EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT Angela R. Keyser, Alexandria, VA

This is the first in a series of articles designed to acquaint you with your AAPM HQ Team and give you an idea of the responsibilities for each member of the team.

Jennifer Hudson began her career with AAPM in April 2001 as the Receptionist and was promoted to Membership Services Coordinator in 2004 and Membership Manager in 2012. In 2006, the membership process was moved to the IS team in recognition that the AAPM database and website are an integral part of the membership process. Jennifer is AAPM's only one-person department! She currently holds the title of Membership Manager.

What does a Membership Manager do? Jennifer is the first staff person most AAPM members interact with, shepherding members through the application process. She works very closely with AAPM's Membership Committee. As an expert on the various qualifications required for each membership type, she fields calls and email questions from applicants and the Membership Committee about the rules of membership.

An application is required both to join AAPM, and to change from one category of membership to another. From 2007–2015, Jennifer handled an average of 915 applications per year. Many people do not realize that about 40% of the applications AAPM process are for current AAPM members wishing to change their status. Each application is reviewed for completeness and appropriate responses to the form before being assigned to a panel for review. When the Committee completes their process, Jennifer puts each applicant into the category that was assigned and generates invoices for the new members.

AAPM has various programs (financial assistance, Developing Country Educational Associates) available to applicants outside the US where English may not be the applicant's first language. For these applicants, Jennifer gives extra attention to ensure the applicant understands what is needed through the process. The Partners in Physics program currently has 195 participants, each of which are sent a form yearly to be completed and returned. Jennifer then assembles them for the International Affairs Committee and ultimately updates each record with the decision to renew financial assistance.

Jennifer also works with RSNA on the logistics to afford AAPM members with free RSNA meeting registration. In addition, she also coordinates with the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP) to administer the reduced dues agreement between the two organizations. Furthermore, Jennifer takes the lead in the yearly dues renewal process and provides monthly membership trend reports and forecasts. In additional to AAPM members, Jennifer coordinates the onboarding for new AAPM Corporate Affiliates and interacts with them to maintain contact information and generating yearly billing.

Ever have a question about "who does what" at AAPM HQ? See a list with contact information and brief descriptions of responsibilities online. An Organization Chart is also provided. Of course, do not ever hesitate to contact me if you need assistance!

AAPM to Assume Program Management of IHE-RO

ASTRO initially convened the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise for Radiation Oncology (IHE-RO) in 2005 to identify and improve issues of interoperability of healthcare information and treatment systems in Radiation Oncology. While AAPM and ASTRO leaders continue to believe that physicians are critical in identifying and prioritizing the possible issues to address, they agree that medical physicists are best suited to engage with engineers to develop solutions. With the strength of the medical physicists in mind, AAPM and ASTRO agreed that AAPM will assume program management in January 2017. This means that AAPM will take over leadership and management of IHE-RO including staffing andorganizing the Technical Committee and Planning Committee, as well as the workgroups on the testing profiles, and organizing and hosting the Connectathons, among other activities needed to maintain the IHE-RO. Carla Hull joined the AAPM HQ team in November as the Programs Manager providing support to the IHE-RO program.

2017 Funding Opportunities

The Research Seed Funding Grant (Application Deadline: April 5, 2017)

Three $25,000 grants will be awarded to provide funds to develop exciting investigator- initiated concepts, which will hopefully lead to successful longer-term project funding from the NIH or equivalent funding sources.

Funding for grant recipients will begin on July 1st of the award year. Research results will be submitted for presentation at future AAPM meetings.

Must be a member of AAPM at time of application (any membership category).

View additional information and access the online application

AAPM Fellowship for the Training of a Doctoral Candidate in the Field of Medical Physics (Application Deadline: April 28, 2017)

The AAPM Fellowship for the training of a doctoral candidate in the field of Medical Physics is awarded for first two years of graduate study leading to a doctoral degree in Medical Physics. Both BSc and MS holders are eligible to apply. A stipend of $13,000 per year, plus tuition support not exceeding $5,000 per year will be assigned to the recipient. Graduate study must be undertaken in a Medical Physics Doctoral Degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP).

View additional information and access the online application

Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program (Application Deadline: February 2, 2017)

The Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program is designed to provide opportunities for undergraduate university students to gain experience in medical physics by performing research in a medical physics laboratory or assisting with clinical service at a clinical facility.

In this program, AAPM serves as a clearinghouse to match exceptional students with exceptional medical physicists, many of whom are faculty at leading research centers. Students participating in the program are placed into summer positions that are consistent with their interest.

Students are selected for the program on a competitive basis to be an AAPM summer fellow. Each summer fellow receives a $5,000 stipend from AAPM.

View additional information and access the online application

Diversity Recruitment through Education and Mentoring Program (DREAM) (Application Deadline: February 7, 2017)

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine Diversity Recruitment through Education and Mentoring Program (DREAM) is a 10-week summer program designed to increase the number of underrepresented groups in medical physics by creating new opportunities, outreach and mentoring geared towards diversity recruitment of undergraduate students in the field of medical physics. Students participating in the program are placed into summer positions that are consistent with their interest.

Students are selected for the program on a competitive basis to be a DREAM fellow. Each DREAM fellow receives a $5,000 stipend from AAPM.

View additional information and access the online application

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