Welcome to SDAMPP
- Coffee Break Suggestions – SDAMPP outreach committee has published a new FAQ document for all of those interested in submitting ideas for future coffee breaks. FAQ document »
- June 2022 SDAMPP Webinar Recording – A Qualitative Investigation of Resilience and Well-Being Among Medical Physics Residents. View the June 7, 2022 Webinar » (Accessible to the public!)
- 2022 SDAMPP Dues – Review your member details and pay your SDAMPP dues »
- A new study published in JACMP sought to better understand the residency experience as related to resilience and well-being through the lens of current Medical Physics Residents and Medical Physicists working with residents. Read the Article »
IMPORTANT NEWS:
June Coffee Break Discussion
June 29, 2022 2 PM ET
Recent Changes in CAMPEP Policies, Processes, and Standards
Please join the next SDAMPP coffee break where we will be joined by CAMPEP President and Board Chair Michael McNitt-Gray and CAMPEP Executive Secretary George Starkschall to hear about recent changes in CAMPEP policies, processes, or standards and for program directors to ask questions.
Learn more about Coffee Break Discussions
SDAMPP Webinar on A Qualitative Investigation of Resilience and Well-Being Among Medical Physics Residents
June 7, 2022 at 03:00 PM Eastern Time
Medical physics residents will define and shape the future of physics in medicine. In a first of its kind qualitative investigation, we explored the experiences of residents related to mentorship, work/life integration, and discrimination. During this webinar, we will discuss some of the key themes that emerged from this study, including the demanding nature of medical physics residencies, the negative impacts of residency on trainees, strategies that can be used to cope with this stress, and the role of leadership in addressing residency-related change.
Participants in this study shared views about gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment that were polarized. Many participants shared personal experiences of discrimination and harassment, including those related to unequal compensation, discrimination against mothers, discrimination during the hiring process, gender-biased assumptions about behaviors or goals, communication biases, and overt and persistent sexual harassment. We will discuss these shared experiences and potential ways to address gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment in medical physics.
Learning Objectives:
- Begin to understand the lived experiences of medical physics residents related to mentorship, work / life integration, and discrimination
- Discuss interventions to address residency experience-related concerns
- Consider potential future investigations that would broaden our understanding of the medical physics trainee experience
Panelist: Kelly Paradis
Host and Moderator: Kristi Hendrickson
View the June 7, 2022 Webinar Recording
March Coffee Break Discussion
March 23, 2022 2 PM ET
ABR 1 Pass Rate Discussion
ABR 1 pass rates appear to be declining in the past several years. This coffee break will bring together ABR trustees/leaders and program directors to discuss the results and possible causes/reasons/solutions. Can also discuss ABR 1 exam dates.
Learn more about Coffee Break Discussions
SDAMPP Webinar on MedPhys Match Rules and Ethics: Training Modules for Program Director Use
December 15, 2021 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time
Through survey information, it is known that only some program directors or programs in the match currently train interview participants in the MedPhys Match rules and ethical behaviors including EEOC rules for fair interview experiences. In this webinar, three recorded modules of 5-7 min each on the topics of (1) MedPhys Match rules and allowed/ethical behaviors, (2) EEOC rules and allowed vs illegal questions during interviews, (3) unconscious bias and other specific biases that affect interviews. Join this webinar to view the modules and to participate in a live Q&A with the panelists and module creators. The modules will be available for download so that PDs can use them to train in their own programs.
Panelists: Leah Schubert, Anna Rodrigues, Titania Juang, Kristi Hendrickson
SDAMPP Webinar on Professional Issues Related to Residency Training
Please join the SDAMPP Professional Issues Committee (PIC) for an insightful webinar tackling professional training, policies and issues as they apply to medical physics residencies. As program directors of residencies, we tend to focus our attention on the didactic and clinical skillset of our residents and are often unprepared to handle the more difficult and unanticipated questions that may arise for us as administrators. The goal of this webinar is to convey more information regarding professionalism and help you to tackle some of the associated issues.
Panelists:
Irina Vergalasova
Rajat Kudchadker
Chris Watchman
Dandan Zheng
Host and Moderator: Fang-Fang Yin
SDAMPP Webinar on Advising Students on Non-Clinical Careers
Academic medical physics programs prepare students for employment in clinical settings, research institutions, the academy, government, and industry. A great deal of attention has been paid to defining clear pathways to clinical careers (such as the SDAMPP report available here). Relatively less attention has been paid to non-clinical careers in medical physics, including considerations of programs’ graduate curricula, academic advising of students, and general awareness of the enormous range of non-clinical opportunities. These include R&D, customer support, training, sales, intellectual property, regulation, and others. In this one hour workshop, our expert speakers from industry and government will provide academic advisors with the basics information they need to advise and inform their graduate students regarding careers in industry and government.
