Leadership often faces its greatest tests not only in moments of complex decisions but also in the unexpected weight of global challenges. For Professor Ina Jürgenliemk-Schulz, these tests came during her tenure as Chair of GEC-ESTRO, the brachytherapy committee of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology. Throughout this time, her steady leadership, scientific brilliance, and unwavering passion guided the field through one of its most pivotal periods.
May 4, 2025, 11:11
Ina Jürgenliemk-Schulz Receives Iridium 192 Award at ESTRO 2025
This year, at ESTRO 2025, she received the Iridium 192 Award, a recognition of her extraordinary contributions to brachytherapy and her deep commitment to transforming cancer care through innovation and collaboration.
A Turning Point: Ina Jürgenliemk-Schulz’s Leadership in Crisis
The start of Ina’s term as Chair coincided with the global COVID-19 pandemic. What was meant to be a time of vision-setting and expansion became a period of immediate crisis management.
“During 2020 and a big part of 2021, the first priority for myself and the entire GEC-ESTRO committee was COVID-19 damage control,” she reflected.
Workshops were postponed, congresses were cancelled or moved online, and priorities shifted rapidly. Yet, under her leadership, the committee found new ways to connect and adapt. The World Congress of Brachytherapy became a virtual success. Task forces formed. Educational goals evolved.
Rather than retreat, she led the committee into a phase of renewed purpose—focusing on equity, access, and sustainability.
A Vision Beyond the Crisis
For Ina, brachytherapy was never just a technique—it was a mission. During her term, she championed a number of critical initiatives:
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Building formal GEC-ESTRO scientific writing guidelines to enhance quality and consistency.
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Boosting BrachyHERO, an advocacy initiative to promote brachytherapy across Europe.
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Forming an educational task force to address the shortage of well-trained professionals in the field.
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Planting the seeds for a pediatric brachytherapy working group to improve outcomes in childhood cancer.
Her leadership also strengthened the collaboration with the American Brachytherapy Society, forging transatlantic partnerships in research and clinical guidelines.
But perhaps most importantly, she reminded everyone that innovation means little without accessibility. That’s why she worked tirelessly to promote the availability of brachytherapy centers and multi-professional teams throughout Europe.
A Partnership to Spread Innovation: OncoDaily x ESTRO 2025
This year’s ESTRO Congress, held May 2–6 in Vienna, embodies everything Professor Jürgenliemk-Schulz has stood for—collaboration, innovation, and patient-centered care. Under the theme “Transformative Innovation Through Partnership,” ESTRO 2025 promises to be a landmark event for the global radiation oncology community.
And this year marks a new chapter in partnership as OncoDaily joins as an official media partner for ESTRO 2025.
Through this collaboration—OncoDaily x ESTRO: Collaborating Live at ESTRO 2025—we’re bringing trusted, real-time coverage of key discussions, breakthrough science, and inspiring stories directly to oncology professionals worldwide.
Key highlights of the congress include:
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Breakthrough research and multidisciplinary collaboration
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A special Young Track to nurture early-career professionals
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Europe’s largest exhibition in radiation oncology
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A strong focus on disseminating trial results and interdisciplinary engagement
All of it aligns with ESTRO’s long-term vision:
“Radiation Oncology. Optimal Health for All, Together.”
A Message of Gratitude and Growth
Receiving the Iridium 192 Award, Ina expressed her deep gratitude—to her committee colleagues, the ESTRO office team, industry partners, and the entire brachytherapy community.
“I learned an awful lot,” she shared. “And I am looking forward to reconnecting with many of you in person at the next GEC-ESTRO workshop in Nice this December.”
Her words reflect not only a successful past, but an open invitation for future collaboration.
An Enduring Legacy of Impact
Ina Jürgenliemk-Schulz’s story is not just one of professional achievement—it’s one of resilience, vision, and deep commitment to patients. Her leadership has shaped the field of brachytherapy, elevated global dialogue in radiation oncology, and inspired a generation of clinicians to innovate with purpose.
As we look ahead to ESTRO 2025, her legacy will live on in every session, every collaboration, and every step forward in the fight against cancer.
Her journey is a powerful reminder that leadership in medicine is not only about science—it’s about people, passion, and partnership.
Be Part of the Progress.
Follow OncoDaily for exclusive insights, expert interviews, and live updates from ESTRO 2025 and beyond.
Stay informed. Stay inspired. Let’s shape the future of cancer care—together.
By: Md Foorquan Hashmi, MD, Sr. Editor, OncoDaily: India Bureau
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