image: Daniel T. Guarasci view more
Credit: SNM
"Daniel Guarasci has a special talent that sets him apart from other educators," said SNM Technologist President Valerie R. Cronin. "He translates complex information into the understandable, whether he's teaching nuclear medicine technology students or residents or pharmacy students," she added. "An excellent communicator, he positively influences nuclear medicine technology students, as evidenced by the large number of candidates who seek work experience under his supervision," said Cronin, the vice president of imaging services for the Catholic Health System of Western New York in Buffalo.
"I am very happy to receive the SNMTS Outstanding Educator Award," said Guarasci, who also serves as a clinical instructor for the Department of Medical Technology with the School of Health Related Professions at SUNY at Buffalo. "I have been involved in academia for 18 years in the nuclear medicine department at University at Buffalo, and I have enjoyed the journey since day one," he added. "It is quite gratifying to be recognized by the SNM Technologist Section, and I appreciate the support and acknowledgement," said Guarasci, a certified nuclear medicine technologist and a licensed pharmacist.
Guarasci teaches courses such as "Radiopharmacy," "Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation Laboratory," "Radiation Safety and Biology" and "Introduction to Clinical Nuclear Medicine." He participates in the continuing education preceptorship training course for nuclear medicine technologists in positron emission tomography and in the basic science courses and didactic lectures for nuclear medicine residents.
Previously, he served as assistant and junior medical physicist/health physicist with the nuclear medicine department at SUNY, as a certified nuclear medicine technologist at Millard Fillmore Hospital and as a senior radiopharmaceutical technologist with Central Radiopharmaceutical Services at SUNY, all in Buffalo.
A licensed medical/health physicist, Guarasci earned a doctorate of pharmacy, a master of science degree in radiation biology and bachelor of science degrees in pharmacy and in nuclear medicine, all from SUNY at Buffalo. He is certified by the American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine, the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board. An SNM Technologist Section member since 1987, he is vice president of the American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine.
Guarasci noted, "I want to thank several individuals for their support during my career, including Hani Nabi, chair of the nuclear medicine department at the University at Buffalo; Robert Ackerhalt, vice chair of nuclear medicine department at the University of Buffalo; and the numerous students who have come through our department at University at Buffalo--without you this award would not be possible." Guarasci, who has co-authored several articles and numerous presentations, received $750 and a plaque as SNMTS Outstanding Educator. The Education and Research Foundation for SNM provided funding for this award.
About SNM SNM is holding its 53rd Annual Meeting June 3–7 at the San Diego Convention Center. Research topics for the 2006 meeting include molecular imaging in clinical practice in the fight against cancer; the role of diagnostic imaging in the management of metastatic bone disease; metabolic imaging for heart disease; neuroendocrine and brain imaging; new agents for imaging infection and inflammation; and an examination of dementia, neurodegeneration, movement disorders and thyroid cancer.
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; 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.