Chapters
========

* Kathy Thomas

In the beginning, the Society of Nuclear Medicine was made up of 15 chapters representing the many geographical regions of the United States and Canada. As early as 1954, individual chapters began to recognize and address the needs of the technologist community by incorporating educational offerings into scientific programs and inviting technologists to serve in a leadership capacity. That synergy between physicians, scientists, and technologists continues to grow today.

![Figure1](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/48/Supplement_1/56S/F1.medium.gif)

[Figure1](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/48/Supplement_1/56S/F1)

 

![Figure2](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/48/Supplement_1/56S/F2.medium.gif)

[Figure2](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/48/Supplement_1/56S/F2)

 

![Figure3](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/48/Supplement_1/56S/F3.medium.gif)

[Figure3](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/48/Supplement_1/56S/F3)

 

![Figure4](http://tech.snmjournals.org/https://tech.snmjournals.org/content/jnmt/48/Supplement_1/56S/F4.medium.gif)

[Figure4](http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/48/Supplement_1/56S/F4)

 

Over the past 50 years, geographical challenges with small populations of nuclear medicine professionals resulted in 3 chapters merging with adjacent chapters to enhance educational and leadership opportunities. Today, 14 individually chartered chapters make up the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

Take a few moments to read the introductory paragraphs for each Technologist Chapter and be sure to click on their individual URLs to learn about the chapter’s history for the last 50 years (additionally, see the supplemental materials at [http://tech.snmjournals.org](http://tech.snmjournals.org) for a more detailed PowerPoint description of each chapter).

### Central Chapter

The Central Society formed in 1953 when a group of Chicago physicians gathered together to discuss thyroid cases involving diagnosis and treatment with radioactive iodine. The Central Chapter was formally created on November 28, 1955. In 1960, the Central Society and Nuclear Society (now SNMMI) agreed to become a chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine ultimately changing its name to Central Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine. The Technologist Section became a recognized subgroup within the Central Chapter when a bylaws change was approved by membership in 1970. The first joint meeting of the Central Chapter was held in Indianapolis, Indiana on October 25-27, 1973. The Central Chapter is the largest of twelve (12) chapters with over 1800 members. The Central Chapter represents the following geographical area: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio. The Central Chapter has held an Annual Meeting in the spring for the past 47 years. The Central Chapter also holds a Fall Symposium every year in addition to Road Shows. The spring meeting, fall symposium and road shows rotate on a yearly basis to encompass each geographical area and in an effort to reach all chapter members as well as prospective members. The Central Chapter is unique in that it established the First Road Shows presented on behalf of the SNMMI-TS. The residence of the Central Chapter is in the state of Illinois. The Central Chapter is also proud to be involved in outreach within the community.

For more information about the Central Chapter Society of Nuclear Medicine, please visit [https://ccsnmmi.org/](https://ccsnmmi.org/).

### Eastern Great Lakes Chapter

The Eastern Great Lakes Chapter Technologist Section was created in 1979 and is combined with the Eastern Great Lakes Chapter Inc. With over 700 members, the chapter represents the following geographical area: Upstate New York, the Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Labrador and Newfoundland. The chapter has held an annual meeting for the past 40 years. The Chapter is unique in that it is one of two international chapters and has a long standing history of alternating American and Canadian Chapter Presidents.

For more information about the Eastern Great Lakes Chapter, please visit [EGLSNMMI.org](http://EGLSNMMI.org).

### Greater New York Chapter

The Greater New York Chapter Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.–Technologist Section (GNYCSNMMI-TS) was created in 1954 and has existed as long as the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. Beginning in 1954 through 1981, the GNYCSNMMI was under the full authority of the National SNMMI. The GNYCSNMMI, consisting of both technologists and physicians, has been incorporated since 1981. With over 1,400 members, the chapter represents the following geographical area: Eastern New York State (East of Syracuse and South of Albany through Downstate NY/ Long Island), New Jersey, Southern Connecticut and Eastern Pennsylvania (East of Harrisburg). The chapter has held an annual meeting for the past 49 years. The GNYCSNMMI is unique in that it has been serving the nuclear medicine community for over 50 years. The chapter comprises experienced technologists and has connections in the community to assist our members with Nuclear Medicine related topics including, but not limited to, licensing, job prospects, imaging protocols, and regulatory and compliance guidelines. Founded and maintained by a volunteer staff, the chapter uses donations and membership dues as a way to keep the organization operational, while also giving back to our members with special events at our annual meeting.

The technologist section of the Greater New York Chapter shall provide leadership and active participation by technologist members of the chapter at the regional and local level consistent with the objectives, mission, and goals of the GNYC-TS and SNMMI.

We offer continuing education and research activities through an annual meeting. Our meeting offers a professional networking forum for members, a mechanism for encouraging and enhancing professional leadership, mentoring, and addressing a broad spectrum of Nuclear Medicine related topics.

We are currently gearing up for a fantastic 50th Anniversary party for our 2021 Annual Technologist’s Section Symposium! All are welcome to join us.

