Global Medical Physics A Guide for International Collaboration

1.  Introduction to Global Medical Physics
Jacob Van Dyk and Francis Hasford
2.  Challenges and Opportunities for Global Collaboration
Stephanie A. Parker and Loreh Peter Onyango
3.  Building Global Inter-Institutional Collaborations
Dario Sanz, Martin Ebert, Mauro Namias, and Robert Jeraj
4.  Opportunities for Global Collaboration in Radiation Oncology: The Radiation Planning Assistant as a Case Study
Laurence Court and William Shaw
5.  Global Collaborations with Industry
Jennifer Dent, Cathyryne Manner, and Katy Graef
6.  Sustainability in Global Collaborations
Alfredo Polo, Godfrey Azangwe, Lisbeth Cordero Mendez, Egor Titovich, and Jacob Van Dyk
7.  Career Paths in Medical Physics with a Global Health Perspective
Stephen M. Avery
8.  Mentoring in a Global Context
Kwan Hoong Ng and Jacob Van Dyk
9.  Global Collaboration: Successes and Barriers
Jacob Van Dyk, Mauro Carrara, Egor Titovich, and May Abdel-Wahab
10.  Education and Training Specific to Global Collaborative Activities
Jacob Van Dyk and Akshaya Neil Arya
11.  Advocacy and Science Diplomacy in Support of International Collaborations
Eva Bezak, Loredana Marcu, and Ana Maria Marques da Silva
12.  The Role of Information Computer Technologies (ICTs) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Global Collaborations
Jacob Van Dyk and Issam El Naqa
13.  Global Collaboration on Data Sharing
K. Ruwani M. Fernando, Dipesh Niraula, Denis Dudas, Andre Dekker, and Issam El Naqa
14.  Global Collaborations: The European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) Perspective
Laurence Wroe, Steinar Stapnes, and Manjit Dosanjh
15.  Ethical Considerations in Global Interactions
Gerald A. White
16.  Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) in the Global Medical Physics Context
Afua A. Yorke and Iyobosa B. Uwadiae
17.  Global Collaboration Organizations
Arun Chougule and Mary Joan
18.  Global Medical Physics Collaborations: Summary and Recommendations
Jacob Van Dyk

Biography

Jacob (Jake) Van Dyk is Professor Emeritus of Oncology and Medical Biophysics at Western University, London, Ontario, Canada, and former Manager of Physics and Engineering at the London Regional Cancer Program (LRCP). He has more than 40 years of experience in the practicalfacets of radiation oncology physics, with 24 years at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) in Toronto and 15 years at the LRCP. With a leave-of-absence in 1974–1975, he worked as the acting head of physics at the Centre de Radiothérapy, Hôpital Cantonal de Génève, in Geneva, Switzerland. From 2009 to 2011, he was employed as a professional expert and consultant at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. His research has yielded over 200 publications along with four unique volumes of The Modern Technology of Radiation Oncology: A Compendium for Medical Physicists and Radiation Oncologists. He also published True Tales of Medical Physics: Insights into a Life-Saving Specialty, a book giving a wide range of perspectives on medical physics to a broader, non-scientific audience. He has lectured in over 41 countries. He was the main founder of Medical Physics for World Benefit (www.mpwb.org), an organization devoted to supporting medical physics activities, largely by training and mentoring, especially for lower-income settings. He is the recipient of multiple awards including:

• The William D. Coolidge Gold Medal (2022), the highest award given by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) "recognizing an eminent career in Medical Physics"
• The International Day of Medical Physics (IDMP) Award (2019) for “promoting medical physics to a larger audience and highlighting the contributions medical physicists make for patient care.” Awarded by the International Organization for Medical Physics
• Honorary Doctor of Science (honoris causa) degree granted at Western University’s MD Convocation, London, Ontario, Canada (2014) "for advancing the field of medical physics, specifically, the safe use of therapeutic radiation for the treatment of cancer. In so doing, he has touched the lives of millions of people in Canada and around the world"
• Selected by the International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP) as one out of 50 medical physicists “who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of medical physics over the last 50 years.” This recognition was given as part of IOMP’s 50th anniversary in 2013
• Awarded the inaugural Fellow of the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (FCOMP) in 2013 in recognition of "his significant contribution to the organization and to the field of Medical Physics in Canada"
• Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP) Gold Medal (2013). This is the highest honour that COMP bestows on one of its members in recognition of an outstanding career as a medical physicist who has worked mainly in Canada
• Elected Fellow of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine in recognition of distinguished contributions to the field of Medical Physics (1997)

'Successful multicultural collaborations [...] can be hindered by cultural, language and ethical barriers, as well as issues such as poor access to the internet and the latest technology advances. And medical physicists trained in high-income contexts may not always understand the circumstances and limitations of those working within lower income environments. Aiming to overcome these obstacles, [this book] provides essential guidance for those looking to participate in such initiatives.'

- Tami Freeman, physicsworld.com, December 2025.

'Global Medical Physics: A Guide for International Collaboration is a landmark publication that sets a high standard for scholarship, leadership, and humanity in the field of medical physics. It succeeds not only as an academic reference but also as a practical guide and a moral compass for engaging in global scientific work. The book provides a vision of a world where healthcare inequality can be reduced through collaboration, education, and innovation. It encourages medical physicists to step beyond their laboratories and clinics and engage in partnerships that have the power to transform lives. In simple terms, this is a book that educates, inspires, and empowers. It deserves a place on the bookshelf of every medical physicist, healthcare professional, policymaker, and educator who seeks to contribute to a fairer, more inclusive global health system. The book is a must-read for all professionals involved in global medical physics, education, and healthcare planning.' 

- M. Pokoo-Aikins, MEDICAL PHYSICS INTERNATIONAL Journal, Vol.13, No.2, 2025.