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February 22, 2023

2023 Annual
General Meeting
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AROPA Governing Body

Radiation Oncology & Medical Physics

The AROPA is a registered National Organization 501(c)(3). Our Board of Directors are passionate about creating excellence in the field of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics. The AROPA Board is made up of volunteer governance positions. 

As an organization we place emphasis on:

Creating community

Providing quality education and mentorship opportunities

Advancing the field of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics through developing strong leadership 

AROPA Board of Directors

A career in graduate medical education and specifically Radiation Oncology has been as unexpected as it has been rewarding. After 15 years as Program Coordinator here at NYU, words cannot adequately express how thankful I am for the guidance and support that I've received from both my home institution and the AROPA.

Vice President

Emily Rawn, BA, C-TAGME

New York University, Langone

Chris has worked at Rush University Medical Center in the department of Radiation Oncology since 2008 as the residency program administrator and the manager of administrative support.

Director of Operations

Christopher Gualano

Rush University

Thalia is a Training Program Administrator with over 10 years’ experience working with residents. Being a member of AROPA is a wonderful sharing of experience and knowledge that has enhanced my leadership in management abilities, communication, interpersonal, administrative and organizational skills, leading her to be more detail-oriented, compassionate, supportive, calm under pressure and being happily successful doing her job.

Director of Member Services

Thalia Yaden, C-TAGME

City of Hope National Medical Center

Julie is the Program Coordinator for the Residency, Ph.D., MS, Postdoctoral Certificate, and undergraduate Purdy Fellowship programs in medical physics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She has worked at the university since 2002 and has several years of experience developing and managing a variety of graduate medical and educational programming.

Director of Medical Physics Member Services

Julie Follman, MBA

Washington University School of Medicine

Melissa oversees one of the largest residency programs in Radiation Oncology with a strong commitment to inclusivity and engagement initiatives.

Director of Inclusivity and Engagement

Melissa Dawson, MSOL, MHA, DHA

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Seven years in Radiation Oncology, currently Manager of Academic Programs

Co-Director of Mentoring & Outreach

Patricia Candia, PhD, C-TAGME

UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson

Along with serving as the Program Coordinator with the university and her role with AROPA, DeAnna also serves on the Quality and Patient Safety Subcommittee.

Co-Director of Mentoring & Outreach

DeAnna O'Connell, BS

University of Louisville

Kari has been a fellowship and residency program coordinator since 2010, serving Hematology/Oncology, Pulmonary/Critical Care, Rheumatology, and now Radiation Oncology. She has a continued and dedicated passion for development and learning, serving as a mentor for other administrators across campus, building innovative programs for sharing of knowledge, and providing educational opportunities that support the careers of her peers and colleagues.

Creative Director

Kari Postlewait, C-TAGME

University of Oklahoma

Lea is the Associate Director of student services in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. In this role, she supports the Medical Physics Graduate Programs and coordinates their new Fellowship program. She has worked in the Department of Radiation Oncology in several capacities since 2020.

Fellowship Liaison

Lea Della Vecchia, MS

University of Pennsylvania

Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Adriana spent her formative years in Brighton, England. She is a proud mum of an 18-year-old heading to Ole Miss for radiologic sciences. Married for 6 years, Adriana moved to the USA in December 2018. She tries to live healthy, especially in the summer when she’s happiest on the water. Adriana is a coffee lover, a clean freak, and a fan of medical series, movies, and stand-up comedy. Animals, especially dogs, have her heart—she dog-sits often. Languages fascinate her; she can greet people in 10 different languages. Adriana loves connecting with people, which is why she adores her job as a program administrator. She truly loves her residents and is honored to run the socials for their community.

Director of Social Media

Adriana Hand

University of Mississippi Medical Center

Vanessa Moya is the Program Administrator for Education and Training at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She oversees operations for the Division of Radiation Oncology's GME, research training, clinical clerkship, and CME programs. Vanessa holds a BBA in Management from Texas Southern University and is completing her MBA in Strategic Human Resource Management at the University of Houston-Victoria. Her interests in organizational development, ethical leadership, equity, and operations have led her to serve on various committees, initiate training programs, shape policies, and advance wellness initiatives. In her spare time, Vanessa enjoys family time, dancing, and basking in the sun.

Director of Grants/Funding Opportunities

Vanessa Moya, BBA

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

AROPA Advisory Board

Shibu Anamalayil, MS

University of Pennsylvania

Kevin Du, MD, PhD

Yale University

Thomas Dilling, MD

Moffit Cancer Center

Stefan Both, PhD

University Medical Center Groningen

Stephen Avery, PhD

University of Pennsylvania

Anthony L. Zietman, MD, FASTRO

Massachusetts General Hospital - Harvard

Neha Vapiwala, MD

University of Pennsylvania
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