SATURDAY, JULY 26

ACR Happy Hour for Students & Trainees

Time: 4:45-6:45pm

Location: Astro Beer Hall (1306 G St NW, Washington, DC)

Student Night Out

Time: 7:00-9:00pm

Location: SPIN DC (1332 F St NW, Washington, DC)

Get ready for a night of fun, friendly competition, and networking at the Student Night Out! Join your fellow students and trainees at a lively ping pong restaurant/bar for an evening of great vibes, good eats, and exciting matchups. Test your skills in our ping pong tournament—the champion wins FREE registration to next year’s Annual Meeting!

Your ticket includes light food, one drink ticket, and a night of unforgettable connections with peers in a relaxed, social setting. Whether you're in it to win it or just here for the fun, this is the perfect way to unwind and make new friends. Don’t miss out—grab your ticket now!

SUNDAY, JULY 27

New Attendee Orientation

Time: 7:30am-8:30am

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

We understand it can sometimes be overwhelming to participate in sessions, network, and navigate the exhibit floor—all in just five days. Join us at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the opportunity to hear from long-time attendees and learn helpful ways to make the most out of your time.

SPS Undergraduate Gathering

Time: 10:30am-11:30am

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

The Society of Physics Students (SPS) is an organization for undergraduate students interested in physics and is federated with the AAPM under the umbrella of the American Institute of Physics. In this session, we invite you to come and:

(1) Learn about the SPS and its offerings to support your vocation discernment

(2) Learn about how the AAPM can help as well,

(3) Hear from a panel of graduate and resident trainees in medical physics about their paths into the field,

(4) Meet other undergraduate students interested in medical physics, and

(5) Pick up some SPS swag!

Residency Fair: Part 1

Time: 1:30-3:00pm

Location: Room 102AB

Residency Fair: Part 2

Time: 3:30-5:00pm

Location: Room 102AB

The Residency Fair aims to provide prospective residents and trainees an opportunity to learn more about individual residency programs and meet representatives from the participating institutions. This event is also an excellent opportunity for program directors and current residents to promote their programs directly to trainees and meet prospective applicants across North America and beyond that might be a good fit for their team.

MONDAY, JULY 28

Morning Debrief – Monday

Time: 7:30-8:00am

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Start your day with the Morning Debrief, a 30-minute session designed for early career attendees to maximize their AAPM Annual Meeting & Exhibition experience. Each morning, our student and trainee committees will provide a curated overview of the day's must-attend sessions, networking opportunities, and key events to help you navigate the schedule with confidence. Join us to gain insights, plan your day, and connect with fellow attendees!

Exhibit Hall Student Guided Tours

Time: 8:30am-9:30am

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Join us for a guided tour of the Exhibit Hall designed specifically for students and trainees! This interactive experience will help you navigate the Exhibit Hall, learn how to engage with vendors, and discover valuable resources to support your career development. Gain insights on making the most of exhibitor interactions, explore industry innovations, and build connections in a welcoming environment. Don’t miss this opportunity to make the Exhibit Hall work for you!

Your Support Network: An Introduction to Women Who Coffee and Curie

Time: 9:30am-10:15am

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Hosted by the Women’s Professional Subcommittee (WPSC), Women Who Coffee and Curie is a monthly virtual meetup offering early-career professionals and trainees a safe, informal space to share experiences, seek guidance, and engage in thoughtful, guided discussions. Whether you’re seeking support, mentorship, or simply want to connect over coffee, WWCC is here to help you thrive in your career journey. Come learn how to get involved and make meaningful connections that last well beyond the meeting!

Student and Trainee Luncheon

Time: 12:15pm-1:30pm

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Hosted by the AAPM Working Group on Student and Trainee Research (WGSTR), this event provides students and trainees with the opportunity to discuss overall research interests and educational opportunities, as well as suggest ways to improve medical physics curriculum as it relates to current and future research. Ticket includes access to the event and one (1) boxed lunch.

Resident and Prospective Applicant Connect

Time: 1:30pm-2:30pm

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Thinking about applying to a medical physics residency program? Join us for Resident & Prospective Applicant Connect, a casual, 1-hour networking and mentoring event designed for prospective applicants to connect with current residents.

This is your chance to ask questions about the application process, residency life, program experiences, and more—all in a relaxed setting. Whether you're looking for advice, insights, or just want to hear firsthand experiences, this event is the perfect opportunity to gain valuable perspectives and make meaningful connections.

