TECHNOLOGISTS NEWS SNMTS PRESENTS AWARDS, ELECTS NEW OFFICERS AT SNM’S 57TH ANNUAL MEETING More than 5,700 technologists, physi- cians, researchers, and other nuclear medicine professionals gathered at SNM’s 57th annual meeting, held June 5–9 in Salt Lake City, Utah. SNM lead- ership and researchers made interna- tional headlines and raised awareness about the importance of ensuring that critical nuclear medicine tests and pro- cedures continue in light of the medical isotope crisis. As always, the 2010 annual meeting presented the latest cutting-edge research in advancing mo- lecular imaging and provided oppor- tunities for continuing education. During the meeting, SNMTS inducted new officers, who will serve through June 2011. SNMTS also recognized several technologists for their out- standing contributions to molecular imaging, nuclear medicine, and SNMTS. 2010–2011 SNMTS OFFICERS Kathy Hunt, MS, CNMT, of Memphis, Ten- nessee, assistant professor and program chair of nuclear medicine technology, Di- vision of Allied Health at Bap- tist College of Health Scien- ces, was elected as 2010–2011 pres- ident of SNMTS during the society’s annual meeting. “It is essential that nuclear medicine technologists continue to expand their knowledge and skills beyond what was needed in the past and look with a clear focus toward the future,” Hunt said. “That is why one of my initia- tives as president of SNMTS is to sup- port the educational needs of nuclear medicine technology students and practicing technologists.” Hunt says that as president, she will promote a strong science foundation in the nuclear medicine technology curriculum. “The roles and responsi- bilities of nuclear medicine technolo- gists will continue to change as the demand for hybrid imaging and molecular imaging increases,” Hunt added. “SNMTS will continue to advocate for its members in order to secure the future of nuclear medicine technologists.” Also during the annual meet- ing, SNMTS an- nounced the election of Ann Marie Alessi, BS, CNMT, NCT, RT (N), a product sales manager of nuclear medicine at Biodex Medi- cal Systems, Inc., Shirley, New York, as the 2010–2011 president-elect. “People tell me that at this point in my career, I should sit back and let the youngsters do the work,” Alessi said. “But when you are as passionate about a career as I am, you just can’t sit on the sidelines and watch.” Alessi plans to continue to work diligently to ensure the passage of H.R. 3652—the Consistency, Accu- racy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (CARE) Bill. She will also focus on individual state regulations for nuclear medicine technologists performing examinations with PET/ CT and SPECT/CT cameras. She plans to gain support for the Ameri- can Medical Isotopes Production Act to promote the production of 99 Mo in the United States and phase out the use of highly enriched ura- nium for the production of medical isotopes. Kathleen Krisak, CNMT, RT(N), FSNMTS, from the New England chapter, was elected to the office of SNMTS secretary, and April Mann, CNMT, NCT, RT(N), FSNMTS, also from the New England chapter, was elected to the finance committee. Two directors at large were elected: Nancy McDonald, CNMT, and Anthony J. Sicignano, BS, CNMT, RT(N), from the central and New England chapters, respectively. SNMTS OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD Norman E. Bolus, MPH, CNMT, was named the 2010 SNMTS out- standing educator. The award recog- nizes an SNMTS member whose contributions and knowledge have advanced and promoted the field of nuclear medicine technology through outstanding work in education. Bolus received $750 and was presented with a plaque. Bolus is the director of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program at the University of Alabama at Birming- ham, Alabama, in the School of Health Professions, where he is also an assis- tant professor in the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences. His career in nuclear medicine began in 1989, when he worked as a technolo- gist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital’s Nuclear Med- icine Department. Bolus made the jump to education a few years later and has held several roles as an edu- cator, including teacher’s assistant, Kathy Hunt Ann Marie Alessi Norman Bolus and Cybil Nielsen TECHNOLOGISTS NEWS 17A by on June 22, 2020. For personal use only. tech.snmjournals.org Downloaded from
Transcript
T E C H N O L O G I S T S N E W S
SNMTS PRESENTS AWARDS,ELECTS NEW OFFICERS AT SNM’S57TH ANNUAL MEETING
More than 5,700 technologists, physi-cians, researchers, and other nuclearmedicine professionals gathered atSNM’s 57th annual meeting, held June5–9 in Salt Lake City, Utah. SNM lead-ership and researchers made interna-tional headlines and raised awarenessabout the importance of ensuring thatcritical nuclear medicine tests and pro-cedures continue in light of the medicalisotope crisis. As always, the 2010annual meeting presented the latestcutting-edge research in advancing mo-lecular imaging and provided oppor-tunities for continuing education.During the meeting, SNMTS inductednew officers, who will serve throughJune 2011. SNMTS also recognizedseveral technologists for their out-standing contributions to molecularimaging, nuclear medicine, andSNMTS.
