TO:
SNM House of Delegates
FROM:
Mathew Thakur, PhD, SNM President
DATE:
January 11, 2005
RE:
SNM President’s Report
APC Task Force
The members of the APC task force met by conference call in August to review a proposal from CORAR
asking for a more formal organizational structure for the Nuclear Medicine APC Task Force (TF). The
SNM Executive Committee met by conference call with Drs. Mckusick and Dillehay to discuss the
CORAR proposal and took a position that no change was needed beyond modifying administrative
procedures. Attached is a report from the APC Task Force conference call. The APC task force
members voted to accept SNM’s position.
Outreach
Outreach activities planned for 2005 include meetings with several major industry representatives,
oncology societies such as ASCO, RTOG and ASTRO and agencies such as FDA NCI, NIBIB, NIH and
ARR. Meetings are being scheduled around other meetings such as RSNA, and the Midwinter meeting
ACR Intersociety Meeting
The ACR held its Intersociety meeting July 31 – August 1, 2004 in Quebec, Canada. The topic for
discussion was self-referral and Imaging Utilization. Martin Sandler, MD and Virginia Pappas and I
attended the meeting. Program Objectives included: 1. Understanding the definition of “self referral”, 2.
The impact of self referral on patient care, 3. How self referral affects the costs of health care delivery
and 4. Potential methods to reduce the amount of self referral or minimize its impact. The meeting was
well attended. SNM is awaiting the final report. SNM presence was appreciated.
ACR Leadership Meeting
Martin Sandler, Virginia Pappas and I met with the leadership of the ACR during the Intersociety meeting
in late July. Discussion topics included the status of the joint PET/CT guideline, the ACR advocacy
activities and status of their PAC, Stark III and discussion of their Maintenance of Certification activities
with the ABR.
RSNA Leadership Meeting
Martin Sandler, MD, Virginia Pappas and I met with the leadership of RSNA during the ACR Intersociety
Meeting. Topics discussed included an update on the “Best of the SNM” session that was organized at
the RSNA meeting in November of 2004, US Radionuclide availability, Virtual Journal and the Summit on
Molecular Imaging. We agreed to follow up soon on specific arrangements for the Summit, since it will be
a jointly sponsored meeting between SNM and RSNA. The goals of the summit will be to:
 Increase awareness of the future of MI
 Develop ways to train young physicians and scientists for research and
innovation in MI

Develop a collaborative framework
Young Professionals Committee
The Young Professionals Committee (YPC) held a meeting on August 16 in Reston, VA and was
chaired by Mathew Thakur, Ph.D., President of SNM, and Richard Lucas, M.D., the chairman of
YPC. The meeting was attended by 16 members, including 4 mentors attending.
Representatives from the Academic Council also attended. During the meeting the group went
over the goals, structure and projects for the YPC. The structure of the committee was reviewed,
including the role of the YPC as a section of the Academic Council. Details of the meeting are
included in the attached minutes.
NMIA-NA
In communication from Henry Kramer, MD acting as the Past Executive Director of the NMIA-NA
it was noted that the NMIA had officially dissolved as a corporation on August 24, 2004. Dr.
Kramer summarized what the results of the dissolution will be in a message to Virginia Pappas on
August 30th and indicated the following:
- NMIA-NA was officially dissolved as a corporation on August 24, 2004.
- All NMIA-NA assets were transferred to CORAR.
- All active NMIA-NA contracts and financial obligations will be honored and all bills
generated by these contracts and obligations will be paid by CORAR from the NMIANA funds transferred to CORAR.
- Dr. Ian Trevena (MDS Nordion) was appointed by the members to liaison with both
Henry Kramer (past Executive director) and Elroy Wolff (Counsel to NMIA-NA) to
take necessary steps for the dissolution of NMIA-NA in accordance with the approved
dissolution resolution.
- Dr. Trevena will appoint a person to liaison with the SNM on the Molecular Imaging
Task and Radionuclide Therapy Trials Group contract.
- The draft “Career Day” presentation, developed by Jimmy Council for NMIA-NA is
offered to the SNM for SNM use and distribution with the condition that all references
to NMIA-NA are removed.
Committee on Chapters Retreat
At the Committee on Chapters meeting held during the Annual Meeting it was decided to hold a
retreat later this winter. The idea of the retreat will be to help the Chapters develop or consider
strategic initiatives and directions in working with the National Society. Possible dates and
location are currently being identified.
