We are pleased to invite participation in the Breast Project International Collaboration, a multinational breast radiotherapy treatment planning study led by Sherisse Hunte (IAEA Doctoral Coordinated Research Project E24022). This initiative focuses on evaluating treatment planning variability, improving plan quality, and supporting protocol optimization across diverse clinical settings, including low- and middle-income countries. The study uses a standardized prescription of 40.05 Gy in 15 fractions to enable consistent benchmarking across participating centres. This collaboration aims to contribute to global efforts to improve breast cancer outcomes by strengthening treatment planning practices and fostering international cooperation.

This initiative aligns well with MPWB’s mission to support improving radiotherapy practice globally. It is an excellent example of the meaningful contribution of medical physicists to patient care.

Interested centres and individuals are encouraged to participate and contribute to this important initiative. To facilitate this study, the study coordinator will distribute a standardized DICOM dataset along with a plan quality metrics template to all participating institutions. For more information or to express interest, please contact:

sherisse.hunte@outlook.com

We are pleased to share a new publication led by our colleague and founder of MPWB Jacob (Jake) Van Dyk:

Global Medical Physics: A Guide for International Collaboration (CRC Press, 2025)

This open-access book provides practical guidance for medical physicists and healthcare professionals involved in international clinical, education, and research collaborations. It reflects contributions from 34 experts across 21 countries and brings together diverse perspectives from both high- and low-resource settings.

Why this book matters

• Supports the growing role of medical physicists in global health
• Addresses real-world challenges in cross-cultural collaboration, including ethics, language, and technology
• Offers practical strategies for effective partnerships and Short-Term Experiences in Global Health (STEGH)
• Highlights emerging topics such as data-driven approaches and artificial intelligence in international contexts
• Designed as an accessible resource for professionals worldwide, including those in lower-income regions

This is a valuable resource for physicists at all career stages, students, residents, educators, and experienced professionals, as well as for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers engaged in global health initiatives.

The book is available free online as an open-access resource, making it widely accessible, and is also available for purchase in paperback and hardback formats for those who prefer a physical copy.

Access the book here:

https://www.routledge.com/Global-Medical-Physics-A-Guide-for-International-Collaboration/Van-Dyk/p/book/9781032864891?_ga=428505410.1778010821

مشینوں کی بستی، شعاعوں کا نگر،
جہاں dose کی بات ہو، اور plan کا سفر۔

وہاں اک گروہ ہے نرالا سا،
خاموش، مگر کارنامہ نرالہ سا

ڈاکٹر کہے “یہ beam کیوں نہیں چلی؟”
فزسسٹ کہے “QA ہوا نہیں ابھی!”

نہ stethoscope، نہ نسخہ کوئی ان کے پاس،
پر شعاعوں سے علاج کا راز، انہی کے ہاتھ

کبھی bunker میں، کبھی TPS کے پاس،
کبھی DVH میں ڈھونڈیں coverage کی آس

کہے دنیا، “یہ لوگ ہیں کمال کے”،
جو cancer کو challenge دیں شعاعوں کے جال سے

ایک کپ چائے، perfect plan کا خواب،
یہی ہے فزسسٹ کی زندگی کا جواب

تو آج سلام ان سائنس دانوں کو،
جو شعاعوں کو دوا بناتے ہیں،
اور امید کو زندگی کا نام دیتے ہیں۔

City of Machines, Realm of Rays,
Where dose is discussed, and plans find their ways.

There dwells a group — unique, serene,
Silent souls, yet heroes unseen.

Doctor asks, “Why the beam won’t run?”
Physicist smiles, “QA isn’t done!”

No stethoscope, no prescription in sight,
Yet they harness radiation to heal with light.

Sometimes in bunkers, sometimes by TPS they stand,
Chasing coverage in DVH land.

The world says, “These minds are rare,
Who battle cancer with a radiant flair.”

A cup of tea, a perfect plan’s dream,
That’s the Physicist’s humble theme.

So today, salute to these science wizards true,
Who turn rays into remedy,
And hope into life anew.

Award Benefits

• Registration fee waiver

• 1 year of recorded content

• AAPM membership funded by MPWB/AAPM (if eligible)

• Apply by June 1, 2026

General Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Live and work in a resource-limited country, as defined by the World Bank List of Economies (by income level).
• Be medical physicists.
• Must be eligible for AAPM membership or have a current membership (see link below).Registration link:  https://aapm.secure-platform.com/site/solicitations/login/102097?returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Faapm.secure-platform.com%2Fsite%2Fsolicitations%2F102097%2Fhome

We’re excited to introduce MPWB Poetry Wednesdays!

Following our IDMP Poetry Contest last year, we received 32 inspiring submissions from the medical physics community. To celebrate this creativity, we’ll be sharing one poem every other Wednesday as part of this new series.

The following participants were selected as winners:

Lalit Mohan Aggarwal

Muhammad Mubashar Hussain

Erin Lukas

We would like to thank them and all participants for their wonderful contributions and for sharing their creativity with our community.

