WESTRO launch - PDF Version

In celebration of this International Women’s Day, 8 March 2021, it is our pleasure to introduce WESTRO - Women in ESTRO in medical physics, an informal group of women who are members of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology and who work in medical physics.

WESTRO held its first meet-and-greet in Milano, Italy, during ESTRO 38 in 2019 and gathered 57 enthusiasts. It has since grown to an 85-member group that is mostly active on LinkedIn. Join us here!

WESTRO first meeting, Milan, 2019 - Photo by Dr. Ane Appelt

Our main aim is to provide support, scientific exchange and networking opportunities through an online platform and informal gatherings during the annual ESTRO meeting. Women now represent at least half of the medical physics workforce, yet it is our experience that this is not well represented in leadership positions or during workshops and conferences. Though there is a clear commitment from ESTRO to increase gender balance, it is often difficult to find female candidates for courses and to participate in committees. Our hope is that this group will contribute in addressing some of these issues through a number of small but encouraging actions.

“Behind every successful woman is a substantial amount of coffee”

 – US cartoonist Stephanie Piro

After a successful first round and by popular demand, WESTRO is now launching its second season of café roulette, which will run from March to May. We are looking forward to arranging new coffee meetings to enable one-to-one chats. Interested? Find more information and how to subscribe here.

“I am enthusiastic I participated in the first WESTRO cafe roulette edition. The conversation always flowed easily and naturally and I felt enriched by every new meeting.”

– Livia Marrazzo, Florence (Italy)

 

“One of the best things is finding out that besides professional interests, you have so many other things in common.”

- Eliana Vasquez Osorio, organiser of the café roulette, Manchester (UK)

 

"Even if planned for one coffee, the chat was so easy and enriching that we always had more than one."

– Nuria Jornet, Barcelona (Spain)

Future initiatives on the WESTRO horizon include the making of a WESTRO directory to encourage the invitation of female medical physics specialists for talks and to chair workshop or conference sessions or teach courses. In anticipation of future face-to-face events, we also plan to organize several virtual events such as workshops and inspiring talks. To stay up to date, send us an email (westro@gmail.com ) or join our LinkedIn group and do not forget to turn on the notifications!

On behalf of WESTRO

Jennifer Dhont
Clinical physics research
Maastro Clinic
Maastricht, The Netherlands