En
ArCourse background and purpose
Clinical trials have established clinical equipoise between hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) schedules and conventionally fractionated treatment for some cancers like prostate and breast cancers. In the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, professional societies including the American Society for Radiation Oncology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommended increased adoption of evidence-based HFRT. HFRT benefits include significantly reducing the number of clinical visits for each patient, minimizing potential exposure, and reducing costs and stress on limited workforce, which is particularly beneficial in resource-limited settings or Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Studies have also shown that increased adoption of HFRT could substantially increase access to care and reduce disparities. Despite the benefits, HFRT adoption remains low, especially in LMICs. Education and training is a crucial consideration in the implementation and acceptance of a HFRT, and possibly just as critical to the development of HFRT as the technical infrastructure. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies provide an excellent opportunity for facilitating education and training, and providing support for radiation oncology health professionals in increasing adoption of HFRT.
Cognizant of this, the purpose of this course is to provide education and training in HFRT with major opportunity for professional development (with certificates and awards) leveraging ICTs/AI. The course will include lectures from experts at world-leading institutions, a treatment planning Activity/competition (which in the past has drawn thousands of participants) and culminate with certificates and awards during the 2022 NIH-funded Global Health Catalyst summit
Instructional Methodologies
Learning activities will include online course lectures, a plan competition on the Radiation Knowledge-EduCase joint platform for contouring & planning, followed by symposium for discussion and knowledge sharing of best plans for continuous education. Complementary training workshops will be organized during the yearly GHC summits with funding support from the USA National Institutes of Health
Program Schedule
Part 1: Lectures (July 8th – July 30th, 2022).
Certificates will be awarded for those who take pre-course and post lectures/training evaluations- 1.1. July 8th, 2022:
Session 1.1: General lectures on Hypofractionated Radiation therapy (HFRT) :
and the benefits of increased adoption of HFRT including to increase access to care, and enhance convenience for patients.
- 1.2. July 16th, 2022:
Session 1.2: Hypofractionated treatment workflow from consult to treatment for breast cancer:
Clinical details for hypofractionated treatment, contouring, prescription dose for hypofractionation, dose constraint for OAR, planning, plan evaluation, IGRT, and Delivery.
- 1.3. July 23rd, 2022:
Session 1.3: Hypofractionated treatment workflow from consult to treatment for cervical cancer:
Clinical details for hypofractionated treatment, contouring, prescription dose for hypofractionation, Dose constraint for OAR, planning, plan evaluation, IGRT, Delivery.
- 1.4. July 30th, 2022:
Session 1.4: Hypofractionated treatment workflow from consult to treatment for prostate cancer:
Clinical details for hypofractionated treatment, contouring, prescription dose for hypofractionation, Dose constraint for OAR, planning, plan evaluation, IGRT, Delivery
Post-Lectures assessment for those interested in course completion certificates
Part 2: Treatment Planning Activity with awards (August 7th – September 3rd, 2022).
Focus on Hypofractionated radiotherapy prostate cancer case from Low- and Middle-Income Country
- Aug 7th, 2022:
Session 2.1: About Contouring/Planning Activities:
Presentation about RK-EduCase platform (Contouring process, assignments, case description, plan criteria, plan evaluation,… etc)
- Aug 8 - 9, 2022:
Contouring activity:
Participants will perform contouring tasks on RK-EduCase platform.
- Aug 10 – 11, 2022:
Planning Activity:
Planning Activity: Planning activity: Participants downloads the case, generate plan (3D CRT &/or IMRT) in their TPS, upload & evaluate plan.
- Sep 3rd, 2022:
Session 2.2.2.2.1. Concluding Remarks
- - About the event: Stats, cases, participation, ... etc
- - Winners’ announcements
- - Award of certificates
2.2.2. Knowledge Sharing session:
- - Top planners will share their advanced planning tips.
Important Dates
2022 HFRT Event - Schedule
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July 8th, 2022General lectures on HFRT
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July 16th, 2022HFRT From Consult to Treat Workflow: Breast Cancer
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July 23rd, 2022HFRT From Consult to Treat Workflow: Cervical Cancer
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July 30th, 2022HFRT From Consult to Treat Workflow: Prostate Cancer
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Aug 7th, 2022About Contouring/Planning Activities
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Aug 8 & 9, 2022Contouring Activity (RK-EduCase Platform)
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Aug 10 - 12 , 2022Planning Activity (RK-EduCase Platform)
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Sep 3rd, 2022Concluding Remarks, Awards, and Knowledge Sharing
Zoom
Each Saturday 3 Hours
(4 Weeks)
Contouring & Planning Activities
( 1 Week)
Details & Speakers
Our Course Experts and collaborating team members amongst the world's best
Dr Saiful Huq
Professor, Radiation Oncology and Clinical and Translational Science, Director, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Past President, American Association of Physicists in Medicine
Dr Akila Viswanathan
Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Dr Stephen Avery
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology. University of Pennsylvania
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Ahmad Nobah
Founder, Radiation Knowledge
Dr Fallon Chipidza
Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School
Dr Surbhi Grover
Assistant Professor and Director of Global Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
Dr Jeff Michalski
Carlos Perez Distinguished Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, ASTRO President-elect
May Abdel-Wahab,
Director of the Division of Human Health at the International Atomic Energy Agency
Dr Curtiland Deville
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Dr Adedayo Joseph
Clinical Radiation Oncologist and the Research Program Director of NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre,
Dr Nwamaka Lasebikan
President of Association of radiation and clinical oncologist of Nigeria
Dr Omoruyi, Credit Irabor
Radiation Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center & Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals.
Dr Mandar S Bhagwat
Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Dr Ahmed Elzawawy
Professor of Clinical Oncology, Chair of the Board of Directors. Global Oncology University
Dr Heng Li
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Dr Mack Roach III
Professor of Radiation Oncology and Urology, at the University of California, San Francisco
Dr Rebecca Buecker
Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist Klinikum Lippe Lemgo, Germany. GHC Diaspora Global Radiation Oncology leader
Dr Neil Taunk
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
Shibu Anamalayil
Shibu Anamalayil, MS, CMD, DABR, Senior medical physicist, and the Chief of Brachytherapy Program in the department of Radiation .
Juliet Maina
Juliet Maina has recently qualified in Radiation Oncology the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Dexter Wilson MS. RT.T
Senior Radiation Therapist Radiation Oncology Department University of Pennsylvania.
Awards / Prizes
The top 2 winners of the treatment planning competition from each of the 6 Regions of the World Health Organization Region will receive an award
| Prostate Case | |
|---|---|
| 1st Prize | $2000 |
| 2nd Prize | $1000 |
Textbooks and course materials
Free Publications and references therein
- https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2020.38.6_suppl.325
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34389825/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24055415/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7193821/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20147717/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33453312/a
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26867873/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33680940/