Behind the Curtain: A Medical Physicist’s Glimpse Into ACR

Colin Schaeffer, PhD, Diagnostic Imaging Physicist and Assistant Professor at Oregon Health and Science University, contributed this piece.

When I began my year as the Richard L. Morin, PhD, Fellow in Medical Physics, I admittedly had limited understanding of what ACR® was and what the organization did. At this point in my career as a medical physicist, my only experience with ACR had been through the accreditation program, so the inner workings of the College still felt abstract. I applied for the fellowship after thorough research because of my admiration for the notable physicists who are involved in ACR and a desire to better understand the inner workings of an organization that heavily influences our profession. However, my experience has been much more.

One of the most impactful experiences came at the culmination of my fellowship during a trip to the 2025 ACR Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. This was a wonderfully climactic experience where, after a year of preparation, I finally felt like I understood the organization. The annual meeting was where I witnessed the action and practice of the College that I previously only understood through PowerPoint slides and organizational flow charts. At the meeting, I experienced these flow charts in live time: listening as the ACR Council debated resolutions, watching the reference committees interpret the will of the Council, and experiencing committee and chapter meetings. It was an experience that gave me insights into ACR unlike any other.

Beyond the annual meeting, the fellowship was full of meaningful, enriching experiences. One highlight was the week I spent at ACR headquarters in Reston, Virginia. During this visit, I met with ACR staff members from different departments across the College. I learned not just about what each department did, but also about the people who make the College run. I was overwhelmed with the scale and reach of this organization. I learned that the College was much more than ever I thought it was, having expansive advocacy, government relations and economics teams. These were sides of the College I had never seen or experienced. Meeting with these staff members opened my eyes to how much ACR provides for the profession of radiology and how necessary the College is for the advancement of our field.

Now, as I transition from a physics resident at Henry Ford Health to a full-time position as a diagnostic imaging physicist and assistant professor at Oregon Health and Science University, I carry forward all that this fellowship has given me – countless insights and meaningful connections. Through this fellowship, I have met future co-workers, become involved in the Oregon Radiological Society (despite my current Michigan residence), furthered my ACR involvement by joining more committees and strengthened my voice as an advocate for the field of radiology.

And finally, I cannot write about my experience as the 2024 Morin Fellow without mentioning and thanking ACR staff Dustin Gress and Wil Creech for their guidance and mentorship. Both were instrumental in orienting me to the happenings and finer details of ACR and are now not just mentors, but also friends.

The Richard L. Morin, PhD, Fellowship in Medical Physics has been a highlight of my early career and has cemented my desire and commitment to volunteer my time to ACR.