Attending the annual meeting of ESTRO held in May 2024 in Glasgow was a remarkable experience. At this, my first international congress, I was thoroughly impressed by the size and variety of topics covered, as well as the number of participants.

Before diving into the congress activities, I had the chance to explore Glasgow, a city vibrant with culture and history. The University of Glasgow's stunning architecture and the city's myriad of restaurants offering global cuisines added a delightful personal touch to the trip.

The congress itself was a whirlwind of insightful talks and innovative presentations. I had the honour of delivering an oral presentation on my research, Direct aperture optimization-based pathfinding for dynamic collimator mixed beam radiotherapy¹, during the Proffered Papers session focused on Treatment planning and optimisation – new tools and applications. My presentation highlighted an innovative approach, combining non-coplanarity with mixed photon-electron beam modality, and unveiled a dosimetrically optimised pathfinding strategy for non-coplanar photon and electron arcs, which are optimised simultaneously. The response from the audience, filled with experts, was overwhelmingly positive, sparking numerous questions and lively discussions. It was incredibly rewarding to see the efforts of our group recognised and appreciated, affirming our contributions to advancing radiotherapy.

Additionally, I had the privilege of chairing a mini-oral session titled ‘Dose Calculation and Dose Quality Assurance’ (QA), together with a colleague in medical physics. Facilitating discussions on cutting-edge topics like deep learning-based out-of-field dose estimation, national QA guidelines for deformable dose mapping, and automated initial chart checks was both challenging and fulfilling. The engagement and exchange of ideas were invigorating.

ESTRO's organisation was impeccable. Although I couldn't attend every talk, the user-friendly app allowed easy access to the programme and recorded sessions, ensuring I didn't miss out on valuable content. The Women in Physics (WESTRO) lunch dedicated to female researchers was particularly inspiring, showcasing the achievements and status of women in the field, and highlighting the importance of diversity in radiotherapy.

One of the highlights was attending the award sessions and seeing Prof. Van Herk in person, a figure whose margin formula I had studied extensively during my university years. Moreover, the young ESTRO session added a fun twist with a creative quiz, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Kudos to the organisers for their ingenuity!

Networking was another significant aspect of the congress. It was heartening to reconnect with familiar faces and forge new connections. Meeting people from various countries, including those I had previously only communicated with via email, enriched my experience. Reuniting with colleagues, professors, and ex-classmates from my master’s studies, whom I hadn't seen since the pandemic, was truly special.

Overall, attending ESTRO 2024 was an exceptional experience. The combination of professional growth, personal connections, and the beautiful setting of Glasgow made it unforgettable. I look forward to participating in future ESTRO congresses again and continuing this journey of learning and collaboration in radiotherapy!

¹ C. Zhu et al., “Direct aperture optimization-based pathfinding for dynamic collimator mixed beam radiotherapy”, in ESTRO Annual Meeting, 2024. ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book (cld.bz)

Chengchen Zhu

Division of Medical Radiation Physics and Department of Radiation Oncology

Inselspital of Bern

Bern, Switzerland

chengchen.zhu@insel.ch