CENTRAL CHAPTER
Description and Goals
The Central Chapter covers Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The main goal of the chapter is to actively reach out to all nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals with continuing education opportunities, to communicate pertinent national-level information to members, to support member needs, and to advance the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging through creating opportunities for members to participate in activities such as state policy review, governance, research, and the presentation of original educational material to peers. The chapter communicates effectively with its members through e-mail blasts, quarterly newsletters, and the social media site LinkedIn. The chapter has significant leadership representation at the SNMMI national meetings.
Annual Meeting
The chapter holds two meetings each year, one in the spring and the other in the fall. Approximately 200–250 people attend the spring annual meeting and about 100–130 attend the fall educational meeting. In addition to these meetings, the chapter holds 5 road shows every fall. These are 4-hour technologist-focused educational series (4 continuing education credits), which are held in all of the chapters’ states with the exception of the state that is hosting the fall meeting that year. Road shows are held on a Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to noon from September through November. Attendance varies by state and location, but there are roughly 20–60 attendees. The chapter tries to provide a unique opportunity for physicians, physicists, technologists, and other nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals to reconnect, create networking relationships, and learn vital new information from one another and from other experts in the field. The chapter often invites SNMMI leadership to its meetings in the hope that its members will be able to learn more about what the SNMMI is doing for them and that they will leave the meeting feeling confident about the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging and what the future holds for their careers.
Leadership Development and Fellows
The chapter attempts to develop new leaders by encouraging volunteers to join committees and participate in governance meetings. Additionally, once members are elected to leadership roles (president, president-elect, treasurer, or secretary), the chapter offers financial support for annual meeting attendance. New leaders are also encouraged to apply to the SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy at the national level. The chapter fosters student involvement by creating two leadership positions for student representatives to sit on the governance board. Students are also encouraged to submit abstracts for presentation. At the spring meeting there is a separate student breakout session, including a “Battle of the Minds” student quiz bowl, where students can answer nuclear medicine–related questions in a Jeopardy-like format to see which school will claim bragging rights and earn the traveling trophy for the year. There are 13 SNMMI-TS fellows within the chapter.
EASTERN GREAT LAKES CHAPTER
Description and Goals
The Eastern Great Lakes Chapter is one of two international chapters that are a part of the SNMMI. The chapter covers upstate New York, which includes the area from Albany northward and from Syracuse westward. The chapter also covers the eastern half of Canada, including Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick. The goals of the chapter are to promote the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging for physicians, scientists, pharmacists, educators, technologists, and students; to provide continuing education opportunities; to keep all interested parties informed of national and chapter news; and to maintain relations between members in the United States and Canada.
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting is held in either the spring or fall depending on what is coordinated between the United States and Canada. This year it was held May 8 and 9. The meeting was at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, which is located in the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus in Buffalo, New York. There were a wide array of topics ranging from cardiac PET, PET/MR, and PET/CT to therapy, radiation safety, and department management. The chapter also had a CT case review session and a very special guest speaker, Dr. Wah. Dr. Wah was the AMA president, and he gave talks on the mission of the AMA and on the Affordable Care Act.
Leadership and Fellows
The chapter believes that the diversity of nuclear medicine and of those who are a part of the profession should be reflected in the leadership so that all viewpoints, concerns, and input can be better represented. The chapter’s current board of directors includes two physicians who are dual-board-certified in nuclear medicine and radiology, and to help round out the board there is also a nuclear cardiologist. The technologist section board includes technologists who are also board-certified in MRI, CT, and even nursing. The chapter is always looking for members who are passionate and want to get involved. Those who do are encouraged to run for chapter office. The chapter had the pleasure of being one of the first to have a student attend the SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy held during the mid-winter meeting. There are 3 SNMMI-TS fellows within the chapter.
GREATER NEW YORK CHAPTER
Description and Goals
The Greater New York Chapter covers eastern New York (east of Syracuse and south of Albany), eastern Pennsylvania (east of Harrisburg), southern Connecticut, and all of New Jersey. The goals of the chapter are to promote the practice of nuclear medicine technology and molecular imaging at all levels, to provide high-quality continuing education opportunities to the membership, and to help students transition from student to technologist members.
Annual Meeting
The chapter’s annual meeting is usually held on the second weekend in March. Between 475 and 600 technologists attend the meeting. Because it includes two major metropolitan areas, the chapter is fortunate to have a large number of nuclear medicine physicians and nuclear medicine technologists who freely give of their time to present high-quality continuing education programs at the annual meeting. The technologist party held on Friday night is a popular event each year.
Leadership Development and Fellows
The council meetings of the chapter are always open to members who express an interest. The chapter pairs new volunteers with experienced council members, who mentor the newcomers. There are 8 SNMMI-TS fellows within the chapter.
