David Gilmore, CNMT, NCT, RT(R,N) President, SNMTS
We all deal with the day-to-day realities of our jobs—things like scope changes, schedule pressures, and demanding coworkers. Sometimes, we may feel like we've applied all our creativity and energy merely to meet requirements. SNMTS committee members aren't exempt from any of this; however, over the past six months, this unmatched network of colleagues has taken dynamic steps to serve SNMTS, the profession, and our members—even as daily realities loom. I applaud the efforts of our nuclear medicine technologist advocates and want to spotlight some of their major activities here.
Martha W. Pickett
Advance Practice Task Force: Martha W. Pickett, CNMT, FSNMTS, chair. Committee members are preparing the final competencies and curriculum that will be approved in 2008 in order for colleges/universities to start the master's program for an advance practice degree.
Cindi Luckett-Gilbert
Advocacy Committee: Cindi Luckett-Gilbert, BHS, CNMT, PET, RT(N) chair. Committee members champion numerous issues affecting the profession, including the CARE bill, the USP <797> regulation that governs a wide range of pharmacy policies and procedures, CT state licensure issues, and Department of Energy funding for basic nuclear medicine research. Members are working to obtain one representative from each state as a liaison for advocacy efforts.
Peggy Squires
Bylaws Committee: Peggy Squires, BS, CNMT, NCT, chair. Members continually review our policies and procedures to ensure that they remain consistent with our bylaws—the principles that govern our internal affairs.
Anne Stachowiak-Fisher
Committee on Scholarship, Grants, and Awards: Anne Stachowiak-Fisher, BS, CNMT, chair. Committee members are reviewing and developing new ways to support educational efforts for technologists and technologist students. Five new award categories have been approved to cover travel expenses for technologists' first-time oral presentations at the annual meeting, completion of a bachelor's degree, enrollment in an advanced practitioner program, student travel awards, and clinical advancement for technologists to gain the appropriate education in additional modalities (such as CT, MRI, etc.).
Kathy S. Thomas
Education Committee: Kathy S. Thomas, MHA, CNMT, PET, FSNMTS, chair. This committee is producing new online modules, including one on MRI. They revised VOICE guidelines and reviewed VOICE credit for directly sponsored SNM activities; chapter, affiliate, and subchapter meetings; industry-sponsored activities; and academic institution/hospital activities.
Cybil J. Nielsen
Educators Task Force: Cybil J. Nielsen, MBA, CNMT, chair. This committee is taking on a huge task this year: developing a new entry-level education curriculum that can be expanded to meet the future needs of the profession (including CT, MRI, and molecular imaging) and designing tools to explain the need for a bachelor's degree as the entry educational level for the profession. In addition, they are involved with outreach, creating presentations to use at chapter and local meetings to discuss the new curriculum and entry-level education as well as maintaining speakers for HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America), a national student organization that promotes career opportunities in health care.
David J. Perry
Finance Committee: David J. Perry, CNMT, PET, FSNMTS, chair. Members recently presented the 2007–08 budget, which includes $5,000 for the Advocacy Committee to cover travel expenses of members visiting legislators and $25,000 to develop the entry-level curriculum. The SNMTS Executive Board approved the budget at its September meeting.
Mark Wallenmeyer
Membership Committee: Mark Wallenmeyer, MBA, CNMT, RT(N), chair. This group is developing a protocol to ensure that chapter information is up-to-date, reviewing SNMTS membership categories, developing a strategy to retain members and increase membership, and focusing on chapter requests (for example, developing a proposal for a grant or scholarship to offset speaker costs for chapter meetings).
D. Scott Holbrook
Nominating Committee: D. Scott Holbrook, BS, CNMT, FSNMTS, chair. Committee members are working to ensure that our annual election process is conducted in a fair and professional manner, forming a slate of candidates to serve in positions such as president-elect and secretary, reviewing candidate qualifications, and setting and adhering to election deadlines.
Sheila A. Knepfle
Professional Development Committee: Sheila A. Knepfle, CNMT, NCT, chair: SNMTS hosted the first Leadership Academy in September. Ten young professionals from various chapters met for a three-day seminar that focused on team development, communications, decision-making, and conflict resolution. The skills developed during this academy are tools that can be used throughout the participants' professional careers.
Nancy M. Swanston
Program Committee: Nancy M. Swanston, CNMT, RT(N), chair. SNMTS sessions (“The Business of Nuclear Medicine” and “The Science of Nuclear Medicine”) have been organized for the 2008 Mid-Winter Educational Symposium February 14–17 in Newport Beach, CA. (See 13A and 14A for more details.) In addition, the plenary session, categorical seminars, CE sessions, and educators' tracks are being organized for the 2008 Annual Meeting June 14–18 in New Orleans, LA.
April Mann
Publications Committee: April Mann, CNMT, FSNMTS, RT(N), chair. The editorial transition period of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology is completed, and the June issue debuted with a redesigned cover. JNMT will now publish all procedure guidelines. Plans are underway to publish three new books, including Basic Nuclear Medicine Procedures English/Spanish, Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation, and Cardiac Nuclear Medicine.
I hope that reading about these activities will encourage you to reach higher—to look past the day-to-day challenges—and perhaps become a part of what makes our profession so special. For those who are already involved, thanks for your inspiration. We must continue to take stands on all these issues. The future is ours to create; it is only with committed and supportive member volunteers that we will achieve the many goals we have set. I look forward to working with current—and future—volunteers as we move toward our profession's future with confidence and enthusiasm.
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