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Alecia Eliason
Professional Service Learning Journal
Clinical Practicum I
April 10, 2017
Volunteering for AAPM at the Spring Meeting of the North Central Chapter
Founded in 1958, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) is a
scientific and professional organization whose purpose is to establish safe, accurate, and high
quality use of radiation in medicine.1 More than 8000 scientists from 95 countries are members
of this organization with the majority of these identifying as medical physicists. AAPM is best
known for identifying and making recommendations for improvements in areas related to
radiation in imaging or radiotherapy with patient safety at the forefront of all implementations.
Currently there are 21 chapters of AAPM, with the North Central Chapter (NCCAAPM)
including the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.2 Several
distinguished institutions, including academic and medical device manufacturers relevant to
medical physics, are within this region. This chapter meets twice each year, and I had the
opportunity to volunteer at the spring meeting of the NCCAAPM on Friday, April 7, 2017 in
Wisconsin Dells, WI.
Wesley Culberson, the President-Elect of NCCAAPM, was the person I worked most
closely with during the meeting, and my primary task centered around registration. I arrived
early, about 30 minutes prior to check-in time, to assist with set up and other preparations for the
meeting. I helped to prepare name tags for attendees, as well as set out and organize various
information necessary for participants, including the meeting agenda and continuing education
forms. When people started to arrive for the meeting, my responsibilities were to ensure they
were properly checked in and received their name tags and pertinent forms, along with directing
them towards the breakfast and vendor area. I also answered any questions they may have had
regarding the meeting schedule or format. I remained at the registration desk for the during of the
morning, ensuring late arrivals received proper check-in and direction.
Although I initially questioned the meaningfulness of my presence at this meeting, I was
assured multiple times by various people how much help I had given them by being in charge of
these simple tasks. When I arrived, Wesley was running around, literally and figuratively,
ensuring everything was ready for the meeting. As soon as he was confident I had everything
under control in the registration area, it was immediately apparent that his stress level lowered as
he could then focus on more important tasks. This chapter meeting not only consisted of
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scientific presentations and a business meeting, but it also provided attendees with continuing
education credits for retention of their certifications within medical physics. My assistance with
seemingly menial responsibilities allowed for attention to be on these much more important
features of the meeting. Besides providing this service, I had the privilege to meet professionals
in medical physics whom I otherwise would never have come across, including Melissa Martin,
the President of AAPM. Networking is essential in the professional world, especially as a
dosimetry student with a nearing graduation date and searching for job prospects. Overall, I very
much enjoyed my time spent at the NCCAAPM spring meeting, and I look forward to crossing
paths with the officers and attendees in the future.

References:

1. American Association of Physicists in Medicine. https://aapm.org/default.asp. Published

2017. Accessed April 10, 2017.
2. North Central Chapter of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
http://chapter.aapm.org/nccaapm/. Published December 16, 2016. Accessed April 10,
2017.