Nearly a decade has passed since the memorable 2015 AAPM Summer School on Proton Therapy brought together the experts and the audiences eager to learn about the promises of the “new“ treatment modality. Proton therapy application continued its robust expansion: the number of facilities in operation in the US, and the number of treatments per year more than doubled since 2015. The introduction of new imaging and delivery techniques enhanced the therapy’s precision and broadened its application. And the body of clinical evidence supporting proton treatments continues to expand. As a result, protons are now accessible to more of our patients, and the growth has been the strongest in some of the most complex treatment set-ups, such as head-and-neck or breast. AAPM has been at the forefront of the effort to educate providers and patients, and to identify and recommend best practices: five Task Group Reports on different aspects of proton therapy have been published, and more are in the works. The developments to improve the accuracy, and cost-effectiveness of proton therapy are ongoing. At the same time, progress is also made in our understanding of the biological effects of proton radiation, which paves the way for a more optimal engagement of the proton’s therapeutic potential.

Objectives:

1. Describe current clinical applications of proton therapy.
2. Determine the appropriate QA practice in proton therapy.
3. Develop an understanding of challenges and opportunities specific to proton therapy.