NCOR Report

Michael Kroeger, MIS, NMAA, PET, NCT

By the time this column goes to print, the halfway point of my term as NCOR speaker will have come and gone. The experience thus far has been exciting and rewarding. I would be remiss if I did not say that serving beside each of you is a privilege. The SNMTS is awesome because of your dedication. Five of these individuals were recognized at the mid-winter meeting as achieving fellow status. Congratulations to Nancy Swanston, Michelle Panichi-Egberts, Norman Bolus, Sara Johnson, and Ellie Zimmer on becoming FSNMTS!

As speaker, a current theme of my term is communication. Over the duration of my direct involvement in the SNMTS, communication within the SNMTS has been listed in previous reports as needing improvement. Ann Marie Alessi, president of the SNMTS, has made a great effort to improve communication between the executive board and the NCOR, as well as with the SNMTS leaders, through her “Nuclear Force” publication. In addition, the NCOR had requested a briefing on topics to be discussed at the executive board meetings, prior to their meeting, such that the NCOR thoughts may be considered. President Alessi has fulfilled this request by the NCOR.

Through these efforts, another relationship to evaluate has surfaced. The ability of NCOR representatives to communicate with the members of their respective chapter in real time appears to be inconsistent from chapter to chapter. This poses a problem because the NCOR is the forum for every SNMTS member to be heard. At the SNM mid-winter meeting in Orlando, a task force was created to investigate communication mediums that can be implemented by chapter NCOR representatives to improve communication with constituents. The goal of the communication task force is to create a how-to manual of the various mediums, low and high tech, available by which NCOR representatives can enhance communication with their respective constituents. The vision is for NCOR representatives to develop, within their chapter, a medium, or a combination of communication mediums, to allow real-time discussion on various issues within the SNMTS. Information must be able to flow bidirectionally in a timely manner, providing the SNMTS leadership with members’ opinions for consideration. The task force should be ready to present the how-to manual at the SNMTS annual meeting.

Coinciding with the mid-winter meeting in Orlando was the SNMTS Leadership Academy. The previous year, I was privileged to attend and was impressed. The SNMTS Leadership Academy attendees were invited to sit at the NCOR table. Each attendee was paired with a current NCOR member to serve as a mentor and provide guidance as the meeting unfolded. By being invited to the table, they were able to witness SNMTS governance in action and the importance of being an SNM member. Congratulations to all of those attending!

The break-out groups continued as part of the mid-winter NCOR meeting, and members consistently provided positive comments about this interaction. Break-out groups provide an opportunity for all those attending the NCOR to divide into smaller groups and address issues facing SNMTS members. Four central issues are selected from the reports submitted by NCOR members. Through these small groups, individuals interested in a particular issue discuss and then present, through a spokesperson, a summary of their findings. Additionally, this year each group was asked for a recommendation on a next step. The four groups from the mid-winter meeting—Multi-Modality Imaging, Training for Hybrid Imaging, Radiation Concerns, and Vendor Credentialing—will report on their progress at the annual meeting.

Remember, the NCOR is here to serve you. Please contact your respective chapter representatives so they may present your thoughts during discussions at the SNMTS NCOR meetings.