In cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Medical Physics Unit of the Department of Radiology and Molecular Imaging at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, is hosting a five-day ARASIA Regional Training Course on Quality Assurance for Computed Tomography (CT) from 4 to 8 May 2025.

Organised by the IAEA through its Technical Cooperation Project “Improving Quality and Safety through Strengthening Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Medical Physics and Calibration Services (ARASIA),” the course is conducted in partnership with the Peaceful Nuclear Technology Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This intensive training is designed to strengthen medical physics expertise across the ARASIA region. It brings together professionals from Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan and Syria. Over five days, participants will receive expert-led instruction on critical aspects of CT imaging, including an overview of CT physics and modern technologies, as well as its fundamentals, principles of quality assurance, image quality assessment and metrics, in addition to dosimetry and optimisation strategies.

Three IAEA experts from the United Kingdom will deliver lectures, facilitate interactive sessions, and lead practical training at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital’s Department of Radiology and Molecular Imaging, University Medical City.

With the rapid evolution of digital X-ray and CT technologies, the demand for skilled medical physicists continues to grow. These professionals play a pivotal role in maintaining high diagnostic standards, ensuring accurate imaging, safeguarding patient safety, evaluating equipment performance, and guiding the clinical adoption of emerging technologies.

The Course Director and project counterpart, Medical Physicist Ibtisam Al-Maskari, expressed great pride in hosting the event at SQU, highlighting its significance in strengthening Oman’s position in the global medical physics community. She added that hosting this event places Oman on the world map for advancing the skills of medical physicists, and hopes it will contribute to greater recognition of the profession in Oman. Al-Maskari also emphasised that building local expertise in medical physics is critical for enhancing the quality and safety of diagnostic services, leading to stronger, resilient healthcare systems across the region.

By the conclusion of the course, participants will be equipped to apply international best practices in CT quality assurance and control, contributing to more resilient and effective healthcare systems across the region.