MID-EASTERN CHAPTER
Description and Goals
The Mid-Eastern Chapter encompasses states that surround the Washington, DC, area and is part of Mid-Eastern Chapter Inc. Its purpose is primarily to provide the membership with continuing education focusing on advances in the imaging profession. It also informs the membership of current health-care trends and keeps an eye on any legislative initiatives. The chapter attempts to increase its membership through community involvement and awareness. It communicates with the membership through social networking. In addition, it supports road show initiatives in an attempt to meet the continuing education needs of those members who are in the hinterlands of the chapter, such as West Virginia.
Annual Meeting
Every autumn the chapter holds a technologist meeting that usually offers 7 or more continuing education units. Usually, every other year the meeting is held in Washington, DC, and then, in opposing years, the meeting migrates to other areas in the chapter, such as Maryland, Virginia, or Delaware. Attendance averages around 150–175, which includes strong vendor support.
Leadership Development and Fellows
Members are encouraged to become involved within the chapter, and the chapter sends members to the SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy. Interested individuals usually start at a committee-level position and, with proven ability, are encouraged to move into a chair or officer position. The chapter believes that any board or officer position should be a 2-year commitment, which allows for greater continuity within the organizational structure. There are 6 SNMMI-TS fellows within the chapter.
MISSOURI VALLEY CHAPTER
Description and Goals
The Missouri Valley Chapter covers North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri. The chapter sponsors a fall meeting each year, at which nuclear medicine professionals can learn about the newest developments in the field and obtain continuing education. The chapter also acts as a liaison with the SNMMI.
Annual Meeting
The chapter holds one educational meeting per year, in the fall, which is attended by approximately 200 people. The meeting moves around each year to sites in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. During the meeting, participants attend a full day on Saturday and a half day on Sunday to acquire as many of their continuing education credits as possible. The topics for the annual meeting are selected on the basis of suggestions from participants the previous year. The chapter has held a couple of road shows in Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
Leadership Development and Fellows
The chapter has had many national leaders both on the physician–scientist level and on the technologist level. This experience has allowed the chapter to hold leadership academies in conjunction with the annual meeting to help inspire and encourage new leadership. All members of the chapter’s leadership academy are invited to the executive council meeting so that they can see the leadership in action. All chapter members are encouraged to attend the SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy as well as the chapter leadership academy. There are 9 SNMMI-TS fellows within the chapter.
NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER
Description and Goals
The New England Chapter covers Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Its primary goals are to increase membership, making the chapter more inclusive of all members, and to reshape the committees to be more in line with the SNMMI-TS. This year the chapter added a Clinical Trials Network committee and an emerging technologies committee as two examples. The focus of the chapter is on how to incorporate other ideas or job opportunities for students versus traditional nuclear medicine technologists.
Annual Meeting
The chapter’s annual meeting moves around each year. The meeting features a large student review session and student abstracts (both oral and poster), as well as a large vendor area.
Leadership Development and Fellows
The chapter develops new leaders by continuing to encourage the SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy. It also focuses on students and getting them involved from day one as volunteers and in other roles. The chapter has had many leaders in the SNMMI-TS. The small geographic area allows the chapter to be more creative and flexible and able to make decisions quickly. The chapter is the smallest geographically but not the smallest in numbers. There are 10 SNMMI-TS fellows within the chapter.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST CHAPTER
Description and Goals
The Pacific Northwest Chapter has professionals from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and British Columbia, Canada. The purpose of this organization is to provide an annual scientific and continuing education program, as well as any other education programs jointly acceptable to the members.
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting is held each spring, primarily in Portland, Oregon. In 2015, a review course was held for the chapter’s technologist students. Over 40 students attended and a course is planned for 2016, when the chapter meeting will be held in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest Radiological Society. The chapter has issues with the job market similar to those of other parts of the country. There are more part-time and on-call positions than full-time positions. In 2015, the chapter was selected for a SNMMI-TS Road Show, which was held in July in Salt Lake City. The chapter will be holding its own road show in Denver in November 2015, featuring speakers from the Denver area, including the current chapter president, Wayne Ice.
Leadership Development and Fellows
The chapter has always had a strong representation on the national level and continues to develop new leaders by encouraging state leaders to participate in governance meetings. Additionally, once members are elected to leadership roles (president, president-elect, treasurer, or secretary), the chapter encourages attendance at the mid-winter and annual meetings of the SNMMI. All leaders are also encouraged to apply to the SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy at the national level. The chapter fosters student involvement through dedicated program directors and implementation of a student review course and mock exam. There are 2 SNMMI-TS fellows within the chapter.
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST CHAPTER
Description and Goals
The Pacific Southwest Chapter is committed to representing and serving nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals through educational programs, outreach, networking, and advocacy.
Annual Meeting
The chapter hosts 3 meetings a year. The annual meeting, the Mickey Williams Memorial Meeting, is in November/December at the City of Hope, offering 6 continuing education units. There are generally around 200 attendees. This meeting is also webcast to a few locations. The spring meeting, offering 8 units, has 150–200 attendees and rotates between Los Angeles, San Diego, and Arizona. The third meeting is Viva Las Vegas, with 250–300 attendees, and offers 12 units in 2 days. Every other year the chapter host a leadership academy that helps members develop leadership skills and organizational expertise to enhance their professional achievement at the chapter level and ultimately the national level. The chapter also runs nucgang, an email list serve in which the nuclear medicine community can ask questions, share ideas, and disseminate information. The chapter also has a website (www.nucgang.org).
