Board Update: Strategic Planning, Continuing Education, and Opportunities to Get Involved

1. Board Update: Strategic Planning, Continuing Education, and Opportunities to Get Involved Jean M. Moran Board member-at-large December 10, 2010

2. Mission of the AAPM To advance the science, education and professional practice of medical physics

3. Strategic Planning • In 2010, an Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee was formed • Charge: To develop and recommend to the Board, the Objectives of the AAPM to achieve its Goals that carry out the AAPM Mission. To recommend to the Board a process to facilitate and implement long term strategy and vision planning of the AAPM. • Chaired by Bill Hendee and Jerry White

4. Why have a Strategic Plan? The AAPM is a large professional organization with an annual budget of approximately $8 million dollars The AAPM also has a tremendous volunteer base conducting many of these efforts with support from Headquarters staff as needed A strategic plan can be used to help guide the board and council chairs in activities to focus on as well as to better determine how dollars are spent by the organization (my interpretation)

5. Membership Membership included current officers, Council chairs, a few representative board members, and other members who are active in Science, Education, or Professional Council activities The group met in April, 2010 to brainstorm about goals and objectives which support the mission of the association Results were collated by the chairs of the group for presentation to the Board of Directors

6. Structure of the AAPM:Board of Directors • Administrative Council – Chair: Melissa Martin • Awards and Honors, Development, Government and Regulatory Affairs, International Affairs, Journal Business Management, Meeting Coordination, Membership, Regional Organization, etc • Education Council – Chair: Ed Barnes • Continuing professional development, Education and training of medical physicists, public education, medical physics education of physicians • Professional Council – Chair: Per Halvorsen • Professional Economics, Ethics, Clinical Practice, Professional Services • Science Council – Chair: John Boone • Imaging Physics, Therapy Physics, Research (many TG groups)

7. Identifying Goals • All strategies to support objectives were noted • At the July meeting of the Board of Directors, sub-groups were formed and each group ranked the objectives for each goal of strategic planning • The results for each group were used to identify the top 25 strategies • Note: some existing activities that do very well were not explicitly discussed in the plan • Medical Physics Journal • Annual AAPM meeting

8. Creating a Structure for Implementing Strategic Planning • At the November board meeting, the board supported a motion that would enable oversight by a junior and senior board member to each group that is involved in major objectives for the AAPM • There are existing groups which encompass many activities. Other items will need to be addressed by Board-led (and created) groups • The board members will be responsible for reporting on the progress of the initiative(s) that they are involved in • Objectives include activities under and across all councils • For example, creation of clinical practice guidelines by the Clinical Practice Committee, improved communication with members, reorganization of information on the website, etc.

9. Continuing Education • Jeff Limmer is leading a review of the continuing education activities of the AAPM • Members have requested more access to courses that supply SAM credits for those under Maintenance of Certification • Additional activities are being investigated

10. Opportunities to Get More Involved • All committees and membership information are on the AAPM website • Members have access to the information • You can browse and search to find committees of interest • Watch yellow book ads for open positions • Service on committees is for a 3 year term, extensible for an additional 3 years

11. Getting More Involved in AAPM • Talk to individuals who are currently serving on committees that you are interested in • Find out how that individual got involved and what experiences were relevant • Be prepared to approach the chair in person or by email to express your interest and include your cv • It can be beneficial to have synergistic activities for your clinical, research, educational, and committee service

12. Getting More Involved in AAPM • Find an activity that you are passionate about and willing to put the extra time into • Groups to consider: • Professional council – clinical practice groups • New Professionals Subcommittee – chaired by Jessica Clements (cross-discipline) • Education – regionally, for online activities, national, and/or international efforts • Science – look for subcommittees and task groups consistent with your clinical and/or research activities (e.g. QA SC in Therapy) • Talk to your colleagues and express your interest