As nuclear medicine enters a transformative era defined by rapid innovation, expanding clinical impact, and unprecedented growth, few are better positioned to guide the field than SNMMI's president-elect, Dr. Jean-Luc Urbain.

In this exclusive Q&A with HCB News, Urbain reflects on the moment that ignited his interest in nuclear medicine, and why this specialty is currently experiencing a “banner year.” He also outlines the key challenges facing the field—from workforce shortages to fragile isotope supply chains—and the Society’s bold initiatives to expand access, integrate AI, and ensure nuclear medicine continues to evolve as a cornerstone of precision healthcare.

With the SNMMI Annual Meeting just around the corner, he also offers tips for making the most of this global gathering of nuclear medicine leaders, innovators, and advocates.


HCB News: Who or what inspired you to follow a career in healthcare?
Dr. Jean-Luc Urbain: I was born in Europe about ten years after WWII ended. My mother had two brothers, and one of them—my godfather—caught polio when he was just a teenager. At that time, in the 1950s, the Sabin and Salk vaccines weren’t available yet, and there was no real treatment other than supportive care. He spent a year or two in an iron lung just to survive.

He made it through, but the illness left him with major deformities in his chest and spine.

It’s something that has always stayed with me.

My godfather had dreamed of becoming a doctor, but because of his significant disability and limited financial resources, he wasn’t able to pursue that path. His dreams and aspirations were passed down to me from a very young age.

Becoming a doctor and caring for patients became my dream too—and a major driving force during my teenage years.

HCB News: What drew you to nuclear medicine?
JLU: Back in medical school, my favorite subjects were physiology, histology, pathophysiology, and histopathology. I was fascinated by how the human body works, what causes diseases, and how we could help people who are suffering. That passion is what led me to choose a residency in internal medicine.

During my internship year, something very personal happened—my wife was diagnosed with a thyroid nodule. She was seen by an endocrinologist who also chaired the nuclear medicine department at our university hospital. That experience made a real impression on me and inspired me to start a research project studying the frequency of thyroid cancer in cold nodules.

During my internal medicine residency at the Academic Hospital of the Catholic University of Louvain, I found myself increasingly drawn to the world of medical imaging. Nuclear medicine, in particular, caught my attention. I was fascinated by how we could use molecules that are part of the body’s natural processes to diagnose disease. At that time, nuclear medicine played a central role in diagnosing thyroid disorders, bone diseases, pulmonary embolisms, and coronary artery disease, to name just a few.

At my alma mater, nuclear medicine was part of the internal medicine department, and my mentors encouraged me to pursue a second residency in nuclear medicine. I decided to go for it and became dual certified in internal medicine and nuclear medicine. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made—and I’ve never regretted it for a moment.

HCB News: Is it fair to say nuclear medicine is having a banner year? If so, what accounts for the heightened excitement about the industry?
JLU: Yes, it's fair to say that nuclear medicine is experiencing a banner year. Over the past ten years we have witnessed rapid growth and innovation in the field.

The explosive market growth is illustrated by a growth projection from approximately $10.2 billion in 2023 to more than $22 billion by 2031, reflecting a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13%. This surge is fueled by:

• The rising prevalence worldwide of chronic conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, necessitating advanced diagnostic and therapeutic solutions.
• Advancements in hybrid imaging technologies: The development and adoption of digital PET/CT, PET/MR and SPECT/CT systems has enhanced the diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of medical imaging.
• Expansion of radiopharmaceutical applications in various medical fields, including oncology, cardiology, and neurology.

Theranostics, which combines diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy, is now at the forefront of nuclear medicine. Theranostic radiopharmaceuticals, which combine radioactive isotopes with targeting molecules, are revolutionizing cancer treatment by delivering radiation directly to tumor cells. Major pharmaceutical companies are investing heavily in this area. In addition to the success stories of Lutathera and Pluvicto for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and metastatic prostate cancers, there are about 250 new diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals in development and/or clinical trials to diagnose cancers, neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, and cardiac conditions.

