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Clinical Radiology
Volume 12 No 4
I
September 2016
43
Chief Censor in
Clinical Radiology
The second half of the year has
commenced with much activity.
Examination and Assessment
Review
The Examination and Assessment
Review task force leading the ACER/
Prideaux review met in May to determine
the workplan for the proposed
recommended improvements. Four work
areas have been identified: governance;
examinations; programmatic assessment
and infrastructure and resources. Steering
committees for clinical radiology and
radiation oncology have been created
to support programmatic assessment
and governance. Dr Meredith Thomas,
Dr Barry Soans, Dr Alexandria Taylor,
Dr Graeme Anderson, Prof David
Prideaux, the Chief Censor and the Head
of Specialty Training form the clinical
radiology steering committee. Further
information about the review can be
found on page 37.
Examinations
As I write this article, the 2016 Series
2 examinations are all being actively
prepared. In November our Vivas will
be held in Melbourne for the first time,
at the Novotel St Kilda. The move to
Melbourne starts a new journey for our
Viva examinations as we prepare to
transition to the National Testing Centre
(NTC), a purpose-built examination
centre in Melbourne, from Series 1 in
2017. I look forward to sharing more
details with you in the next edition of
Inside News
.
The Clinical Radiology Examination
Reference Panel (CRERP) recently
increased its membership to support the
additional activities and developments
of our future examinations. Dr Barry
Soans has been appointed Chair, and
will lead the current and new members,
Dr Ben Wilson, Prof Michael Ditchfield,
Dr Gabriel Lau, Dr Jim Koukounaras and
Dr Robert Loneragan on this important
journey.
Applied Imaging Technology
Examination Reference Panel
Recently I met with our lead Applied
Imaging Technology (AIT) examiners Prof
John Heggie and Dr Kieran Maher to
discuss the structure and support for the
AIT examination team moving forward.
For those of you who are not aware, Prof
Heggie has been a College examiner for
a significant period of time, including a
long tenure as the AIT chief examiner.
The College is indebted to Prof Heggie
for his knowledge, passion and guidance
in preparing and setting our AIT
examinations. This work is only possible
with the support he receives from Dr
Kieran Maher and the extended AIT
exam team. On behalf of the College I
would like to offer a sincere thanks to Prof
Heggie as he prepares to retire from our
examinations team and for continuing
to offer guidance as we transition. I am
pleased that Dr Kieran Maher has agreed
to continue to support our examinations
into the future, Kieran is a great asset to
the College and our examinations.
As part of our governance review, the AIT
examination group will be recognised
more formally (and supported) within the
College structure and renamed the AIT
Examination Reference Panel (AITERP).
Prof Heggie and Dr Maher have provided
advice on the appropriate structure of
the panel and the criteria for membership
as an AIT examiner. Henceforth, the
panel membership will consist of 12
AIT examiners, including up to two
radiologists (desirably). Expressions of
interest have been circulated through
the Australasian College of Physical
Scientists & Engineers in Medicine and
the College.
New Zealand Registrar
Centralised Recruitment
The New Zealand centralised recruitment
process was held 3-4 July 2016. I, along
with Sandra McDonald, Manager Training
and Accreditation from the College,
was fortunate to attend. Talking with
directors and supervisors of training, it
was welcoming to hear that many of the
issues being faced are exactly the same
in both countries, albeit with some local
flavour. I say welcoming because the
current planning and work underway
should make a significant difference
to both jurisdictions. I would like to
sincerely thank the New Zealand Branch
directors and supervisors of training and
Branch Education Officer (BEO) Dr Lisa
Sweetman, for their warm hospitality
along with Mr Alexander Brunt, Manager,
New Zealand, as well as the New Zealand
office staff for the support provided.
A/Prof Dinesh Varma