Speed Mentoring Session

Time: 4:30pm-6:00pm

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

In this event, mentor participants are provided the opportunity to have short conversations with multiple mentee participants over the span of an hour, allowing participants to get focused help on specific career development questions from diverse perspectives. An open-ended social component closes out the event allowing all participants to mingle, follow-up and network.

TUESDAY, JULY 29

Morning Debrief – Tuesday

Time: 7:30am-8:00am

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Start your day with the Morning Debrief, a 30-minute session designed for early career attendees to maximize their AAPM Annual Meeting & Exhibition experience. Each morning, our student and trainee committees will provide a curated overview of the day's must-attend sessions, networking opportunities, and key events to help you navigate the schedule with confidence. Join us to gain insights, plan your day, and connect with fellow attendees!

Annual Student Meeting

Time: 8:00am-9:30am

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Effective communication is a crucial yet often overlooked skill in medical physics. As future professionals in this dynamic field, students and trainees must be prepared to articulate complex ideas clearly—whether collaborating within interdisciplinary teams or engaging with patients.

This year’s Annual Student Meeting will focus on the evolving role of medical physicists in patient communication, an essential skill that is rarely emphasized in formal training. A panel of four esteemed speakers, representing radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine, and education, will share their expertise on effectively communicating science in both clinical settings and to the public.

Join us for insightful presentations and an interactive Q&A session, where you’ll gain practical strategies to enhance your communication skills and prepare for the future of medical physics. Don’t miss this opportunity to build a key skill that will set you apart in your career!

Expanding Horizons Travel Grant Poster Presentation

Time: 9:30am-10:15am

Location: Exhibit Hall

Awardees from the Expanding Horizons Travel Grant program will discuss their experiences attending conferences that are not specifically geared toward traditional medical physics, focusing on broad scientific impact and opportunities for medical physicists in various fields. Attendees will have the ability to view the Expanding Horizons posters and learn about the hot topics and emerging research areas presented at these conferences, understand the relevance to future medical physics research, and submit questions to awardees during an interactive poster session.

MedPhys Slam

Time: 10:15am-12:15pm

Location: Room 207A, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

MedPhys Slam is a science communication competition similar to a three-minute thesis and aims to highlight and improve emerging medical physicists’ communication with non-specialists. The rules are simple but challenging. Contestants have three minutes to present their research using no more than three PowerPoint slides. They are evaluated on their ability to convey their research and its significance to a lay audience.

The MedPhys Slam competition is open to all Student, Junior, and Resident members of AAPM or COMP. A preliminary round of competition takes place at local AAPM Chapter meetings throughout the year (COMP and international contestants will submit video presentations), and winners of the Chapter competitions compete in the final competition organized by STSC at the AAPM Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Technical Writing Workshop

Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Join the Editors of JACMP and Medical Physicsfor an engaging session on technical writing for scientific publication, hosted in the Early Career & Mentor Lounge. Whether you're preparing your first manuscript or looking to sharpen your writing for peer-reviewed journals, this session will provide practical tips, common pitfalls to avoid, and insights from the editors themselves on what makes a submission stand out. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your science communication skills and ask questions directly to the editorial team!

AAPM Seed Grant Session

Time: 4:30pm-6:00pm

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30

Morning Debrief – Wednesday

Time: 7:30am-8:00am

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Start your day with the Morning Debrief, a 30-minute session designed for early career attendees to maximize their AAPM Annual Meeting & Exhibition experience. Each morning, our student and trainee committees will provide a curated overview of the day's must-attend sessions, networking opportunities, and key events to help you navigate the schedule with confidence. Join us to gain insights, plan your day, and connect with fellow attendees!

How to Submit to the Journal

Time: 10:30am - 11:30am

Location: Early Career and Mentor Lounge, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Does submitting your research manuscripts for publication feel like running the gauntlet? Join the Editors of Medical Physics and JACMP for a candid session on how to prepare your manuscript for success. We'll share practical tips for crafting clear text and figures, discuss what characteristics increase acceptance rates, and walk you through the peer review process for both journals. We'll also cover how to interpret reviewer critiques, navigate the revision process, understand each journal’s scope, and explore your Open Access publishing options. Bring your questions: this is your chance to hear directly from journal editors.