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Spring 2006 |
| CCSNM Fall Education Program to Focus on Functional Nuclear Imaging October 7- 8, 2006 The Central Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine is scheduling the 2006 Fall Educational Program on October 7- 8, 2006 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City, Michigan. The program, tentatively titled “Functional Nuclear Imaging: Changing Patient Management” is being organized by Rick V. Hay, MD and Karen Martin, CNMT. Watch your mail, email and the CCSNM web site for further information. The preliminary program is noted below. Saturday, October 7, 2006
Fall Road Shows to Address Infection Imaging
The four-hour Saturday morning programs will include 4-5 speakers on the topic of Infection Imaging. Tentative topics and learning objectives are listed below. Voice credit will be applied for through the Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist Section. Watch your mail, email and this web site for further information. Course Topics & Objectives Following this program, the participants should be able to:
Topic 1: Current Role of Imaging Agents for Infection
Topic 2: F18- FDG PET Imaging in the Detection and Monitoring of Infection and Inflammation
Topic 3: Infection Control Practices to Limit Nosocomial Infections
Topic 4: Advanced Practice in Nuclear Medicine Technology
Message From the President
I am pleased that as of 2005, the year of the 50th anniversary of our Chapter, we reinstated the publication of the Newsletter, this time in a dynamic, easy to navigate, eye-catching, and colorful electronic format. This is mainly thanks to Davide Bova, MD, Editor, Karen Martin, CNMT, Co-Editor and Merle Hedland, Executive Director, but also thanks to many other contributors, without whom the newsletter would not have gotten off the ground. Soon, a new Co-Editor / Editor-to-be, Paresh Mahajan, MD of Troy, Michigan, will be introduced to you. We just returned from a successful Annual Spring Meeting entitled “Nuclear Medicine 2006: Advances and Applications in Molecular Imaging”, which was attended by over 215 individuals (81% technologists and technologist trainees). The meeting was held on March 24-26, 2006 in Indianapolis, IN, AKA “The Crossroads of America”. James Fletcher, MD, Edward E. Wroblewski, MA, DABSNM, and Paul J. Reaume, BS, ARRT, CNMT, local program chairs, brought together an excellent group of speakers, many of whom are nationally and internationally recognized (Drs H. William Strauss, James W. Fletcher, Michael M. Graham, Michael D. Devous, Robert J. Gropler, Daniel H. Silverman and Paul D. Shreve to name a few). They presented some highly sophisticated lectures. The interactive and more practically-oriented sessions “Read with the Expert” returned by popular demand to cover cardiac, brain and oncology imaging cases. I felt that in the place nicknamed “Crossroads of America” we were also standing at the “Crossroads of Nuclear Medicine”, with not one, but rather several major changes occurring in our specialty, all at the same time:
I can see that we have some major challenges and a lot of work ahead of us. I am honored to be able to serve as Chapter President during these exciting and challenging times. Helena Balon, MD Helena R. Balon, MD Elected President of the Central Chapter
Doctor Balon graduated from Medical School of Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic and completed residencies in Clinical Chemistry in the Czech Republic, Pathology at Wayne State University in Detroit and Nuclear Medicine at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan. She has appointments at Departments of Radiology at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan (Clinical Associate Professor) and Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (Clinical Assistant Professor). She is Board certified by ABNM. She has published over 25 articles and 2 book chapters. She has presented at national and international meetings.
At SNM, Doctor Balon is Chair of the Committee on Guidelines, member of the Committee on Health Care Policy and Practice, member of the House of Delegates, member of the Academic Council and NM Residency Program Directors’ Association. At the Central Chapter SNM, she served in various functions (Secretary-Treasurer, Board of Governors member, chair of Constitution and Bylaws Committee, member of Program Committee). She was also member of NMTCB Board of Directors and is member of EANM (European Association of Nuclear Medicine).
James Kritzman Becomes Technologist Section President
Jim earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan in 1993. From 1993-1998 he served as Nuclear Medicine Technologist in the Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center. In 1998 he became Research
Technologist at the U of M Medical Center. An author and presenter of numerous topics, Jim also teaches a workshop on Cardiac SPECT. In addition to being a member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, Jim is also a member of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology.
