World Radiography Day is celebrated on 8 November each year as this date marks the anniversary of the discovery of x-radiation by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895.

The International Day of Radiology is a yearly affair held to increase greater awareness about how radiology contributes to safe patient care and improving understanding of the vital role radiologists and radiological technologists play in the healthcare continuum.

The day is a joint initiative of the European Society of Radiology (ESR), the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR), along with the full cooperation and involvement of the International Society of Radiology (ISR), as well as umbrella organizations on all continents, including the Asian Oceanian Society of Radiology (AOSR), the Colegio Interamericano de Radiología (CIR), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR), and the Radiological Society of South Africa (RSSA – which also represents neighbouring countries). The European Federation of Radiographer Societies (EFRS) and the International Society of Radiographers & Radiological Technologists (ISRRT) also support the International Day of Radiology.

Medical imaging is one of the most exciting and progressive disciplines in healthcare. But while x-rays, MRI scans, ultrasound, and other medical imaging technologies are known to many people, their value and impact on patient care are not widely understood. That’s why IDoR was launched in 2012 – to build greater awareness of radiology and the vital role radiologists play inpatient care.

This day is celebrated to alert the world to the stunning medical, scientific, and even artistic possibilities of medical imaging, the essential role of radiologists and radiographers as parts of the healthcare team in countless medical scenarios, and the high educational and professional standards required of all staff working in medical imaging.

Radiographers worldwide can use the day and the days around the date to promote radiography as a career, as a vital contribution to modern healthcare, and as a chance to increase public awareness of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy.