title: Anniversary paper: the AAPM Professional Council--50th anniversary, 2008.
abstract: The following article represents a view of the professional aspects and endeavors of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) through the eyes and experiences of the current Professional Council Chair, information gathered from previous Council chairs and AAPM documents. Over its 50 year history the AAPM has made numerous contributions to the profession and practice of medical physics, through leadership and collaboration. Throughout this period the association went through growing pains and struggled to define and establish the proper level of professional responsibilities and commitment. It is likely that as medicine changes and the profession continues to evolve, that the AAPM will continue to grow, struggle, and adapt to address the future direction of medical physics.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Physics, Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. herman.michael@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Herman
mesh_terms: D006283:Health Physics / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D006286:Health Planning Councils; D006801:Humans; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States