image: Helen Nadel, MD, FRCPC view more
Credit: Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Chicago, Illinois (Embargoed until 9:30 am CDT, June 26, 2023)—Helen Nadel, MD, FRCPC, director of pediatric nuclear medicine at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford and clinical professor of radiology at the Stanford School of Medicine, in Stanford, California, has been named president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2023 Annual Meeting, held June 24-27.
Nadel’s goals for her presidential year include raising awareness of and access to nuclear medicine, molecular imaging and theranostics to facilitate precision health for all patients.
“The potential impact of nuclear medicine in the care of patients dealing with cancer, heart disease, brain disease, and other challenges is enormous,” she said. “We need to focus on the future of our field and ask important questions, such as ‘What can we do to fast-track the development and approval of diagnostic and theranostic molecular imaging agents?’ and ‘How can we ensure diversity in all parts of the nuclear medicine family?’ to ensure that this impact is realized.”
Other areas of focus include standardization at the global level for the many cutting-edge areas within the field, supporting access with adequate reimbursement and increasing the number of qualified professionals entering the field.
Nadel earned her medical degree from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1977. She completed a diagnostic radiology residency in 1982 at the University of Toronto, followed by a fellowship in pediatric radiology at the Hospital for Sick Children at the University of Toronto, both in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She then completed a nuclear medicine residency in 1989 at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Nadel held multiple academic appointments at the University of British Columbia between 1983 and 2018 and was head of the division of nuclear medicine and department of radiology at British Columbia Children’s Hospital before taking on her current roles at Stanford.
Nadel has been an active SNMMI member for more than 30 years, serving as president-elect and in the House of Delegates. She also held positions as president of the Pediatric Imaging Council and member of its board of directors, and she has served on the PET Center of Excellence Board of Directors, Scientific Program Committee, Membership Committee and The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Editorial Board, among other posts. She was president of the SNMMI Pacific Northwest Chapter for many years and currently plays an active role in the Northern California chapter.
In the greater nuclear medicine community, Nadel has served in multiple positions for the American College of Nuclear Medicine, the American Board of Nuclear Medicine, the Radiological Society of North America, the Society for Pediatric Radiology and the Children’s Oncology Group. In 2019, Nadel received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the European Society of Pediatric Nuclear Medicine for ongoing contributions to pediatric nuclear medicine. She has published 76 peer-reviewed journal articles and 24 book chapters and has been an invited speaker for 180 presentations.
Other SNMMI officers elected for 2023-24 are Cathy Sue Cutler, PhD, FSNMMI, Upton, New York, as president-elect and Jean-Luc C. Urbain, MD, PhD, FASNC, Buffalo, New York, as vice president-elect. SNMMI Technologist Section officers for 2023-24 are Dmitry Beyder, CNMT, MPA, St. Louis, Missouri, as president and Julie Dawn Bolin, MS, CNMT, Phoenix, Arizona, as president-elect.
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About the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to advancing nuclear medicine and molecular imaging—vital elements of precision medicine that allow diagnosis and treatment to be tailored to individual patients in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.
SNMMI’s members set the standard for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine practice by creating guidelines, sharing information through journals and meetings and leading advocacy on key issues that affect molecular imaging and therapy research and practice. For more information, visit www.snmmi.org.