Leadership Development and Fellows
There are 6 SNMMI-TS fellows within the chapter.
PITTSBURGH CHAPTER
Description and Goals
The Pittsburgh Chapter—the only city chapter—was established in 1957 to improve the field of nuclear medicine. It covers east, northeast, and southeast Pennsylvania, as well as parts of West Virginia and Ohio. The goal of the chapter is to promote the practice and improvement of nuclear medicine technology and molecular imaging at all levels by providing high-quality continuing education opportunities to the membership, community, and practitioners. Additionally, the chapter helps local nuclear medicine schools transition graduating students from student to technologist members. The chapter is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that operates with the help of physicians, technologists, and students.
Annual Meeting
The chapter’s spring and fall annual symposia are typically held on the first weekend in April and November. This year, the spring symposium took place on March 28 and the fall symposium on November 7. Symposium attendance is between 175 and 250 technologists per meeting. Continuing education credit is offered for the lectures so that technologist members can optimally fulfill their annual license requirements. At the conclusion of the meeting, all attendees are encouraged to complete a survey providing feedback and asking for input on topics to be covered at the following year’s meeting. By providing only the most relevant, current, exciting topics and news, the chapter creates a must-attend meeting for its members.
Leadership Development and Fellows
The chapter is always open to members who express an interest in leadership, pairing new volunteers with experienced chapter members to mentor the newcomers. The chapter encourages members to attend the SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy. There is 1 SNMMI-TS fellow within the chapter.
SOUTHEASTERN CHAPTER
Description and Goals
The Southeastern Chapter covers Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and southern Ohio. The chapter hosts a number of grassroots activities throughout the year, including continuing education and research activities, an annual meeting, a professional networking forum for members, a mechanism for encouraging and enhancing professional leadership, and efforts to monitor and address nuclear medicine professional issues at the local level. The chapter has significant leadership representation at the SNMMI national meetings.
Annual Meeting
The chapter holds an annual meeting every fall. Because of the vast area that the chapter covers, the meeting location moves each year so that all chapter members and nonmembers in the region can be reached. Approximately 200 people attend the 2.5-day meeting, which typically features 18.5 continuing education credits for physicians, physicists, pharmacists, technologists, residents, and technologist students. A competition on oral and poster abstract presentations is offered for residents, technologists, medical students, and technologist students. The chapter tries to provide a unique opportunity for physicians, physicists, pharmacists, technologists, and other nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals to reconnect, create networking relationships, and learn vital new information from one another and from other experts in the field. The chapter often invites SNMMI leadership to its meetings in the hope that its members will be able to learn more about what the SNMMI is doing for them and that they will leave the meeting feeling confident about the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging and what the future holds for their careers.
Leadership Development and Fellows
The chapter has always had a strong representation on the national level and continues to develop new leaders by encouraging state leaders to participate in governance meetings. Additionally, once members are elected to leadership roles (president, president-elect, treasurer, or secretary), the chapter offers financial support for annual meeting attendance. New leaders are also encouraged to apply to the SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy at the national level. The chapter fosters student involvement through dedicated program directors and is currently developing criteria for student recognition by the chapter. There are 16 SNMMI-TS fellows within the chapter.
SOUTHWESTERN CHAPTER
Description and Goals
The Southwestern Chapter covers Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. The goals of the chapter are to provide high-quality education and to empower technologists to become involved in chapter and national leadership. To this end, the chapter budgets $20,000 annually to reimburse the service-related travel of its leaders. On its website (http://swc-snmmi.org/history/), the chapter has posted interviews with 12 of its past Technologist Section presidents.
Annual Meeting
The chapter’s annual meeting is held between mid March and mid April, with most meetings held in Texas. Approximately 320 technologists and 80 MDs, PhDs, and PharmDs attend the meeting, which offers networking opportunities, a chance to reunite with old friends, and about 35 vendor displays. Typically 16–18 continuing education units are available for all attendees. The leadership also hosts an annual fall technologist meeting coinciding with Nuclear Medicine Week. This meeting typically draws 60–100 technologists and 6–8 corporate supporters and is designed to reach out to technologists who are less likely to attend the spring meeting because of the cost involved and the time away from work.
Leadership Development and Fellows
At its annual meeting, the chapter hosts an NMTCB exam review course for students. Technologist Section leaders address these students about joining the SNMMI and becoming involved in the chapter. Leaders recruit new leaders from their own institutions and while at meetings. At the 2015 annual meeting, technologist leaders hosted a leadership academy that was attended by 10 developing leaders.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER
Besides the chapters detailed above, there is the Northern California Chapter, which has 4 SNMMI-TS fellows.
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