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The adoption and implementation of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) is continuously growing. Many centers with few machines are present in Italy, and medical physicists could have limited preparation on the dosimetric and technical aspects of SBRT. A national working group (WG) on the physics aspects of SBRT started in 2013 to support medical physics services approaching the treatment of high dose image-guided hypo-fractionation radiotherapy (AIFM/SBRT-WG). A journal club (JC) is an academic structure in which group of individuals meet regularly to critically evaluate recent articles on a specific topic. Leveraging on the academia, we aim to report the adoption of an online JC based approach for improving the awareness of AIFM/SBRT-WG members, mainly employed in hospital.

Starting in 2018, a bi-monthly online JC focusing on the physics of SBRT was introduced. All the 157 members of the AIFM/SBRT-WG were invited to propose specific paper, and eventually, present it to the whole WG during the JC. At this aim, a google survey was periodically proposed. In case, external experts were asked to present the paper and report their experience on a specific topic. The paper presented in the JC was shared in advance so that all attendees could read it before the event. The coordinators of the WG acted as facilitators of the JC.

So far, 19 online JCs were organized. An average of 29 online accounts (i.e. >45 medical physicists) participated to the JCs. Each paper was analytically presented during the first 15 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of discussion. The most interest topics were: SBRT planning, motion management during SBRT delivery, radiobiology of SBRT, small field dosimetry, in vivo dosimetry, and automation. Most of JC's presenters worked in small hospitals. In two cases, the speakers were international experts on the subject. In four cases, the JC topic was the starting point for further study and scientific articles (on dosimetry and small field planning), a letter to the editor (online pancreatic re-planning) and a specific subgroup was created (knowledge-based multi-center planning).

The experience of AIFM/SBRT-WG has shown how online JC can enable personal growth in SBRT knowledge. Recently, other Italian WGs have started performing online JC. Our expectation is to inspire other scientific societies facing fragmented contexts.