ACR Nominations
The American College of Radiology sent a letter to SNM requesting nominations for the ACR
Board of Chancellors. SNM supported the nomination of James Fletcher, M.D. Graham, M.D.,
Emmanuel Brown, M.D. and Mickey Guiberteau for President of the ACR. Copies of nomination
material are enclosed
International Meetings
Kyoto, Japan
A background report to the Kyoto, Japan meeting is attached. I attended the Japan Society of
Nuclear Medicine meeting representing the SNM. The meeting was well attended and I was able
to meet with several key members of the Japan society. Currently there are 3200 members in the
JSNM, 70 working PET machines in the country and this is expected to reach 100 within 12
months. Nihon Medi-Physics is installing 10 cyclotrons to regionally supply 18F-FDG and is
actively developing new positron emitting tracers. PET/CT is a growing market and there are
currently 7 PET/CTs installed in the country. Greater than 70% of NM physicians in Japan are
internists and there is a shortage of PET/CT physicians. Dr. Nishimura and I discussed the
possibility of working together on educational activities starting in 2006. The incoming President
of JSNM is Dr. Kiyoko Kusakabe.
Beijing, China
A background report for the Beijing meeting is attached. The meeting had 1000 attendees. PET
machines are getting more popular in this country and currently there are 13 machines. The idea
of a joint PET/CT training course was discussed and favorably received. Dr. Wang, a colleague
of Dr. Liu accepted the concept. He was going to explore industrial support and felt that by 2005
they would have the course. Asia Oceania meeting will be held in India in 2008. Australia was
another applicant.
WFNM&B
There was a WFNMB delegate meeting during the Beijing meeting. The WFNMB delegates voted
the location for the next meeting to be South Africa. Dr. Lee was able to get a tentative charter or
bylaws approved for the WFNMB up through the 2006, Seoul meeting. A task force will address
issues such as the development of a permanent charter, permanent office, and dues structure.
Dr. Abdel Dayam was appointed as the SNM representative to this task force. The World Journal
of Nuclear Medicine will be the official journal of WFNMB.
After discussion on a conference call, the Executive Committee agreed that SNM would submit a
proposal to the WFNMB to provide management services to support the meeting management,
journal services and host a permanent office. The SNM headquarters will draft a proposal.
Bangalore, Mysore, India
Dr. Thakur (along with Drs. Larson, Miller and Divgi, on behalf of IASNM) attended the SNM-India
Annual meeting in Mysore and a pre-congress in Bangalore. The SNM presence was greatly
appreciated by SNMI membership, which enjoyed the presentations by all guest faculty. India has
its 3 PET scanners and, one PET/CT and 3 PET/CT including one in a private hospital, and three
cyclotrons will be installed during the next 12 months. SNMI will be holding Asia Oceanic meeting
in 2008 and requested a booth space in Toronto.
AMI/SMI conference call
SNM leadership met by conference call with leaders from AMI and SMI to discuss areas of
collaboration. I discussed the Molecular Imaging Task Force and SNM’s plans to develop a twoday workshop during the SNM annual meeting. I also discussed the plans for the new SNM
Center of Molecular Imaging. All members shared goals of the three organizations during the call
and agreed it best to work together. A follow up conference call will occur in January 2005 where
each organization will suggest 2-3 areas of collaboration.
RDRC FDA meetings
SNM Leadership and staff attended a FDA meeting concerning RDRC recommendations. Drs.
Thakur, Royal, and Beven provided oral comments. Henry VanBrocklin, PhD will chair the group
that will develop the formal comments from the SNM. Members of the task force will include
Dennis Swanson, Mathew Thakur, Terence Beven, Peter Conti, and Henry Royal.
NRC
Dr. Henry Royal attended NRC public hearing meeting on Transportation of radioactive material.
These regulations should not impact the transportation of NM related radioactive material.
NRPE Draft Report
The National Radionuclide Production Enhancement (NRPE) Program has been addressing the
need for increased production of radionuclides. As a result, a background report has been
developed and the five recommendations of the TF have been approved by the SNM Board of
Directors. A visit of the MURR facility occurred on December 7 to determine their interest in
increasing the production of radioisotopes.
MURR officials agreed to work with SNM on this
initiative and support the recommendations. The final report has been signed by the SNM. SNM
is currently asking other organizations for letters of support. The final report will be presented to
the SNM BOD during their meeting in Florida.
