Technologist News ================= ## SNMMI TECHNOLOGIST SECTION PRESENTS AWARDS, ELECTS NEW OFFICERS AT 2016 ANNUAL MEETING More than 5,700 physicians, technologists, physicists, scientists, and exhibitors gathered at the SNMMI 2016 annual meeting, held June 11–15, in San Diego, California. In addition to providing more than 240 opportunities for continuing education credit, the meeting featured more than 1,700 scientific papers and posters, and 175 companies were represented on the exhibit hall floor. During the meeting, SNMMI-TS inducted new officers, who will serve through June 2017. A number of technologists were also recognized for their outstanding contributions to nuclear medicine, molecular imaging, and the Society. ## OUTSTANDING *JNMT* ARTICLES FOR 2015 The editor of *JNMT,* Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, MPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, and members of the *JNMT* board of editors announced in April the winners of annual awards for outstanding articles. The awards were presented on June 14 at the annual SNMMI-TS business meeting. The Editor’s Choice Award for the best *JNMT* continuing education article went to LisaAnn Trembath, Maureen Newell, and Michael D. Devous, Sr., from Avid Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Philadelphia), for “Technical considerations in brain amyloid PET imaging with 18F-florbetapir.” *J Nucl Med Technol.* 2015;43:175–184. ![Figure1](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/44/3/14A/F1.medium.gif) [Figure1](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/3/14A/F1) Joana do Mar F. Machado ![Figure2](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/44/3/14A/F2.medium.gif) [Figure2](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/3/14A/F2) Troels Joergensen ![Figure3](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/44/3/14A/F3.medium.gif) [Figure3](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/3/14A/F3) Susanne Haase Hansson ![Figure4](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/44/3/14A/F4.medium.gif) [Figure4](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/3/14A/F4) Aaron Scott and Norman Bolus presenting the Editor’s Choice Award to LisaAnn Trembath ![Figure5](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/44/3/14A/F5.medium.gif) [Figure5](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/3/14A/F5) Aaron Scott and Norman Bolus presenting the Editor’s Choice Award to Priyanka Jha The Editor’s Choice Awards for the 3 best *JNMT* articles in 2015 went to: * Priyanka Jha and Bijan Bijan, from the University of California Davis Medical Center (Sacramento), for “PET/CT for pancreatic malignancy: potential and pitfalls.” *J Nucl Med Technol.* 2015;43:92–97. * Joana do Mar F. Machado, Marina S. Monteiro, Victor Fernandes Vieira, Jean-Aybert Collinot, John O. Prior, Lina Vieira, and José A. Pires-Jorge, from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (Lausanne), for “Value of a lower-limb immobilization device for optimization of SPECT/CT image fusion.” *J Nucl Med Technol*. 2015;43:98–102. * Troels Joergensen and Susanne Haase Hansson, from Naestved Hospital (Denmark), for “Evaluation of the left ventricular ejection fraction with gated IQ-SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging.” *J Nucl Med Technol*. 2015;43:193–220. ## 2016–2017 SNMMI-TS OFFICERS SNMMI-TS introduced a new slate of officers during the annual meeting. Sara G. Johnson, MBA, CNMT, NCT, FSNMMI-TS, chief technologist/administrative officer and research coordinator for nuclear medicine with the VA San Diego Healthcare System in San Diego, California, was elected as the 2016–2017 president. She outlined her plans for the year ahead, saying, “Nuclear medicine technology is ever-evolving, so technologists must stay current. I look forward to expanding educational resources for the frontline technologist. Providing the highest quality of care is always our primary goal, and I will continue to develop the SNMMI-TS Quality Initiative, which was launched last year. My particular focus will be on the advocacy aspect of this initiative—addressing infringements on the nuclear medicine technologist’s scope of practice.” She explained, “The scope of practice for nuclear medicine technologists in the U.S. is approved by SNMMI and supported by rigorous training, but states and institutions can choose to accept or limit the scope. I will be working with others in the field for broader acceptance of the SNMMI scope of practice and performance standards.” ![Figure6](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/44/3/14A/F6.medium.gif) [Figure6](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/3/14A/F6) Sara Johnson ![Figure7](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/44/3/14A/F7.medium.gif) [Figure7](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/3/14A/F7) Kathleen Krisak Also during the meeting, SNMMI-TS announced the election of Kathleen M. Krisak, BS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, a nuclear medicine technologist at Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke, Massachusetts, as the 2017–1018 president. “As president-elect of the SNMMI-TS, I will focus on providing expanded educational opportunities for nuclear medicine technologists to keep their skills current in a constantly evolving field and to stay abreast of new guidelines and regulations,” Krisak stated. “This includes appropriate training and credentialing for multimodality imaging.” She added, “I will also work to strengthen communication with, and engagement of, technologists, so that we are collaborative in our efforts to advance the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.” ## SNMMI-TS OUTSTANDING TECHNOLOGIST AWARD Lynne Roy, MBA, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, director of the Department of Imaging at Cedars–Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, was awarded the 2016 SNMMI-TS Outstanding Technologist Award. She has been a guest lecturer at many national and international meetings and is the author of numerous articles. Roy is a past