SNMMI-TS Makes a Pledge Toward Quality

April Mann

April Mann, MBA, CNMT, NCT, RT(N), FSNMMI-TS

It is a great honor to be serving as SNMMI-TS president. I am fortunate to be surrounded by many talented technologists on the SNMMI-TS executive board this year and have learned so much from the past president, Scott Holbrook, BS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS. As I make my way through my term, I continue to look to him for guidance and expertise. At the same time I am excited to serve as a mentor to the president-elect, Aaron Scott, MIS, CNMT, NMAA, FSNMMI-TS, who I know will bring a new perspective to the Technologist Section. With that said, there is still much work to be accomplished, and I am hoping to get continued support from our grassroots chapter members as well as those individuals volunteering at the national level to make the many initiatives we will be developing and implementing a success.

The SNMMI-TS continues to work on the goals and objectives contained in its new strategic plan. This plan was developed to bring a much-needed new focus and direction to the Technologist Section. A big part of the plan is education, training, and credentialing of the nuclear medicine and molecular imaging technologist community to ensure a clear career path for advancement in the field. In addition, the Technologist Section has been heavily involved in making changes within advocacy areas specific to direct supervision requirements within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, joint compounding standards, and proposed changes from The Joint Commission. In addition, I will be developing and implementing a quality initiative for technologists focused on raising awareness, emphasizing safety through appropriate training and education, and collaborating with key stakeholders who have an interest in moving the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging into the future. The quality initiative will be an important priority for the SNMMI-TS, and the Section must develop new programs to make the technologist community aware of this important initiative.

I have formed and will be overseeing a committee charged with promoting quality for the Section and developing resources, programs, and training for technologist members and the specialty. The Technologist Section quality initiative will also provide a framework demonstrating the need for funding of these new programs and resources and unrestricted support to the Section. The SNMMI-TS quality committee will create the overall direction and strategy that will become the vision and underlying components of a multiyear campaign to be launched in fiscal year 2015 targeted to corporations, private foundations, and SNMMI technologist members. The SNMMI-TS leadership, the SNMMI development director, and the Professional Development and Education Fund committee will be reaching out and soliciting support for this campaign, and this program will run parallel with the SNMMI campaign. This fundraising initiative will include development of an online donation webpage slated to go live in late fall 2014. Please stay posted for more exciting news soon about this important initiative and fundraising effort.

Given this initiative and the many others under way to support the SNMMI-TS strategic plan and mission, the Technologist Section will be very busy. These efforts would not be possible without the support of the many technologists who volunteer hours of their time to work for the betterment of the field. I urge every technologist within the field to get involved—whether at the state, chapter, or only the local level. Even the smallest of efforts will be an important contribution to the continued success of the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.