Nuclear medicine technologists are highly specialized health care professionals who perform an integral role on the nuclear medicine/molecular imaging team in diagnosing and treating disease, working with physicians, patients, physicists, nuclear pharmacists, computer specialists, nurses, secretaries and other health care professionals. They have direct patient contact; prepare, calibrate and administer radiopharmaceuticals; perform patient imaging procedures (including computer processing); operate imaging, lab and computer instrumentation; and ensure radiation safety.

The Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University of Albany conducted the survey and prepared the 158-page Nuclear Medicine Technologists in the United States: Findings From a 2005 Survey. Complete survey results are located on SNMs Web site at http://www.snm.org (click on the Research and Data link). The reports executive summary will be published in the December Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology.


About SNMAdvancing Molecular Imaging and Therapy
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 resource in the field; sponsor research grants, fellowships and awards; host the premier annual meeting for medical imaging; and train physicians, technologists, scientists, physicists, chemists and radiopharmacists in state-of-the-art imaging procedures and advances. SNM members have introducedand continue to explorebiological and technological innovations in medicine that noninvasively investigate the molecular basis of diseases, benefiting countless generations of patients.

SNMs Technologist Section is a scientific organization formed withbut operating autonomously fromSNM. SNMTS promotes the continued development and improvement of the art and science of nuclear medicine and technology. SNM is based in Reston, Va.; additional information can be found online at http://www.snm.org.

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