Renae Henkin: 1948-2006

Henkins and Susan Weiss

Renae Henkin, shown with husband Doctor Robert Henkin and then Chapter president Susan Weiss, received the first Steven M. Pinsky Distinguished Services Award in 2005.

Renae Henkin, former Executive Director of the Central Chapter, Society of Nuclear Medicine died on November 29, 2006 after a long battle with cancer.

Renae and her husband, Robert E. Henkin, MD, managed the Central Chapter starting in 1999, resigning at the end of 2003 to concentrate on an aggressive treatment to restore her health. The Chapter recognized Renae in 2005 by awarding her the inaugural presentation of the Steven M. Pinsky MD Distinguished Service Award or Gold Medal. This award honors individuals who have contributed greatly to nuclear medicine or the Central Chapter, much like Doctor Pinsky did during his career.

In presenting the award, then Chapter President Sue Weiss said Renae and her husband carried the Chapter through some difficult years. “Renae was not just the Executive Director of the Central Chapter; she was the Central Chapter, putting her heart and soul into the organization. She took the Chapter from disarray and falling membership to what it is today, once again a healthy organization. Renae went far above and beyond the call of duty to put the Chapter back into fiscal health and sometimes single handedly put programs together, when leadership could not spend time to do the work of the Chapter.”

Renae had worked for the Society of Nuclear Medicine at the national office prior to joining the Chapter and because of that, brought a considerable amount of expertise to her position as well as a good understanding of Nuclear Medicine. She became a strong advocate for nuclear medicine and the SNM chapters. In 1988 she married Doctor Henkin, who, at the time, was director of nuclear medicine at Loyola University Medical School, and moved to Chicago where she maintained her interest in nuclear medicine.

Linda E. Ketchum, a long time friend of Renae and former Editor of JNM Newsline wrote an In Memoriam for Renae for the January issue of JNM Newsline. Her husband, Doctor Robert Henkin suggests that since she believed so strongly in education and research that the most fitting memorial to her would be a donation to the SNM’s Education and Research Foundation. Both the Central Chapter and the Central Chapter Technologist Section have contributed $1,000 in Renae’s name to the Foundation.