SU‐B‐103‐01: Education Council Symposium: AAPM and International Education: What, Why and How?

AAPM members, and the AAPM as an organization, have been active for many years in educational activities outside of the USA. A great portion of these activities has taken place in countries with much less resources, and with only incipient or barely organized Medical Physics societies, while others were carried out in support of new and emerging needs in regions with long Medical Physics traditions. The AAPM has earned a great reputation as a Result of these and other activities. The last decade has seen an inordinate surge of deployment of new technology and methods worldwide, but also an increased awareness about the risks it poses. Hence the pressing need for well educated and trained Medical Physicists. The gap is most critical in developing countries, where the normally slow process of growing the training capacity appears to be an unaffordable luxury. We plan to discuss the “What, Why, and How” of the involvement of AAPM members in International Educational activities that should be of help in developing countries and that will enrich the members\u27 experience and outlook. Learning Objectives: 1. To learn about challenges for Medical Physics education in developing countries. 2. To look at ways and opportunities to “do good” while engaging in exciting work. 3. To discuss ways to help our colleagues abroad while expanding our own understanding and improving our skills 4. To learn how collaborating on projects can leverage the educational offerings and generate opportunities for growth