AI is another factor. It’s increasingly being integrated into all aspects of nuclear medicine, enhancing target and ligand molecule discovery and synthesis, radiopharmaceutical production, and diagnostic accuracy and operational efficiency. AI algorithms can now assist in processing complex imaging data, leading to more accurate diagnoses and supporting the tailoring of radiopharmaceutical therapies to individual patient profiles, optimizing treatment outcomes.

Despite the advancements, the field faces challenges, notably in the supply of medical isotopes to answer the explosive demand, the shortage of qualified nuclear medicine professionals, and the need for substantial investment in infrastructure to develop domestic production capabilities to mitigate reliance on foreign sources and ensure a stable isotope supply.

Still, the excitement is well justified. Nuclear medicine is experiencing significant growth and innovation, positioning it as a transformative force in modern healthcare. The convergence of advanced imaging technologies, targeted therapies, and AI integration is not only enhancing diagnostic precision and treatment efficacy—it’s ushering in a true new era of personalized and precision medicine.

HCB News: Are there any key initiatives you will be spearheading as president?
JLU: During my term as President of the SNMMI, I would like to focus on three major areas.

First, the emergence of new nuclear-targeted theranostics agents, combined with advancements in mobile and virtual technologies, represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver cost-effective, life-saving nuclear medicine diagnostic and therapeutic services to more than 100 million people living in underserved rural and remote communities across the United States. In collaboration with other specialties, industry partners, and key stakeholders, we have already initiated several efforts to achieve the ultimate goal of ensuring access to nuclear medicine services for the entire U.S. population.

My second priority will be to address the challenges arising from the explosive growth of the nuclear theranostics field, particularly the critical shortage of nuclear medicine professionals. I also intend to focus on the development of both mobile and fixed infrastructure to expand patient access to diagnostic and therapeutic services, as well as the integration of artificial intelligence into nuclear medicine to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the workforce.

Finally, I aim to concentrate on assessing and responding to the internal challenges facing SNMMI as we adapt to the seismic increase in demand for diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine services. This will include efforts to optimize the Society’s services to its members, ultimately benefiting the patients we serve.

HCB News: What are some of the challenges facing nuclear medicine and molecular imaging?
JLU: 1. Workforce Shortages
As demand for services explodes, there is a growing shortage of nuclear medicine physicians, technologists, radiopharmacists, medical physicists, and radiochemists. Training new specialists takes time, and there is a lag between the rapid expansion of the field and the capacity of the educational pipeline. New models such as fast-track fellowships, theranostics certification programs, and cross-specialty training (bridging radiology, oncology, and nuclear medicine) are being actively considered and created to address this gap.

2. Supply Chain Fragility
Isotope production and supply chains—for critical isotopes like Tc-99m, Lu-177, and Ac-225—are fragile, aging, and vulnerable to geopolitical risks. Manufacturing capacity for radiopharmaceuticals, particularly therapeutic agents, remains limited. Fortunately, substantial public and private investments are now underway to build new cyclotrons, enable accelerator-based production, and expand U.S. isotope capacity, reducing reliance on imports.

3. Infrastructure Limitations
Many hospitals and clinics still lack essential facilities such as hot labs, shielded infusion rooms, and storage for radiotherapeutics needed to offer full theranostics services. Expanding access, especially to rural and underserved areas, remains challenging without major investment. However, innovations in mobile imaging/therapy units and the development of regional radiopharmacy hubs are beginning to make broader access feasible.

4. Regulatory and Reimbursement Hurdles
FDA approval processes and CMS reimbursement policies often cannot realistically keep pace with the exponential scientific advancements occurring annually. Uncertainty around reimbursement for newer diagnostics and therapies is a known deterrent for investment. Strong advocacy efforts are helping to drive consideration for new reimbursement pathways and more streamlined regulatory mechanisms for theranostics radiopharmaceuticals.

5. Integration of Artificial Intelligence
AI holds great promise for nuclear medicine, but challenges remain around validation, regulation, and education. There is still hesitation and a lack of clarity about integrating AI safely into clinical workflows. With appropriate implementation, AI can significantly assist in image interpretation, patient selection, dosimetry calculations, and therapy response prediction, ultimately boosting efficiency and patient outcomes.

