James J. Conway, MD receives Chapter's Distinguished Service Award

By Susan C. Weiss, CNMT

The Central Chapter’s Steven M. Pinsky Distinguished Service Award, or Gold Medal was awarded at the Central Chapter’s Annual Spring Meeting on March 25 in Indianapolis to Doctor James J. Conway. The Gold Medal is awarded to a member of the Chapter for exceptional service to the Chapter and Nuclear Medicine.

Doctor Conway, a Past President of the Chapter, has been an active member since 1970. He was a member of the Board of Governors from 1972 to 1981. He served as Treasurer of the Chapter before assuming the Presidency in 1978. He was also a member of the program committee several times, serving as Chairman in 1986 and 1987. Most importantly, he was the Founding Editor of the Chapter newsletter in 1973, which significantly enhanced Chapter communications. He continued as Editor until 1978.

Doctor Conway was also instrumental in the formation of the Central Chapter Technologist Section in the early 70’s. He appointed a committee to write bylaws for the Technologist Section and appointed the first CCTS chairman.

James Conway, MD receives the Pinsky Gold Medal at the CCSNM Spring Meeting in Indianapolis. The presentation was made by Chapter Vice President Gary L. Dillehay, MD (left) and Immediate Past President Susan C. Weiss, who introduced Doctor Conway.

Doctor Conway was active on the national level as well, from 1970 to the present, holding many positions, including Treasurer of the SNM before becoming the President in 1995. He represented the SNM to various organizations, most notably as the SNM representative to the Council of Medical Specialty Societies from 1979 to 1995. He was the first SNM physician member elected to the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board. He also was a member of the American Board of Nuclear Medicine from 1991 to 1996, serving as Chairman in 1995-96.

Other activities include participation as a member of the International Commission on Radiological Protection from 1985 to 1993. He has held various positions with the Illinois Radiologic Society, The American College of Nuclear Medicine, the FDA Radiopharmaceutical Drug Advisory Committee, The World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology and the Radiological Society of North America.

Most practitioners of Pediatric Nuclear Medicine consider Doctor Conway to be the “father” of the subspecialty. He has trained countless numbers of residents, fellows, technologists and other Nuclear Medicine practitioners in the art and science of pediatric nuclear medicine during his tenure as Chief of the Division of Nuclear Medicine at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He was the founder of the Pediatric Nuclear Medicine Council of the SNM as well. He has lectured all over the world, contributed numerous scientific articles, book chapters and served as editor of a Bibliography of Pediatric Nuclear Medicine.

Doctor Conway’s contributions to the Central Chapter and to Nuclear Medicine are many and outstanding and were recognized with the awarding of the Gold Medal. It is a well-deserved honor for all that he has achieved.

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