As she prepares to graduate this June from the University of Wisconsin Department of Human Oncology’s Radiation Oncology Physics Residency Program, second-year resident Elissa Khoudary is already gaining national recognition for her leadership and commitment to the field.
Khoudary is one of only five individuals who have been selected for the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) International Council Associates Mentorship Program (ICAMP), a highly competitive initiative designed to support early-career medical physicists with a strong interest in global health, education, and outreach. Launched in 2024, the program pairs a small cohort of mentees with senior AAPM mentors and engages them in projects aligned with international priorities in the field.
“I was really excited to be accepted,” Khoudary said. “ICAMP offers the chance to engage with AAPM at a deeper level while also learning from leaders who are actively shaping global medical physics.”
Khoudary will be matched with her project mentor in June 2026 and will participate in the program through the end of 2027. Alongside regular mentorship meetings and group discussions, she will complete a structured project and attend AAPM Annual Meetings, where she will have opportunities to network and participate in committee activities.
Her decision to apply was influenced in part by UW faculty member Shannon O’Reilly, who currently serves as an ICAMP mentor. O’Reilly’s leadership in global education and outreach—and her encouragement—helped guide Khoudary toward the program.
“Shannon was the one who mentioned ICAMP to me,” Khoudary said. “I’ve always had an interest in global health and outreach and education, and it seemed like it really matched what I was looking for.”
Khoudary has been actively involved in AAPM since her undergraduate years and has continued to expand her role throughout residency. She currently serves on the Students and Trainees Subcommittee, where she helps organize initiatives such as the annual student meeting, and is also involved in a working group focused on medical errors in brachytherapy (WGMEB). More recently, she joined a global education and outreach subcommittee as a guest member within the International Council.
Following graduation, Khoudary will return to her home state of New Jersey to join Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Barnabas Health as a clinical medical physicist, with a primary focus on brachytherapy.
“I’m really looking forward to having a mentor that shares similar goals to mine,” she said. “Having that guidance will be really helpful for pushing me forward.”
With her selection to ICAMP and her growing involvement in AAPM, Khoudary is well positioned to continue making an impact—both clinically and through global engagement in medical physics.