Organization: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICISTS IN
Mission: ADVANCING MEDICINE THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN THE SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF MEDICAL PHYSICS.
Activities: COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES - THE COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE STRUCTURE HAS DIRECT OVERSIGHT OF ALL RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES. A SCIENCE COUNCIL DIRECTS ALL RESEARCH FUNDING ACTIVITIES AND PRODUCES SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL REPORTS DISCUSSING THE ONGOING RESEARCH IN MEDICAL PHYSICS. THE SCIENCE COUNCIL CONTRIBUTES TO THE PROGRAM OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. THE EDUCATION COUNCIL HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEVELOPING AND MONITORING ALL CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THE ASSOCIATION. THE PROFESSIONAL COUNCIL MAINTAINS A FOCUS ON THE CLINICAL PRACTICE OF MEDICAL PHYSICS AND HELPS TO DEVELOP PRACTICE AND OTHER RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR MEDICAL PHYSICISTS TO USE IN THEIR CLINICAL WORK. THE COUNCILS OVERSEE THE MAJOR AWARDS AND GRANTS GIVEN BY AAPM.
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - A SCIENTIFIC MEETING IS HELD ANNUALLY TO ENABLE MEMBERS TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THEIR LATEST RESEARCH. IN 2019 THERE WERE OVER 4,800 PARTICIPANTS AND APPROXIMATELY 2,200 PROFFERED SUBMISSIONS. THE PROGRAM ALSO DREW APPROXIMATELY 110 EXHIBITORS WHO PRESENTED THEIR LATEST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE EXHIBITION HALL. SESSIONS ARE SEGREGATED BY PROFESSIONAL INTEREST AND INCLUDE IMAGING PHYSICS, THERAPY PHYSICS, AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES AND PRACTICES. IN ADDITION, A SPRING CLINICAL MEETING IS HELD DEVOTED TO THE CLINICAL ISSUES FACING MEDICAL PHYSICISTS. A SINGLE-TOPIC SUMMER SCHOOL IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER SPECIAL TOPIC CONFERENCES ARE HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 700 PARTICIPANTS. SEVERAL OF THESE SPECIALTY MEETINGS ALSO INCLUDE VENDOR EXHIBITS.
PUBLICATIONS - AAPM PUBLISHES THE PREMIER SCIENTIFIC, PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL IN THE FIELD. ENTITLED "JOURNAL OF MEDICAL PHYSICS", THE JOURNAL PUBLISHES THE RESULTS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE FIELD. IN 2019 IT INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY 6,000 PAGES AND IS WIDELY DISTRIBUTED BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. IT IS THE MOST HIGHLY REGARDED SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION IN THE FIELD OF MEDICAL PHYSICS. LIKEWISE, IN 2012, THE AAPM BEGAN PUBLISHING 'THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED CLINICAL MEDICAL PHYSICS' DEALING EXCLUSIVELY WITH THE CLINICAL PRACTICE OF MEDICAL PHYSICS. THIS JOURNAL IS ALSO PEER REVIEWED AND IS OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE WORLDWIDE.
NTEE category: Medical Research
Secondary category: Voluntary Health Associations & Medical Disciplines