March 31, 2020 — In a letter to its members, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) President Vasken Dilsizian, M.D., announced the development of a COVID-19 Resource Center to consolidate information and resources to help members navigate through these difficult times.
In the letter, Dilsizian outlines some of the current challenges, which include:
- Nuclear medicine physicians and technologists are being called upon to step outside of nuclear medicine to help with work related to COVID, sometimes with inadequate protection. They are being challenged to conduct essential studies while minimizing COVID exposure to themselves, patients and other personnel.
- Nuclear medicine researchers are facing mandatory closure of labs, forcing discontinuation of research.
- Nuclear medicine pharmacists are challenged to ensure that all needed clinical drugs are produced, with concern about the isotope pipeline.
- Educators are being forced to transition, quickly, to virtual learning with no preparation and limited resources.
- Residents and students are trying to understand how to continue their path forward and how they can continue their education with such uncertainty.
- Nuclear medicine professionals are in some cases facing furloughs or layoffs.
The new a COVID-19 Resource Center will include the following, and will be updated regularly and expanded with new information and resources:
- Information specific to nuclear medicine, including advice on ventilation/perfusion studies and updates on radioisotope supply, as well as useful articles from The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
- Government resources on COVID from nine different agencies
- Other resources, such as the American Medical Association and COVID data websites
- Training and certification resources, with advice from nuclear medicine–related boards and associations
- Current status of SNMMI’s Annual Meeting in June.
"We are here to help. We are regularly polling members to find out what challenges you are facing and how SNMMI can support you. Please contact us with any issues or questions at [email protected], and we will do everything within our power to assist," stressed Dilsizian in his written statement. "We remain deeply grateful for your support. I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. This is a challenging time, but nuclear medicine professionals are strong and resilient, and I know that we will get through this together — united — as THE nuclear medicine community."
For more information: www.snmmi.org
