During the official ceremony of the IUPESM World Congress, Associate Professor Lenka Lhotská from our institute received three major international awards: the IFMBE Honorary Life Member title, recognition for her work as a member of the IFMBE Administrative Council and European Regional Representative, and an IUPESM award for her contributions as Co-Chair of the WiMPBME Task Group. She is the first person from the Czech Republic ever to receive the Honorary Life Member title.
The awards were presented at the IUPESM World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering 2025, held from 29 September to 4 October 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. This is the world’s largest gathering of experts in medical physics and biomedical engineering, bringing together top scientists, researchers, and clinical professionals from across the globe.
This year’s theme – Bridging the Gap: Science, Technology, and Clinical Practice for a Sustainable World – emphasized the integration of science and clinical practice in pursuit of sustainable healthcare.
“I deeply value the IFMBE Honorary Life Member title, especially because it is awarded by a community that recognizes long-term contributions to the field not only within national societies, but on an international level as well. I also see it as recognition of the work of my colleagues — without them, these research achievements wouldn’t have been possible,” said Dr. Lhotská.
In addition to being named an Honorary Life Member of IFMBE, Dr. Lhotská was also recognized for her work as an Administrative Council Member of IFMBE and as Regional Group Representative for Europe.
Her third award came from the umbrella organization IUPESM, honoring her role as Co-Chair of the WiMPBME Task Group, focused on promoting women in medical physics and biomedical engineering.
Major contributions on the global stage
At the congress, Dr. Lenka Lhotská delivered an invited lecture and presented the results of her research in two expert sessions focused on:
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a web-based tool for early-stage technology assessment and health economic analysis, and
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ethical issues related to artificial intelligence in healthcare, particularly in the context of educating the next generation of professionals.
Both topics reflect the long-term direction of her research at the intersection of technology, medicine, and ethics.
European challenges and leadership in IFMBE
Dr. Lhotská has been actively involved with IFMBE since 2005, gradually engaging in education and accreditation of biomedical programs, and in 2022 became Chair of the European Regional Group.
The key issues she addressed in this role include:
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education in biomedical engineering and its harmonization across European programs,
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implementation of the Medical Device Regulation (MDR), which presents challenges for both manufacturers and healthcare providers,
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and attracting new talent to this interdisciplinary field.
“The key is to maintain the diversity of higher education programs while ensuring credit recognition across countries. This is crucial for international student mobility and the quality of education,” Dr. Lhotská emphasizes.
Supporting women and driving global impact
As Co-Chair of the WiMPBME Task Group, Dr. Lhotská played a significant role in a global survey on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on professionals working in clinical environments. Under her leadership, the group regularly organizes workshops, promotes mentoring, and nominates women experts to grant panels, editorial boards, and prestigious conferences.
The group is also working to foster environments that promote equal opportunities in academic and research institutions.
“It’s not about forcing change — it’s about creating spaces where people are judged by real results, not by bias,” Dr. Lhotská concludes.
