Ursula Mary Kocemba-Slosky, PhD Professional Relations Fellowship
Born in Poland, Ursula Marianna Kocemba received her PhD in medical microbiology from the Warsaw Medical Academy. She and her husband, Jack Slosky, PhD, emigrated from then-communist Poland in 1974 to conduct postdoctoral work at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Ursula passed away in 2012.
Ursula strongly believed that there are two keys to communication between people, especially in medical communications. First, when one translates words from one language to another, one should strive to include nuanced meanings and information to avoid serious medical errors and deep misunderstandings. Second, one should strive to interpret appropriately by including a context of differences of cultures, levels of education, life experiences, as well as differing needs and expectations. Together, such "cross-interpretation" is key when applied to professional relations.
Dr. Jack Slosky strongly believes that it is important that SNMMI develops new leaders with a comprehensive understanding of both professional and government relations in order to successfully navigate through the increasing complex U.S. and international healthcare environment. Patients will ultimately benefit from effective interpretation (and better understanding) between themselves and their medical providers as well as between medical societies, industry groups and government agencies. To this end, Dr. Slosky has established this professional relations fellowship in memory of his late wife.
The Ursula Kocemba-Slosky, Ph.D., Professional Relations Fellowship is made possible through a grant from the Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. The professional relations fellowship provides early-career professionals in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging direct, personal exposure to professional/public relations activities of the SNMMI as they relate to other medical societies and other professional organizations.
Year | Recipient |
2023 | Bhasker Radaram, PhD and Remo George, PhD |
2020 | Lucas Gross, CNMT |
2019 | Elizabeth Dibble, MD |
2018 | Nicole Nardecchia, CNMT, PET, RT(CT)(MR) |
2017 | Major David B. Douglas, MD |
2016 | Katherine Zukotynski, MD, PhD |
2015 | Phillip J. Koo, MD |