IOMP SCHOOL WEBINARS 2026

6 March 2026 at 12 pm GMT; Duration 1 hour

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Organizer and Moderator: Loredana Marcu, IOMP Women Sub-Committee Chair

Talk 1: The impact of Women in Physics on the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics and on its mission to assist in the worldwide development of physics

Speaker: Silvina Ponce Dawsons, PhD
Departamento de Física, FCEN-UBA and IFIBA, UBA-CONICET, Argentina

“Licenciada” and PhD in Physics, University of Buenos Aires. Full Professor, University of Buenos Aires. Higher Researcher, CONICET, Argentina. President, International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP). Corresponding member, National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, Argentina. Fellow, International Science Council. Senior Associate, ICTP, Trieste, Italy. Associate Member, ICTP-SAIFR, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Divisional Associate Editor for Physical Review Letters. Associate Editor, Editorial Board of Biophysics for Frontiers. Member of the Liaison Committee of the ISC Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean. Member of the Steering Committee of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ2025). Her main research interests are in biological physics and nonlinear dynamics. She authored over 100 scientific papers. She advised 16 Licenciatura theses, 12 PhD theses and is advising another two. She has been involved in numerous activities to help reduce the gender gap in science. She was Chair (2011-2014) of IUPAP’s Working Group on Women in Physics and IUPAP’s Gender Champion (2017-2019).

Abstract:

The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, IUPAP, is the only international scientific union that covers all areas of physics. Run and organized by physicists from all over the world, its mission is to assist in the worldwide development of physics, to foster international cooperation in physics, and to help in the application of physics toward solving problems of concern to humanity. In 1999 IUPAP approved the creation of its Working Group on Women in Physics, WGWiP, which exerted an enormous impact on IUPAP´s structure and activities. In this talk I will present a brief description of my journey within IUPAP which started as a member and then Chair of its WGWiP and eventually led me to become the second woman president of IUPAP in its 104 years of existence. I will also describe how the discussions and recommendations that stemmed from the Working Group activities helped reshape the Union and influenced my own perspective on leadership.

Learning objectives:

The main goal will be to show how the inclusion of a gender perspective in institutions and organizations of the academic, educational and scientific ecosystem can lead to better processes and increase the impact of their actions.

Talk 2: Leading as a woman: Resilience and the power of Perspective

Speaker:

Robin Miller, President of AAPM
Chief Medical Physicist at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill on behalf of Northwest Medical Physics Center

Robin Miller, MS, DABR, FAAPM, is a medical physicist and nationally recognized leader in radiation oncology physics with more than three decades of clinical, academic, and professional service experience. She currently serves as Chief Medical Physicist at Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill in Seattle on behalf of  Northwest Medical Physics Center.  Her career spans academic and community institutions nationwide.

Ms.  Miller is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology and a Fellow of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM). She has held extensive leadership roles within AAPM, serving on the Board of Directors twice before her election to the AAPM Presidential chain, including President-Elect (2025) and President (2026). She is the sixth woman to be president of the AAPM.  Additionally, she has chaired multiple committees and contributed to workforce assessments, professional practice guidelines, and education initiatives. She has co-authored numerous AAPM Medical Physics Practice Guidelines and peer-reviewed publications, particularly in brachytherapy, peer review, and quality assurance.

A frequently invited speaker, Ms. Miller is known for expertise in medical physics leadership, mentorship, workforce development, and professional practice advancement.

Abstract:

Women in leadership roles bring adaptability, emotional intelligence, and thoughtful communication to their daily work, often navigating complex expectations that shape how they lead and make decisions. They are attuned to how emotions are expressed, how messages are framed, and how authority is received, frequently demonstrating a nuanced leadership style that balances clarity, empathy, and accountability. This awareness enables many women leaders to lead with intention and effectiveness, even in environments where their actions may be more closely observed than those of their peers.

The discussion highlights the resilience and strategic skills women develop in response to these dynamics. Practices such as thorough preparation, reflective decision-making, and careful communication often stem from a strong commitment to excellence and credibility. While these adaptive behaviors arise within systems of heightened scrutiny, they also reflect women leaders’ dedication to fostering trust and achieving results. Recognizing and valuing these strengths helps shift the narrative toward equity, confidence, and the full expression of leadership presence.

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize how women leaders leverage emotional intelligence, adaptability, and strategic communication to navigate complex leadership expectations and enhance their effectiveness.
2. Identify common adaptive leadership behaviors developed in response to heightened scrutiny and evaluate how these strategies both support and, at times, constrain leadership presence.
3. Apply approaches that affirm leadership strengths, promote equity, and support the confident, authentic expression of authority in professional settings.

Talk 3: My Career, My Way; A Woman for All Seasons

Speaker:

A/Prof Natalka Suchowerska, PhD, FACPSEM, MESTRO
School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Australia
Chair CEAB of IOMP
Vice President Help Ukraine Group (HUG)

A/Prof Natalka Suchowerska has worked at the intersection of research, clinical practice, and academia for nearly four decades. A medical physicist by training, her expertise lies in the application of ionising radiation in medicine. As Director of VectorLAB, she led a multidisciplinary research program encompassing the development and biofunctionalisation of 3D-printed PAEK scaffolds for bone replacement, investigation of biological responses to emerging radiation therapies, and the development of novel dosimetry instrumentation.

An award-winning physicist, A/Prof Suchowerska is a reviewer for several leading international journals in medicine and physics, a frequent invited speaker at international conferences, and served as Scientific Co-Chair (Physics) of the inaugural ESTRO meets ASIA conference. She has held numerous national and international leadership roles, including within the International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP). Her career includes successful research collaborations, secured patents, and multiple honours, including recognition in the AFR Top 100 Women of Influence (Innovation) and the ESTRO Honorary Membership (2021) for contributions to innovation and international, multidisciplinary collaboration.

Currently based part-time at the University of Sydney, she is a founding member of the international Help Ukraine Group (HUG), supporting oncology professionals in Ukraine. She is also a NAATI-certified Ukrainian–English interpreter.

Abstract:

My Career, My Way; A Woman for All Seasons is a personal reflection on building a meaningful, non-linear career in medical physics. Drawing on experiences across different roles, environments, and stages of life, this presentation challenges the idea that there is a single “correct” path to success in a highly technical healthcare profession. Beginning with an honest look at how many enter medical physics without a master plan, the talk explores what the work truly looks like in practice, how careers evolve through uncertainty and change, and how expectations—both external and internal—shape professional choices.

With a particular focus on the lived experiences of women in medical physics, the presentation addresses common challenges such as imposter syndrome, underrepresentation, speaking up in technical spaces, and balancing professional ambition with life beyond work. Each challenge is paired with practical strategies, lessons learned, and the importance of mentors, allies, resilience, adaptability and self-defined boundaries.

Rather than offering a template, this talk presents one journey as an example of how success can be defined intentionally and imperfectly, on one’s own terms. Aimed at students, early-career professionals, and established physicists alike, it concludes with actionable advice and a call to remain curious, visible, and supportive—so that the next generation can shape their careers and make their contributions, their way.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Recognize that careers in medical physics are often non-linear and that multiple pathways to success exist, particularly for women in the profession.
2. Describe the real-world scope of medical physics work across clinical, academic, research, and leadership roles from a personal, lived perspective.
3. Identify common challenges faced by women in medical physics—including imposter syndrome, underrepresentation, and work–life integration—and practical strategies to navigate them.
4. Reflect on their own definitions of career success and consider how personal values, boundaries, and choices can shape a fulfilling professional path.
5. Apply actionable advice to support their own career development or to mentor and advocate for others within technical and healthcare environments.