SNMMI Board of Directors
March 14, 2013 Conference Call
Minutes
Members in Attendance:
Carolyn Anderson, PhD; Peter Conti, MD, PhD; Gary Dillehay, MD, FACNM; Fred Fahey, DSc;
Munir Ghesani, MD, FACNM; Bennett Greenspan, MD; Peter Herscovitch, MD; Scott Holbrook,
BS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS; Hossein Jadvar, MD, PhD, MPH, MBA; Brenda King, CNMT, FSNMMITS; Anthony Knight, MBA, CNMT, RT(N), NCT; Cindi Luckett-Gilbert, MHA, PET, CNMT,
FSNMMI-TS; Jeffrey Norenberg, PharmD; Richard Noto, MD; George Segall, MD; Virginia
Pappas, CAE; Harvey Ziessman, MD
Members Not in Attendance:
Peter Herscovitch, MD
SNM Staff in Attendance:
Nikki Wenzel-Lamb, MBA
1. Welcome and Call to Order
Fred Fahey, DSc, SNMMI President, called the meeting to order at 12:03pm (ET). Richard
Noto, MD, SNMMI Secretary/Treasurer announced that a quorum was present.
2. Review of Past Meeting Minutes
Dr. Noto asked the Board to review the minutes from the January 10, 2013 Board of Directors
conference call.
A motion was made to approve the minutes from the January 10, 2013 Board of Directors
conference call.
It was moved, seconded and voted to approve the minutes from the January 10, 2013
Board of Directors conference call.
3. Beta Amyloid Imaging
Dr. Fahey provided an overview of progress with SNMMI’s involvement in Beta Amyloid
Imaging to-date. As noted during the Mid-Winter Meeting, the final SNMMI and Alzheimer's
Association Appropriate Use (AU) Criteria for Brain Amyloid Imaging in Alzheimer's was
approved. There was one question that arose specific to the definition of an “expert in
dementia.” The task force is re-convening to define what delineates an “expert in dementia” as
noted in the appropriate use guidelines.
It was also reported that shortly after the Mid-Winter Meeting concluded the Medicare
Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) meeting convened to
discuss Beta Amyloid Imaging specific possible coverage. From SNMMI’s perspective, and
others, the meeting was disappointing. In response, the SNMMI is working to schedule a
meeting with CMS to explain SNMMI’s recommendations regarding Beta Amyloid Imaging. If
SNMMI is unable to schedule a meeting with CMS in the next several weeks, a letter will be
sent instead with the following recommendation: coverage for Beta Amyloid Imaging for the
three indications outlined in the AUC, without the need for evidence development.
Dr. Fahey noted that there will be a stakeholder’s conference call next Friday with the
Alzheimer’s Association, SNMMI, representatives from the AA Research Roundtable, trade
groups and the MEDCAC speakers and the Appropriate Use task force.
In addition, the SNMMI and the World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS) will be developing a
workshop to look beyond the three recommended indications outlined in the AUC, and identify
what needs to be done to generate evidence specific to Beta Amyloid Imaging.
4. Molecular Imaging Industry Leaders Working Group (MIILWG)
Dr. Fahey reported that in the recent past, the MIILWG meeting has been more of a meet-andgreet with little output from the meeting. During the last meeting, in June 2012, the attendees
agreed to address an issue selecting Radiology Benefits Managers (RBM’s) as their first area
of focus. Late last week, a follow-up letter was sent to MIILWG attendees with an invitation for
volunteers to be part of the RBM Task Force.
5. PET/MR Credentialing Statement
Dr. Fahey informed the members of the board that in January, he reached out to the American
College of Radiology (ACR) to see if they would be interested in working with SNMMI on a
PET/MR Credentialing Statement. The initial response was positive and therefore the leaders
of the PET Center of Excellence created a plan for moving forward. Hossein Jadvar, MD, PhD,
MPH, MBA was asked to chair and will be working to select the remaining individuals from
SNMMI to serve on the task force. An initial call will be scheduled with representatives from
ACR and SNMMI Leadership the last week of March to begin working on this project.
6. SNMMI/AACR Workshop
Carolyn Anderson, PhD, SNMMI Board of Directors member and SNMMI/AACR Workshop
Co-Chair, reported that there were 194 paid registrants with 247 total attendees (includes
complimentary registrations for speakers). The workshop brought in over $56,800 in
sponsorship revenue compared to a budget of $50,000 in addition to six exhibitors. There
were over 90 abstracts accepted for the conference, which is more than double past Center
for Molecular Imaging Innovation and Translation (CMIIT) sponsored meetings.
In addition, Dr. Anderson commented that the workshop was very successful and that there
was positive feedback from all attendees. The topics and venue were exceptional.
It was recommended that the future dates of the meeting be reviewed in order to not overlap
with the High Country meeting or other SNMMI related meetings around the same time.
7. SNMMI/NCI Workshop
Dr. Fahey informed the board that last year SNMMI met with Jacek Capala, MD, from the
National Cancer Institute, where they requested SNMMI’s help in developing a mechanism in
which they could fund some research in the area of targeted radionuclide therapy. The
workshop is being held on March 18-19, 2013 in Bethesda, MD. The workshop will have
approximately 30-40 attendees by invitation only. There will be four breakout groups;
lymphoma, bone therapy, solid tumors and neuroendocrine. The goal of the meeting is to
understand the strengths and weaknesses perceived by the oncology, radiation therapy,
nuclear medicine/radiology and basic science communities. Through the discussion SNMMI
hopes to address any pressing issues, including adequate and effective funding for research
in this area.
8. Choosing Wisely
Gary Dillehay, MD, SNMMI President-Elect reminded the board members that last year, the
SNMMI was asked to participate in the Choosing Wisely Campaign. A small task force was
convened and several councils and centers provided examples of nuclear medicine
procedures that may not be used appropriately. On February 21, 2013, SNMMI released the
final list of “Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question” in nuclear medicine and
molecular imaging. The list identifies five targeted, evidence-based recommendations that can
support physicians and patients in making wise choices about their care. The complete listing
of the “five things” is on the SNMMI website.
9. 2013 Spring Board of Directors Meeting
Dr. Fahey provided a brief overview of the proposed process and timeline for the SNMMI
strategic planning process. SNMMI has contracted with a strategic planning facilitator, Paul
Meyer, who will be assisting SNMMI in the planning process. Mr. Meyer is developing two
surveys, one for stakeholders (committee chairs, etc.) and the other for the House of
Delegates (HOD). The stakeholder survey will be distributed next week with the HOD survey
being reviewed by the HOD Task Force the end of next week and will then be distributed to all
members of the HOD.
10. New Business
Dr. Fahey reported that LymphoSeek (Technetium Tc99m Tilmanocept), used in sentinel
lymph node imaging (lymphoscintigraphy) was approved by the FDA yesterday.
11. Adjournment
A motion was made to adjourn the SNMMI Board of Directors conference call at 12:57pm
(ET).
It was moved, seconded and voted to adjourn the SNMMI Board of Directors conference
call at 12:57pm (ET).