Fall 2023 Breast Imaging Symposium
Sep 30, 2023 to Oct 1, 2023
Mammography Educators will bring the best in education to Canada with its annual Breast Imaging Symposium in Calgary. This 10-15 credit course is directed by Ms. Louise Miller, R.T.(R)(M). Our conferences are informative, up to date, and fun! We will provide attendees with practical and applicable skills guaranteed to improve image quality and patient care, with a bonus hands-on positioning workshop, at no additional cost!
Contact: jess@mammographyeducators.com
Radiation Safety in Digital Radiography and Fluoroscopy
Oct 14, 2023
On completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
1- Radiation Safety in Digital Radiography
- Describe the biological effects of exposure to ionizing radiation
- Explain the factors affecting dose in digital radiography
- Outline six optimization strategies in digital radiography
- Explore the use of DRLs as a tool in dose optimization in digital radiography
- Explain the current status of gonadal shielding in digital radiography
2- Radiation Safety in Fluoroscopy and Interventional Radiology
- Explain the factors affecting radiation doses in Fluoroscopy and Interventional Radiology
- Explore optimization Strategies in Fluoroscopy and Interventional Radiology
3- Effects of Low Dose Ionizing Radiation (LDIR) on Immune System
- Explore the literature of LDIR
- Explain the biological effects of LDIR with a focus on non-targeted effects (NTEs).
Contact: valhamouche@vcaeducation.ca
Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Live Webinar
Oct 21, 2023
1-Introduction to Osteoporosis: Causes, Prevention, Treatment and Imaging
• Understand Bone morphology and physiology
• Explore the causes of Osteoporosis and prevention approaches
• Understand the treatment methods of Osteoporosis
• Understand the physical principles of DXA/DEXA imaging
• Explore other imaging modalities of BMD
2- BMD Quality Control (QC), Accuracy & Precision
• Understand QC and technologist role within the facility.
• Recognize the importance of accuracy & precision when performing DXA scans.
3- Patient positioning during DEXA and DEXA measurements
• Preparation of the patient for DEXA imaging
• Correct patient positioning
• Variabilities of scan length
• Alternative patient positioning and useful tips
• DEXA measurements (image analysis)
Contact: valhamouche@vcaeducation.ca
Breast Imaging
Nov 4, 2023
The live webinar will be about:
- Dense Breasts – Troubleshooting and Tailoring to history
- Optimization of positioning and compression in mammography
- Digital Breast Tomosynthesis – From Screening to Image-guided procedure
- Digital Mammography QC
Contact: valhamouche@vcaeducation.ca
MRI Safety and Artifacts
Nov 18, 2023
1- MRI Safety Overview
Objectives:
- Discuss the 3 forms of electromagnetism and safety concerns
- Introduce passive implant clearance
- Explain active implant clearance
2- Title: MRI Artifacts and Remedies
Objectives:
- Define artifacts in MR Imaging
- Explore the different types of artifacts with clinical examples.
- Discuss the remedies and image optimization.
- Learn about the prevention of occurrence of MRI artifacts.
Contact: valhamouche@vcaeducation.ca
CT – Recent Technical Advances and Protocols
Nov 18, 2023
OBJECTIVES
On completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
1- CT Recent Technical Advances:
- State the motivation for the development of Artificial Intelligence-Based
algorithms for image reconstruction in Computed Tomography (CT). - Identify the types of detectors used in CT: Energy Integrating Detectors (EIDs) and Photon Counting Detectors (PCDs)
- Describe the fundamental principles and technology of PCDs used in CT scanners
- Outline the scope of clinical applications of photon-counting CT
2- Evaluating CT protocols:
- Understand the role of CT imaging for interventional procedures.
- Identify chest CT protocols used in the evaluation of COVID
-Evaluate common protocols to assess pathology in the head, neck, extremities, abdomen and pelvis
3- Strategic Approach for Pediatric CT Imaging:
- Evaluate and standardize pediatric imaging protocol considering age, weight and area of interest.
- Explore techniques in creating a child-friendly environment in the CT.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals to optimize Pediatric CT imaging orders with justifications while considering ALARA principles.
