The ESTRO Radiation Oncology Safety and Quality Committee (ROSQC) plays a key role in advancing safety, quality, and risk management in radiotherapy. Established in 2016, the committee brings together experts from various disciplines to foster a cohesive and collaborative approach to these critical issues. In this interview, we welcome Daniel Portik as a new ROSQC member and learn more about his background, research interests, and motivations for joining the committee.

Who are you?

I am a radiation oncologist who is transitioning back to clinical work at Maastro, The Netherlands, after having completed a research fellowship at the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). 

Who is your role model?

This would be the author John Green, who is a good representation of personal success while also being a promoter of vibrant, active communities. After achieving considerable wins in his author career, he used his voice to fight for better treatments for tuberculosis. He also co-created with his brother the community of Nerdfighteria.

What is your educational background?

In 2015, I graduated from George Emil Palade University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Târgu Mureș, Romania. In 2016, I started my training as a radiation oncologist at the Ion Chiricuță Oncology Institute of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Since finishing my training, I have worked as a radiation oncologist specialist in a private practice setting in Romania, treating patients from the Transylvania region.

My involvement with ESTRO has increased through the young committee and the mentoring programme, which led me to pursue more research opportunities. Since May 2022, I have been the Emmanuel van der Schueren radiotherapy quality assurance (RTQA) fellow at EORTC. 

In November 2024, I resumed a clinical role at Maastro under the breast and lung cancer team.

What is your area of research?

I have participated in projects run by the EORTC’s lung cancer group, such as the definition of resectability for lung cancer projects. 

In my role as an RTQA researcher, my research interests naturally gravitated towards this topic. I have become involved with projects that are focused on staples of RTQA procedures such as benchmark cases and individual case-review analysis. I have also participated in projects that use semi-automation. Based on my involvement in these projects, my interest in joining the ESTRO ROSQC grew.

How long have you been an ESTRO member?

I have been an ESTRO member since 2016.

What is your role within the committee?

I am an ESTRO young committee representative serving as an observer on the ROSQ committee.

Why did you want to join the committee?

I strongly believe in brainstorming and teamwork to solve complex issues that revolve around quality assurance and quality control. With the multidisciplinary approach of the committee, it is a place where everyone can feel welcome. The ROSQ committee can provide value to the larger radiotherapy community by providing guidance on how to maintain quality and safety in radiotherapy practice.

Through my membership, I will strive to promote increased representation for East and South European radiotherapy professionals at the annual congress and other ESTRO activities.

What would you like to improve under the umbrella of ROSQC?

I would like to improve the quality assurance processes of radiotherapy trials.

Is there specific radiation protection legislation you have to comply with in your country?

In my home country, radiotherapy departments have to comply with the legislation enforced by the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control.

What role has ESTRO played in your career?

ESTRO has played a pivotal role in influencing my career as a radiation oncologist. My first experience with ESTRO was in 2016 when I participated in the course on the multidisciplinary approach to cancer imaging in Amsterdam. The next year I applied and was selected for ESTRO’s travel grant so that I could attend the target volume delineation course in Lisbon, Portugal. This course provided invaluable information during residency training, and I reverted to the course material time and time again. After I attended ESTRO 37 in Barcelona, Spain, the congress has become a must for me, so that I can stay abreast of the latest research and developments in the field of radiotherapy.

I also availed myself of the opportunity to participate in the pilot-mentoring programme after the 2021 ESTRO congress in Madrid, Spain. I was grateful to be paired with Professor Marianne Aznar from The Christie Hospital in Manchester, UK, who is both an experienced researcher and well-established in the ESTRO organisation. She was constantly encouraging me to increase my involvement in research, which led me to apply to EORTC’s RTQA fellowship. I can say the mentoring programme has been a positive influence on my career.

What ESTRO activities have you been involved in so far? And in the future, are there some specific missions within the Society that you would like to participate in?

Since 2022 I have been a young ESTRO committee member, and in 2024 I joined the ROSQ committee as an observer.

After being a mentee, I joined the mentoring programme as an organiser. As a member of the organising team, I have got to know many members of ESTRO who are well-established in their careers. They have encouraged and motivated me to take on challenging roles in my own professional career.

On the research side, I have worked with ESTRO workgroups that are dedicated to the topic of re-irradiation, which originated as a physics workshop. Recently, there was an open call for new reviewers for ESTRO’s family of journals and following some coaching I have taken up a position as a reviewer.

With a large proportion of ESTRO members falling under the ‘young’ category, I would like to see a bigger emphasis on meeting the needs of these ESTRO members. ESTRO has taken some steps to address this need, with the creation of focus groups. It is an exciting time to join ESTRO’s activities as you can see plenty of changes with the introduction of new innovations to the annual congress such as the ESTRO journey programme.

Why would you recommend to students and young radiation oncology professionals that they become members of ESTRO?

ESTRO can provide ample opportunity to connect with radiation oncology professionals across Europe. It is vital to promote opportunities for collaboration in modern oncology by inviting young and dedicated individuals to exchange knowledge.

Furthermore, radiation oncologists must form a strong community to represent ourselves in the larger field of oncology. Radiotherapy may be considered as a treatment option in at least 50% of cancers diagnosed and we must work to promote the continuous advances and opportunities with this treatment modality.

Daniel Portik,

Radiation oncologist, Maastro, The Netherlands

Observer at ROSQC from the young committee