Obituary - Dr. John Robert Cunningham

Publication Date: Jan 9th, 2020 20:54, Category: EFOMP Announcements

Dear Physica Medica Readers,

I have been just informed with these words, from Prof. Jerry Battista, of the passing away of John Robert "Jack" Cunningham, in Canada.

"Yesterday evening, Dr. J.R. Cunningham passed away peacefully surrounded by family near Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

"Jack" was an exceptional person, orator, and pioneer of medical physics - recognized internationally, with awards received from COMP, AAPM,.... He was recognized nationally for his achievements by the Order of Canada - Canada's top honour for its civilian population. More specifically, he developed radiation treatment planning concepts and software, used for decades on clinical workstations across the world. He co-authored the book The Physics of Radiology - used for efficient training of numerous radiation oncology professionals over many decades. In brief, he was one of the founding fathers of medical physics in Canada and beyond, working closely with his colleague, Dr. Harold Johns."

I was left without words at receiving this message. All medical physicists in the world are indebted to the scientific and professional work of this great scientist. Who among us has never had in his/her hands John's & Cunningham's text The Physics of Radiology? His pioneering work and fundamental contributions to radiation oncology and radiotherapy techniques are pillars of our discipline.

I never met him personally, but he was an academic and scientific model during my career.

We all at EJMP are sad of this news.

Paolo Russo, Editor-in-Chief

European Journal of Medical Physics