Contact: valhamouche@vcaeducation.ca
X-Ray Safety Officer Refresher (XSOR)
This is a one-day instructor-led course for those who have previously taken the three-day X-Ray Safety Officer Course and wish to refresh their knowledge. The course consists of a group activity and six presentations: Radiation and X-Ray Production, Radiation Quantities and Units, Health
Effects and Radiation Protection, Regulations, X-Ray System and Imaging, Radiation Detection Instrumentation. A certificate is awarded to all participants who attend the full day, there is no exam. The course instructional time is roughly 6 hours.
Contact: thargreaves@radiationsafety.ca
Radiation Safety Officer Course (RSO-1)
Students will receive certificate designed to provide qualifications for radiation safety personnel for companies and institutions using radioactive materials under Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) regulations. The course will enable attendees to understand radiation detection, instrumentation and dosimetry, biological and health effects of exposure to radiations, radiation protection principles and practices. This is a certificate course.
Contact: mcosta@radiationsafety.ca
Radiation Safety Officer Refresher Course (RSO-2)
This training is designed for RSO-1 graduates, reinforcing and reviving what was learned in the RSO-1 course as the CNSC recommends that certified RSOs update their knowledge every 3 years. Topics include radiation quantities and units; workplace radiation safety programs; organization and administration; emergency procedures; employee training; transportation of radioactive materials; workplace inspections and audits, regulatory agencies, licensing of nuclear substances and radiation devices and key section of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act.
Contact: mcosta@radiationsafety.ca
X-ray Safety Officer course (XSO-1)
This course is designed to prepare participants to take charge of an X-ray Safety Program and be responsible under provincial and federal regulations for the safety of employees exposed to x-rays at work. The program will cover protection principles and practices and key federal, provincial and territorial regulations; it will also include topics such as health effects of exposure, instrumentation, scattering and attenuation. All participants who successfully pass the exam will receive an XSO Certificate.
Contact: mcosta@radiationsafety.ca
MRI Safety (Course #138)
• MRI accidents
• Site access restrictions
• Danger to patients and staff
• MRI contraindications
• Magnetic field/scan room emergencies
Contact: juancarlos.arroyo@bayer.com
Module 6 – Clinical Magnetic Resonance Angiography
- Describe the role of gadolinium-based contrast agents in vascular imaging
- Explain the role of phase contrast and time-of-flight imaging to create images using magnetic resonance angiography
- Discuss bolus detection techniques and timing methods
- Recognize patient risk factors and respond to the most common adverse patient reactions to MRI contrast media
- Identify common postprocessing reconstructions used in MRA
- List the imaging techniques used in MRA and MRV for various portions of the vasculature, including those that benefit from the use of contrast enhancement
Contact: Radiologysolutions.ca@bayer.com
Acute Allergic Like Reactions to Gadolinium: Frequency and Severity, Recognition and Management (Course #181)
• Frequency and Severity of allergic-like reactions: Literature review and Data from Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
• Recognition of an allergic like reaction to Gadolinium
• Management of acute allergic-like reactions
Contact: juancarlos.arroyo@bayer.com
Module 7 – Cardiac MRI
- Explain the unique challenges of imaging the heart
- Identify the basic anatomy of the heart and great vessels
- Explain cardiac gating principles and patient safety and setup
- Discuss the principles of the primary pulse sequences and image contrast
- Describe the principles of bright-blood and black-blood pulse sequences
- Demonstrate proper planes of acquisition for obtaining standard cardiac views
- Explain common applications of cardiac MR imaging
- Apply common acquisition protocols
Contact: Radiologysolutions.ca@bayer.com
MRI Guided Biopsy A to Z (Course #194)
o Indications
o Choosing the biopsy device
o Planning the approach (lat vs med)
o Core vs vacuum assisted biopsy (VAB)
Contact: juancarlos.arroyo@bayer.com
Peripheral MR Angiography A tech’s guide Dr Klass
Feb 28, 2026
Webinar from Dr. Klass
Contact: belinda.butcher@bayer.com
Additional MRI Screening in women with extremely dense breasts (Recorded Webinar
Feb 28, 2026
Webinar from Dr. van Gils PhD
Contact: belinda.butcher@bayer.com
