In This Section
SNMMI History
In March 1953, sharing an interest in forming a nuclear medicine organization, five radiologists, a cardiologist, two internists, a physicist, an engineer, and a nuclear medicine physician from the Pacific Northwest met in Spokane, Washington. They founded the Society of Nuclear Medicine; all interested in nuclear medicine would be eligible for membership.
Thomas Carlyle was chosen as the first president. The first meeting of the society was held in Seattle, Washington, in 1954. The society soon became a national organization, and the original organization became the society's Pacific Northwest Chapter.
In 2012, the society changed its name to the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging to embrace the growing field of developing probes (radioactive or otherwise) for imaging molecular processes both in the clinic and in basic research.
Over the years, the SNMMI has sponsored various continuing education sessions dedicated to the history of nuclear medicine/molecular imaging and the society itself. A compilation of those sessions is included below.
2014 Annual Meeting / History of Nuclear Medicine: Emphasis on SNMMI
- History of Nuclear Medicine During 60 Years of SNMMI (Leonard M. Freeman, MD)
- History of Radiochemistry/Radiopharmacy as Critical to the Development of Clinical Nuclear Medicine During 60 Years of SNMMI (William C. Eckelman, PhD)
- History of Physics/Instrumentation/Computerization in Nuclear Medicine (Frederic H. Fahey, DSc)
2013 Annual Meeting / History Tribute for Henry Wagner, MD
- Clinical Lessons from the "Father of Nuclear Medicine" in Building an Academic Career (H. William Strauss, MD, FACNM)
- Lessons from the "Father of Nuclear Medicine"—The Early Years (S. James Adelstein, MD, PhD)
- Impact on International Nuclear Medicine—Japan (Yasuhito Sasaki, MD, PhD)
- Basic Science Lessons from the "Father of Nuclear Medicine" in Building an Academic Career (Robert F. Dannals, PhD)
- The Legacy of Henry Wagner, MD, at Johns Hopkins University (Richard L. Wahl, MD)
2012 Annual Meeting / History of Nuclear Medicine
- History of the American Board of Nuclear Medicine (Henry D. Royal, MD)
- History of the International Atomic Energy Agency Focusing on Nuclear Medicine (Maurizio Dondi, MD)
- History of the Society of Nuclear Medicine (Leonard M. Freeman, MD)
2011 Annual Meeting / History of Nuclear Medicine
- The History of Endocrinologic Nuclear Medicine: The Thyroid (Edward B. Silberstein, MD)
- History of Oncologic Nuclear Medicine (R. Edward Coleman, MD)
- History of Cardiovascular Nuclear Medicine (H. William Strauss, MD, FACNM)
In addition, in 2013, through the leadership of the SNMMI History Committee, a "Wall of Remembrance" was created. The wall is on display during the Annual Meeting and features short obituaries of some of the most prominent leaders in the field. Each year, the list of individuals recognized on the wall changes.
- Video: History of SNMMI
- Video: SNMMI Celebrates 60 Years of Annual Meetings
- Video: History of RAI: Saul Hertz, MD
- 2014 Wall of Remembrance
- 2013 Wall of Remembrance
- 2016 Wall of Remembrance-Saul Hertz, MD