Reston, VA - Valerie R. Cronin, CNMT, FSNMTS, of Buffalo, N.Y., was named vice president of SNM's Education and Research Foundation (ERF). Cronin, who will assume the role of ERF President in June 2009 at SNM's 56th Annual Meeting, joins the society's foundation leadership after many years of service to the society and widespread recognition for her distinguished career as a nuclear medicine technologist.

"As a technologist, one of the highlights of my career has been mentoring aspiring nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals," said Cronin. "Continued education and support are critical to fostering the next generations of leaders, who will further contribute to patient care and personalized medicine through advances in our understanding of the fundamental causes of disease."

Certified by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board, she holds academic appointments as a clinical instructor for the nuclear medicine technology program and in the department of nuclear medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY). Throughout her more than 20-year career, she has served in numerous positions as a nuclear medicine technologist with the Catholic Health System, SUNY, Mercy Hospital and the U.S. Veterans Medical Center, all in Buffalo, N.Y.
In her position as ERF vice president, Cronin will oversee a tradition of awarding more than $350,000 annually in grants. "Investing in young researchers is an important investment for the fields of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging and for patient health care," said Cronin. The ERF gives research grants for junior medical faculty, provides support for postdoctoral molecular imaging research and subsidizes travel to facilitate global learning among nuclear medicine professionals.

Cronin has held a variety of leadership positions within SNM at the regional and national levels. In addition to her position as vice president of ERF, Cronin is currently the chair of SNM's Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence (MICoE) Patient Advocacy Task Force. Cronin served as president of SNM's Technologist Section (SNMTS) from 2004 to 2005 and was elected a fellow of SNMTS in June 2002. Cronin, who is a member of SNM's Eastern Great Lakes Chapter, holds a bachelor's degree in biology and is pursuing a master's degree in health services administration. She has authored or co-authored more than 30 research abstracts and presented research in the United States and internationally.

For more information about SNM's awards and educational support, including deadlines and application materials, visit www.snm.org/grants.

About SNM-Advancing Molecular Imaging and Therapy
SNM is an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to raising public awareness about what molecular imaging is and how it can help provide patients with the best health care possible. SNM members specialize in molecular imaging, a vital element of today's medical practice that adds an additional dimension to diagnosis, changing the way common and devastating diseases are understood and treated.

SNM's more than 17,000 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.snm.org.

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