Building a pathway for future-oriented radiation oncology

Radiation oncology (RO) is a medical discipline that utilizes various forms of ionizing radiation to treat malignant and benign diseases. RO is an essential clinical discipline; approximately 50-60 % of cancer patients receive radiation therapy. RO, as a discipline, produces a considerable quantity of information and simultaneously consumes information created by other clinical fields. However, it is currently impossible to automatically exchange or utilize data created during routine clinical care. In this writing, we describe the evolution of the International Society for Radiation Oncology Informatics (ISROI) and its activities and provide examples of how the clinical workforce may contribute to developing a future-oriented informational landscape in radiation oncology.