PHILADELPHIA-A campaign directed at promoting the society to new nuclear medicine technologists paid off handsomely for the Technologists Section of the Greater New York Chapter of Society of Nuclear Medicine (TSGNYC/SNM), according to Dan Zebrowski, BA, CNMT, RT(N), 2002-2003 president of the society.

Not only has the chapter's focus on students resulted in an increase in membership for the organization, but a record number of students also attended the GNYC symposium, which took place May 2-4 here at the Wyndham Philadelphia Hotel.

GNYC membership increased from 1,618 (including 911 technologists) in 2001 to 1,838 members (including 964 technologists) in 2002.

"I am pleased to say that we have 80 students here and also 262 technologists," said Myrellen L. Merry, BS, CNMT, symposium co-coordinator. Thirty exhibitors also attended the conference.

The continued growth of attendance at the symposium, up more than 10 percent from last year, was a source of pride to the officers, particularly in an economic climate that Zebrowski said has caused 20 percent decreases in attendance at many other conferences of this size.

The emphasis on reaching students also paid off with 11 student papers presented at the meeting, up from seven in 2002, Merry said, noting that the quality of the papers was excellent, resulting in a tie for second place.

PACS, PET and pharmaceuticals

A roster of distinguished speakers provided a variety of educational opportunities at the conference, addressing such topics as infection, nuclear cardiology, PET, imaging and therapy techniques.

Christopher Palestro, MD, a professor of nuclear medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, N.Y., delivered a talk on how imaging with FDG or radiolabeled white cells can aid the diagnosis of infection. Data that Dr. Palestro said he would present at the SNM meeting in New Orleans later this month shows more false positives with FDG than with indium-labeled leukocytes in imaging a number of non-osseous infections. A larger study, however, might separate out subgroups such as fever of unknown origin in which FDG is proving useful, he said.

Ed Goldschmidt, MS, DABMP, a radiation physicist from Radiation Physics Associates of Camden, N.J., explained how changes in Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations are making it easier for technologists to work with diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals that don't require written directives. For instance, administered doses now need to be within only 20 percent, plus or minus, of their prescribed levels, rather than 10 percent.

Authorized users (the physicians specifically listed on the NRC license) are allowed to set dosages for procedures on the fly, making it easier for imaging facilities to increase doses for obese patients. Other changes in the NRC regulations eliminate the need for radiation safety committees but codify the definition of radiation safety officers.

Special track for PET

As a rapidly evolving technology, PET imaging was given a special track on Saturday. Topics included dual-modality and image fusion, quality control, reimbursement and the future of PET. SPECT quality control was also covered, and the session ended with a "Read with the Experts" session led by Abass Alavi, MD, director of nuclear cardiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Technologists may soon be seeing new imaging agents that have been developed in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies, predicted P. David Mozley, Jr., MD, senior medical advisor of imaging technologies for Eli Lilly and Co. in Indianapolis. Dr. Mozley discussed how the pharmaceutical industry is turning to PET imaging to evaluate new drug candidates and even designing new radiopharmaceuticals to use in this process, potentially providing the next generation of imaging agents.

A separate track for chief nuclear medicine technologists addressed issues such as marketing, budgeting, leadership skills and creative ways to boost job satisfaction.

National initiatives

Lynn Mehlberg, incoming president of the SNM/TS, gave an update on the society's leadership initiatives for 2003. Addressing the society's push for passage of the CARE (Consumer Assurance of Radiological Excellence) bill, she asked attendees at the awards luncheon to contact their congressional representatives to support the proposed legislation, which would set minimum education standards for those working in nuclear medicine, radiology and radiation therapy.

"There are 28 states that mandate licensure for nuclear medicine," said Mehlberg. "I know that New York State has strict rules about injections, but in my state [Wisconsin], there are no rules or regulations. A secretary could inject radiopharmaceuticals."

The SNM/TS has also been working with the ASRT and other societies on educational standards for technologists who operate combination PET/CT machines. In a move to create a co-joint exam with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, the Nuclear Medicine Technologist Certification Board is designing a PET exam similar to its cardiology exam.

Mehlberg said more information on the exam would be available later this month at the annual meeting of the SNM in New Orleans. She also said her administration would focus on initiatives to deal with the technologist shortage, to promote leadership mentoring and to increase communication between the local chapters and the national organization.

Chapter gains and goals

Addressing successes during his term, Zebrowski cited the chapter's increased membership, its greater student participation, its new Web site, its excellent financial position, and the almost unanimous decision by the GNYC section council to give the technologist section president one of two seats on the National Council of Delegates of the SNM.

"This is a tremendous distinction; now, physicians have one seat and we have the other, giving us equal representation," Zebrowski said.

Incoming president Ted Rubel, CNMT, RT(N), reiterated an invitation by his predecessor for students and new members to get involved in the chapter, which needs new technologist volunteers to serve on committees and to become involved in chapter business.

"I know that some people are hesitant to become active," said Rubel. "I can only tell you that we have a lot of fun. This is a great group of people, and we all work together to get stuff done. Having people volunteer helps a lot. We want to be inspired by you, not just [have] you inspired by us."

Joyce Ward is the technical editor at ADVANCE. She can be reached at jward@merion.com <% footer %>