Thoughts from the Immediate
Past Chapter President

Susan C. Weiss, CNMT
2004-2005 President

It was really a pleasure to serve as your president for the 2004-2005 year. We launched a number of important programs for the future, and the 50th Anniversary allowed us to reflect on the past leaders and past accomplishments of the Chapter. The Anniversary Celebration Reception put together in one room many years of experience and dedication to nuclear medicine and we were pleased that many of the past presidents could be present.

The Central Chapter continues to be the largest chapter with over 2,000 members and we continue to have a strong financial base. Dues have been kept low but recent meetings have been successful to the point that funds have been added to reserves.

We approved a number of programs this past year that are now coming to fruition, chief among them is the launch of this newsletter in electronic format. The former printed newsletter was discontinued some time ago in anticipation of producing it in electronic format. When it is fully operational, the newsletter is targeted to be issued four times a year. Davide Bova, MD and Karen Martin, CNMT are editors of the newsletter. This newsletter is actually archived on the web site under the “Publications” tab and can be accessed at any time. However, when each issue is produced, a “teaser” is emailed to each member with a link back to the newsletter on the web site. It is important than for all members to record their email addresses in the SNM Membership Directory so you can receive electronic information not only from the Chapter, but also from the SNM. You can go online to the SNM web site (www.snm.org) to update your information.

We have also launched a new web site at www.ccsnm.org. It will be under construction for a while, but when it is done will include information on the CCSNM and Technologist Section plus resource information for members, residents, students and patients. A special thanks to Davide Bova, MD and Rebecca Sajdak, CNMT for helping to design the content of the web site.

For the past four years, with the discontinuance of the Fall Educational Meeting, the Board of Governors was meeting only once a year, which was proving to not be enough to address the important issues. Therefore, this past year saw the re-establishment of a Fall Governance Meeting where the Board of Governors met and concentrated on issues that could not be covered at the Spring Meeting when future programming occupies much of the discussion.

It was at this meeting that the Distinguished Service Award or Gold Medal was proposed and approved to recognize individuals who have contributed greatly to nuclear medicine or to the Central Chapter. The award was named after Steven M. Pinsky, MD, who passed away in 2004 after many years of leadership in nuclear medicine, radiology and in organized radiology. We are pleased that the first Distinguished Service Award was presented to Renae Henkin, former Executive Director of the Central Chapter. An article on Renae receiving this award and information about Doctor Pinsky is included elsewhere in this newsletter.

Another effort that came away from the Fall Governance Meeting was the decision to give a thorough review of the Chapters operating procedures. Nicholas Friedman, MD volunteered to work with the office staff to review and update the policy manual and to identify sections that needed attention. As with many associations, actions are taken but the paperwork does not always catch up. The revised policy manual established the operational guidelines for future actions.

As a final comment, I would like to encourage you to considering volunteering for a committee of the Chapter or the Technologist Section and to volunteer to serve on the Board of Governors. It really isn’t much time, but it is very important to get your input. Committee volunteer forms and nomination forms for the Board of Governors and the Technologist Section Executive Council will be available on the web site and nominations forms for the Board of Governors and Technologist Section will be mailed again next Fall.

We can to build involvement in the chapter and the best way to do that is to get members to sign up to serve on committees. The Technologist Section specially is planning some new activities for their members and they will be looking for volunteers.

 Back to Top