Panelists:
Paul Naine, Elekta
Julie Sullivan, US FDA
Katherine Tapp, NRC
Host and Moderator: Wayne Newhauser, LSU/MBPCC
Coffee Break Discussions
NEW!! SDAMPP will be hosting monthly, informal coffee break Zoom meetings for interested SDAMPP members. Each coffee break meeting will be 50 minutes long, allowing time for a brief introduction of the topic by the moderators and ample time for open discussion by the assembled group. Click to learn more about upcoming Coffee Break Discussions and how to add your ideas for future coffee break topics!
Save the Date: SDAMPP Annual Meeting and Business Meeting
Saturday, July 9, 2022 (continental breakfast and hot lunch included)
Business Meeting 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
Lunch to follow at 12:00 PM EDT
Room 206, Walter E. Washington Convention Center
UPDATE: The ABR has accepted SDAMPP’s recommendation and will move the Medical Physics Part 1 Qualifying Exam back to August. The exam will be offered in both January and August 2023. Beginning in 2024, the exam will be offered only in August. SDAMPP's board voted unanimously in November to inform the ABR that we recommend that the ABR Medical Physics Part 1 Examination be held in August. It further recommends the exam not be held in January. This is based on an analysis of data from 45 respondents (of 66 contacted) to a survey on the matter. The board expresses its gratitude to colleagues at ABR and AAPM for their cooperation on evaluating this issue. SDAMPP will continue to participate in this discussion as requested.
New ABR Policy Regarding Family Leave
The ABR has instituted a new policy starting in July 2021 regarding family leave. That policy can be viewed here. SDAMPP’s Education Practices Committee would like to hear from directors regarding their plans for implementation and any outstanding questions (chair.education.practices.committee@sdampp.org). Stay tuned for more details about a forum for SDAMPP members to openly discuss this new policy.
ABR Update on Remote Exams - Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD
Click here to view the video.ABR Fee Schedule Changes
Working with AAPM Education Council, a summary of the ABR fee schedule changes was prepared, along with guidance for program directors to share with their students and trainees.
5 April 2021
Dear Students, trainees, and program directors,
It has recently come to the AAPM’s attention that the ABR has revised their fee structure. Some initial certification candidates that are preparing to sit for their exam have seen an updated invoice that now reflects an outstanding balance. AAPM has been in touch with the ABR regarding this recent change. The ABR has stressed that the overall cost for initial certification has not changed. While you should seek formal guidance from the ABR, it is our understanding that these additional fees can be deferred or paid in installments without penalty or finance fees, and you can still sit for the exam if you are unable to pay the additional fee by April 15th. You should receive an official communication from the ABR with further clarification soon. Candidates should contact the ABR office at (520) 790-2900 to make arrangements to defer their payments, to pay an installment, or if you have additional concerns.
Sincerely,
Joann I. Prisciandaro, Ph.D., FAAPM
Chair, AAPM Education Council
New Study on the Medical Physics Residency Experience
A new study published in JACMP sought to better understand the residency experience as related to resilience and well-being through the lens of current Medical Physics Residents and Medical Physicists working with residents. For more information, click here.
New Study on Aspects of Medical Physics Match
A new study published in JACMP gauges the experiences of applicants and program directors in the Medical Physics Match to determine the most important characteristics factors influencing the decision making for applicants and programs during various stages of the application/interview/ranking process. For more information, click here.
Introduction to SDAMPP in Medical Physics International Journal
Several members of the SDAMPP board of directors published an introduction to SDAMPP in the Medical Physics International Journal. The manuscript can be downloaded here.
New Rules and Strategic Plan
SDAMPP’s board of directors recently approved new rules for the organization and set forth it's Strategic Plan for CY 2022. More info can be found here.
Amendments to By-Laws
Results of the voting on proposed changes to bylaws are as follows. 123 ballots were cast out of 176 members (regular and emeritus) who received ballots. 118 “yes” votes were required to pass a proposal.
- Proposal 1 (wording updates throughout): 123 yes (passed)
- Proposal 2 (increase numbers of at-large Board members): 115 yes, 7 no, 1 abstain (failed to pass)
- Proposal 3 (change number of votes required to amend by-laws): 121 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain (passed)
- Proposal 4 (relieve President of Membership Committee Chair responsibility): 123 yes (passed)
The participation rate was high, which reflects well on the level of engagement of our members. We are grateful for the direction you provided.
PAY DUES HERE
Click here for details and to pay your dues. Note that you will first be taken to a page to confirm/update your member details, as needed, before being redirected to the AAPM website to login and pay. AAPM manages dues collection on behalf of SDAMPP.
Webinars
Click here to see the new instructions and form to propose a webinar on medical physics education.
Interview Calendar
The SDAMPP online Interviewing calendar, a popular feature freely available to all, is available for CY 2022.