PresidentElect Visit with the North Carolina Chapter John

President-Elect Visit with the North Carolina Chapter John R. Frazier, Ph. D. , CHP Health Physics Society President-Elect 2001 -02 Auxier & Associates, Inc. Knoxville, Tennessee October 18, 2001

Purpose of Chapter Visits l Strengthen ties with national Society l Identify issues facing Health Physicists l l l Encourage HP’s and other radiation protection professionals to join the chapter and the Society Identify potential members and Chairpersons for HPS Committees Promote the agenda for the next President

Stronger chapters make a stronger society and a stronger profession.

Health Physics IS About Education

Outline l Health Physics - The Profession l Health Physics Education l HPS Roles in Health Physics Education

Health Physics - The Profession l History – Radiation protection started long before the Manhattan Project l Health Physics Society (HPS) l Name Recognition/Brand Identification – Health Physics – Radiation Safety/Radiation Protection

What do you call your profession?

Health Physics Education l l l Short courses On-the-job training Undergraduate degrees Graduate degrees Related disciplines Cross-training “One size does not fit all. ”

What were (are) your sources of Health Physics education/training?

HPS Roles in Health Physics Education l l l Academic Education Continuing Education Educating the Public Advising Congress Interacting with Federal Agencies Activities with Other Professional Organizations

Academic Education l l l Undergraduate and Graduate Programs Sponsor ABET Accreditation Student Branches (15) HPS Fellowships ($34 k/yr) Travel Grants ($25 k/yr) Lobbying for bills pending in Congress

“Human Capital Shortage” l l A shortage of health physicists has been discussed for years. Recent emphasis with a new title Federal agencies now involved Bills before Congress to fund education for radiation/nuclear specialists (e. g. , S-242 - “Bingaman Bill”)

Do you see a current and/or future shortage of qualified health physicists or other radiation protection professionals?

Continuing Education l Professional Enrichment Program (PEP) l Continuing Education (CE) Lecture Series l Summer Schools l Resource Center

PEP Lectures (Short Courses) l l l Lectures on specific topics at HPS meetings given by specialists in their field Annual Meeting - 54 courses Mid-Year Meeting - 9 courses Wide range of topics Some lectures are videotaped each year Nominal cost – – $40 per 2 -hour course $150 per 8 -hour course

Continuing Education Lecture Series l l l One-hour lectures on specific topics given at HPS meetings by specialists in their field Annual Meeting - 8 one-hour lectures Mid-Year Meeting - 2 one-hour lectures Timely Topics - Recognized Speakers No Cost to Attendees

HPS Summer Schools l l l Annually since 1978 One-week concentrated course on a specific topic (e. g. , June 2002 - “Applied Internal Dosimetry”) Usually held the week before the Annual Meeting 60 -100 students (typical) Tuition $600 (typical)

What PEP courses, CE lectures, or Summer Schools would you like to attend?

What PEP courses, CE lectures, or Summer School lectures would you like to teach?

Resource Center l l l Located at the University of Cincinnati Maintains copies of past PEP and CE course materials Maintains videotape library Nominal fee to purchase copies of course materials Nominal fee to rent videotapes

The HPS continuing education program plays a key role in attaining and maintaining certification of CHPs.

Chapter meetings on technical subjects help its members prepare for and maintain ABHP certification.

Public Education l l l Develop Fact Sheets Review science textbooks Develop public education web site Work with HPS web site Editor-in-Chief on “Ask the Expert” web page Develop and present Science Teacher Workshops

Science Teacher Workshops l l Began in 1991 (concept used decades before by AEC) Chapters trained to present the Workshops Science teachers educated/trained in the basics of radiation and radiation safety Resources supplied to the chapter (free instruments, training modules, advice, etc. ) Philosophy: “Teach children by teaching their teachers. ”

Science Teacher Workshops Update l l 31 Chapters trained to present Workshops Over 50 Workshops presented Over 1, 000 science teachers educated and trained Over 100, 000 school children taught by these teachers since they were trained

Outstanding Science Teacher Awards l l l Began two years ago Recognizes science teachers who have initiated radiation education programs in their classroom Recognition by Chapters Recognition by HPS at Annual Meeting Program is expanding

When will this chapter present a Science Teacher Workshop?

Advising Congress (Congressional Staff) l l Began in earnest over 7 years ago. Current annual cost of over $70 k Quarterly briefings of key Congressional staff Luncheon Seminar for 50 staff in March 2001 Central Theme: “The Health Physics Society is a trusted source of sound scientific advice. ”

What information would you want conveyed to Congress?

Interacting with Federal Agencies l l l Part-time paid consultant Works with State & Federal Legislation Committee Tracks activities of NRC, EPA, DOE, FDA, and other agencies Quarterly visits by consultant and President with agency representatives Regular reports submitted to Secretariat and Executive Committee

Do you track the activities of the Agencies that regulate you? If so, how do you do this?

HPS Position Statements l l l Requested by members Prepared by Scientific & Public Issues Committee (President, President-Elect, and 3 most recent Past -Presidents), Reviewed by Board of Directors Revised periodically Current list Proposed topics Widely quoted and highly regarded

HPS Position Statements - Current l l l Food Irradiation (1988) Perspectives and Recommendations on Indoor Radon (1990) Compatibility in Radiation - Safety Regulations (1992) What About “Deadly Plutonium”? (1993) Ionizing Radiation - Safety Standards for the General Public (1993) Risk Assessment (1993)

HPS Position Statements - Current l l l Low-Level Radioactive Waste (1993) Radiation Risk in Perspective (1996) Ultraviolet Radiation and Public Health (1998) Clearance of Materials Having Surface or Internal Radioactivity (1999) Compensation for Diseases that Might be Caused by Radiation Must Consider the Dose (2000) Occupational Radiation - Safety Standards and Regulations are Sound (2000)

HPS Position Statements Proposed l l l l Standards for Cleanup and Restoration of Radioactively Contaminated Sites Managed Under FUSRAP Orphan Sources Is There a Safe Dose of Radiation? Depleted Uranium Benefits of Radiation Use of “People Scanners” Training of Operators of Ionizing Radiation-Emitting Machines

On what topic would you like the HPS to issue a Position Statement?

Journal, Newsletter, and Web Site l l l Education and communication tools Journal Operational Radiation Safety (ORS) Newsletter Web Site

What will be your role in health physics education? l l l Plan and attend regular technical meetings? Share your knowledge via a technical presentation to the Chapter? Speak to students in local science classes? Help with a CHP exam preparation course? Plan and present a Science Teacher Workshop?

You are a valuable resource of sound scientific information, share that knowledge with others.