Liaison Meetings
Several meetings with industry leaders took place during the RSNA meeting. Breakfast meetings
with Tyco Health Management, Siemens Medical Center, and GE Health Care were held.
Summaries of the discussions were attached. Meetings with the ERF/SNM, and the RSNA/SNM
leadership were also held. The RSNA/ SNM leadership meeting discussed plans for a molecular
imaging summit to be held later this spring.
Molecular Imaging Center – Annual Meeting Program
The Molecular Imaging Task Force is co-sponsoring a two-day workshop during the SNM Annual
Meeting in Toronto, on Friday and Saturday prior to the start of the annual meeting. Standard
operating procedures for the MI Center have also been developed, and are being presented to
the BOD for approval. A CME in Molecular Imaging 101 will also be presented at the annual
meeting.
International Task Force
The International Task Force held a conference call on October 28, 2004. The goals of the task
force are to seek ways to enhance SNM membership, to handle international requests for
educational assistance, funds programs and to build SNM international alliances. Three action
items were identified during the call: Survey other professional organizations with international
membership categories to determine what these members get vis-à-vis domestic members, to
determine what international members cost these organizations, and what benefits these
organizations have reaped from the international category. The next conference call will take
place mid January and the task force will try to meet during the mid winter meeting.
Adverse Reaction data
Joe Hung, Ph.D., Chair of the Committee on Pharmacopeia, Radiopharmaceutical Science
Council, is interested in collecting data on adverse events. Twenty or so SNM members from
different institutions have agreed to provide such data. The forms will be placed in the SNM
website and data will be collected on the website. The Executive Committee expressed concern
over privacy issues and use of institutional property from medical legal point of view. The
Executive Committee agreed that SNM not be involved with this. This type of activity needs to be
taken up with program directors and not through the Society. This message was communicated
to Dr. Hung.
Collaboration with ASTRO
In correspondence and communication with the president of ASTRO, Dr. McEwan and later Dr.
Thakur spoke with Dr. Prabhakr Tripuraneni to discuss the possibility of SNM and ASTRO
collaborating. A follow up meeting will be scheduled to explore this further, possibly during the
ACR Annual Meeting in Washington, DC in the spring.
Educational activities with EANM and RTOG
Following conversation with Dr. Thakur, the EANM President, Dr. Carrio and the EANM annual
congress President Dr. Durak has asked SNM to participate in the CME type of seminars on
PET/CT and thyroid treatment topics during the EANM annual meeting in Aug/Sept. 2005 in
Istanbul. Following the conversation with Dr. Thakur, the RTOG President, Dr. Curran is also
interested in yet to be specified educational activity with SNM in the RTOG annual meeting in
Philadelphia in late June 2005.
Medical Physics Summit
Dr. Zubal provided an informational report to the Executive Committee on the Third Annual
Medical Physics Summit held in Quebec City, Canada on August 1, 2004. Representatives from
the SNM were George Zubal and Gary Sayed. The meeting was held to discuss medical physics
certification and licensure and to report on any progress in these areas. Three observations
made at the meeting included: Everyone was supportive of the SNM presence at this meeting;
The ABMP is seen favorably by the ABR in that the ABR is issuing letters of equivalency to
diplomats an old ABMP certification in any subspecialty that ABMP no longer certifies; ABSNM is
considered to be a completely independent certification board and no outreach from the ABR is
expected a this time. A report is attached for your information.
Museum – Radiology Exhibit – Chicago
The International Museum of Surgical Sciences would like to sponsor an event/exhibit at the
museum entitled “Milestones in Medical Imaging: From X-ray to Nuclear Medicine”. The
organization has solicited the SNM for the chance to contribute to the exhibit in the amount of
$5,000 to $10,000. Contributions would allow the SNM to use the museum two times without
charge on available times for board meetings, receptions, open houses etc. Also offered are two
full-page black and white advertisements one in each of two issues in the Journal of International
Surgery. The Executive Committee agreed to support the exhibit and voted to contribute up to
$10,000 to the museum.
During the RSNA meeting Dr. Thakur and Virginia Pappas visited the museum, considered the
outreach advantages and decided that SNM contribute $5,000 and provide suitable Nuclear
Medicine material for exhibit in the museum.
I sincerely thank all those who actively participated and contributed to these important activities of
our organization.