::.. College of Radiology

An Evening with Prof Rethy Chhem: The Future of Medical Imaging-Transforming Challenges into Opportunities, Petaling Jaya – 4 July 2010

by Dr Evelyn Ho

The College of Radiology was honoured and privileged to hear Prof Rethy K Chhem share his thoughts and vision on the future of medical imaging on the evening of 4th July 2010 in Petaling Jaya Hilton.

Prof Dr Ng Kwan-Hoong, PhD chaired the session and introduced his colleague and friend Rethy Chhem to the audience. Rethy Chhem is a radiologist, educator, researcher, speared projects and programmes in various countries and is also a health advocate.

Rapid development and progress of medical imaging science and technology during the last three decades has totally transformed the way physicians perceive the anatomy of the human body and establish diagnosis of diseases, and, as a consequence, has triggered a revolution in all fields of medical practice. The completion of the decoding of the human genome has strengthened the development of pharmacogenetics and uncovered the dawning era of personalized medicine. Medical imaging is at the core of these transformations. How can the “imaging community” (radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians and imaging scientists) cope with all these new challenges in order to fulfil their common mission – “better care for patients across the globe”?

Rethy in his hour long talk managed to convey the urgency of the challenges, as well as his passion and vision for all involved in healthcare, especially those in the imaging community and their changing roles. It was best that radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists and scientists be now “united” under the discipline of medical imaging.

New challenges call for a new attitude and new leadership to guide medical practice, education, and training of future professionals of medical imaging, and to foster innovative research as well. Rethy gave his perspective from a background of an illustrious 25 year-career as an academic radiologist practising in Europe, North America, and Asia. He also kept the audience amused and sometimes in stitches with true stories of his journey from a “mere” resident to his current position as Director of Human Health Division, International Atomic Energy Agency, where he was dealing with global challenges in medical imaging.

An hour just flew by, with extended time for comments and questions. The CoR was indeed proud to have hosted Prof Rethy K Chhem and welcome him back to the region, as Rethy was born in Cambodia. Rethy Chhem is indeed a visionary who has walked the talk and is still contributing in new ways to the betterment of society.

About Rethy K. Chhem

Professor Rethy K Chhem joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (of the United Nations) in November 2008. Pr Chhem is currently Director of Human Health Division (Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Medical Radiation Physics and Radio-oncology) The division conducts hundred of programmes in developing countries in the fields of radiology, nuclear medicine, medical physics, radio-oncology and nuclear sciences/nutrition. Pr Chhem serves on the Steering Committee of the IAEA/WHO joint programme for Cancer Control. He represents the IAEA at UNSCEAR (UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation)

He holds a MD from the University of Paris VI, a PhD in Education and a PhD in History from the University of Montreal. He was Professor of Radiology at the University of Sherbrooke (1988-1993), McGill University (1993-1998), National University of Singapore (1998-2003) and University of Western Ontario (2003-2008).

He was Head of the Radiology Department at the London Health Science Centre and Chairman of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at the University of Western Ontario (Canada) from 2003 to 2008.

Prof Chhem serves on the Medical Council of Canada and is a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Prof Chhem published over a hundred articles and book chapters. He has delivered over 300 talks in Europe, Asia and the Americas. He wrote and edited 9 books on radiology, medical imaging education and paleoradiology.

He is the Founding Director of the Medical Education Unit at the National University of Singapore, the Founding President of the Asia Pacific Association for PBL in Health Sciences and Founding President of the International Society for Scholarship of Medical Imaging Education. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Centre of Khmer Studies and is a medical advisor to the Board of Directors of the Angkor Hospital for Children.

He is currently Emeritus Professor of Medical Imaging, University of Western Ontario, a Guest Professor of Radiology at the Medical University of Vienna (Austria), and Professor of History of medicine at the Institute for the History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine, Ulm University (Germany). He is also adjunct Professor at the University of Health Sciences Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

Selected recent publications
1. Chhem RK, Meghzifene A, Czarwinski R, et al.
Towards better, safer and more appropriate use of radiation in medicine. The Lancet, April 17, 2010

2. Veselka N, McErlain DD, Holdsworth DW, Eger JL, Chhem RK, et al. A bony connection signals laryngeal echolocation in bats.
Nature. 2010 Feb 18;463(7283):939-42.

3. De Zordo T, Chhem R, Smekal V, et al. Real-Time Sonoelastography: Findings in Patients with Symptomatic Achilles Tendons and Comparison to Healthy Volunteers.
Ultraschall Med. 2009 Nov 27.

4. Ahmad N, Bygrave M, Chhem R, et al. High-frequency ultrasound to grade disease progression in murine models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. J Ultrasound Med. 2009 Jun;28(6):707-16

5. De Zordo T, Mur E, Bellmann-Weiler R, Sailer-Höck M, Chhem R et al. US guided injections in arthritis. Eur J Radiol. 2009 Aug;71(2):197-203.

6. Karlik SJ, Bartha R, Kennedy K, Chhem R. MRI and multinuclear MR spectroscopy of 3,200-year-old Egyptian mummy brain. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2007 Aug;189(2):105-10.

Recent books
1. RK Chhem, KM. Hibbert, T. Van Deven. Radiology education: The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Heidelberg; Springer, 2009

2. T. Van Deven, KM. Hibbert, RK Chhem. The Practice of Radiology Education: Challenges and Trends. Heidelberg; Springer, 2010

More photos from the talk...

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Last Updated:
Sunday, 15 January 2012