Dmitry Beyder, MPA, CNMT
What a year it has been for molecular imaging and theranostics—we are finally seen as rock stars in healthcare! Looking back at the past presidents’ messages, the theme seems to be similar, with all acknowledging how quickly the year went by and how honored they were to serve their professional organization as president. I can truthfully say this sentiment is the same for me; one year seems like a lifetime, but it also goes by in the blink of an eye. I feel like we had a great year, with many innovative accomplishments and a nice platform for future success.
I had a chance to reflect on my position statement when I ran for president-elect in 2022 and the vision and goals I had hoped for us to achieve: (1) guide technologists and our professional organization out of the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) strengthen the nuclear medicine technologist workforce and professional pipeline, and (3) grow the nuclear medicine technologist role in therapeutics as theranostics continues to advance.
We were able to accomplish these goals and more because of the amazing Technologist Section members and volunteers, continuous support from the SNMMI leadership and Board of Directors, and exceptional hard work by the SNMMI staff. I believe that today the SNMMI-TS is leading the way for nuclear medicine technologists to be educated and prepared for their expanding role in future theranostics. The programs and efforts that have been put in place and others that are in development have strengthened the workforce and professional pipeline. We continue to be committed and dedicated to growing and expanding the workforce pipeline at the rate needed to ensure physicians and patients have the resources they need to improve care. Finally, while the COVID-19 pandemic hit everyone extremely hard, it is incredible how far the SNMMI-TS has come during this catastrophic time. We have been able to introduce new member benefits, create new programming, reduce the cost of the SNMMI Annual Meeting to our members, and give back to our members through thousands of dollars in grants, scholarships, and the new Technologist Section Launchpad.
Globally, over the past 20 years, the SNMMI-TS has made great strides in enhancing our relationship with international members and organizations. These partnerships and collaborations have led to a more dynamic organization with shared interests for the advancement of technologists around the world. Over the past two years, we have strengthened these global relationships to ensure that nuclear medicine technologists are represented and prepared for the growth of clinical and professional molecular imaging and therapy in all continents around the globe.
For the past 10 years, the SNMMI-TS has provided a chapter for the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Technologist Guidebooks. Each year the technologist committee of the EANM proposes, writes, and publishes a guidebook related to a specific topic. The leadership of the Technologists Committee from the EANM invites the SNMMI-TS to provide an author for the chapter; in turn, the SNMMI-TS provides a speaker related to that chapter for the EANM annual meeting. This year, the Technologist Guidebook was Gastrointestinal Molecular Imaging, and the SNMMI-TS was assigned a chapter on 18F-fluoroestradiol breast imaging, which was written by Tina Buehner, PhD, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, and Bital Savir-Baruch, MD, FACNM.
This Spring, David Gilmore, SNMMI-TS International Liaison, and I had the privilege of traveling to the 54th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine (ANZSNM) to represent the SNMMI-TS. David spoke during the preconference symposium on cardiac myocardial perfusion imaging (“How do I do that in my lab”), with a second presentation during the Technologist Student session—a talk focused on NMT student global efforts. I spoke during the Technologist Curium Award session with a talk focused on expanding the role of the nuclear medicine technologists in the United States, and then again in the Radiopharmaceutical Awards session on the topic of theranostics and its role in oncology therapy. ANZSNM kept SNMMI-TS leaders busy, as we engaged in judging and chairing multiple sessions throughout the conference.
We have also stayed engaged with many of our SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy graduates over the past two years. I am excited to mention our ongoing relationship with several Ghana nuclear medicine technologists. The continuous opportunities for mentorship and collaborative problem solving have led to improved access to nuclear medicine for patients in Ghana and potentially improving education for technologists in Ghana.
In addition, SNMMI-TS President-Elect Julie Bolin, SNMMI-TS Immediate Past President Krystle Glasgow, and I have had the unique opportunity of visiting with each chapter over the last year. These meetings have been by far one of my favorite things during my presidency. Having the opportunity to attend the chapter meeting and meet so many technologists who are so invested and excited about nuclear medicine is inspiring and energizing! I’d like to thank each chapter for welcoming us and showing us just how uniquely special our grassroots organizations are. The SNMMI-TS is excited to continue these important local international connections and collaborations as nuclear medicine technologists around the world continue to grow and embrace new technology and new therapies.
