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SNM's 54th Annual Meeting speakers address state of molecular imaging/nuclear medicine technologies

RESTON, Va. -- Internationally recognized experts in molecular imaging and nuclear medicine are on hand for SNM’s 54th Annual Meeting June 2–6 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. SNM, the world’s largest society for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine professionals, annually showcases research that promises to revolutionize health care to more than 4,000 doctors, technologists, scientists and pharmacists who come from around the world to this meeting.

Researchers—covering the most recent advances in understanding, diagnosing and treating heart and brain diseases and cancer—release their findings in nearly 1,800 scientific abstracts during SNM’s 54th Annual Meeting June 2–6 at the Washington Convention Center. More than 4,000 physicians, technologists, scientists and pharmacists will attend this meeting, the world’s largest event for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine professionals. The educational and scientific program at the 54th Annual Meeting is tailored to provide attendees with the most current and important information available in the field. SNM and SNMTS present about 100 continuing education courses focusing on PET/CT, cardiovascular nuclear medicine, brain imaging, pediatrics, oncology and therapy, thyroid cancer and radiation safety.

Annual Meeting speakers include the following.

• John C. Gore of Vanderbilt University, internationally recognized for his research program on the development and application of imaging—especially magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy techniques—in clinical and basic science, will present the annual Henry Wagner Lectureship from 8:30–10 a.m. on Sunday, June 3. He is expected to address new technologies such as the development of functional brain MRI (fMRI) and the study of brain neurochemistry by MR spectroscopy and PET imaging, recent advances that promise to have a major impact on understanding how the brain works. A major theme of Gore’s work is the development of methods for studying human brain structure and function using magnetic resonance and spectroscopy and for integrating fMRI data with other imaging methods. He is the Chancellor’s University Professor of radiology and radiological sciences and biomedical engineering and professor of physics, molecular physiology and biophysics at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. Gore is also the director of the Vanderbilt Institute of Imaging Science, which is focused on the development and application of advanced imaging methods for clinical and basic science applications.

• James H. Thrall, one of the nation’s foremost thought leaders in radiology, addresses “The Role of Nuclear Medicine in Shaping 21st Century Medical Imaging” during the annual Cassen Lectureship from 9:45–11:15 a.m. on Monday, June. 4. “Every important trend in 21st century medical imaging was portended by developments that took place first in nuclear medicine,” notes Thrall, who will share examples of nuclear medicine’s pivotal role in medical imaging. Thrall is the first and only physician to hold both the radiologist-in-chief position at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Juan M. Taveras Professorship of Radiology at Harvard Medical School, receiving both appointments in 1988. He continues these appointments today and serves on the Executive Committee of the Harvard Departments of Radiology. He has worked extensively on the development of telemedicine systems and chairs the International Medicine Committee of the Massachusetts General Hospital. He has co-founded two companies in partnership with MGH to provide teleradiology and telemedicine services.

• Charlie Farrell, one of the most sought-after professional development speakers in the country, presents an entertaining and inspiring program at the SNM Technologist Section’s plenary session from 12:45–2:15p.m. on June 3. Farrell, an adjunct faculty member of the Daniel Management Center of the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, has a diverse background in leadership, sales, customer service, teamwork, personal development and personal productivity. Farrell played basketball for the legendary Frank McGuire, the first coach in history to win 100 games at three different colleges. He has flown more than 3,000 hours in jet fighters while on active duty with the Marine Corps and as a reservist with the South Carolina Air National Guard. He has developed and conducted more than 2,500 programs to nearly 150,000 individuals from companies such as General Electric, 3M, Mayo Clinic, Federal Reserve Bank, Ocean Spray Cranberry and Michelin. A trained mediator, he has authored numerous articles and two books.

• Henry N. Wagner Jr., director of the division of radiation health sciences at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., will once again discuss what’s on the horizon for the molecular imaging/nuclear medicine profession during his annual Highlights Lecture from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6. In the Highlights Lecture, a 30-year tradition, Wagner summarizes current trends in molecular imaging and nuclear medicine and the meeting’s significant findings in a 90-minute presentation. At SNM’s June 4 press conference, Wagner will announce his pick for the annual Image of the Year, an image that illustrates a direction he sees nuclear medicine heading in a dynamic and ever-expanding field.

To register for the meeting, visit the SNM Web site at http://www.snm.org/am. Press registration is complimentary to credentialed media. For press registration only, contact Maryann Verrillo. Press representatives may also register online at www.snm.org/am. SNM will hold a press conference from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. on Monday, June 4, featuring an overview of the latest research and discoveries in the world of molecular imaging/nuclear medicine. New applications in oncology, neurology and cardiology will be discussed. Also at this press conference, Henry N. Wagner Jr. will announce the 2007 Image of the Year.

About SNM—Advancing Molecular Imaging and Therapy

SNM is holding its 54th Annual Meeting June 2–6 at the Washington, D.C., Convention Center. Session topics for the 2007 meeting include brain amyloid imaging, hybrid imaging, molecular imaging in clinical drug development and evaluation, functional brain imaging in epilepsy and dementia, imaging instrumentation, infection imaging, lymphoma and thyroid cancer, cardiac molecular imaging, general nuclear medicine, critical elements of care in radiopharmacy and more.

SNM is an international scientific and professional organization of more than 16,000 members dedicated to promoting the science, technology and practical applications of molecular and nuclear imaging to diagnose, manage and treat diseases in women, men and children. Founded more than 50 years ago, SNM continues to provide essential resources for health care practitioners and patients; publish the most prominent peer-reviewed journal in the field (the Journal of Nuclear Medicine); host the premier annual meeting for medical imaging; sponsor research grants, fellowships and awards; and train physicians, technologists, scientists, physicists, chemists and radiopharmacists in state-of-the-art imaging procedures and advances. SNM members have introduced—and continue to explore—biological and technological innovations in medicine that noninvasively investigate the molecular basis of diseases, benefiting countless generations of patients. SNM is based in Reston, Va.; additional information can be found online at http://www.snm.org.

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