For more information about the Technologist’s Section (GNYC-TS) of the Greater New York Chapter Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc. (GNYCSNMMI), please visit [www.gnycsnm.org](http://www.gnycsnm.org) or [www.williglow.org](http://www.williglow.org).

### Mid-Eastern Chapter

The Mid-Eastern Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (MECSNM) was created in 1970. The MECSNM hosts a number of education activities throughout the year, including Spring and Fall meetings providing technologist, physician and physicist CME credit. The MECSNM includes an independently governed Technologist Section. With over 750 active members, the chapter represents the following geographical area: West Virginia, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania. The chapter has held an annual meeting for the past 50 years. The Chapter is unique in that the fall meeting is developed and run by the Technologist Section.

For more information about the Mid-Eastern Chapter of the SNMMI, please visit [www.mecsnm.org](http://www.mecsnm.org).

### Missouri Valley Chapter

The Missouri Valley Chapter was created in 1965 and is dedicated to meeting the needs of the nuclear medicine community. As a society, the Chapter is a combined organization serving technologists, scientists and physicians. With over 700 members, the chapter represents the following geographical area: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The chapter has held an annual meeting for the past 40 years. The Chapter is unique in that even though its membership has been small, its presence in the National organization has been significant. With an outstanding membership focused on improving and contributing to our profession, many of our leaders have made major impacts in the areas of pharmaceutical development, diagnostic imaging, theranostics, and education.

For more information about the Missouri Valley Chapter, please visit [http://www.mvcsnm.org](http://www.mvcsnm.org).

### New England Chapter

The New England Technologist Section was created in April 1969 and is incorporated through the State of Rhode Island. With over 900 members, the chapter represents the following geographical area: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The chapter has held an annual meeting for the past 50 years. The Chapter is unique in that it was one of the first in the nation to represent technologist education in the propagation of Nuclear Medicine Technology. Even before becoming a chapter, it held grassroots meetings serving the New England Region.

The New England Chapter congratulates the Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist Section on this 50th Anniversary.

For more information about the New England Technologists Section of the SNMMITS, please visit [NECTS.Org](http://NECTS.Org).

### Northern California Chapter

As the story is told, in 1957 Marshall Brucer, MD, was elected as President of the “National Chapter” and regional chapters were created. We are unable to find documentation as to why the state of California was split and placed in two different regions, but the chapters have collaborated together since 1975, when discussions began regarding the possibility of bringing the western chapters together for an annual meeting, to be called the Western Region Meeting of the SNM. The first meeting was held in San Francisco in 1976.

In 1986, the Northern California Chapter SNMMI Technologist Section was established to make sure the needs of the California-based technologists were met. The chapter has held a very successful one day, weekday program for many years, with over 160 professional in attendance.

The Technologist Section, along with the Northern California Chapter SNMMI are incorporated as a 501c3 Non-for-Profit organization. With over 600 members, the chapter represents the following geographical area: Northern California – North of Los Angeles and Northern Nevada – North of Las Vegas.

For more information about the Northern California Chapter SNMMI, please visit [ncsnmmi.org](http://ncsnmmi.org).

### Pacific Northwest Chapter

As the story is told, in 1953, a Montana Society of Nuclear Medicine was created but never actually met until January 1954 when they met in Spokane, WA. It is written that all of the Society’s Presidents came from the Northwest until 1957, when Marshall Brucer, MD, was elected as President of the “National Chapter” and regional chapters were created. The first official meeting of the Pacific Northwester Chapter was a business meeting held in June 1956 in Salt Lake City. The first scientific meeting was held in November 1956 in Seattle.

In 1970, the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Chapter SNMMI Technologist Section was created. At that time, approximately 35% of the SNM’s members were technologists and recognized a need for certification programs for that growing aspect of the field.

The PNW Chapter has held scientific meetings for the past 64 years. In 1975, discussions began regarding the possibility of bringing the western chapters together for an annual meeting, to be called the Western Region Meeting of the SNM. The first meeting was held in San Francisco in 1976. At that time, the PNW chose to hold only their Spring meeting, with the Western Region meeting being held in the fall. The Western Region meeting is still held each fall in conjunction with the Northern California Chapter SNMMI and the Pacific Southwest Chapter SNMMI Physician Section. The meeting location and program committee rotates between the three chapters.

The Technologist Section along with the Pacific Northwest Chapter SNMMI are incorporated as a 501c3 Non-for-Profit organization. With over 700 members, the Pacific Northwest chapter represents the following geographical area: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia, Canada.

For more information about the Pacific Northwest Chapter SNMMI, please visit [pnwsnmmi.org](http://pnwsnmmi.org).