president of the SNMMI-TS and currently serves as chair of the SNMMI-TS advocacy committee. She is also an active member of The Association for Medical Imaging Management. ![Figure8](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/44/3/14A/F8.medium.gif) [Figure8](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/3/14A/F8) Aaron Scott presenting the Outstanding Technologist Award to Lynne Roy ## SNMMI-TS OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD Crystal Botkin, MPH, CNMT, PET**,** assistant professor and clinical coordinator in the Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapeutics at St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, received the SNMMI-TS Outstanding Educator Award. In addition, she teaches in the Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associate Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. ![Figure9](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/44/3/14A/F9.medium.gif) [Figure9](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/3/14A/F9) Crystal Botkin receiving the Outstanding Educator Award from Aaron Scott Botkin has been an active member within SNMMI and SNMMI-TS, serving on multiple committees and holding officer positions in the local and regional chapters. Within SNMMI-TS, she currently serves on the executive board, chairs the bylaws committee, and is secretary of the National Council of Representatives. Botkin is also a member of the World Molecular Imaging Congress, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, Greater St. Louis Association of Nuclear Medicine, and World Federation of Molecular Imaging. ## PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD The 2016 SNMMI-TS Presidential Distinguished Service Award was presented to Dmitry D. Beyder, MPA, CNMT, nuclear medicine and PET supervisor at Barnes–Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. An active member of the SNMMI-TS, Beyder is on the executive board and the National Council of Representatives, and he chairs the professional development and membership committees. ![Figure10](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/44/3/14A/F10.medium.gif) [Figure10](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/3/14A/F10) Aaron Scott presenting the Presidential Distinguished Service Award to Dmitry Beyder ## SNMMI-TS PRESIDENT’S PLAQUE Aaron Scott, MIS, CNMT, NMAA, FSNMMI-TS, was awarded the SNMMI-TS president’s plaque and gavel for his service as 2015–2016 president for the section. Scott is a nuclear medicine advanced associate at Piedmont Healthcare System in Fayetteville, Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, with a concentration in molecular biophysics, from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia, and a bachelor of science degree in nuclear medicine from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. He also received a master of imaging sciences (nuclear medicine advanced associate) degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is certified by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board and the institutional review board. ![Figure11](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/44/3/14A/F11.medium.gif) [Figure11](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/44/3/14A/F11) Sara Johnson presenting Aaron Scott with the President’s Plaque and Gavel Scott has held numerous leadership positions within the SNMMI-TS, including president-elect, delegate-at-large, and member of the strategic planning committee. On the local level, he is involved with the Southeastern Chapter of the SNMMI Technologist Section and the Georgia Society of Nuclear Medicine, having served as president of both organizations. ## SNMMI-TS ABSTRACT AWARD WINNERS 2016 ### Oral Abstract Awards (Presented by the Education and Research Foundation [ERF]) #### First Place Ed Sims, “Capturing radioactive waste before it leaves the hospital” #### Second Place Martin Schmitt, “Reducing radiation exposure to the PET technologist, while increasing volume” #### Third Place Paul Riley, “Best practices for communicating radiation exposure risk to nuclear medicine patients” ### Cardiovascular Oral Abstract Awards (Presented by the Cardiovascular Council) #### First Place Geoffrey Currie, “The role of diagnostic imaging in identifying appropriate strategies for heart failure management” #### Second Place Martin Schmitt, “PET myocardial sarcoidosis: the anti-viability study” #### Third Place Laura Fohne, “Utilization of the unenhanced CT of PET/CT to assess serial calcium scoring in lymphoma patients” ### Therapy/Nuclear Oncology Oral Abstract Award (Presented by the Therapy Center of Excellence) #### First Place Lisa Dunnwald, “Technical aspects of peptide receptor radiotherapy (PRRT) with 90Y-DOTATOC for neuroendocrine tumors using PET/CT and SPECT/CT” ### PET Oral Abstract Award (Presented by the PET Center of Excellence) #### First Place Martin Schmitt, “Reducing radiation exposure to the PET technologist, while increasing volume” ### Poster Awards (Presented by ERF) #### First Place Judy Gabrys, “Setup of a radium-223 dichloride therapy program in a large Canadian healthcare facility” #### Second Place Amanda Abbott, “177Lu-dotatate therapy for patients with metastatic gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors: how to prepare your practice for optimal administration” #### Third Place Bineyam Gebrewold, “System improvement to increase last case efficiency in a busy PET-CT center” ### Student Oral Abstract Awards (Presented by ERF) #### First Place Jena-Lee McKee, “Gastric emptying scintigraphy egg injection methods” #### Second Place Sarah Pigmon, “The evaluation of the necessity of using heparin in an UltraTag™ RBC kit when tagging blood for a nuclear medicine study” #### Third Place Bryanna Koehnle, “Assessing metformin alteration of PET/CT prognostic measurements” ### Student Therapy/Nuclear Oncology Abstract Award (Presented by the Therapy Center of Excellence) #### First Place Kelcie Welch, “The potential usefulness of Tc-99m SESTAMIBI in differentiating between oncocytomas and renal cell carcinomas”