6. Public and Professional Awareness
Despite its impact, nuclear medicine remains under-recognized compared to specialties like cardiology or oncology. Limited public, referrer, and policymaker awareness hinders referrals and funding opportunities. There is a major opportunity to invest in public outreach campaigns, referring physician education programs, and patient advocacy partnerships to highlight the life-saving potential of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.

7. Education and Training Gaps
Medical school curricula and residency programs often do not adequately cover modern nuclear medicine, especially theranostics. There is also a pressing need for updated continuing education models to help existing practitioners keep pace with rapid advances. Encouragingly, the field is refreshing itself with new theranostics-focused residency pathways, interdisciplinary programs, and virtual learning platforms to expand global reach.

Each of these challenges presents real hurdles—but also exciting opportunities to ensure that nuclear medicine and molecular imaging continue to grow, evolve, and deliver transformative impact for patients worldwide.

HCB News: Are there any sessions or presentations at this year's meeting that you're particularly excited about?
JLU: The SNMMI Annual Meeting is one of the premier—if not the premier—worldwide events for nuclear medicine, gathering thousands of professionals from across the globe dedicated to presenting, educating on, and advancing the science and practice of nuclear medicine, molecular imaging, and theranostics.

While the full agenda has not yet been finalized, based on the enormous success of past meetings and preliminary information, I'm excited about several sessions and presentations at this year's SNMMI 2025 Annual Meeting, scheduled for June 21–24 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Theranostics will continue to be a major focus, with sessions covering the latest advancements in targeted radionuclide therapies, clinical protocols and trials, and patient outcomes. These sessions will include discussions on new radiopharmaceuticals, combination therapies, and the most recent clinical applications of these novel agents in oncology, as well as emerging applications in neurology and cardiology.

Attendees should also expect presentations on medical isotope production and cutting-edge radiopharmaceutical developments, including novel tracers for oncology, cardiology, and neurology. These sessions will provide insights into how new compounds enhance diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy.

I also anticipate sessions highlighting the latest technological advancements in PET and SPECT imaging, including improvements in image quality, quantification, and hybrid imaging techniques—critical for early disease detection and monitoring treatment response.

The meeting will further feature sessions showcasing the work and outreach efforts of the Society.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the meeting as we celebrate the dramatic expansion of our field.

HCB News: What can attendees do to make the most of their time at SNMMI 2025?
JLU: To make the most of their time at SNMMI 2025, attendees should consider a few key strategies:

SNMMI often has overlapping sessions, so attendees should prioritize based on their goals—whether they are new science, clinical practice, or technology updates. Review the meeting agenda before arrival. Identify key sessions, symposia, poster presentations, and networking events you don’t want to miss to maximize your experience and the benefits of participating.

The exhibit hall, which has steadily increased in size, is sold out this year. Attendees will see the latest innovations in equipment, such as PET/CT and SPECT/CT scanners, as well as radiopharmaceutical production systems and AI-driven imaging software. Spending real and interactive time there will be extremely beneficial.

Networking is a key feature of the meeting. SNMMI is one of the few places where attendees can meet peers, mentors, industry leaders, and researchers from around the world all in one place. Attending social events, joining interest group meetings, and introducing yourself can go a long way for a successful career in the field.

Attending the educational sessions—covering clinical updates, basic science, regulatory changes, and future trends—will give attendees the continuing educational credits that they need.

The poster sessions are where attendees can find some of the latest and freshest research. Talking directly with the authors during the poster viewing times can spark great conversations and even future collaborations.

There are open meetings for committees, councils, and centers of excellence that welcome new participants and give attendees the opportunity to appreciate the work of the Society and eventually participate in Society and committee events.

Attendees can personalize their schedule through the SNMMI Annual Meeting app and online planner, get maps of the convention center, and receive last-minute session updates.

That being said, the SNMMI annual meeting can be overwhelming! Attendees should make time for short breaks, hydrate, and schedule downtime to reflect and plan their next moves each day.