COMP Student Council

The Student Council is a sub-committee of the COMP Science and Education Committee. The main objectives of the Student Council are to advise the COMP Board through the Science and Education Committee on matters of importance to COMP student members, to assist the organization in attracting and retaining student members, and to help develop high quality education courses and other training activities that will promote good practice within the field. On this page, you will learn about our student network, initiatives, and Student Council members.

Click here to view the Council's Terms of Reference

Join the Student Network

Connect with us on Twitter @COMPTrainees, LinkedIn @COMP Students Council, or join the Student Network to receive emails for updates on upcoming events and opportunities within the student community. If you have any questions, comments, or ideas, please reach out to us any time at compstudentcouncil.comp@gmail.com, or chat with your local COMP Student Council ambassador.

COMP Student Council Initiatives

COMP Career Catalysis (C³) Seminar Series: This series is a professional development initiative aimed at equipping participants with essential skills for success in graduate school and advancing their career in Medical Physics. These sessions aim to provide various skills in communication, leadership, and professionalism for improving career prospects, learning about opportunities in Medical Physics, and building a network with like-minded students, trainees, and experts in Medical Physics across Canada and beyond. See our past sessions here and on our youtube channel.

COMP Research Discovery (RD) Seminar Series: This series is designed to exclusively feature presentations by graduate students and recent graduates on their research projects and theses. It aims to provide a platform for students to discuss their work, network, build collaborations, and expand their knowledge outside of conferences. Students from research groups across Canada will be invited to present, gaining valuable presentation experience and enhancing their CVs. If you are interested in nominating yourself or others as a student speaker, please take a minute to complete the nomination form.

COMP Student Council Ambassador Program: This program is designed to unite and strengthen student communities from coast to coast. Student representatives from 16 CAMPEP-accredited institutions and 4 non-accredited institutions will meet regularly with the COMP SC members throughout the year. This initiative allows the COMP SC to play an active role in student engagement, ensuring there is always an open space for them to voice their concerns and share their ideas. It also facilitates the promotion of its events to the student community.

Student Events at COMP Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM): The Student Council plays an active role in each year’s COMP ASM. Over the years, the Student Council has organized and hosted a full day of student-focused events during the COMP ASM to support and recognize student achievements within the medical physics community.

• Young Professional Workshop (YPW): Inspired by the overall theme of the annual COMP ASM, this workshop offers a series of presentations tailored specifically for students. Featuring expert speakers from the field, the sessions provide valuable insights into current trends and innovations. The workshop concludes with an interactive networking session, allowing students to engage directly with the speakers, ask questions, and build meaningful connections.
• Canadian Residency Fair: This event offers an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about Canadian residency opportunities, professional certification in Canada, and leadership opportunities with the COMP Student Council and the COMP Residents &Trainees subcommittee.
• Science Spoken Succinctly (S3): S3 is a 3-minute-thesis-style competition for students and residents to present their research in a simple and engaging manner. It has been held for the past two years at the COMP ASM drawing applicants from across the country to compete for cash prizes!
• Student Night Out: The Student Night Out is a highly anticipated social event that takes place on one evening of the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM). Designed to foster community and camaraderie among students, this event offers a relaxed and fun atmosphere where attendees can unwind, network, and build connections with their peers from across the country.

IDEA Student Travel Award: The Student Council is committed to fostering inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in medical physics. We believe that IDEA is vital for delivering high quality cancer care, nurturing innovation, and advancing research and academic excellence. We recognize that equity-denied groups face unique barriers to succeeding within medical physics and we are seeking ways to develop and maintain initiatives that are aimed at increasing representation and inclusion of equity-denied individuals and groups. Towards that end, we are excited to offer the IDEA Student Travel Award to provide financial assistance for students who identify with equity-denied groups[1] and who demonstrate financial need to attend the COMP Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM). More information can be found on the COMP website here.

Student Council Committee Members 2023-2024

[1]  In this context, equity-denied groups refer to individuals who have been historically disadvantaged and underrepresented. These groups include but are not limited to the following designated groups in Canada: women, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, people who are part of LGBTQ2+ communities, religious minority groups and racialized people (Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, Centre canadien pour la diversité et l'inclusion. Glossary of Terms. January 2022). Expanding on this definition, recent immigrants and individuals facing low socioeconomic status are also eligible.