Student & Trainee Events

Kick off the meeting weekend with good company! The American College of Radiology (ACR) is generously hosting a happy hour reception exclusively for medical physics graduate students and trainees. It's the perfect chance to meet fellow students, connect with trainees from programs across the country, and ease into the week in a relaxed, no-agenda setting. Come for the drinks, stay for the conversations, and get ready for Student Night Out right after!

Get ready for a night of food, games, and good company! Student Night Out is a students-and-trainees-only hangout where medical physics attendees can relax and make new friends to kick off the week.

Your ticket includes:

• Light fare
• One (1) drink ticket (beer or wine)
• Unlimited arcade games
• Photobooth opportunity
• Chance to win a free registration to either the 2027 AAPM Annual Meeting & Exhibition or the 2027 COMP Annual Scientific Meeting.

Sponsored by

In this interactive joint workshop, editors from Medical Physics and JACMP will discuss how to respond effectively to reviewer comments, what editors expect from authors and reviewers, and how serving as a peer reviewer can support career development. Attendees will gain practical insight into the peer review process from both the author and reviewer perspectives, including a discussion of the emerging role of AI in peer review.

The session will conclude with an open Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to ask journal editors candid questions about publishing, reviewing, and editorial expectations.

Yi Rong, JACMP Editor-in-Chief

John Boone, Medical Physics Editor-in-Chief

Stanley Benedict, Medical Physics Deputy Editor-in-Chief

Sponsored by

The Residency Fair is a job-fair-style event designed for prospective students and applicants interested in residency training in medical physics. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet directly with representatives from accredited residency programs, learn about available positions, program structure, and application expectations, and make valuable professional connections. This fair provides a streamlined, interactive environment to explore residency opportunities and identify programs that align with your career goals.

The Residency Fair is divided into two sections. A list of residency programs for both sections will be provided in early July.

Snacks and drinks will be provided during the 30 minute break between sections.

Sponsored by

The Society of Physics Students (SPS) is your gateway to turning an interest in physics into a real career path—including medical physics. Federated with the AAPM under the American Institute of Physics, SPS connects undergraduates with the people, resources, and opportunities that can help you take your next step with confidence.

• Discover what SPS can do for you (career exploration, support, and community)
• Learn how AAPM resources can help you break into medical physics
• Hear real, practical advice from a panel of graduate students and residents who were in your shoes and will share how they found the field and got started
• Meet other undergrads who are also curious about medical physics and build your network early
• Grab some SPS swag before you go!

Join us for the first annual social designed for international early-career medical physicists from around the world. Connect with peers, exchange ideas about your research, and spark new collaborations in a relaxed and welcoming setting. We will be hosting a bingo-style networking game, creating an easy and engaging way to meet new colleagues.

Hosted by the Global Early Career Research Subcommittee, this event is open to all internationally minded attendees who are interested in building global connections.

Early-career participants include, but are not limited to, residents, students or trainees, and researchers within the first five years of an independent academic position following training (i.e., within five years of completing graduate school, a postdoctoral fellowship, or residency).

Curious how medical physics can make a difference beyond your own clinic or lab? Join us for an inspiring student-focused session on global health in medical physics, where you’ll learn how physicists are improving access to radiation therapy and imaging through international collaboration, outreach, and innovative partnerships.

Our panel of four experienced speakers will share real-world examples of projects spanning the U.S., Canada, and global partners, and break down the career paths that make this work possible.

You’ll leave with concrete next steps you can take right now (finding mentors, joining networks, and getting involved in meaningful projects), plus plenty of time for an interactive Q&A to ask your biggest questions about building a global health career in medical physics.

Laurence Court, PhD

The value of trainee involvement in global health projects: the Radiation Planning Assistant as a case study

Annie Hsu, PhD

Bridging Radiotherapy Data Silos: Scaling Pan-Canadian Data-Sharing Lessons Internationally

Navid Khaledi, PhD

Bridging the Gap: Expanding Access to Essential Resources for Medical Physicists Globally

Joseph Weygand, PhD

Building a career in global medical physics

This year’s Student Luncheon explores the theme “Innovation and the Expanding Role of the Medical Physicist.” As the profession continues to evolve, medical physicists are stepping into new spaces, shaping emerging technologies, and redefining their impact across healthcare and beyond.

Our speakers will highlight unique and non-traditional career paths, offering insight into opportunities that extend beyond the conventional radiation oncology setting. From global and international initiatives to interdisciplinary collaborations in industry, research, informatics, and clinical innovation, you’ll hear firsthand how physicists are applying their expertise in dynamic and unexpected ways.

