My experience at ESTRO 2023

I am thrilled to announce I have attended and given a talk at my very first conference, European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) 2023, which took place from 12th to 16th of May in the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria. My abstract titled “Dosimetric impact of bowel filling during proton therapy for paediatric abdominal neuroblastoma”, co-authored by A.C. Ghica, D.Botnariuc, M. Hussein, V. Rompokos, D. D’Souza, M. Gaze, J. Gains, P. Lim, and C. Veiga, was chosen for a 4-minute mini-oral presentation, followed by an engaging 3-minute discussion. The work I presented was part of the research project I conducted during my MSci Medical Physics degree in the 2021/22 academic year.

ESTRO conference surpassed all my expectations. The level of collaboration and interdisciplinary exchange was astounding, and the depth of knowledge presented in the various sessions was truly remarkable. I was particularly drawn to the sessions showcasing the potential of automation and AI to revolutionise patient care and the insights into how these technologies are being integrated into clinical workflows.

Delivering a talk at ESTRO was a blend of excitement, nervousness, and a profound sense of accomplishment. The engagement of the audience and the positive feedback I received filled me with immense gratitude and validated the efforts I had put into my research. It was truly inspiring to witness a community that recognised and appreciated the contributions of young women in science like myself. In addition, seeing my work recognised by a wider audience despite only having an undergraduate background, is the greatest accomplishment I have gained so far, both academic and personal.

ESTRO conference offered various networking opportunities, ranging from poster discussions to informal exchanges at industry exhibits. However, the standout event for me was the Young ESTRO dinner, which was a great occasion to interact with fellow young professionals in a relaxed and informal setting. I found it inspiring and humbling to meet individuals who shared the same passion for radiotherapy and oncology as me, as well as to exchange ideas and experiences with them.

Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Athena SWAN committee, whose generous sponsorship made my attendance at the conference possible. Furthermore, I am profoundly thankful for my supervisor, Dr. Catarina Veiga, whose encouragement played an important role in my participation to the event. I truly believe their support allowed me to break down barriers in a male-dominated field, and that I was able to make a difference in my career as a young female researcher. Having such a great experience marking the beginning of my PhD journey has fueled my drive and enthusiasm to contribute to the field of radiotherapy in the forthcoming years.

Ana-Cristina Ghica is a current PhD student on the EPSRC i4Health CDT programme and studied on the MSci Medical Physics programme during 2018-2022.