SLU NMT Students and Faculty Earn Recognition at SNMMI Annual Meeting

Saint Louis University (SLU) Nuclear Medicine Technology (NMT) students and faculty recently presented their research at the 2021 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting – held this year in a virtual format. NMT students Antonio Brnjic and Jacob Whipple each earned $750 professional development grants as recognition of accepted abstracts that were presented at the meeting.

Associate Professor Sarah Frye, MBA, CCRP, CNMT, PET, NCT, earned second place for Best Technologist Cardiovascular Poster for her abstract titled Seeing the big picture: The importance of reviewing the entire field of view in Myocardial Perfusion Imaging and the role of the Nuclear Medicine Technologist. Frye also earned a $750 professional development grant, received the 2021 Susan C. Weiss Clinical Advancement Scholarship grant, received the 2021 SNMMI-TS Career Advancement Grant and moderated a session at the meeting.

In addition, Program Director Crystal Botkin, Ph.D., MPH, CNMT, PET, FSNMMI-TS, was awarded the 2021 SNMMIT-TS Distinguished Service Award and spoke as a member of a panel discussion during the meeting.

Whipple was very excited to learn that he would be able to present his abstract SPECT/CT Pulmonary Perfusion Studies: Searching for a Solution during a Pandemic as part of the annual meeting.

“It was a great experience having my work on display; I found it to be a great professional growth opportunity,” Whipple said. “After presenting in front of hundreds of people, even in a virtual setting, made me feel like I had completed a personal stepping-stone.”

Brnjic explained how his research project, Promising 177Lu-PSMA-617 Therapy Results in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer, was inspired by the work he had done in class.

“Therapeutical nuclear medicine that my professors taught us in the fall ultimately influenced my project,” Brnjic said. “It just amazed me how there is a way to destroy cancer cells with radioactive isotopes while minimizing damage to normal cells.”

Dr. Botkin was honored and humbled to receive the Distinguished Service Award, but she was even more proud of the students and other NMT faculty who earned numerous honors and represented SLU’s program so well at the conference.

“The NMT faculty, students and alumni participate in the SNMMI meeting every year, and these last two years have been challenging with having to meet and present virtually,” Dr. Botkin said. “This group never ceases to amaze me with their hard work and dedication. I am proud to be a part of this team and look forward to many more opportunities to work with them.”

The remaining research presentation involving SLU students and/or faculty members at the 2021 SNMMI National Conference include:

·         MIT Graduate Student Mohammad Alshahrani Oral Presentation: M. Alshahrani, S. Frye, C. Botkin, M.M. Osman. “Prevalence of Receiving COVID-19 Vaccination among Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia."

·         Faculty Oral Presentation given by Sarah Frye: H. Broska, S. Frye, R. Muzaffar, M. M. Osman, “Occupational Worker Exposure of Radiation and COVID-19.”

·         Faculty ePoster Presentation: S. Frye, H. Matsuo, M. M. Osman, “Interview Study with the Medical Providers involved in Music Therapy in Imaging.”

·         Faculty ePoster Presentation: Andrew Bulla, MS, RT(MR), MRSO(MRSC)1, Sarah A. Frye, MBA,CNMT,PET,NCT,CCRP2, Ross J. Frye, MBA, CNMT, CT, PET, "The Effects of MRI on RF-Based Contactless Smart Cards."

The SNMMI Annual Meeting is the premier educational, scientific, research and networking event in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. The event provides physicians, technologists, pharmacists, laboratory professionals and scientists with an in-depth view of the latest research and development in the field as well as providing insights into practical applications for the clinic. The annual meeting is sponsored by the SNMMI, headquartered in Reston, VA, a nonprofit scientific and professional organization that promotes the science, technology and practical application of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.

Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that values academic excellence, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Founded in 1818, the University fosters the intellectual and character development of nearly 13,000 students on two campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Building on a legacy of more than 200 years, Saint Louis University continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to a higher purpose, a greater good.