Whether you are still exploring your professional direction or already envisioning a path outside the traditional model, this luncheon is designed to broaden your perspective, spark new ideas, and inspire you to think expansively about where a career in medical physics can lead.

Your ticket includes:

• Access to the full speaker and presentation program
• Boxed lunch (including sandwich, salad, fresh fruit, and dessert)

Tess Reynolds, PhD

Passport to Collaboration: advancing your career through global research partnerships

Jessica Fagerstrom, PhD

Medical Physics Goes To Summer Camp

Steven Thomas, PhD

Have Photons - Will Travel. How I ended up in Cardiology

Sponsored by

Step into the Exhibit Hall with purpose! Join us for a guided tour designed for medical physics students and trainees at all levels who want to connect their coursework and research to real-world technology and career paths.

This interactive experience will help you navigate the Exhibit Hall strategically. Learn how to start meaningful conversations with vendors, ask insightful technical questions, and identify industry opportunities.

You’ll gain practical tips on making the most of exhibitor interactions, understanding emerging innovations, and building professional connections in a supportive, welcoming environment. Whether you’re exploring graduate programs, preparing for residency, or considering industry roles, this tour will help you see where you fit in the evolving field of medical physics.

This fast-paced mentoring event connects participants through a series of short, focused conversations designed to deliver targeted career guidance from a variety of perspectives. Mentees can ask specific career development questions, gain practical insights, and learn from multiple mentors in just one hour. The event concludes with an open networking session, giving everyone the opportunity to continue conversations, build connections, and expand their professional network in a relaxed, social setting.

Are you thinking about applying to a medical physics residency program? Curious about what residency life is really like? Join us for a relaxed, one-hour networking session designed to connect prospective applicants with current residents from programs across the country.

This is your chance to ask candid questions about the application process, interview prep, day-to-day responsibilities, and more. Whether you’re early in your search or ready to apply, you’ll gain valuable insight directly from those who’ve been in your shoes.

Current residents: If you're interested in mentoring or sharing your experiences, we’d love to have you join the conversation. Your perspectives are what make this event meaningful for future applicants.

Join us for an interactive showcase featuring awardees from the Expanding Horizons Travel Grant program as they share highlights from conferences beyond traditional medical physics. Discover cutting-edge ideas, hot topics, and emerging research trends shaping science across disciplines—and learn how these innovations connect back to the future of medical physics. Explore posters up close, spark conversations with the awardees, and ask your questions during a dynamic, interactive poster session designed to inspire new perspectives and possibilities.

Interested in getting involved with COMP or AAPM as a student or trainee? Join current trainee and early faculty leaders to learn about pathways for involvement, leadership opportunities, committee participation, and ways to engage with the medical physics community early in your career.

Jade Fischer

University of Victoria

Cloé Giguère

Université Laval

Hana Baroudi, PhD

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

Megan Chesal, PhD

University of Pennsylvania

If you are considering certification through the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine then this interactive session is for you! Designed for students, residents and early career professionals who want a clear and practical overview of the CCPM certification journey, this session will walk participants through the full process.

What will be covered:

• Qualifications and eligibility requirements
• Credentialing
• Preparing for the written and oral examinations
• Passing requirements

Alexandre Bourque, MSc FCCPM, Deputy Chief Examiner of CCPM, will share practical advice to help attendees prepare for the exam with confidence. There will be time held at the end for questions, making this an excellent opportunity to better understand the certification pathway, and hear insights from someone closely involved in the process.

Alexandre Bourque, MSc FCCPM

CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre

Preparing for residency, graduate school, or future career opportunities in medical physics? Join us for a discussion on building a strong CV, highlighting relevant experiences, and presenting yourself effectively during the application process.

Clifton (Dave) Fuller, MD, PhD

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Christopher Walker, PhD

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Young Lee, PhD

Elekta

Sarah Aubert, PhD

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Come watch, learn, and be inspired! MedPhys Slam is a fast-paced science communication competition where emerging medical physicists present their research to a non-specialist audience—clearly, creatively, and in just three minutes using no more than three slides. Open to Student, Junior, and Resident members of AAPM or COMP, the competition begins with local Chapter rounds and culminates in a final showcase at the 2026 AAPM | COMP Annual Meeting & Exhibition. Don’t miss this energetic event that brings medical physics to life beyond the jargon!

Additional Information

• Event Overview
• Judging Criteria & Rubric
• How to Enter
• Tips & Examples