International Day of Radiology: Know the History, Significance and Theme
Read more to know the history, significance and theme of World Radiography day 2021.
Every year, International Day of Radiology is observed on November 8 to commemorate the discovery of X-radiation, or X-rays. In 1895 German scientist Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen has discovered the X-radiation, X-rays. In 1901, he became the first recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery.
The father of Radiology
Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen was a German mechanical engineer and physicist. When he was three years old his family moved to Holland. In 1865, he was expelled from high school after his teachers intercepted a caricature of one of the teachers, which was drawn by someone else.
As per nobel.prize.org, "Röntgen earned his undergraduate degree at the ETH Zurich University and received his doctorate in physics from the University of Zurich. Following his studies, Wilhelm Röntgen worked at universities in Strasbourg, Giessen, and Würzburg, where he carried out his Nobel Prize-awarded research. In 1900 Röntgen transferred to the University of Munich, where he remained for the rest of his life, despite plans to emigrate to the US. Wilhelm Röntgen married Bertha Ludwig in 1872. The couple later adopted the daughter of Bertha’s brother."
Significance of the day
International Day of Radiology is celebrated to create awareness about the contribution of radiology in patient care. It is also emphasized to understand the role played by radiologists and radiological technologists in healthcare.
History of the day
The day is celebrated across the globe by several national radiographers’ associations and societies. International Day of Radiology is celebrated on 8 November since 2007 by the International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists. In India, the day is celebrated by Radiographers Association of Madhya Pradesh since 1996. The theme for this year was raised by Shivakant Vajpai, secretary of Madhya Pradesh Radiographers Association.
Theme
This year the theme for the day is ‘Interventional Radiology – Active care for the patient’, aiming to invite "everyone to celebrate the essential role that interventional radiology plays in treating patients."
