Comment from Cynthia McCollough

[200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, 200.450] To Whom it May Concern: I am a full professor of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering with over 500 peer-reviewed publications in the scientific literature. I am writing in my personal capacity to oppose the proposed revisions to sections 200.432, 200.454, 200.461, 200.206, and 200.450 that would restrict typical professional expenses, curtail the communication of scientific results, and place excessive scrutiny on the activities of scientists. I have been an active member of and served as president of the world's premier organization for medical physics. Through this organization, I have met and collaborated with leading scientists to advance medical care in America. Without these collaborations, I could not have advanced medical imaging to the extent that I have done. Scientific conferences are the bedrock for scientific exchange. They provide a forum for sharing science, educating trainees, and advancing medical care through the sharing of knowledge. It is essential that investigators be allowed to attend any conference that is related to their work so that they can share their own work and learn from the work of others. That is how science advances! The scientific record is ESSENTIAL for moving medicine and science forward. Without knowing what has or has not been successful for others, scienctific progress will come to a standstill, as different groups waste time and resources working on essentially the same problems without realizing it. I publish about 30 peer-reviewed papers per year and have papers with over 1000 citations. That means that at least 1000 other scientific groups used my work to advance their own work. That is how science advances and without the ability to contribute to and benefit from academic journals, science would be set back hundreds of years. The papers that I publish are used to advance medical care. That benefit needs to be available to all American researchers. It is completely untenable to limit participation in the scientific exchange of ideas through conference participation and academic journals. Without such activities, science cannot advance.