Professor Andrea Rockall, President of the Congress, warmly welcomed attendees, emphasising the overarching theme: "Planet Radiology." She expressed her long-standing goal of centring the congress on sustainability, access to care and health equity. The challenge lay in identifying a broad theme encompassing these critical aspects. Terms like "green radiology" or "sustainable radiology" felt insufficient. Ultimately, "Planet Radiology" emerged as a concept that encapsulates radiology's integration within a global ecosystem, affecting both patient outcomes and environmental health.
Radiology’s Strategic Position in Global Challenges
Rockall argued that the radiology field is uniquely positioned to spearhead initiatives in digital healthcare transformation and environmental sustainability. Given radiology's considerable energy consumption and its dependencies on single-use plastics and contrast agents, there is an urgent need for the sector to implement rapid, pragmatic solutions. She envisioned ECR 2025 as a pivotal event to galvanise this movement, asserting, "Radiologists can be trusted voices to push the boundaries of sustainability in healthcare. We’ve done this with digital care, and I think we can do this with environmental health as well."
"Imagers Fixing the World": A Prominent Initiative
This year’s "In Focus" programme, titled "Imagers Fixing the World," draws inspiration from the BBC podcast "People Fixing the World." Rockall, an avid listener, appreciates the podcast's focus on practical solutions to pressing global issues. Her intent is to spotlight radiologists undertaking significant yet often overlooked initiatives. "I really wanted to be able to find these people and projects and shine a light on them."
Programmatic Highlights
The congress will feature sessions discussing the role of AI in enhancing access to care, particularly in detecting tuberculosis in regions lacking radiological expertise. Additionally, the environmental impact of AI, notably in optimising scanner efficiency, will be examined. Rockall commended the programme committee for seamlessly integrating the congress theme across various innovative formats. Noteworthy additions include a hands-on patient communication workshop and "Pixel Pandemonium," a collaborative effort with MICCAI showcasing advancements in machine learning.
The "Share Your Story" Initiative
Launched in the preceding summer, the "Share Your Story" campaign sought to uncover impactful yet lesser-known projects. The initiative garnered over 230 submissions from 72 countries, encompassing contributions from industry, charities, NGOs, and individual radiologists. A rigorous scoring system was employed to select participants, with some presenting during lectures and others through interactive posters in the In Focus lounge. The programme further includes "Ask Me Anything" sessions, allowing presenters to interact with attendees who may want to engage as volunteers or potential funders.
Rockall expressed her enthusiasm for the expansive array of innovations showcased at ECR 2025 and hoped to inspire attendees to drive transformative change in radiology’s commitment to sustainability and healthcare equity.
Source: ECR2025
Photo credit: ECR2025
