SNM Enhances Education Program for 2011 Annual Meeting

March 28, 2011 – The Society of Nuclear Medicine’s (SNM) 2011 Annual Meeting, June 4-8 in San Antonio, offers a variety of new education options to nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals. With new topics, formats and technologies, the meeting provides a comprehensive review of the latest research and issues in the field.

"In planning the education offerings for the annual meeting, we look to provide attendees with programming that will increase their professional effectiveness, allowing them to examine and evaluate future directions in nuclear medicine, molecular imaging and therapy from both research and clinical perspectives,” said Peter Herscovitch, M.D., chair of SNM’s scientific program committee. “The program combines the latest advances in basic sciences with state of the art reviews of oncology, cardiology and neurology applications."

This year, new topics at SNM include healthcare reform, the future of nuclear medicine from the physicians’ perspective, an update on radioimmunotherapy and use of generator-produced Ga-68. Three hybrid sessions — featuring a mix of basic science, translational and clinical approaches — will be presented on breast cancer, neuroimaging and infection.

In addition, SNM will host several courses on dose reduction and radiation safety. Continuing education courses developed by SNM include those on pediatric dose reduction, reducing patient radiation exposure while improving diagnostic testing, standards of excellence and more.

For the first time, SNM will host a Nuclear Cardiology Technology workshop. There will also be six integrated scientific sessions — sessions that combine abstract presentations with a featured guest speaker. Self-assessment modules for the maintenance of certification program will be back as well.

During the plenary sessions, questions will be taken via text message and Twitter. Also new, SNM will capture 70 sessions and post them online as a virtual meeting available afterwards. The virtual meeting, with pre-meeting, on-site and post-meeting pricing, will include 35 continuing education sessions, 20 technologist sessions and 15 scientific sessions.

"SNM strives improve its content each year, adapting to the changing needs of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals," said Herscovitch. "We have a strong program this year and look forward to a successful meeting."

The SNM Annual Meeting is the foremost educational and networking event in molecular imaging and nuclear medicine. The meeting attracts more than 5,000 scientists, physicians, pharmacists and technologists in the molecular imaging and nuclear medicine fields.

Attendees can choose full meeting registration or a weekend-only registration. Registration is required to receive credit for attending the sessions.

For more information: www.snm.org/am2011