Editor's Page

This month the 49^th SNM Annual Meeting will be held in Los Angeles, CA. In this issue you will find the details of the Scientific and Teaching Program directed toward the interests of technologists. There are 30 scientific papers and 16 posters presented by technologists this year, as well as 10 technologist student papers. But, there are many other things going on at this year's Meeting. The Meeting will start on Saturday with the categorical seminars: a chance for you to immerse yourself in a topic for a day. There are 11 categorical seminars, 3 of which are specifically directed at the interests of technologists. The official program begins on Sunday with the plenary session and the opening of the exhibit hall. There are 3½ days of continuing education, scientific papers, and exhibits. This is a wonderful opportunity for those technologists who are lucky enough to attend the Meeting to see the newest things in nuclear medicine.

The next best thing to going to the Meeting is to read continuing education and scientific papers that were presented at the Meeting in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology. This year the JNMT will again be having a session to help new authors get started writing that first paper. I hope that those of you who are at the Meeting will find time to attend this session, even if you did not submit an abstract for presentation this year. The goal of this session is to help technologists take that first step toward writing a scientific paper. You will learn about the different components of a scientific paper, how to go from an oral or poster presentation to a paper, and what the review process entails. Each year the JNMT gives a $500 cash award for the best paper written by a technologist. To win this award the technologist must be the first author on the paper. To encourage technologists to submit papers, the JNMT will be giving an award of $100 for the best case study submitted by a technologist. Writing a case study is easier than writing a scientific paper and a good starting point for authors. This is a new award that was approved at the SNM Mid-Winter Meeting. The best paper award will be presented at the Technologist Section business meeting. The best case study award will not be presented until the Annual Meeting in 2003. I am looking forward to meeting the technologists at these sessions.

I also encourage technologists attending the Annual Meeting to stop by the publications booth, see what materials are available, and meet the publications staff. Use the Meeting as an opportunity to meet others working in nuclear medicine, and enjoy the sights of Southern California. I hope to see you there.