News Archive

Eric Goldin, HPS President, 2019–2021

We hoped that we would be able to have a regular in-person Health Physics Society (HPS) annual meeting this July in Phoenix, but so very many institutions and employers are prohibiting travel for the near term. After many weeks of deliberations, negotiations, more zoom calls, and emails, the Society Board of Directors has decided that we will hold a hybrid meeting instead. It will be in-person for those of us who can attend and virtual for those who can't. For me, it's a bittersweet ending to my two-year tenure as HPS president. I sure wish that we could all meet in person and hold a regular meeting but with the pandemic, many people are simply not ready to take the risks of flying, meeting in large groups, etc.

This hybrid meeting will be a first for the Society—and a first for many professional organizations. The Secretariat has done a great job for us negotiating with the hotels and convention center to ensure that we will not be penalized for the reduced attendance. In addition, we will still have a great venue for vendors and displays. Our affiliates depend on your business and they look forward to seeing folks in person to show their products and services.

Even if you are unable to attend the meeting in person, this is a good time to volunteer for committees. Those are typically staffed around the time of the annual meeting and with little in-person communication, we may have plenty of vacancies. Many committee members are set to rotate off their committee assignments (officially at the Business Meeting), so the time is perfect for you to volunteer. Committee work is really the lifeblood of the Society. I counted over 20 committees on the main page. Each of the committee web pages lists the chair and members, their terms, and (for most of them) a "radio button" that allows you to volunteer. Very easy. HPS President-elect John Cardarelli will be busy filling committee rosters for the next few months, so please volunteer. You'll serve the Society, make new friends, and probably learn a lot.

We also encourage you to participate in sections, the focus areas for your particular field whether it's environmental/radon, accelerators, homeland security, instrumentation, power reactors, etc. There are 11 very active sections, some of which have special sessions at the meetings and all focus on the special radiation protection needs of that field.

I would be remiss if I didn't recommend that you also play an active role in your local chapter. Some of these chapters are amazingly active and have very regular meetings; some are less active and could use your participation. One thing that is often overlooked is the need to encourage chapter members to become Society members.

In addition to the annual meeting scheduled for July, don't forget about the Society's First Annual Workshop, which is set for 23–26 May at Clemson University, South Carolina. That meeting will be great and is focused on newer members: early career and students in particular. Registration just opened so please participate.

Let me close by again encouraging you to volunteer and participate. The Society will be better off with your active role.