AAPM Establishment of an International Council FAQ

How will I benefit from an International Council? Particularly for clinical physicists.

AAPM is already an international organization. Currently, 18% of AAPM members live outside the U.S., representing 95 different countries. In addition, 66% of submitted manuscripts to Medical Physics are from 55 different countries as well as 63% (54 countries) for JACMP. Over the past 5 years, 21% of the attendees at our Annual Meeting have been from outside the US. AAPM task group reports are highly valued and referenced worldwide. Lastly, we have many activities including joint task groups with international organizations such as IAEA, ESTRO, EFOMP, ICRU, ICRP, IOMP. With this amendment, we are not proposing to expand these activities but to manage them in a more centralized and coordinated fashion leading to less duplication of effort, more efficiency, more standardized metrics to measure positive impact and improved communication to AAPM leadership and members regarding international endeavors.

We expect that these improvements will lead to more opportunities for AAPM members who want to be involved in these international endeavors including our younger members and members in training. Such opportunities will be more widely communicated allowing for a broader degree of membership involvement. We also plan to be more involved in the development of international quality standards that can affect the practice of medical physics in the U.S. We will also be in a better position to learn from our international partners about practices that are sometimes more advanced in Europe or Asia prior to being implemented in the U.S such as the recent advancements in targeted radionuclide therapy.

How can I get engaged with the International Council?

Once the International Council is established, standard procedures will be developed for the dissemination of information regarding opportunities to be involved internationally. Calls for involvement will be routinely distributed. Those members, including junior physicists and trainees, interested in participating will be able to contact AAPM staff or the chair of the International Council.

How will the International Council interact with other councils?

Membership of the International Council will specifically include representatives from the other four councils. This arrangement will provide direct lines of communication with the other councils which will greatly enhance the coordination of international efforts among the councils. From the very beginning, the leadership of the four current councils have been enthusiastically in favor the formation of an International Council.

How will yet another council improve the workflow of the AAPM?

Currently there are two committees that are directly involved in international affairs: the International Education Activities Committee which reports to the Education Council and the International Affairs Committee which reports to the Administration Council. In addition, the Science Council has joint task groups with international organizations and the ExCom meets separately with the leaders of numerous international organizations such as IAEA and IOMP. As a result, it is not often clear to whom one should communicate regarding a specific international opportunity and in some instances several groups within AAPM unknowingly find themselves working on very similar projects. Having a single point of contact, both within the AAPM and from the outside, will greatly reduce the potential for such confusion leading to less duplication of effort, better efficiency and enhanced communication.

What is the expected cost associated with establishing the International Council?

Based on the known operating expenses of the other councils, we expect the administrative costs associated with the international Council to be quite modest, about $70,000 per year which is less than 0.6% of AAPM’s operating budget. These administrative costs are in addition to board-approved annual budgets for international activities. We expect that there is a good chance that these costs will be offset by cost savings resulting from coordinated prioritization, improved efficiency and reduction of overlap. In addition, increased efficiency and improved communication may lead to increases in international membership dues income, international library subscriptions for Medical Physics, international journal and website advertising as well as increased income from greater participation of international exhibitors at our conferences.

Will establishing the International Council result in a dues increase?

This will not result in a dues increase for AAPM members. We expect the administrative costs associated with the International Council to be quite modest, about $70,000 per year which is less than 0.6% of AAPM’s operating budget. We also expect that there is a good chance that these costs will be offset by cost savings resulting from coordinated prioritization, improved efficiency and reduction of overlap.

Who will sit on the International Council? Will it have membership from other international organizations?

The International Council will be comprised of a chair, vice chair, representatives from the other four councils, chairs of seven standing council committees reporting to the council and AAPM liaisons to international organizations such as IOMP and IAEA.

Will the International Council be engaged in activities that are now the purview of other international organizations such as IOMP, IAEA, ICRP and others?

The International Council will not be involved in any international activities beyond those in which the AAPM is currently engaged. This amendment merely reorganizes and centralizes these activities. The International Council will provide a single point of contact, an opportunity to triage activities to the appropriate council or committee and coordinated oversight including the use of consistent metrics of effectiveness and success. Therefore, the communication and collaboration between the AAPM and the international organizations noted above will be considerably enhanced for the betterment of all parties.

AAPM Establishment of an International Council Frequently Asked Questions