Mark Middleton CEO Radiation Oncology Queensland The role of the Radiation Therapist in 2014 – the basics don’t change but our horizons do

Outline Who I am Who ROQ is Radiation Therapist Basics and Beyond - -

Who I am? I am a Radiation Therapist Now CEO of ROQ Proud to be an RT and passionate about our profession So many opportunities for the RT in 2014 Recognise the past and embrace the future

Who ROQ is? kms 1000 miles

Our Profession Complex work – technically demanding, emotionally demanding Challenging Technology driven Team focus Service to our communities Opportunities are endless

The Basics Exceptional Patient Care Technical competence – planning and treatment Fundamental knowledge of how our discipline works Team work Communication

The Basics - -

IGRT - -

IGRT - -

Complex Dosimetry - -

Complex Delivery - -

The Basics Foundation of everything we do These things don’t change The environment, our horizons do and they are changing rapidly

Acceptance RT is an amazing career with amazing challenges Technology, learning, growth opportunities It is not an easy career and to be truly successful is extremely difficult You can do it

Beyond Role in 2014 and beyond Basics Leadership – complex environment Mentorship – new technology means more teaching and ‘refresh’ learning

Beyond Research – present, publish Innovation – new ideas, ‘road test’ software and hardware Workplace Culture – patient care is not great in a dysfunctional environment Workflow Design – leaps in ‘paperless’ departments

Beyond Professional Development - endless Multi-faceted professional

The Horizon Health More with less $ Brain drain – exceptional RTs Technology changing faster than our ability to adapt?

The Horizon Evolution in techniques and delivery technologies will accelerate Care more and more personalised Communication and information transfer Consumer knowledge increases Exceptional Patient Care Smarter and more innovative than ever before

The Horizon Innovation Courage

Innovation Innovation = Motivation and Resources

Innovation - -

How do we embrace the Beyond? Where is the next generation of leaders? Disruptive thought, thought leaders Challenge the way we have done things

Embrace Change Pride in our profession Empathy – scares people Leadership, vision, people need to know ‘why’ and how we are going to get there

Embrace Change Listen! – regularly assess your processes Remove SSDs Remove tracking of iso-shifts Breast technique - evolve

Embrace Change Don’t be insular/isolated Look to successful organisations/leaders Attendance at International meetings Present at International meetings

Learn Externally - -

Scan Horizons - -

Scan Horizons CTs MRI Pain relief for chemotherapy and radiation treatments INSPIRING ‘We choose to go to the moon’

Blueprint for success Get a mentor 2. Get motivated 3. Build relationships and networks 4. Be passionate about your career – you worked hard to get here, make it count 5. Confront your public speaking fear – conquer it 6. Embrace support and feedback – understand gratitude 7. Be prepared to work hard – success does not land in your lap! 8. Be bold

Team - -

Team - -

Conclusion We can be more than our traditional stereotype Clinical excellence Academic expertise Management and motivation Innovation and thought leaders

Conclusion We can do research We can present our work internationally and hold our own in any company We can publish our work We can lift our research profile Recognition = Status = Rewards

- - INNOVATION VISION BASICS Conclusion

- - In 2014, in 2020 and in 2050 one basic fundamental will never change; Hard Work = Success “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Theodore Roosevelt Conclusion