Ibrahim Duhaini MEFOMP Coordinator Beirut - Lebanon

INTRODUCTION Establishment of Middle East Federation Of Medical Physics (MEFOMP) is part of the IOMP effort to organize regional medical physics societies under its umbrella to further enhance and improve the status of medical physics across the Globe.

The main goals of MEFOMP are: Promote advancement of medical physics in the (ME) Educate and train local society members on new procedures and technologies Encourage exchange of expertise and information among societies Organize regional conferences and symposia.

1. Lebanon 2. Syria 3. Jordan 4. Iraq 5. Iran 6. KSA 7. UAE 8. Kuwait 9. Qatar 10. Bahrain 11. Oman 12. Yemen World Atlas

MEFOMP ESTABLISHMENT PROCESS Bahrain ISEP Meeting: Nov 07 After the ISEP-2007 conference session adjourned on the first day, 12 members representing six ME countries and AAPM representatives organized a meeting to discuss the status of Medical Physics in the region and what International organizations like AAPM and IOMP could do to help in promoting this field in ME. (Table 1)

Table 1: Bahrain Meeting NameCountry / Organization Dr. Muthana Al-GhaziUSA, AAPM Dr. Adel MustafaUSA, AAPM Mr. Adel G. MohammedBahrain, BSMPBE Mr. Jaffar MattarBahrain, BSMPBE Dr. Lama SakhniniBahrain, BSMPBE Dr. Ahmed OutaifSaudi Arabia, SAMPS Dr. Abdulla AlHajSaudi Arabia, SAMPS Mr. Ibrahim DuhainiLebanon, LAMP Mr. Osama El NatshehJordan, JMPS Ms. Abeer IbrahimKuwait Dr. Jamila Al-SuwaidiUAE/EMPS Dr. Mohamed BayoumiUAE/EMPS

Dubai Meeting (ICMP-08): April 08 During a poster session at the 16 th ICMP held in Dubai on April 2008, Dr. Barry Allen, IOMP President, called on for a meeting for all physics delegates representing ME countries to talk about the progress of establishing the chapter (MEFOMP). In that meeting, every delegate sighed the "Motion of Intent“.

Motion of Intent " The undersigned agree to inform their national societies of an invitation to form the Middle East Federation Of Medical Physics (MEFOMP) for the purpose of supporting the development of Medical Physics in the region. Following SEAFOMP, EFOMP, and AFOMP. The IOMP encourages the formation of this regional federation."

Follow Up Communication was established to include all countries in the ME and encourage them to join this chapter (MEFOMP). Some countries lack resources, however, a lot of assistance is being provided by medical physicists from international organizations like IOMP, IAEA, AAPM and others. In the following section, detailed information about the status medical physics in the ME countries is presented.

Table 2: Current MEFOMP List CountrySocietyNo of Members President / Contact BahrainBSMPBE40Dr. Lama Sakhnini IranIAMP260Dr. Alireza Mehdizadeh IraqProgressMs. Alizabith Batyo JordanJAPM50Dr. Abdalmajeid Alyassin KSASAMPS150Dr. Ahmed Outif. KuwaitNot yetMr. Mohamed Shaaban LebanonLAMP10Mr. Ibrahim Duhaini OmanNot yetDr. R. Ravichandran QATARHMC 3Dr. Huda Al Naemi SyriaSAMP30Dr Mohammad Kharita UAEEMPS38Dr. Jamila Al Suwadi YemenNot yetMr. Abdo Al-Qubati

A. Bahrain Name: (BSMPBE) Established: February members. Department of Physics, University of Bahrain offers a BS degree in Medical Physics The department offers courses and workshops aimed for Physicians and Radiographers working in local Hospitals.

B. Iran Name: (IAMP) Established 10 years ago IAMP has 260 registered members working in different disciplines of Medical Physics; (125 PhD &135 MS) IAMP holds a congress every two years about scientific activities of medical physicists in Iran. Four universities offer Ph.D. degrees and 7 universities offer MS degrees.

C. Iraq The Medical Physics Society in Iraq is in the process of establishment.

D. Jordan Name: JAPM, founded in Dec members. Holds several scientific and social activities throughout the year. Yarmouk University offers BS degree in Biomedical Physics Jordan University offers MS degree in Medical Physics.

E. Kuwait There is no medical physics society established yet There are ~ 15 medical physicists.

F. Lebanon 2005: a group of physicists organized a conference for Radiation Protection and Safety in collaboration with IAEA in Beirut. A new committee called Medical Exposures Control Committee was formed. Name: (LAMP) established in members

G. Oman There is no Medical physics society established There are 6 PhD 4 BS medical physicists

H. Qatar There is no local society for medical physicists established yet. A group of physicists trying to establish a local physics society at Hamad Medical Corporation (5 hospitals).

I. Saudi Arabia Name: (SAMPS) was established in 2008 It has more than 150 members. They periodically hold conferences and workshops, some with invited international speakers

J. Syria The Syrian Association of Medical Physics (SAMP) is in the process of being established with more than 25 members.

K. United Arab Emirates Name:(EMPS) was established in September 2005 Membership are 38 EMPS organizes periodic educational activities, including ICMP-2008

L. Yemen No information provided yet.

Our Message to YOU 1. Show you the progress we are making in our region 2. Invite you to collaborate with us for information and technology sharing 3. Propose to you to sponsor a MP from ME

CONCLUSIONS This new chapter will be official inaugurated during the WC 2009 in GERMANY (Sep 09) ACKNOWLEDGMENT I would like to thank all country delegates for providing information on their respective Medical Physics Societies