With Krystle Glasgow, in partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, SNMMI-TS launched the Therapy Intensive Program. This is a formal program designed to familiarize and further educate technologists on modern-day theranostics so they can be more prepared and confident in supporting authorized users in providing nuclear medicine therapy throughout the United States. This program was a tremendous success, with 10 students attending, industry partner involvement, and an eye forward to future like programs. We continue to push in each and every way to prepare nuclear medicine technologists globally for the emerging field of theranostics.
Advocacy continues to be a strong focus. With SNMMI-TS Advocacy Chair Cybil Nielsen and Vice-Chair Lyndsi M. Hay, we engaged with many states to advocate for technologist licensure and scope of practice. Many of those interventions were successful, but we were reminded that advocacy is a never-ending game, and we will pursue this challenge for many years to come.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge and thank the amazing volunteers who have fueled the tremendous efforts this entire year! The SNMMI-TS Executive Board engaged in strategic conversations that helped to further define future directions for the organization, while the National Council of Representatives brought forth local issues that the SNMMI-TS is continuing to monitor and work on. The 230+ SNMMI-TS volunteers who are members of our committees propelled the Technologist Section to accomplish so much in such a short period of time. Our committee chairs were seemingly able to move mountains to accomplish and make significant progress on some of the SNMMI-TS strategic plan goals.
Advocacy Committee: Cybil Nielsen, MBA, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS (Chair), and Lyndsi M. Hay, CNMT, RT(N) (Vice-Chair)
Bylaws Committee: Sarah A. Frye, MBA, CNMT, PET, CCRP
Chapter Presidents: Dmitry D. Beyder, MPA, CNMT
Continuing Education Committee: Maria Mackin, BS, MS, CNMT, RT(N)
Educators Committee: Dusty M. York, CNMT, PET, RT(N)(CT) (Co-Chair), and Julie Dawn Bolin, MS, CNMT (Co-Chair)
Finance Committee: Sarah Gibbons, MBA, CNMT, NMTCB(CT), FSNMMI-TS
Grants and Awards Committee: Dusty M. York, CNMT, PET, RT(N)(CT)
International Liaison: C. David Gilmore, EdD, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS
Membership Committee: Amy B. Brady, MAED, CNMT
Molecular Therapy Task Force: Joseph R. MacLean, MHA, CNMT, and Jay Smith, MA, CNMT, RT(R)(N)
Nominating Committee: Krystle W. Glasgow, CNMT, NMTCB(CT), NMAA
Nuclear Medicine Week Task Force: Chloee Wendorf, MHA, PET, CT
PET/MR Task Force: Elad Nevo, MS, RT(MR)(N)(CT)CNMT
Professional Development and Education Fund (PDEF): Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS (Chair), and Debra Kovac, MHA, BS R.T. (R), CNMT (Vice-Chair)
Professional Development Committee: Matthew C. McMahon, MS, CNMT, RT(CT) (Chair), and Erika Padilla-Morales, CNMT, NMTCB(CT) (Vice-Chair)
Program Committee: Kathleen M. Krisak, BS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS (Chair), and Sarah A. Frye, PhD, MBA, CNMT, PET, CCRP (Vice-Chair)
Publications Committee: Jessica Settle, MS, CNMT, RT(N), FSNMMI-TS (Chair), and Krystle W. Glasgow, CNMT, NMTCB(CT), NMAA (Vice-Chair)
Quality Committee: Paul S. Riley, Jr., MPH, CNMT (Chair), and Lisa Patrick Draper, MEd, BSRS, RT(N), NCT, CT, PET, RS (Vice-Chair)
Scope of Practice Task Force: Joseph R. MacLean, MHA, CNMT, and Paul Seafross (Vice-Chair)
State TAG Team: Angela Weiler, MHA, CNMT, RT(N), PET (Co-Chair), and Loukishia Collins (Co-Chair)
Student and Graduate Task Force: Leila Alsarag
Women in Nuclear Medicine Working Group: Sarah A. Frye, MBA, CNMT, PET, CCRP
Workforce Pipeline Task Force: Dmitry D. Beyder, MPA, CNMT (Co-Chair), and Kelli Schlarbaum, MBA, CNMT, PET, NMTCB(CT) (Co-Chair)
I am excited to see the work continue next year and know that under Julie’s leadership, the SNMMI-TS will continue to soar far beyond what we ever thought was possible. The field of nuclear medicine will play a pivotal role in healthcare for the next generation, and I am glad we are all on for the fun ride! With advancements in precision medicine and growth of the technologist roles in novel imaging and therapy, the future nuclear medicine technologist will be an integral part of the healthcare team, improving medicine and ensuring desired patient outcomes.
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