Stay tuned as we highlight these voices and showcase how science and art come together in medical physics.

Speaker: Mercy Torshie Schandorf, MPhil (Ghana)
Date: Thursday, April 2
Time: 10:00 ET (16:00 CET)

Mercy Torshie Schandorf is a Clinical Medical Physicist and Lead Medical Physicist at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in Greater Accra, Ghana. She holds an MPhil in Medical Physics from the University of Ghana and a BSc in Biomedical Physics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. She is a certified Clinical Medical Physicist through the Allied Health Professions Council of Ghana and completed her two-year residency training at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in both radiation therapy and diagnostic medical physics.

Since joining UGMC in 2024, Mercy has led the development of comprehensive quality assurance and quality control programs for advanced imaging systems, including MRI, CT, and angiography, while advancing radiation safety and dose optimization initiatives. In 2025, she served as the Medical Physics Lead for Africa’s first IAEA QUAADRIL audit, a landmark milestone that contributed to establishing sustainable procedural frameworks for diagnostic excellence at her center.

Mercy is actively engaged in global collaboration, professional mentorship, and STEM advocacy, with a strong focus on strengthening equitable healthcare systems across sub-Saharan Africa.

Moderators: Sarah Ashmeg and Arjit Baghwala

Please register using the link below:

Registration link

We are proud to sponsor medical physicists from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to attend the AAPM Annual Meeting remotely. This initiative opens the door to world-class educational content, cutting-edge research, and meaningful professional connection—without the barrier of travel costs.

Over the past five years, the impact has been significant:

• 2021: 37 awardees from 37 countries
• 2022: 45 awardees from 25 countries
• 2023: 30 awardees from 13 countries
• 2024: 30 awardees from 16 countries
• 2025: 20 awardees from 11 countries

One important aspect of this program is responsible use of funds. Not all award recipients are ultimately able to attend. Since we only use funds for confirmed participants, any unused donations are carried forward to support future applicants.

For example, in 2025, remaining IBA funds from 2024 were sufficient to support 13 participants. MPWB planned to sponsor 7 additional physicists. In the end, 14 participants attended—ensuring that every dollar was used efficiently while continuing to expand access.

Each sponsored attendee represents more than a number. It means new knowledge brought back to clinics, improved patient care, and stronger medical physics communities around the world.

Medical Physics for World Benefit (MPWB) Canada & MPWB USA invite all members to attend the upcoming Annual General Meeting. Two identical sessions will be offered to accommodate our global membership.

You will receive two invitations shortly. Please RSVP to the session that works for you.

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
Times: 6:00 am ET (11AM GMT) and 3:00 pm ET (8PM GMT)
Platform: Zoom

Purpose:
Join us as we discuss the past year's accomplishments, current projects, and strategic priorities for the future. Your input and engagement are vital to our continued success.

AGM Agenda

1. Welcome and review of agenda (Afua Yorke – 5min)
2. Review previous AGM AY to present brief summary of issues raised at the time:

• Opportunities for members to get involved
• How does MPWB interact with others
• How is data kept on projects and opportunities
• MPWB physical visits or virtual operation
• Collaboration with IAEA

 

1. Reports
   1. President (Afua Yorke)
   2. Secretary and Treasurer (Monique van Prooijen)
   3. Communication manager (Navid Khaledi)
2. Major projects update
   1. Open syllabus (Parminder Basran / Navid Khaledi)
   2. Poem Competition (Tomas Kron)
   3. Webinars & (Eduard Gershkevitsh/Ghada Aldosary)
   4. Meru (John Schreiner)
   5. Mentorship (John Schreiner)
3. Time for Questions

The recorded version of the MPWB Webinar Series 2026 session is now available.

HDR Brachytherapy Commissioning: Source, Treatment Planning System and Applicators
Presented by Arjit Baghwala, MS, DABR, FAAPM
Senior Radiation Physicist and Lead for Brachytherapy, Houston Methodist Hospital

You can watch the full recorded webinar at the link below on MPWB YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/bUXpIYsf6LA

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to a very engaging session.

We are pleased to announce the next session in the MPWB Webinar Series 2026, taking place on Thursday, January 15th at 10:00 ET (16:00 CET).

This webinar, titled “HDR Brachytherapy Commissioning: Source, Treatment Planning System and Applicators,” will be presented by Arjit Baghwala, MS, DABR, FAAPM (USA).

Arjit Baghwala is a Senior Radiation Physicist and Lead for Brachytherapy at Houston Methodist Hospital. He is nationally recognized for his expertise in brachytherapy and serves as faculty for the American Brachytherapy Society, including the 2025 Annual Meeting. He is board certified by the American Board of Radiology, a Fellow of the AAPM, and actively involved in national education and professional service initiatives, including leadership roles within the AAPM.

The session will be moderated by Sarah Ashmeg and Afua Yorke.

Please register for the webinar using the link below:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_buuCuKivRA-5GOtf9_VKNQ

We hope you can join us for this educational and engaging session.