Module 10 – MR Image Formation and Imaging Techniques
- Describe the two fundamental pulse sequence categories
- Explain the time parameters TE and TR
- Discuss how the flip angle affects image appearance
- Describe how images can be enhanced with the use of contrast agents
- Describe how 2D and 3D images are generated using gradient magnetic fields
- Explain the concepts of k-space and Fourier transform
- List several additional imaging techniques and their contrast properties
- Describe how these techniques differ from conventional spin echo and gradient echo pulse sequences
Contact: Radiologysolutions.ca@bayer.com
Rethinking Breast Cancer Screening: Abbreviated Breast MRI
Feb 28, 2026
Webinar from Dr. Kuhl
Contact: belinda.butcher@bayer.com
Module 1-MRI of the Brain and Spine
- Describe current surface coil technology, field strength and gradient power, and pulse sequences that drive MRI of the central nervous system
- Characterize specific applications of MR brain imaging, including demyelinating disease, primary brain tumors, and vascular disease
- Explain the techniques of MR angiography and venography
- Discuss why MRI of the fetal brain is superior to ultrasound
- Describe various differential diagnoses including infections, inflammatory, and vascular disease and the role of MRI in narrowing the diagnosis
Contact: Radiologysolutions.ca@bayer.com
Contrast Enhanced MRI – What’s new in 2020 and beyond ? (Recorded Webinar)
Feb 28, 2026
Webinar from Dr. Pietsch
Contact: belinda.butcher@bayer.com
Module 11-MRI Contrast Agent Safety
- Define the different types of MR contrast media
- Determine specific contrast media appropriate for different types of MR examinations
- Recognize and respond to the most common adverse patient reactions to MR contrast agent administration
Contact: Radiologysolutions.ca@bayer.com
Best Practices in Pediatric MR Protocolling Course
Dr Ravi Bhargava from Stollery Children’s Hospital discusses best practices in Pediatric MR Proticolling
Contact: belinda.butcher@bayer.com
Risk Adjusted Breast Screening Strategies
Feb 28, 2026
Webinar from Dr. Mann and Dr. Sardinelli
Contact: belinda.butcher@bayer.com
Module 9 – Basic Principles of MRI
- List the different types of tomographic imaging
- Explain how MRI and CT differ
- Explain the atomic structure of the hydrogen proton and its utility in MRI
- Describe how the hydrogen proton responds when placed in an external magnetic field
- Explain how a rotating magnetic field affects the behavior of hydrogen protons
- Describe how protons can be reoriented to longitudinal and transverse directions
- Compare and contrast transverse and longitudinal relaxation
- Describe the time constants relevant to transverse and longitudinal relaxation
- Explain Faraday’s law
Contact: Radiologysolutions.ca@bayer.com
CT Contrast Extravasation: Can it be Decreased ? (Recorded Webinar)
CT scans have altered medicine in many ways, resulting in less exploratory surgeries, better pathology diagnosis, and even changes in the way doctors practice medicine. But if CT scans offer several benefits for diagnosis, CT contrast extravasations may carry downsides, from compartment syndrome to tissue necrosis.
In this video, Dr. Ryan K. Lee talks about CT contrast extravasation, its definition and its implications, and provides tips and tricks to decrease it.
Contact: belinda.butcher@bayer.com
Multidisciplinary Expert Panel on the Utilization and Application of a Liver-Specific MRI Contrast Agent (Gadoxetic Acid)
Feb 28, 2026
Contact: belinda.butcher@bayer.com
Module 2 – Advanced MRI Neurological Applications
- Explain the fundamental principles of echo planar imaging
- Describe the mechanisms of diffusion – and perfusion -weighted imaging
- Identify clinical uses of diffusion – and perfusion -weighted imaging
- Describe the principles and applications of BOLD imaging
- Explain the basis of magnetic resonance spectroscopy
- Identify the various techniques used with MR spectroscopy
- Evaluate the factors that can affect the quality of MR spectroscopy
Contact: Radiologysolutions.ca@bayer.com
Safety of LOCMs and Ultravist – Live Webcast
Feb 28, 2026
Contact: elinda.butcher@bayer.com
Module 3 – Patient and Facility Safety in MRI
- Identify patient safety hazards as they relate to the static magnetic field and transmitted radiofrequencies
- Identify patient contraindications to an MRI examination
- Describe procedures used to ensure patient comfort and safety during an MRI scan
- Describe the biological and physical hazards of MRI
- Explain the different zones in the MRI suite and the access restrictions for each
- Discuss environmental safety procedures in MRI
Contact: Radiologysolutions.ca@bayer.com