2010–2011 SNMTS OFFICERS
Kathy Hunt,MS, CNMT, ofMemphis, Ten-nessee, assistantprofessor andprogram chair ofnuclear medicinetechnology, Di-vision of AlliedHealth at Bap-tist College ofHealth Scien-ces, was elected as 2010–2011 pres-ident of SNMTS during the society’sannual meeting.“It is essential that nuclear medicine
technologists continue to expand theirknowledge and skills beyond what wasneeded in the past and look with aclear focus toward the future,” Huntsaid. “That is why one of my initia-tives as president of SNMTS is to sup-port the educational needs of nuclearmedicine technology students andpracticing technologists.”
Hunt says that as president, she willpromote a strong science foundationin the nuclear medicine technologycurriculum. “The roles and responsi-bilities of nuclear medicine technolo-gists will continue to change as thedemand for hybrid imaging andmolecular imaging increases,” Huntadded. “SNMTS will continue toadvocate for its members in order tosecure the future of nuclear medicinetechnologists.”
Also duringthe annual meet-ing, SNMTS an-nounced theelection of AnnMarie Alessi, BS,CNMT, NCT, RT(N), a productsales manager ofnuclear medicineat Biodex Medi-cal Systems, Inc., Shirley, New York, asthe 2010–2011 president-elect.
“People tell me that at this point inmy career, I should sit back and letthe youngsters do the work,” Alessisaid. “But when you are as passionateabout a career as I am, you just can’t siton the sidelines and watch.”
Alessi plans to continue to workdiligently to ensure the passage ofH.R. 3652—the Consistency, Accu-racy, Responsibility, and Excellencein Medical Imaging and RadiationTherapy (CARE) Bill. She will alsofocus on individual state regulationsfor nuclear medicine technologistsperforming examinations with PET/CT and SPECT/CT cameras. Sheplans to gain support for the Ameri-can Medical Isotopes ProductionAct to promote the production of99Mo in the United States and phaseout the use of highly enriched ura-nium for the production of medicalisotopes.
Kathleen Krisak, CNMT, RT(N),FSNMTS, from the New Englandchapter, was elected to the office ofSNMTS secretary, and April Mann,
CNMT, NCT, RT(N), FSNMTS, alsofrom the New England chapter, waselected to the finance committee. Twodirectors at large were elected: NancyMcDonald, CNMT, and Anthony J.Sicignano, BS, CNMT, RT(N), fromthe central and New England chapters,respectively.
SNMTS OUTSTANDINGEDUCATOR AWARD
Norman E. Bolus, MPH, CNMT,was named the 2010 SNMTS out-standing educator. The award recog-nizes an SNMTS member whosecontributions and knowledge haveadvanced and promoted the field ofnuclear medicine technology throughoutstanding work in education. Bolusreceived $750 and was presented witha plaque.
Bolus is the director of the NuclearMedicine Technology Program at theUniversity of Alabama at Birming-ham, Alabama, in the School of HealthProfessions, where he is also an assis-tant professor in the Department ofClinical and Diagnostic Sciences. Hiscareer in nuclear medicine began in1989, when he worked as a technolo-gist at the University of Alabama atBirmingham Hospital’s Nuclear Med-icine Department. Bolus made thejump to education a few years laterand has held several roles as an edu-cator, including teacher’s assistant,
Kathy Hunt
Ann Marie Alessi
Norman Bolus and Cybil Nielsen
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instructor, assistant professor, clinicalcoordinator, and program director.Bolus has been involved with
SNMTS by serving on many commit-tees, including the educational curric-ulum guide task force, educatorstransition task force, nuclear medicineadvanced associate committee, andstudent membership task force. Thisyear, he served as chair of the educa-tors committee. Recently, Bolus devel-oped a podcast on thallium stress testprotocol to provide SNMTS memberswith a quick refresher on how to usealternative testing for radionuclidesthat are not available.
PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHEDSERVICE AWARD
Danny A. Basso, CNMT, NCT,FSNMTS, manager at Cardiac Imag-ing of Augusta, Augusta, Georgia, wasawarded the SNMTS presidential dis-tinguished service award. This awardrecognizes an SNMTS member whohas demonstrated outstanding serviceand dedication to the field of nuclearmedicine technology. Basso was pre-sented with a plaque.
As chair of the SNMTS advocacycommittee and a member of the SNM/ACNM joint government relationscommittee, Basso has been instrumen-tal in providing SNMTS with supportand guidance on issues that affect theregulation, legislation, practice stand-ards, and reimbursement of nuclearmedicine. Over the past several years,Basso has been involved with SNMand SNMTS in several capacities of
leadership, including serving on theSNM house of delegates and theSNMTS executive board. In addition,Basso serves as a director at large ofthe SNM national council of represen-tatives and board of directors.
