Our GPMP graduate student Avery Antes (Whitney Lab) was featured on the latest issue of the Trainee Associate Member (TAM) Monthly Newsletter. She was nominated as the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) Member of the Month!
Read the piece below:
Avery Antes, PhD Student, Committee on Medical Physics
I am a student in the Medical Physics program, which I began in 2025. I am a member of the Whitney Lab, where I focus on using ultrasound imaging to characterize and predict chronic placental injury antenatally. More broadly, I'm interested in applying ultrasound and MRI to women's health, and in integrating AI and radiomics into image guidance and diagnosis.
You recently attended the AAPM Annual Meeting. How was that experience?
I traveled to Vancouver, Canada, from July 18 - 23 to attend the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) annual conference. The AAPM Annual Meeting, held jointly with COMP, is the largest yearly gathering of medical physicists in North America, bringing together clinical physicists, researchers, dosimetrists, educators, and industry partners for scientific sessions and a technical exhibition of the latest field innovations. It's an especially valuable conference for graduate students, medical physics residents, and early-career investigators working in quantitative imaging, or ML-driven imaging pipelines, offering both a platform to present research and rich opportunities for feedback, mentorship, and networking.
I was invited to attend this conference to present my research on ultrasound monitoring for histotripsy therapy as a poster. The poster presentation went very well, sparking many conversations with attendees about the utility of ultrasound, which created strong interest in my work and allowed me to create valuable connections and discussion of future directions.
What was your first job?
My first job was working as a summer camp counselor for a sports camp. The first job related to my current work was as a student research assistant in a lab.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy drawing, trying out new recipes (baking and cooking), and playing recreational volleyball and softball. What's the best advice you've ever received? "If you're ever feeling down, go outside and eat a banana."
What meal reminds you of home?
Fried chicken, green beans, and cornbread.
What's something you wish more UCCCC Trainee Associate Members knew exists at UChicago?
I wish more trainees knew just how many communities exist on UChicago's campus. I've met so many new people and picked up new skills through arts and sports organizations, and I'd highly recommend that trainees explore all the different opportunities campus has to offer.