Reston, Va. -- An estimated 5,000 nuclear medicine and molecular imaging are expected to gather together in June for the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) to discuss the latest advances in radiotracers, imaging modalities, radionuclide therapies and quality. The meeting will be held June 8-12 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This year's meeting marks the 60th anniversary of the SNMMI Annual Meeting.

"Our first meeting was held in Seattle, Wash., in 1954, and was reported to have had 109 attendees who heard 13 scientific presentations and one panel discussion," said Peter Herscovitch, MD, chair of SNM's Scientific Program Committee (SPC). "Today, the SNMMI Annual Meeting is recognized by thousands of professional attendees as the premier educational and scientific event in molecular imaging and nuclear medicine. This year's education program will deliver timely information from world-renowned experts."

The SNMMI Annual Meeting offers education opportunities for physicians, technologists, pharmacists, physicists, scientists and laboratory professionals in the nuclear medicine and molecular imaging fields. More than 110 expert-led continuing education sessions will be held on topics including emerging PET radiotracers, dementia, neuroendocrine tumor imaging, novel targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies and hybrid imaging. Several other special courses will be held, including 11 categorical sessions, 22 self-assessment modules, a two-day CT case review workshop and a new Education Forum designed specifically for nuclear medicine program directors. The Annual Meeting will also feature a special session honoring Henry N. Wagner, Jr., MD, nuclear medicine pioneer and visionary, who passed away last year.

Speakers at our plenary sessions will address topics of interest for today's nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals. On Sunday, June 9, Val Lewington, MD, of Guy's & St. Thomas' National Health Service Foundation Trust in London, will present the Henry N. Wagner Jr. Lecture, "Moving Molecular Radiotherapy into the Mainstream: Have We Reached the Tipping Point?" at the opening plenary session. The SNMMI-Technologist Section plenary, also on Sunday, June 9, will feature Josh Mailman, a patient advocate, who will present "Many the Miles-A Patient's Journey for Better Outcomes." Monday, June 10, will feature the Hal Anger Lectureship & Award, titled "A Pivotal Time for Radiation Dosimetry and Radiobiology" which will be presented by Michael G. Stabin, PhD, CHP. Additionally, the Highlights Session, held on Wednesday, June 12, will review the latest advances in the areas of cardiology, general nuclear medicine, neuroscience and oncology based on the research presented at the meeting.

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