World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering

24-29 August 2003

Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Sydney, Australia

CALL FOR PAPERS

Deadline for submissions
10 March 2003

The Organising Committee invites you to submit an abstract to be considered for the Congress program. We ask you to indicate the Track or Topic most suitable to your abstract. All abstracts will be peer reviewed, for presentation as an oral paper or a poster paper. If your submission is accepted as a poster paper, note that during the poster viewing periods, specific times will be scheduled for authors to attend and discuss their work.

For details on how to submit, go to www.wc2003.org

Invitation from the IFMBE President

The World Congress for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering is the major tri-annual event for the international engineering and scientific community. On behalf of the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE) I extend an invitation to all our members to come to Sydney and participate in the Congress.

The Sydney Congress will provide all of us with an opportunity to present our most recent work, learn about recent advances in the field, meet many colleagues from all over the world and enjoy the beautiful city of Sydney. Please make sure that your abstract and pre-registration form are sent on time. See you all in Australia.

Dov Jaron,
President IFMBE

A Glimpse DownUnder

August is winter in the Southern Hemisphere - but winter in Sydney is mild, an average of 18°C (65°F) by day and about 7°C (45°F) overnight - like the gentle winter of the Mediterranean or the Californian coast. Bring a jumper and a waterproof jacket, but don't worry about the heavy overcoat.

On a sunny winter's day, Sydney Harbour is stunningly beautiful - always alive boats and yachts. It's also the heart and soul of Sydney. Enjoy it from the balcony of a harbourside restaurant. Explore its foreshore on walking trails around unspoiled national parks and sandstone headlands. Wander its white beaches, or take a ferry trip or a Harbour cruise.

Surfers ride Sydney's Pacific Ocean waves year-round. Bondi Beach is closest to the CBD - a kilometre of wide white beach, imposing headlands, and great surf, patrolled by lifeguards every day of the year. For lap swimming with a difference, join the "Icebergs" who swim every morning of the year in the rock pool that fills as the surf breaks over the sea wall. Or just stroll the beachside promenade and enjoy the sights.

Across the harbour, Manly occupies a narrow peninsula between harbour beach and ocean surf. Watch local teenagers catching waves on their bright coloured boards, or test the waves yourself. Visit the Manly Aquarium, or be tempted by blackboard menus and fishy aromas from the pavement cafes, beneath rows of stately Norfolk Island pines. Travel there from the city by by ferry or jetcat, a journey of 20 to 30 minutes across one of the most beautiful stretches of water in the world.

Program Highlights - Health Technology Management

Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) is an area of major economic and medical importance, and WC2003 aims to bring it to the forefront. The HTM track incorporates Health Technology Assessment, Clinical Engineering (CE) and related areas, and WC2003 is offering a wide range of topics for conventional paper sessions, complemented by focused workshops and panel discussions.

In particular, it aims to explore the challenge of providing quality health technology management in situations where both economic and technical resources are severely limited.

Paper session topics include

• health technology assessment;
• developing country/emerging economy issues;
• healthcare technology policy, planning and needs assessment;
• HTM/CE organisational issues (including staffing levels and outsourcing);
• HTM/CE information systems and asset management tools;
• HTM/CE performance, benchmarking and accreditation;
• HTM/CE capacity building and educational and training programmes;
• HTM/CE professional issues (including certification, registration and career advancement);
• medical device evaluation, procurement, utilisation and replacement;
• medical device maintenance and service management;
• medical device regulation and risk management (including safety, EMI/EMC and associated standards, product liability and re-use of disposables) and
• health facilities/estate management.

Workshops and panel discussion will cover some of these topics, as well as the role of technology and HTM/CE in healthcare delivery; essential health services and technology packages, and HTM/CE evidence and knowledge audits.

The HTM track chairs invite your active participation in planning and preparing for this programme.

Registration - Be an Early Bird!

Registration for the Congress is now available on line, at Early Bird rates, via the website - go to www.wc2003.org/.

Tour Hosts Pty Limited
Tel: + 612 9248 0800
Fax: + 612 9248 0894
E-mail: wc2003@tourhosts.com.au

Budget Accommodation

The YWCA of Sydney, Y on the Park Hotel

• a 3 star hotel, 25 minutes walk from the Sydney Convention Centre, or an 8 minute walk to the monorail plus an 8 minute ride. Accommodation ranges from dormitory style to corporate rooms. Approximate rates per night range from AUS$32 for dormitory style to AUS$132 for twin or king rooms with ensuite.

Wake Up! Sydney

• a state-of-the-art hostel, one of Sydney's newest properties, 15 minutes' walk from the Sydney Convention Centre or a 2 minute walk to the light rail plus a 10 minute ride. Accommodation includes dormitory style and individual. Approximate rates per night range from AUS$22 in shared accommodation to AUS$44 for a private room with ensuite