Basso belongs to the southeasternchapter of SNMTS and recently servedas treasurer of SNM’s cardiovascularcouncil. He has served as a memberof the editorial board for Uptake—the SNMTS newsletter—and of thepublications committee. He alsoserves as associate editor of the JNMT.Basso is a past chair of NMTCB.
SNMTS FELLOWSHIP AWARDS
The following individuals wereinducted into the fellow category.These are members of SNMTS whohave demonstrated leadership andhave made a significant contributionto the profession of nuclear medicinetechnology at the national level.SNMTS selects fellows based on dem-onstrating exemplary contributions inthe following areas: participation inprofessional activities, education, pro-fessional experience, professional con-tributions, and civic activities.
Fellowships are awarded at theSNMTS annual business meeting eachyear during SNM’s annual meeting.SNMTS fellowship awardees receivea memorial plaque and a pin signify-ing their fellow status.
Royal T. Davis, CNMT, RT(N),FSNMTS, has been the technicaldirector of the Nuclear Medicine Divi-sion at Children’s Hospital, Boston,Massachusetts, for more than 30 years.He is a graduate of the St. BarnabasSchool of Nuclear Medicine Technol-ogy. He has published 13 peer-reviewed journal articles and 5 bookchapters and has presented abstractsat dozens of international, national,and local meetings. He has organizedthe pediatric technologist teaching ses-sions at the SNM annual meetings formany years. He recently coauthoredseveral articles on dose reduction inchildren and is a member of the dosereduction committee of the SNMpediatric council. Davis has alsoserved as a reviewer for the JNMT.
Mark Wallenmeyer, MBA, CNMT,RT(N), FSNMTS, is an assistant pro-fessor/clinical coordinator for theNuclear Medicine Imaging SciencesProgram in the College of HealthRelated Professions at the Universityof Arkansas for Medical Sciences inLittle Rock, Arkansas, and served asthe 2008–2009 president of SNMTS.A past president of both the MissouriValley chapter of SNMTS and theSouthwest Missouri Society ofNuclear Medicine, he has held—andcontinues to hold—numerous commit-tee appointments. Recently, he wasselected as the Missouri Valley chapterexecutive director and chair of thetransition task force for SNMTS.
Leo A. Nalivaika, MBA, CNMT,RT(N), FSNMTS, is the educationalcoordinator/clinical instructor in theNuclear Medicine Technology Pro-gram at Worcester State College, Wor-cester, Massachusetts. He is also thesenior staff nuclear medicine technol-
Danny Basso and Cybil Nielsen
Royal Davis and Cybil Nielsen
Mark Wallenmeyer and Cybil Nielsen
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ogist at the University of Massachu-setts Medical Center. Nalivaika isactive within the New England chapterof SNMTS and has held numerousprofessional positions, including chiefeditor of the New England Journal ofNuclear Medicine Technology and his-torian emeritus. He received a bache-lor’s degree in natural science/nuclearmedicine technology from WorcesterState College and a master’s in busi-ness administration from Anna MariaCollege in Paxton, Massachusetts.
Rebecca A. Sajdak, CNMT, RT(N),FSNMTS, is a senior staff technologistand computer specialist at LoyolaUniversity Medical Center in May-wood, Illinois. She is currently adelegate at large for the SNMTSnational council of representativesand served on the nominating commit-tee, which oversees the nominationand election process for the organiza-
tion. She also serves on the technolo-gist educators subcommittee for theSNM Clinical Trials Network. Shepreviously served on the continuingeducation committee and bylaws com-mittee. Sajdak received an associate ofscience degree from the nuclear med-icine program at Triton College,Northlake, Illinois, and a bachelor ofarts from Loyola University in Chi-cago, Illinois.
LisaAnn Trembath, MSM, CNMT,CCRA, NCT, FSNMTS, most recentlyserved as manager of medical affairsat Cellectar, a radiopharmaceuticalscompany in Madison, Wisconsin.Trembath has been active nationallyin SNM and SNMTS and has served aspresident and chair of the financecommittee for the central chapter ofSNMTS. She has served as a memberof the SNM brain imaging council andthe scientific and teaching sessionscommittee and has chaired the govern-ment relations committee. She alsoserved as a member of the nominatingcommittee for the Wisconsin Societyof Nuclear Medicine Technologistsand as a reviewer for the JNMT. Shecurrently chairs the site orientationcommittee for the SNM Clinical TrialsNetwork. She received a bachelor’sdegree in natural science from Concor-dia College, St. Paul, Minnesota, and amaster’s degree in the science of busi-ness management from CardinalStritch University in Madison. Trem-bath is a certified nuclear cardiologytechnologist and certified clinicalresearch associate.
