Technologists News

SNMTS PRESENTS AWARDS, ELECTS NEW OFFICERS AT SNM 2011 ANNUAL MEETING

More than 5,500 technologists, physicians, researchers, and other nuclear medicine professionals gathered at the 2011 SNM annual meeting, held June 4–8 in San Antonio, Texas. SNM leadership and researchers made international headlines and raised awareness about the importance of ensuring that critical nuclear medicine tests and procedures continue in light of the medical isotope crisis. As always, the 2011 annual meeting presented the latest cutting-edge research in advancing molecular imaging and provided opportunities for continuing education. During the meeting, SNMTS inducted new officers, who will serve through June 2012. Several technologists were also recognized for their outstanding contributions to molecular imaging, nuclear medicine, and SNMTS.

OUTGOING JNMT EDITOR AWARD

Frances L. Neagley, BA, CNMT, FSNMTS, RT(N)(R), was presented with a plaque for her time as JNMT editor. During her term, which ends December 2011, Neagley—who has served as editor of the journal since January of 2007—successfully embarked on several improvements to the journal, including reducing article turnaround time from submission to publication, publishing procedure guidelines, adding case studies and invited commentaries, and encouraging submissions from SNMTS chapter presidents.

Kathy Hunt and Frances Neagley

Now retired, Neagley was a senior nuclear medicine technologist at the Davies campus of the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco for nearly 8 years. In addition, she served as nuclear medicine supervisor with Davies Medical Center from 1980 to 1998, chief technologist with the San Diego Nuclear Medical Group from 1975 to 1980, and staff technologist with Stanford University Hospital in Palo Alto, California, from 1970 to 1973. Neagley, who holds a bachelor's degree in biology, has been a member of SNMTS since 1972 and is certified by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

JNMT BEST PAPERS FOR 2010

Frances L. Neagley, CNMT, FSNMTS, RT(N)(R), editor in chief of the JNMT, selected the following 3 research papers as the “Best Papers for 2010.” The first-place winner received $500 and a plaque, the second-place winner received $100 and a plaque, and the third-place winner received a plaque.

First Place

Laura A. Eggert, Michael D. Dick, Douglas W. Mahoney, Joseph P. Olson, Gregory L. Werner, and Joseph C. Hung. “A rapid radiochemical purity testing method for ^99mTc-tetrofosmin.” J Nucl Med Technol. 2010;38:81–84.

Laura Eggert

Second Place

Elizabeth A. Jones, Trinh D. Phan, Nathalie M. Johnson, and Deborah A. Blanchard. “A protocol for imaging axillary lymph nodes in patients undergoing breast-specific γ-imaging.” J Nucl Med Technol. 2010;38:28–31.

Elizabeth Jones

Third Place

Narihiro Hara, Masahisa Onoguchi, Kenichi Takenaka, Kousuke Matsubara, Hiroyuki Ujita, and Youichi Kenko. “Assessment of patient exposure to x-radiation from SPECT/CT scanners.” J Nucl Med Technol. 2010;38:138–148.

Narihiro Hara

2011–2012 SNMTS OFFICERS

SNM introduced a new slate of officers during its annual meeting. Ann Marie Alessi, BS, CNMT, NCT, RT(N), a product sales manager of nuclear medicine at Biodex Medical Systems, Inc., in Shirley, New York, was elected as the 2011–2012 president of SNMTS.

Anne Marie Alessi

“One of my main goals as president is to really engage with the members, sharing with them the new SNMTS programs and listening to their feedback on how to continually improve the society,” said Alessi. “We'll accomplish this through SNMTS-sponsored ‘road shows’ for those unable to make it to larger society meetings, as well as a consistent leadership presence at chapter meetings.”

Alessi says that as president, she will focus on professional development for technologists and will continue efforts to provide the most up-to-date, relevant continuing education—particularly on PET/MRI—available for technologists at SNMTS meetings. She will also cultivate the technologist advocacy group (TAG) team to ensure SNMTS is at the forefront of state licensure issues in order to help members. Additional goals include assessing the feedback for an SNM name change and participating in the Image Wisely campaign.

Also during the annual meeting, SNMTS announced the election of Brenda J. King, CNMT, FSNMTS, of Carson, California, consultant and owner of BJ King & Associates, LLC, as 2011–2012 president-elect.

Brenda King

“As I step into the role of SNMTS president-elect, I am excited to be a voice for the entire membership on all levels of the society,” King said. “This includes our local organizations’ grassroots, our chapters, and our national level.”

King notes that as president-elect, she hopes to reinvigorate the SNMTS membership, calling on members to recall how they became nuclear medicine professionals and why they chose to stay in the field. Having served SNMTS in many ways, King will encourage the next generation of nuclear medicine technologists to get involved so the society can develop strong leaders for the future. She also will support ongoing SNMTS efforts to elevate nuclear medicine technology to the bachelor's degree level and highlight the career paths for technologists.

Other officers elected to SNMTS are Laura Wall, MBA, CNMT, NCT, as secretary; David Campbell, CNMT, as a member of the finance committee; and Anthony Knight, MBA, CNMT, RT(N), NCT, and Cindi Luckett-Gilbert, MHA, CNMT, FSNMTS, as directors at large.

SNMTS OUTSTANDING TECHNOLOGIST AWARD

Danny A. Basso, CNMT, NCT, FSNMTS, manager at Cardiac Imaging of Augusta, Augusta, Georgia, was awarded the SNMTS Outstanding Technologist Award. This award recognizes an SNMTS member who has demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to the field of nuclear medicine technology. Basso was presented with a plaque.

