The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), formerly the Society of Nuclear Medicine, is a
nonprofit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
scientific and
professional organization
A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) usually seeks to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that profession, and the ...
that promotes the science, technology and practical application of
nuclear medicine
Nuclear medicine or nucleology is a medical specialty involving the application of radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Nuclear imaging, in a sense, is "radiology done inside out" because it records radiation emitting ...
and
molecular imaging
Molecular imaging is a field of medical imaging that focuses on imaging molecules of medical interest within living patients. This is in contrast to conventional methods for obtaining molecular information from preserved tissue samples, such as h ...
. SNMMI's mission is to improve human health by advancing molecular imaging and therapy.
The SNMMI was founded in 1954 as the Society of Nuclear Medicine, under the sponsorship of the Pacific Northwest Society of Nuclear Medicine. The name was changed to include molecular imaging in 2012. SNMMI has 15,000 members, consisting of nuclear and molecular imaging professionals worldwide. Members include
physician
A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...
s, technologists,
physicists
A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe.
Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate caus ...
,
pharmacist
A pharmacist, also known as a chemist (Commonwealth English) or a druggist (North American and, archaically, Commonwealth English), is a healthcare professional who prepares, controls and distributes medicines and provides advice and instructi ...
s, scientists, laboratory professionals and more.
The SNMMI national headquarters is located in
Reston, Virginia
Reston is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia and a principal city of the Washington metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Reston's population was 63,226.
Founded in 1964, Reston was influenced by the Garden City movem ...
, and 12 state/regional chapters are located throughout the United States and Canada. As a volunteer organization, SNMMI is governed by a policy-making board of directors, a house of delegates, committees and councils.
Publications
SNMMI's flagship journal, ''
The Journal of Nuclear Medicine
''The Journal of Nuclear Medicine'' is a monthly Peer review, peer-reviewed medical journal published by Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging that covers research on all aspects of nuclear medicine, including molecular imaging.
Abstr ...
'', ranked seventh in its category in 2020 according to its
CiteScore. ''The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology'' focuses specifically on issues of interest to technologists. In addition, SNMMI publishes a number of books, newsletters and other products of interest to its members.
Education and research
SNMMI's Annual Meeting and Mid-Winter Meeting provide the nuclear and molecular imaging community with education programs on the latest advances in the field. SNMMI also offers
Maintenance of Certification
Maintenance of Certification (MOC) is a recently implemented and controversial process of physician certification maintenance through one of the 24 approved medical specialty boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and the 18 ap ...
courses as well as live and online learning opportunities through its Learning Center.
SNMMI provides a forum in which researchers and physicians can communicate and collaborate to speed the process of evaluating scientific and clinical research and integrating it into clinical practice.
Advocacy
On behalf of its members, SNMMI advocates for improved policies and legislation for research, funding and reimbursement for molecular imaging. SNMMI also works with its members to develop practice guidelines and accreditation standards.
Outreach
SNMMI is involved in educating patients and referring physicians about nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. A Patient Advocacy Advisory Board was created to guide the society's outreach efforts. The board includes the
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association was founded by Jerome H. Stone with the help of several family members in Chicago, Illinois, and incorporated on April 10, 1980, as the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc. It is a non-profit Ame ...
, the
American Thyroid Association
The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is a professional organization of over 1700 medical specialists devoted to thyroid biology and to the prevention and treatment of thyroid disease through excellence in research, clinical care, education, and ...
, the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1949, is the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer in the world. The LLS's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's l ...
, the
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) is a not-for-profit organization focused on ovarian cancer research, advocacy and patient support. The organization was formed in January 2016 when the former not-for-profit organization Ovarian Cancer Res ...
, the
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and death ...
, the
Men's Health Network
Men's Health Network (MHN) is a non-profit international educational organization of health care professionals and interested individuals that focuses on improving male health and wellness. MHN has since been classified as a tax-exempt entity unde ...
, NorCal CarciNET Community and the Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association. One of the main projects of the board was the development of a patient-oriented website, DiscoverMI.org.
See also
*
American Board of Nuclear Medicine
The American Board of Nuclear Medicine (ABNM) certifies physicians as specialists in the practice of nuclear medicine. Diplomates of the ABNM are called nuclear medicine physicians. The ABNM is one of the 24 member boards of the American Board ...
*
American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine The American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine, founded in 1976, also known as the ABSNM is an organization in North America that offers certification to specialty areas of advanced nuclear medicine.
The board offers certification in the followi ...
*
Nuclear medicine physician
Nuclear medicine physicians, also called nuclear radiologists or simply nucleologists, are medical specialists that use tracers, usually radiopharmaceuticals, for diagnosis and therapy. Nuclear medicine procedures are the major clinical applicati ...
References
External links
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular ImagingDiscoverMI.org
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Nuclear medicine organizations
Medical associations based in the United States
Medical and health organizations based in Virginia