From early detection to lifesaving action: 

Navigating the National Lung Cancer Screening Program

About the Webinar

Lung cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in Australia¹

July 1 sees the introduction of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) which aims to achieve better health outcomes for Australians by detecting lung cancer early and reducing deaths from lung cancer.

The NLCSP will be using low dose CT scans to look for lung cancer in high-risk people without any symptoms. As primary care providers GPs will be responsible for providing patient referral into the program.

I-MED Radiology, as Australia's largest provider of radiology services and of sub specialist chest imaging expertise, will be offering this screening across most of our clinics nationwide.

In readiness, 2 of our sub specialist radiologists are hosting a national webinar on Tuesday May 13^th @ 6:30pm AEST.

Professor Catherine Jones has been heavily involved in the design and implementation of the NLCSP, advising the Commonwealth as a member of the Expert Advisory Committee and Data Development Working Group. She sits on the Australian Cancer Data Alliance and also the executive of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Thoracic Radiology. Catherine chairs the RANZCR working groups on AI and Radiology Training/Education for the upcoming National Lung Cancer Screening Program which will address the eligibility criteria, the screening pathway and how the screening process will work with I-MED.

Dr Janu Pirakalathanan has extensive experience in lung cancer imaging, procedural lung interventions and MDT involvement. She has been part of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program since its inception in 2019, in various roles and more recently on the AI subcommittee. She is also a member of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Thoracic Radiology.

Learning Outcomes from attending this webinar:

• Describe the benefits of lung cancer screening in high-risk populations, related to the NLCSP
• Identify the eligibility criteria and referral pathway
• Interpret screening results and manage follow up care

This event is pending approval as a CPD Accredited Activity for the RACGP and ACRRM CPD Program in the 2023-2025 triennium.

^{¹. Aust Gov Dept of Health & Aged Care: www.health.gov.au/our-work/nlcsp/about}

Read more about our presenters

Professor Catherine Jones MBBS, BSc, FRCR, FRANZCR Professor Jones practises general radiology with a strong interest in cardiothoracic imaging, including occupational lung disease imaging, particularly in dust-exposed workers. She advises several governments and clinical taskforces on appropriate imaging in dust disease and is Associate Professor at the School of Public and Preventive Health at Monash University. Catherine obtained her B Reader qualification from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) from the United States, part of the CDC network. This qualification recognises her ability in thoracic radiology in the setting of pneumoconiosis detection. The importance of pneumoconiosis surveillance, not just in the coal mining industry but in affiliated industry such as the building and civil engineering sectors, is becoming increasingly recognised. She is also adjunct professor at the University of Sydney, curating content for medical students and clinicians. She works with medical AI companies to develop clinically useful AI tools for medical imaging interpretation, workflow, and education of doctors and other healthcare professionals. In 2024, Professor Jones was announced winner in the Women in AI Asia Pacific (APAC) Awards in the AI for Health category.

Dr Janu Pirakalathanan MBBS, FRANZCR Dr Pirakalathanan graduated from the Monash University in 2006 and completed her radiology training at Monash Health. She subsequently undertook fellowship training in MRI imaging and Cardiothoracic Radiology at Monash health in Melbourne. Her special interests include cardiothoracic imaging, neuroimaging, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary MRI, and oncology imaging. Dr Pirakalathanan is also an accredited ILO (International Labour Organization) B Reader. In addition to her clinical work and ILO B Reader accreditation, Dr Pirakalathanan is involved in multicentre oncology trials, educational seminars for other specialists and general practitioners, and medicolegal consultation for occupational lung disease in Victoria. She relishes opportunities to engage in novel technologies and research in her areas of interest and sub-speciality.