SNMTS PRESIDENT’S PLAQUE
Cybil J. Nielsen, MBA, CNMT, isthe nuclear medicine technology pro-gram coordinator for Jefferson Com-munity and Technical College inLouisville, Kentucky. In recognitionof her service as 2009–2010 SNMTSpresident, she was awarded theSNMTS president’s plaque and gavel.
Nielsen served as the president ofthe southeastern chapter of SNMTS in2007–2008 and has held numerouscommittee appointments. She servedas chair of the SNMTS educator’s taskforce and a member of the SNMTSadvanced practice task force. For 3consecutive years, she was an SNMTSstate health policy liaison. She has alsoserved as cochair of the SNMTS entry-level taskforce and as a member of theSNMTS awards and grants committee.Nielsen received a master’s of busi-ness administration from Indiana Wes-leyan University in Marion, Indiana,and a bachelor of health science innuclear medicine technology fromthe University of Louisville, Louis-ville, Kentucky.
JNMT BEST PAPERS FOR 2009
The JNMT selected the following 3research papers to win the “BestPapers for 2009” category. The first-place winner received $500 and a pla-que, the second-place winner received$100 and a plaque, and the third-placewinner received a plaque. The leadauthors and their colleagues were rec-
Leo Nalivaika and Cybil Nielsen
Rebecca Sajdak and Cybil Nielsen LisaAnn Trembath and Cybil Nielsen
Cybil Nielsen and Kathy Hunt
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ognized at a ceremony held duringSNMTS’s annual business meeting.
First PlaceTezontl Rosario, Michel C. Ollers,
Geert Bosmans, Dirk De Ruysscher,Philippe Lambin, and Andre Dekker.“Phased versusmidventilationattenuation-cor-rected respira-tion-correlatedPET for patientswith non–smallcell lung can-cer.” J NuclMed Technol.2009;37:208–214.
Second PlaceDanny Basso, Gregory Passmore,
Michael Holman, Ward Rogers, LeslieWalters, Thomas Zecchin, and JaymeButler. “Semiqualitative visual andquantitative morphometric evaluationsof reduced scan time and wide-beamreconstruction in rest–gated stressSPECT myocardial perfusion imag-ing.” J Nucl Med Technol. 2009;37:233–239.
Third PlaceNorman E. Bolus, Remo George,
Johrnee’ Washington, and Bradley R.Newcomer. “PET/MRI: the blended-modality choice of the future?” J NuclMed Technol. 2009;37:63–71.
SNMTS ABSTRACT AWARDWINNERS 2010
Tech Oral Presentation Awards
First PlaceRoyce Ruter, “Impact of time-of-
flight reconstruction on maximumstandard uptake values in FDG PET/CT scanning.”
Second PlaceDouglas Vines, “Serial FDG PET-
CT scans in oncology: a quality assur-ance study of repeatability of uptaketimes and blood glucose values.”
Third PlaceKaren Johnson, “Unbiased quantita-
tive survey of stress only Tl-201 car-diac perfusion patients.”
Tech Oral CardiovascularPresentation Awards
First PlaceKaren Johnson, “Unbiased quantita-
tive survey of stress only Tl-201 car-diac perfusion patients.”
Second PlaceMartha Mar, “False positive pericar-
dial effusion due to breast attenuationin multi-gated acquisition (MUGA)scan.”
Third PlacePatrick Wojtylak, “Incremental
value of 128·128 matrix acquisitionon Tc-99m myocardial perfusionSPECT/CT.”
Tech Oral Nuclear OncologyPresentation Award
Douglas Vines, “Serial FDG PET-CT scans in oncology: a quality assur-
ance study of repeatability of uptaketimes and blood glucose values.”
Tech Poster Presentation Awards
First PlaceChris Tollefson, “Impact of D-SPECT
imaging system on Mayo Clinicnuclear cardiology efficiency project.”
Second PlaceJaylene Ducharme, “F18-FDG PET/
CT imaging of the abdomen and pelvisusing oral CT contrast and diureticfurosemide injection.”
Third PlaceRebecca Taylor-Tillery, “Imaging of
the salivary glands during stimulationin patients undergoing treatment withradioactive iodine.”
Student Oral TechPresentation Awards
First PlaceMichael Pawlak, “A rubidium-82
phantom study to assess the effectsof dead time and count rate on volumeuniformity of a cardiac PET scanner.”
Second PlaceJerrin Varughese, “Scintigraphic
planar imaging of small animals withSiemens e.cam dual-detector gammacamera.”
Third PlaceStacy Sengpiel, “Effects of techne-
tium-99m/molybdenum-99 shortage onWisconsin nuclear medicine depart-ments.”
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