual – David J. Dolan and Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169153, ISBN-13: 978-1929169153)

Radiation Protection: The Essential Guide for Canadian Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson and Francis E. Tourneur (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-17-7, ISBN-13: 978-1929169-17-7)

Radiation Protection: The Essential Workbook for Canadian Technologists – Thomas E. Johnson and Francis E. Tourneur (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-21-4, ISBN-13: 978-1929169-21-4)

Radiation Protection: Canadian Solutions Manual – David J. Dolan, Francis E. Tourneur, and Thomas E. Johnson (available from Pastime Publications, ISBN-10: 1929169-18-4, ISBN-13: 978-1929169-18-4)

Radiation Protection in Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology – Edited by Richard J. Vetter and Magdalena S. Stoeva (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 978-0-367-57521-2)

Radiation Risks in Perspective – Kenneth L. Mossman (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780367453435)

Radioactive Air Sampling Methods – Edited by Mark L. Maiello and Mark D. Hoover (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780849397172)

Radiobiology for the Radiologist, Eighth Edition – Eric J. Hall and Amato J. Giaccia (available from Wolters Kluwer, ISBN-13: 978-1-4963-3541-8, ISBN-10: 1-4963-3541-4)

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women – Kate Moore (available from Sourcebooks, ISBN: 978-1-4926-5095-9)

Silent Source – Jim Smith (available from Amazon, ISBN: 978-1939398703)

Understanding Radiation Science: Basic Nuclear and Health Physics – James Mannie Shuler (available from Universal Publishers, ISBN: 1-58112-907-6)

X-Ray Imaging: Fundamentals, Industrial Techniques and Applications – Harry E. Martz, Jr., Clint M. Logan, Daniel J. Schneberk, and Peter J. Shull (available from Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, ISBN: 9780849397721)

Charles Wilson and Emily Caffrey

The largest Health Physics Society (HPS) meeting in years just wrapped up. When new challenges occur, we have the opportunity to grow stronger. The HPS Program Committee tried several new things during the IRPA 16/69th HPS Annual Meeting and we are eager to get feedback from the rest of the community. A few specific highlights include:

1. CELs at 7:45 am and the technical program at 9:00 am.
2. Blind peer reviews of all abstracts.
3. Scheduled Q&A at the end of sessions.
4. More 20-minute talks.
5. Plenary Panel Discussions.

CELs (refresher courses) had a much higher attendance than usual. It seems like attendees appreciated the extra hour of sleep or being able to visit with colleagues a little later.

Our new program-management software includes the ability to digitally send out abstracts for blind review and ratings. For many reasons, we believe this will drastically improve the quality of the program. If you'd like to be a peer reviewer, please reach out to [email protected] right after the abstract deadlines.

There were also challenges that we struggled with and hope to omit in the future. These included app duplication bugs, lack of Wi-Fi, visa complications, and a printed program. While not all of these are within our control, we can better prepare and organize for them. We plan to change the format of the printed program to include program at a glance, exhibitors, and notes only. This will increase our flexibility to respond to program changes after printing.

Do you have feedback on the meeting or recommendations for improvement? Reach out to us at [email protected]!