Welcome Message
Today’s Radiology, More Than Clinical Radiology
Today, relying on medical evidence and image based diagnosis have increased the responsibility of radiologists more than those involved in clinical radiology.
Because a radiologist is required to possess knowledge on different sorts of rays or energies used in this field and their connections to the anatomy, s/he cannot be considered a simple medical practitioner.
The birth of radiology management and economy has complicated its activities in different areas. On the other hand, with the emersion of Information Technology “IT” and Informatics such as PACS we can imagine radiology in a scene in Shahnaame by Abu al-Qasim Ferdowsi as Rostam facing the medicine as Esfandyar who despite being strong is defeated by the former.
While Hakim Abu al-Qasim Ferdowsi compares Esfandyar to a high mountain that is firm, tough and invincible, eventually, Rostam is victorious. Similar to that, today, it is not medicine that guides radiology but it is radiology that leads medicine.
This can be the reason why many candidates in other fields shift to radiology and not only rely on the imaging documents provided by the radiologists but try using radiology equipments such as specialists using sonography, neurosurgery using CT and MRI in the operation room and or using CR in intervention.
It is not the case that radiology is challenged. Contrary to that, radiology and imaging are rather popular and attractive.
From a medical point of view, this popularity is acceptable, however, from an economic viewpoint it can be potentially harmful since it interrupts radiology management and economy.
This phenomenon can now be seen in almost every country around the world. However, in most developed countries reasonable fee’s and well-defined radiology services prevent the degrading of scientific and economy of radiology which is not the case in our country.
The latest overlap has taken place between radiology and nuclear medicine through PET-CT to the extent that the two fields share the same residency course which is now mainly evident in Netherlands.
The sensitivity values of nuclear medicine in PET and the precise anatomic definition in CT or MRI have linked the two disciplines to one another and they are expected to bring the two fields’ residency courses to interaction and cooperation or even to lead them to unity.
It is the duty of the Department of Education of the Ministry of Health and Specialists Deputies Board and other related associations of the two disciplines to resolve this equation.
The thirty-first annual congress will be held merely because we have had success in the thirtieth congress thanks to universities’ scientific board members, the active members of the congress, the experiences of radiologists in the private sector, the support of the radiology and medical equipments companies and the scientific and executive boards’ managers.
The president of the congress at hand and the scientific and executive secretaries of the thirty-first congress have commenced a new experience with a higher level of knowledge.
Dr. Abbas Arjmand Shabestari will be directing the congress with my professor, head of the former radiology group at Shahid Beheshti University and former head of the radiology society, Dr. Ali Akbar Ameri, as its honorary president, Dr. Maryam Rahmani as the scientific secretary and Dr. Mansoor Fatehi, the adept secretary of the Iranian society of radiology congress, as the executive secretary.
We will hold this congress with new and heightened values in mind at a different location which has been introduced as the most recent symbol of Tehran and has been chosen by the executive team, Milad tower, which will host the conferences and meetings of the thirty-first annual congress.
The thirty-first congress is a combination of information resources and capabilities of the domestic and international scientists, as well as the expression of the need to acquire up-to-date information and learn about their applications in diagnosis and full treatment of the patients with the hope of remedying our flaws and imperfections at heart.
Jalal J. Shokouhi M.D.
ISR – President
ICR31 / ICR2015