Student & Trainee Events

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. We’re taking over GRETA YVR, a high-energy Vancouver restaurant/bar packed with arcade games and great vibes

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.

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.

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!

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)

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.

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.

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