Now that Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology (phiRO) has transitioned into its next chapter, we look back at the transformative leadership of our outgoing editors-in-chief, Professors Daniela Thorwarth and Ludvig Muren.

During their tenure, which began in 2019, the journal reached unprecedented heights—most notably securing its first impact factor (IF) and becoming a cornerstone of ESTRO’s scientific initiatives. The insights shared by Prof Thorwarth offer a timeless look at the journal's evolution and the rigorous standards of excellence that she helped to instil.

Below, Prof Thorwarth shares her reflections on the rewarding nature of the role, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical physics, and her hopes for the future of the community.

 

Since joining phiRO in 2019, what has been the most rewarding part of your role as one of its editors-in-chief?

It has been great to see phiRO develop into a recognised publishing organ within the Society and provide a publication platform for many ESTRO initiatives, such as workshops, focus groups and guideline committees.

What do you consider your most significant contribution to the journal and the field of physics and imaging in radiation oncology?

In my view, joint virtual special issues with other ESTRO journals have added a new dimension to our activities and have helped to build an even stronger platform for scientific communication in our Society. It has also been very encouraging to see that phiRO, together with Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology (ctRO) and Technical Innovations and Patient Support in Radiation Oncology (tipsRO), selected the winner of the Young Researcher Award and presented it during our Annual Congress.

How have you seen phiRO evolve over the years, in terms of content, reach, and influence in the community?

Definitively, the award of the first IF in 2023 was one of the most impactful achievements in the short history of phiRO. With the wind of an IF of 3.7 in the sails, phiRO started to attract an increasing number of submissions in the following years. Today, the journal is established in the field of medical physics and has published over 200 papers in 2025. Also, the scientific spectrum increased recently with many submissions related to automation, machine learning and AI applied to physics and imaging problems in radiation oncology, in addition to classic medical physics domains, such as treatment planning, dosimetry and many more.

What key lessons or insights have you learned from leading a peer-reviewed journal?

The main lesson I learned – now from the other side – is that publishing a paper is hard work in terms of communicating a clear scientific message to your peers. Many technical aspects can be learned, but what makes an excellent paper is a brilliant research idea combined with a stringent investigation and analysis!

What advice would you give to the next generation of researchers submitting to phiRO?

Novelty is crucial for high-impact publications! Though don’t rely too much on AI.

What do you hope for the future of phiRO in terms of scientific impact and community engagement?

I hope that phiRO continues to strengthen its position as a highly recognised and well-established medical physics publishing platform to help researchers communicate their latest results at the highest quality.