The American College of Radiology’s Innovative Research Registry

A resident of Sarasota, Florida, Dr. Alan H. Porter is an experienced radiation oncologist who was ranked for 14 consecutive years (from 1996 to 2010) among the “Best Doctors in America” database. Currently, he serves as the director of Porter Radiation Oncology. Dr. Alan Porter is board certified and a fellow of the American College of Radiology (ACR).

Founded in 1923, ACR is the leading professional society for radiology, comprising over 40,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, and nuclear medicine physicians across North America.

In 2021, ACR announced the launch of a National Clinical Imaging Research Registry (ANCIRR). The existing six ANCIRR registries utilize ACR’s best clinical research and informatics resources, as will the eight additional planned registries. They are designed to collect diverse data and images from multiple institutions and integrate them into large diagnostic and research databases.

Unlike another ACR registry, the National Radiology Data Registry, which collects data from practices to facilitate clinical quality improvement, the ANCIRR registries aim at enabling researchers to tackle complex scientific problems and achieve results with a broader geographical and social outreach.

How the Imaging 3.0 Initiative by ACR Helps Radiologists

With more than 50 years of radiation oncology expertise, Dr. Alan H. Porter has been the director of Porter Radiation Oncology since 1975. There, he provides radiation therapy for people diagnosed with cancer and brain tumors. Dr. Alan Porter is also a member of the Physicians Advisory Council and a fellow of the American College of Radiology (ACR).

The ACR represents radiation oncologists, radiologists, medical physicists, and nuclear medicine physicians, and is engaged in advancing the field through research and providing members with clinical, economic and advocacy tools. ACR members have access to at least 73 hours of online continuing education activities. They are also involved in valuable industry programs such as the Imaging 3.0 initiative.

Imaging 3.0 is a network of services and tools designed by radiologists to transition from volume-based imaging care to value-based imaging care. Its resources aim to help other radiologists be more active in their patient care and practice management processes, optimizing imaging at the point of treatment. Some Imaging 3.0 network elements are individual and self-directed work plans for radiologists; useful resources such as case studies and articles; expert advice; and a network of collaborators.

The Imaging 3.0 initiative supports greater involvement of radiologists and integrates their services with the work of physicians. Using this network will enable radiologists to advocate for their patients, provide them with more transparency, and empower them to understand and choose among the imaging options available for their medical situation.

About IMRT or Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy

Dr. Alan H. Porter is a board-certified doctor, specializing in radiology and more specifically in radiation oncology. Dr. Alan Porter has over 45 years of experience and was listed among the “Best Doctors in America” from 1996 to 2016. He is currently the director of Porter Radiation Oncology in Sarasota since 1975.

Radiation oncology involves the use of radiation to treat cancer or to alleviate pain and other symptoms. This type of therapy is constantly evolving. In recent years, a specific type of radiation therapy called IMRT, or intensity-modulated radiation therapy, has proven to be successful in treating cancer while reducing side effects.

The technology was first introduced in the 1980s but has since evolved. It is now being used to treat even tumors that were previously considered untreatable because of their proximity to vital organs. IMRT involves varying the intensity of the radiation, delivering more precise radiation doses to the tumor while reducing the amount of radiation that reaches surrounding healthy tissues.

The accuracy of the technology, which uses computer-generated images to deliver focuses radiation beams, has enabled physicians to effectively treat head and neck tumors, prostate cancer, and tumors in the brain, breast, liver, lung, nasopharynx, uterus, and pancreas.

NOSCM 2020 Now Set for November

Named one of the “Best Doctors in America” by Woodard and White, Dr. Alan H. Porter has decades of experience as the director of Porter Radiation Oncology in Sarasota, Florida, and holds board certification from the American College of Radiology (ACR). Dr. Alan H. Porter has also served as the president of local professional organizations, such as the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO).

Committed to supporting professionals in fields ranging from gynecology to radiation and oncology, FLASCO advocates for top-quality patient care by encouraging cooperation across disciplines and promoting research and legislative support. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has moved several of its events online, but hopes to host its 15th Annual New Orleans Summer Cancer Meeting (NOSCM) in November.

Set for November 20-22 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans, this year’s NOSCM will address the topic of “advancing cancer care by applying molecular medicine.” Throughout the three days of training, the event will provide concurrent opportunities for physicians and nurses with a particular focus on immunotherapy.

FLASCO used feedback from previous years to guide the direction for this year’s training, which will cover areas ranging from liquid biopsy diagnosis techniques to customized therapy and supportive care. The conference will include a discussion of various approaches and the opportunity to learn from experts in each field.

To register and receive a discount for the event, or to find the latest details on whether it will happen as planned, visit www.flasco.org.