### Pacific Southwest Chapter

The Pacific Southwest Technologist Chapter (PSWTC) was originally created as the Southern California Technologist Section in July 1970. Today, the PSWTC is separately incorporated from the Pacific Southwest Chapter. With over 842 members, the chapter represents the following geographical area: Southern California, Arizona and a small portion of Nevada. The chapter has held an annual meeting for the past 50 years. The administration of the chapter is unique because it is run completely by volunteer technologists. The PSWTC hosts three educational meetings annually. The spring and annual meeting in December includes 3-5 webcast sites allowing technologists the opportunity to attend an educational program without having to travel to the actual meeting site. Our spring meeting rotates to three geographical regions while our popular summer program, Viva Las Vegas, well established in ‘Sin City,’ is held in July of each year. Our annual meeting, the Mickey Williams Meeting, also known as ‘Back to Basics,’ is held in December in Duarte, CA each year. At this meeting, technologists are introduced to incoming elected leadership and on a bi-annual basis, our Leadership Candidates participate in our Leadership Academy program that precedes our annual meeting and is designed to prepare them to step into a leadership role in the chapter.

The PSWTC attributes its continued success to the following:

*   ‘Evergreen’ vision to meet the changing needs of its membership

*   Dedicated, Diverse Leadership

*   Financial stability

For more information about the PSWTC, please visit [www.nucgang.org](http://www.nucgang.org).

### Pittsburgh Chapter

The Pittsburgh Society of Nuclear Medicine was created on February 13, 1957, and is a Non-Profit organization that includes physicians and technologists under the same organization. With over 232 members, the chapter represents the following geographical area: Pittsburgh and surrounding areas WV, Ohio and New York. The chapter has held an annual meeting for the past 63 years. The chapter is unique in that it is the only City named SNM chapter that organized in 1951 to help with the growing need of Nuclear Medicine in the City of Pittsburgh and was granted Non-Profit status in 1957. The Pittsburgh Chapter stayed independent until the mid-1980s and then Joined the National SNM Chapter. The Chapter was reorganized in 2014 under a new name as the Pittsburgh Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (PSNMMI).

For more information about the PSNMMI, please visit [PSNMMI.org](http://PSNMMI.org).

### Southeastern Chapter

As the story is told, Marshall Brucer, MD, showed up at one of the earliest meetings of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and laid claim, in the name of the Southeastern Society, to all territories not already in some other chapter. Thus, temporarily at least, the Southeastern Society included most of the inhabited surface of the planet Earth, and Marshall Brucer was its first president.

Beginning in 1965, Mrs. Dorothy Kelsey began to investigate the interest in forming a Technologist Section in the Southeast Section. Her intent was to have an organization that could assist technologists plan and implement small meetings throughout the Southeast. She sent invitations to well-known technologists in the nine-state region to attend a meeting in September 1967 in Atlanta, Georgia. Roughly 45 people attended the meeting and only half of them were members of the Society of Nuclear Medicine. The reason for this was determined to be the need to have two full members sponsor a potential member and many of the technologists only worked with one Nuclear Medicine physician.

Kelsey invited Robert H. Rohrer, PhD, President-Elect of the Southeastern Chapter, and C. Craig Harris, MS, member of council, to attend the meeting in Atlanta as representatives of the chapter. At this meeting, it was determined that there was a need for a Technologist Section. A petition was sent home with Dr. Rohrer and Dr. Harris for presentation to the Chapter. It was presented to the Chapter Officers in October 1967.

In October 1968, the Chapter and the Technologist Section met and worked out the details of the formation of the technologist’s section and the first business meeting of the Technologist Section of the Southeastern Chapter, Society of Nuclear Medicine, was held October 23, 1969, in Nashville, Tennessee. The Southeastern Chapter SNMMI Technologist Section was formally created in 1973.

The Technologist Section along with the Southeastern Chapter SNMMI are incorporated as a 501c3 Non-for-Profit organization. With over 1,600 members, the Southeastern chapter represents Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and a portion of Ohio.

The chapter has held an annual meeting since 1959, moving the program around our chapter area so we reach our members in more rural areas. This chapter is unique in that we have a very strong grassroots program at our state level. Each of our states provides education content to our members, and potential members, which supplements what the chapter provides each fall.

For more information about the Southeastern Chapter SNMMI, please visit [secsnmmi.org](http://secsnmmi.org).

### Southwestern Chapter

The Southwestern Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular imaging (SWCSNMMI) was created in April 19, 1956, and is a nonprofit organization, originally chartered in Dallas County, the State of Texas, with over 1,300 active members, of which 640 are technologist members. The chapter represents the following geographical areas: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The chapter has held an annual meeting for the past 65 years. The Chapter is unique in that two of its founders, Drs. Jack GS Maxfield and JR Maxfield Jr, were also founders, charter members, and former presidents of the SNM. The SWCSNMMI is a vibrant group of nuclear medicine professionals with strong camaraderie and educational achievements. We have a large Spring meeting for all nuclear medicine professionals and a smaller Fall meeting for technologists unable to attend the Spring meeting.

For more information about the Southwestern Chapter of SNMMI, please visit [https://swc-snmmi.org](https://swc-snmmi.org).