Kathy Hunt and Danny Basso

Over the past several years, Basso has been involved with SNM and SNMTS in several capacities of leadership, including serving on the SNM house of delegates and the SNMTS executive board. In addition, Basso serves as a director-at-large of the SNM national council of representatives and board of directors. He has also served on the SNMTS advocacy committee and on the SNM/ACNM joint government relations committee.

Basso belongs to the Southeastern chapter of SNMTS and recently served as treasurer of the SNM cardiovascular council. He has also served as a member of the editorial board for Uptake—the SNMTS newsletter—and on the publications committee. He also serves as associate editor of the JNMT. Basso is past chair of the nuclear medicine technology certification board.

SNMTS OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD

Anthony W. Knight, MBA, CNMT, RT(N), NCT, was named the 2011 SNMTS Outstanding Educator. The Outstanding Educator Award recognizes an SNMTS member whose contributions and knowledge have advanced and promoted the field of nuclear medicine technology through outstanding work in education. Knight received $750 and was presented with a plaque.

Kathy Hunt and Anthony Knight

Knight is program director for the University of Iowa Nuclear Medicine Technology Program at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. His career in nuclear medicine began in 1979 when he worked as a staff nuclear medicine technologist in the Department of Radiology at Finley Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa. Shortly afterward, he began his work as an educator and has served as clinical instructor, faculty advisor, and acting program director, which led to his current position.

Over the years Knight has played an active role in SNMTS, serving on the SNM board of directors as well as the SNMTS executive board, house of delegates, and national council of representatives. He has also participated in many SNMTS committees and task forces, including the publications committee, education task force, and student membership task force.

PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

David Gilmore, MS, CNMT, RT(N), FSNMTS, director of quality management and education at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, was awarded the SNMTS Presidential Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes an SNMTS member who has demonstrated continual service to the society and the field of nuclear and molecular imaging. Gilmore was presented with a plaque.

Kathy Hunt and David Gilmore

Gilmore received his bachelor of science degree in health sciences from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and his master of science degree in education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. His experience includes program development and administration, evaluation and counseling, curriculum development, and student-center teaching methods.

An SNMTS member since 1994, Gilmore has served the society in many capacities—as president, president-elect, and chair of the transition task force, as well as on several other committees. He also has participated in the New England and Mid-Atlantic chapters of the SNMTS.

SNMTS FELLOWSHIP AWARDS

The following individuals were inducted into the fellow category. These are members of the SNMTS who have demonstrated leadership and have made a significant contribution to the profession of nuclear medicine technology at the national level. Selection of fellows is based on demonstration of exemplary contributions in the following areas: participation in professional activities, education, professional experience, professional contributions, and civic activities.

Fellowships are awarded at the SNMTS annual business meeting each year during the SNM annual meeting. SNMTS fellowship awardees receive a memorial plaque and pin signifying their fellow status.

Kathy Hunt and Daniel Guarasci

Daniel T. Guarasci, MS, CNMT, PharmD, is a clinical assistant professor of nuclear medicine with the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo. He earned a doctorate in pharmacy, a master of science degree in radiation biology, and bachelor of science degrees in pharmacy and in nuclear medicine, all from SUNY at Buffalo. Guarasci teaches courses in radiopharmacy, nuclear medicine instrumentation techniques, radiation safety and biology, and clinical nuclear medicine. He participates in his institution's continuing education preceptorship training course for nuclear medicine technologists in PET and in basic science courses and didactic lectures for nuclear medicine residents. Guarasci received the SNMTS Outstanding Educator Award in 2006.

Peggy Squires, BS, CNMT, NCT, is a sales consultant for Cardinal Health. She has over 25 years of experience in clinical nuclear medicine in both inpatient and outpatient facilities. She received her bachelor of science degree from the University Wisconsin, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and her certificate in nuclear medicine technology from St. Louis Veterans Administration, John Cochran Division, in St. Louis, Missouri. Squires has held many leadership positions within the SNMTS, including society secretary, member of the national council of representatives, and member-at-large for the executive board, in addition to serving on many committees. She is also active on the local level and has served in many positions within the Missouri Valley chapter of the SNMTS.

Kathy Hunt and Peggy Squires

Cybil J. Nielsen, MBA, CNMT, FSNMTS, is the nuclear medicine technology program coordinator for Jefferson Community and Technical College in Louisville, Kentucky. Nielsen received a master of business administration degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana, and a bachelor of health science degree in nuclear medicine technology from the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. She served as SNMTS president in 2009–2010 and was also president of the Southeastern chapter of the SNMTS in 2007–2008. Nielson has held numerous committee appointments within the society, serving as chair of the SNMTS educator's task force, cochair of the SNMTS entry level task force, and a member of the SNMTS advanced practice task force and the SNMTS awards and grants committee.

Kathy Hunt and Cybil Nielsen

SNMTS PRESIDENT'S PLAQUE

Kathy Hunt, MS, CNMT, was awarded the SNMTS president's plaque and gavel for her service as 2010–2011 president for the society. Hunt serves as assistant professor and program chair of nuclear medicine technology in the Division of Allied Health at Baptist College of Health Sciences in Memphis, Tennessee. She received a master of science degree in leadership and policy studies from the University of Memphis, a certificate in nuclear medicine technology from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, and a bachelor's degree in biology from Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee.

Kathy Hunt and Anne Marie Alessi

Before becoming president, Hunt served on the SNMTS executive board as member-at-large and secretary. She has held numerous committee appointments and was chair of the SNMTS entry-level task force and the SNMTS educator's committee. She served as president of the SNMTS Southeastern chapter in 2006.

SNMTS ABSTRACT AWARD WINNERS 2011