AAPM International Affairs Committee

Saturday August 9, 2003

8:00 – 10:00 PM

Room Irvine

San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina

333 W. Harbor Drive — San Diego, California

Members Present Non-Members Present

Yakov Pipman – Chair Gustavo Olivera

Francisco Aguirre Maria Ester Brandan

Jose’ A. BenComo Isabel Gamboa de Buen

Rene J. Smith Amparo Marles-ALFIM representative

I. Call to Order

Yakov called the meeting to order at 8:00 PM.

II. Chairman's Report

1. Yakov reviewed the Objectives and Tasks for the SC for 2003/4. The SC accepted the current goals as stated in the last report to the IAC.

2. Liaison Assignments – There is a need to reevaluate some of the assignments, in view of Julie Dawson’s request to resign as Chile’s Liaison at the end of this year and the need for expanding the SC with active members. Liaisons are requested to confirm their continuing interest and links to the areas of their assignment so that we may be more effective in working towards our goals. Gustavo expressed interest in, and has contact with Physicists in, Chile. We welcome his readiness to contribute to the SC. Yakov asked all present to seek volunteers to join our SC.

3. PAHO representation – Cari Borras’s position with PAHO represented an important resource for LA MP activities, and for our SC. With her leaving PAHO, we need to establish a contact with her successor at PAHO and explore opportunities for further collaboration.

4. ISEP – The recent increase in AAPM support for the ISEP program, to provide two Workshops each year, is a significant opportunity. We need to explore the needs for such workshops in our region, beyond the one in Diagnostic Radiology that took place this year in Brazil. Doracy managed to facilitate this workshop on very short notice, after the initial program for Egypt had to be postponed, and after the second location in Argentina was deemed not feasible due to the economic crisis at the end of 2001. (Refer to Brazil report).

5. Second Pan American Medical and Biological Physics (Workshop /Conference/ Symposium) Riberao Preto, Brazil, 2004 – which was initiated as a sequel to the very successful one in Cuba in 2001 – was endorsed by the SC last year. Doracy reported that she is trying to get the definite date, and more definite details about the program. She is in contact with Baffa from Brazil, who is the local organizer. We will request the AAPM support for the meeting.

6. PIP – One Latin American Medical Physicist became Partner in Physics this year. The liaisons need to bring this program to the attention of the local organizations in the appropriate countries and to encourage more applications to the program. This program offers an important tool to create closer contacts with the individuals sponsored, and to avail them of AAPM resources – almost equal to those afforded to regular members - such as Reports, reduced registrations, Medical Physics, etc.

7. International Libraries – As of last year there were 20 IOMP libraries in Latin America. Liaisons should review the status of those libraries that were established in their area- by accessing the IOMP web site - and contact the local organizations to make sure that they are being utilized. Only libraries that keep active status can receive further donation of materials.

8. Latin American Summer School – Jose BenComo and Rene Smith proposed to have a second Latin American Summer School (LASS), following the very successful one that the SC organized in 2000, in Chicago. Discussion ensued about the factors to consider. A preferred location would be a college or university so that the accommodations are more affordable. The timing considerations are complex. There is no World Congress planned for the US that we know. Having the meeting prior to an AAPM Annual meeting requires that participants be away from their jobs for almost two weeks, which may be very difficult for many. Also, it seems that more LA physicists have better chances to get support from their institutions to attend ASTRO than the AAPM, perhaps along with the Radiation Oncologists they work with. It was decided that a small task group-JB, RS and ;;;- will evaluate a couple of alternatives, outline the pro’s and con’s, and circulate them to the group by e-mail, for further discussion.

III. Liaison Reports

The liaison reports were part of the LAASC report to the IAC. They were distributed via e-mail prior to the meeting and are enclosed here as Attachment-1.

IV. Old Business

9. LAASC Web page

This initiative needs to be revitalized. The AAPM website allows committees to submit content so

Several Task groups were formed to deal with three subjects: continue the development of a web page, workshops, and future meetings.

The groups are:

Web-page: Doracy Fontenla, Jose' Bencomo, and Sergio Ballester

Workshops: Cari Borras, Yacov Pipman, and J. Francisco Aguirre

Julie

V. Old Business

None

VI. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 11 PM

Minutes recorded by J. Francisco Aguirre

Respectfully submitted by,

Jose’ A. BenComo, Ph.D.

Secretary

1 Chair's Report:

a. Liaison Reports

b. Mexico Report (update) - Gary Fullerton

c. Second Pan American Medical and Biological Physics(Workshop /Conference/ Symposium) Riberao Preto, Brazil, 2004 – LAASC role and endorsement.

d. ESP – Listing update

e. IOMP

2. New Business

1. Web Page

2. New Members

Proposal for another LA Summer school