It’s July again, and the AAPM 2017 Annual Meeting is nearly upon us! For both new and experienced physicists alike, the AAPM Annual Meeting is an incredible opportunity to network, share scientific and clinical knowledge, and showcase cutting-edge technologies and research that support the field of medical physics. For AAPM’s most junior members, the Student and Trainees Subcommittee strives to provide opportunities for personal and professional development throughout the conference. This year, the STSC has an extensive list of sessions and activities, which we would like to share with you in detail, so that you can plan accordingly. All these events and many more can be found on the 2017 Annual Meeting website.

Student and Trainees Subcommittee Meeting

When: Saturday, July 29 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Where: Capitol Ballroom 1, Fourth Floor, Convention Center

The STSC meeting (as well as most association meetings) is open to all AAPM members (per AAPM Rule 3.3.2). If you are interested in getting involved with the STSC or want to learn more about the events and outreach we provide, feel free to join us at our meeting Saturday afternoon. We would love to meet you and hear your input!

Student and Trainees Meet and Greet hosted by ACR

When: Saturday, July 29 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Where: Pizza Republica, 890 14th St., Denver, CO

The American College of Radiology (ACR), in collaboration with STSC, is hosting a casual social to bring together students and trainees and kick off the AAPM with delicious wood-fired pizzas. This event is free (yes, free!) to attend for all registered students and trainees. You may RSVP for the event at the link below.

Please RSVP to the Student and Trainees Meet and Greet by Saturday, July 22: RSVP now

Annual Student Meeting: Provocative Questions in Medical Physics Training

When: Sunday, July 30 from 8:30 am to 10:00 am

Where: Four Seasons 2, Street Level, Convention Center

Each year, the Annual Student Meeting provides the opportunities for student networking and discussion on issues important to students of medical physics, such as education and career development. This year, a panel composed of six physicists from academia, industry, and the clinic, will address topics related to professionalization and skill sets of medical physicists today. The speakers will provide their insight on three topics of interest, including the changing education and skills of medical physicists, the nature of medical physics research, and professionalization. Each topic will have two speakers presenting their arguments, followed by dedicated time for interaction with the audience. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to interact with a wide variety of professional physicists!

Undergraduate Networking Session

When: Sunday, July 30 from 10:00 am to 10:30 am

Where: Four Seasons 2, Street Level, Convention Center

Following the Annual Student Meeting, the Society of Physics Students (SPS) invites undergraduates attending the meeting to meet others in the field. A short talk on medical physics as a personal endeavor will be given, providing a unique perspective on the field.

WGSTR Student and Trainee Lunch and Career Expo

When: Sunday, July 30 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Where: Four Seasons 2, Street Level, Convention Center

The WGSTR and STSC are hosting a joint luncheon and career expo to foster discussion on the multitude of career paths available in the field of medical physics. During this event representatives of several different private companies, government agencies/labs, and academic institutions will describes their roles and career development. Following these remarks, students, trainees, and young professionals are encouraged to connect with representatives to better understand the physicist’s role in these diverse positions. Please note that this event is not intended to be a job fair, but rather an opportunity for students and trainees to discover potential career paths that medical physicists may follow outside of the clinic. We highly recommend this event to all students and trainees!

Though the registration deadline has already passed, you can still attend this event at no cost (no lunch provided).

3rd Annual Residency Fair

When: Sunday, July 30 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Where: Lobby B, Street Level, Convention Center

Finding the perfect residency can be difficult. Thanks to collaboration between STSC and SDAMPP, the Annual Residency Fair at AAPM provides students the opportunity to learn more about individual CAMPEP residency programs across the country. Come meet and interact with program directors and current residents to learn more about your potential fit! This year there will be more than 50 imaging and therapy programs participating in the Residency Fair!

You can RSVP to attend the Residency Fair here: RSVP now

Still not sure where to begin? Check out our Reddit AMA with several medical physics residency program directors to get some inspiration for potential questions you could ask.

Student Night Out at Great Divide Barrel Bar

When: Sunday, July 30 from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Where: Great Divide, 3403 Brighton Blvd, Denver, CO

Join us for the Annual Students and Trainees Night Out (SNO), sponsored by STSC! This event, crafted specifically for students, trainees, and post-docs, provides attendees with the chance to network with fellow future physicists and enjoy an evening of fun and camaraderie. This year’s SNO will occur at the Great Divide Barrel Bar, a casual locale featuring craft beers, a lounging area, ping pong, and cornhole. If you want a break from the hustle and bustle of the Student Day events, this is the place to be!

Partners for the Future

When: Sunday, July 30 through Wednesday, August 2

Where: Exhibit Hall

There’s never a better time than now to start thinking about the future! Partners for the Future strives to create lasting connections between corporate affiliates and students at the AAPM Annual Meeting. This event is especially beneficial to students by introducing what commercial products are available and what opportunities exist for collaboration with each company. This year we’re adding even more excitement with the addition of a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card! You can learn more about how to participate in Partners for the Future here.

Interview Workshop

When: Monday, July 31 from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Where: Partners in Solutions Room, Exhibit Hall

The STSC would like to invite students, trainees, and young professionals to attend an interview workshop to practice interviewing skills and receive feedback from real interviewers. This workshop will consist of two parts: first, guidance and examples of how to respond in an interview setting will be introduced. Second, participants will sit through group interviews and gain experience both listening to student responses and receiving feedback for their own answers. For anyone looking to interview in the near future or simply sharpen your communication skills, this is an event you do not want to miss out on.

You can RSVP to the Interview Workshop here: RSVP now

Other Events of Interest to Students and Trainees:

Undergraduate Poster Session

When: Sunday, July 30 at 3:00 pm

Where: General Poster Area, Exhibit Hall

The Society of Physics Students (SPS) Undergraduate Research & Outreach Poster Session highlights the work of undergraduate students with an interest in medical physics. Stop by to meet the future faces of physicists in medicine!

New Members Symposium

When: Tuesday, August 1 from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Where: Room 108, Street Level, Convention Center

Joining us at AAPM for the first time as a new member? This event might be for you! At this year’s New Member Symposium, you can learn more about the organization, member resources, opportunities to get involved, and about topics of particular interest to new professionals. We encourage you to take advantage of this great opportunity to learn valuable information and to grow your professional network. All new members who register to attend will receive one raffle ticket for complimentary registration for the 2018 Annual Meeting and one drink ticket. There will also be a photographer available to take pictures for your profile in the AAPM directory.

If you’re interested in attending, please also consider filling out the Leadership and Teamwork Survey for the New Members Symposium. This is a chance to be part of the symposium and get your questions answered from a panel of experienced physicists! These questions could range from how to transition from trainee to leader, what are different types of leadership roles, how to be a team member and leader, etc. The panel will use your feedback to generate their talks for the symposium, ensuring coverage of topics you want to hear about! No question is too big or too small, and all questions will be presented anonymously.

Survey can be found at the following link: Leadership and Teamwork Survey

Physics Review Courses

When: Saturday, July 29 through Sunday, July 30

Where: Room 201/203 (Diagnostic/Nuclear Medicine) and Room 205/207 (Therapy), Convention Center

These courses provide a good review of medical physics for physicists entering the specialty, physicists in need of continuing education credits, and physicists who would benefit from a refresher course taught by experts in the field. All learning materials will be provided to registrants on a thumb drive. The courses will be held concurrently on Saturday and Sunday. You can find a more detailed schedule of the review courses here.

And as always, be sure to follow us on our Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on relevant events and opportunities for medical physics students and trainees. We hope to see you in Denver!