Message from the Tech Section President
First, I would like to say that it is an honor to serve as President of the Central Chapter Technologist Section. We are living in an exciting and dynamic time for all imaging modalities. With the introduction of new multi-modality equipment the educational and technological requirements are rapidly evolving for all technologists. The Society of Nuclear Medicine has been very proactive in this arena. We must continue to be leaders in developing educational curriculum and guiding training programs to meet the growing demands that will be placed on new technologists and continuing education for those in the field. Those who attended the 2006 Annual Spring Meeting in Indianapolis had an opportunity to see the benefits and variety of multi-modality imaging including PET/CT and SPECT/CT along with optical and MRI in functional molecular imaging. As science and industry advance technology we must continue to educate and be educated to promote optimal healthcare for our patients. One of the high points of the meeting was the presentation of student and technologist papers. The quality and variety was outstanding from all participants. With topics ranging from job satisfaction to radiation safety, the papers illustrated the strengths of current educational programs. In order to maintain and increase our membership as we enter true multi-modality imaging and to accommodate the increasing role and variety of molecular imaging, the Central Chapter proposed a new membership category during the Spring Meeting. This member initiative would be a new affiliate designation to include educators, technologists from other modalities and research laboratory workers. This proposal would let others with similar educational and work backgrounds join at the same cost per year as current technologist members. With more than 245,000 registered technologists in the ARRT alone, there is tremendous potential to increase our membership and attendance to CE events held by the individual chapters and the Society as a whole. The specific roles and expectations of this new membership category is a topic of future discussion. Upon recent contact with Scott Holbrook, our national President-elect, this item is also being proposed at the national level. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as President of the Technologist Section and do not hesitate contact me with your concerns regarding our Chapter. 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.
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 1895 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. New Chapter Officers and Board of Governors Elected By Susan C. Weiss, CNMT I am pleased to report the following results from the election ballot issued in December. Terms for these individuals began immediately following the Spring Meeting. Helena R. Balon, MD, of the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan moved up from Secretary-Treasurer/ President-Elect to become President for 2006-2007. She replaces Nicholas Friedman, MD who served as president for 2005-2006. Gary L. Dillehay, MD, FACR of Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois continues in his second year as Vice President and takes on the additional title of President-Elect as he prepares to take over the Presidency in 2007. Doctor Dillehay is also vice speaker of the SNM House of Delegates. Robert T. Anger, Jr., MS, MPH, FACR, from the Clarian Health System (Methodist Hospital) in Indianapolis, Indiana was elected to a two-year term as Secretary-Treasurer. Bob was an at-large member of the Board of Governors Anthony Passalaqua, MD, of Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine and President of The Imaging Center in Stow, Ohio was re-elected to a second three-term on the Board of Governors. Kastytis C. Karvelis, MD from the Henry Ford Hospital and Wayne State University School of Medicine was elected to his first term on the Board of Governors. Michael A. Wilson, MD from the University of Wisconsin Medical School was also elected to the Board of Governors. Doctor Wilson was on the Board of Governors in the mid-90s and we are pleased to have him back on board. For a full listing of the CCSNM Board of Governors, visit the CCSNM web site at www.ccsnm.org. I want to thank Jim Carey, MS, 2nd Immediate Past President of the Chapter who will now be leaving the Board of Governors. Nicholas C. Friedman, MD will now join me as one of the two past presidents who are members of the Board of Governors. As a final comment, I would like to encourage members to considering volunteering for a committee of the Chapter or the Technologist Section and to volunteer to serve on the Board of Governors. The Society of Nuclear Medicine and the SNM Technologist Section are also looking for volunteers to serve on committees at the national level. It really isn’t much time, but it is very important to get your input. Technologist Section Elects Officers for 2006-2007 By Katherine A. Carlson, BA, CNMT, CCRC I am pleased to announce the results of the Technologist Section Elections held early in the year. Terms for each position or individual are included in the listing. James N. Kritzman, BS, RT(N), CNMT of the University of Michigan moves from President Elect to President for 2006-2007. He replaces Rebecca A. Sajdak, BA, CNMT, who served as Technologist Section president for 2005-2006. Paul J. Reaume, BS, ARRT, (R,N), CNMT of St. John Macomb Hospital in Warren, Michigan was elected President-Elect. Paul had served on the Finance Committee and was a local program chair for the Spring Meeting. Judith E. Kosegi, MS, CNMT of Indiana University was elected to a one-year term as Secretary. A bylaw amendment that was also passed this year will extend the term of the Secretary to two years starting in 2007. Nancy A. McDonald, BS, CNMT of Northwestern Memorial Hospital was elected to a two-year term as Treasurer and Chair of the TS Finance Committee. Nancy has been chairing the Continuing Education Committee for a number of years, organizing the Chapter’s successful Fall Road Shows. Timothy Hill, BS, ARRT, CNMT from Capitol City Cardiology in Columbus, Ohio was elected to a four-year term on the Bylaws Committee Lyn M. Mehlberg, BS, CNMT, FSNMTS of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was elected to a two-year term as the National Council Delegate for the SNM-TS Mary Yeomans CNMT, of Medi-Nuclear Corp in Walled Lake, Michigan will be joining Karen Martin for a three-year term representing technologists on the Board of Governors. On behalf of the Chapter and Technologist Section, I want to thank Roxanne Izzo from Loyola University Medical Center, in Maywood, Illinois for her service as the Treasurer for the past two years. I also want to thank Lynnette Fulk of Clarian Health System in Indianapolis who is completing her term on the Board of Governors, for her dedicated service. Abstract Presenters Awarded Prizes By James N. Kritzman, BS, RT(N) The President-Elect’s responsibility includes chairing the Awards Committee, selecting abstracts for presentation at the Annual Spring Meeting and then judging the presentations to award the cash prizes. 2006 proved to be a difficult year with many good abstracts offered from which we had to select 9 for presentation. Across the board the presentation were excellent and judging the winners was a difficult tasks. The Awards and the winners are listed below. Best Technologist Paper-CCSNM-TS (oral presentation only) $250. Senior author must be a technologist SNM member. A $750 educational grant may be awarded to the top-scoring author if this abstract is also accepted for presentation at the next SNM annual meeting.The winner was Alberto Arroyo, from the St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo,Ohio
