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The Royal College of Radiologists, London, United Kingdom Introduction

Introduction

The Royal College of Radiologists celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2015 and has published an illustrated time-line for 1975–2015 to celebrate this event [1]. The Royal College has an international membership and readers of Nowotwory, will I am sure, be interested in this major radiological centenary. The text of the time-line is reproduced in this article by Nowotwory’s Co-Editor, Richard F. Mould, who is an Honorary Member of The Royal College and has served as an examiner in physics and statistics for the FRCR.

Time-Line

1895. Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays.

1898. Marie and Pierre Curie discovered polonium and radium.

1918. George Eastman introduced radiographic films.

1934. British Association of Radiologists is founded to promote the interests of radiology in relation to medicine.

1935. British Association of Radiologists created a higher radiological qualification known as the Fellowship.

1939. The Faculty of Radiologists formed by amalgamating the British Association of Radiologists and the Society of Radiotherapists of Great Britain and Ireland.

1942. ‘Nitrogen mustard’ first used in the USA to treat lymphoma patients. This is considered the start of chemotherapy.

1948. National Health Service was established in the UK.

1949. First issue of the Journal of the Faculty of Radiologists published.

1953. HM The Queen honoured the Faculty by granting it a Charter.

1958. Iridium, commonly used artificial source for brachytherapy, employed for the first time.

1961. The Faculty of Radiologists received its first Coat of Arms.

1962. Kuhl introduced emission reconstruction tomography. Later known as SPECT and PET.

1967. First clinical use of MRI in England.

1969. First Faculty Newsletter issued to the membership.

1970s. ‘Real-time’ ultrasound machines introduced.

1972. Principles of CT scanning discovered by Godfrey Houn- sfield [physicist] and James Ambrose [radiologist].

1975. The Faculty of Radiologists gained the title The Royal College of Radiologists on 12 February. The first President of The Royal College of Radiologists was Sir Howard Middlemiss. First FRCR examinations held in Singapore.

1978. The College moved into its first permanent HQ at 38, Portland Place, London. First FRCR examinations held in Hong Kong.

1979. HRH Duke of Edinburgh opened the building and admitted as an Honorary Fellow.

1986. RCR Annual Scientific Meeting introduced.

1989. Making the best use of a Department of Radiology first published. First issue of the Clinical Oncology journal published.

1991. Faculties of Clinical Oncology and Clinical Radiology established.

1994. The RCR was one of the first Colleges to establish a continuing medical education [CME] process.

1995. First RCR website launched.

2000. First NHS cancer plan published.

2004. RCR elects its first female President: Professor Dame Janet Husband DBE.

2007. Radiology-Integrated Training Initiative launched.

2008. Imaging Services Accreditation Scheme established.

2010. Interventional radiology recognised as a radiology subspecialty.

2013. The College moved to 63, Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

2014. First membership survey was undertaken.

2015. First FRCR examinations held in India.

Dr Qaiser Malik

The Royal College of Radiologists

63, Lincoln’s Inn Fields

London WC2A 3JW

United Kingdom