W. H. Beierwaltes Award - CCSNM (oral presentation only) $250.
Senior author must be a resident or basic scientist trainee.
Best Student Papers -- CCSNM-TS (oral presentation only) $200, $150, $100. Author must be a student SNM member. $200 is awarded for the 1st place presentation, $150 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place. Winners were: 1st Place: Danelle Weiss, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois 2nd Place: Nicole Boyd, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois 3rd Place: Jamie Mathews, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
Congratulations to them all. Annual
Spring Meeting Addressed Molecular Imaging By Rebecca A. Sajdak, BA, CNMT The Spring Meeting of the Central Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine was held in Indianapolis, Indiana and was hosted by James Fletcher, MD, Edward Wroblewski, MA, DABNM, and Paul Reaume, CNMT, ARRT (R,N). Attendees were treated to state of the art lectures discussing molecular imaging for patients with a variety of different cancers as well as diseases of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. There was information on various software-based techniques in assessment of brain images-relative to visual assessment, and relative to each other. Cardiac lectures spoke of upcoming tracers and new work being done with cardiac attenuation on the new SPECT/CT cameras.
to change the entry-level requirement for Nuclear Medicine Technologists to a baccalaureate degree. Due to the expanding duties and increasing amount of knowledge required of today’s technologists, it is suggested that the amount of time required to complete the components for degree in nuclear medicine technology would be equal to four years of college.
There were several outstanding proffered papers given by technologists, residents and students which were judged and the winners awarded cash prizes. The list of winner is included elsewhere in this newsletter. These were the best of many abstracts submitted to our judges who had a difficult time deciding what to select for presentation, because the abstracts this year were exceptional. If you would like to submit an abstract or are aware of a resident, technologist or student who would like to submit an abstract for upcoming meetings, keep an eye on the website for the notice for submission. There is always a procedure or technique that a technologist may use which could help other technologists. Please come share your expertise! CC News Info CCSNM Mission Statement Central Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine is an organization dedicated to promote continued education in the art and science of nuclear medicine. Through regular meetings and scientific sessions, members from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and a portion of Ohio are provided the opportunity to not only review existing technology and methodologies, but also become familiar with newer techniques, equipment and radiopharma-ceuticals. In this manner, the members are kept appraised of current changes in technology, its application and appropriate use. Contact Us Central Chapter – Society of Nuclear Medicine Please email your comments and suggestions to info@ccsnm.org. Editors: Davide Bova, MD Paresh Mahajan, MD |
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The
Central Chapter’s Fall Road Shows will be scheduled in September
and October 2006 in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and
Ohio. No program will be scheduled in Michigan due to the Fall
Educational Conference scheduled for Traverse City.
Helena
R. Balon, MD
James
N. Kritzman, BS, RT(N), CNMT, Research Technologist, Division
of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center
has become President of the Central Chapter Technologist Section.
He was elected president-elect in 2005 and moved up to president
on April 1. He replaces Rebecca A. Sajdak, BA, CNMT who serviced
as president for 2005-2006.
Our
national office President of the Technologist Section, Valerie
Cronin, brought the chapter updated information on the CARE
act, which, if passed, would require states and health programs
such as Medicare to adopt minimum standards for anyone who
works with ionizing radiation. Valerie spoke about the new
initiatives at the national level entailing the creation
of a Nuclear Medicine Practitioner’s degree as a pathway
for a technologist desiring to further their careers with
a Master’s degree. There is also a parallel initiative