Dear Colleagues,

Welcome! I am proud to serve as your new MVC Technologist Section President. I currently work as a Sales Consultant for Cardinal Health Nuclear Pharmacy Services in Kansas City, MO and Wichita, KS. In my professional career, I have been fortunate enough to spend time as an active member of three different subchapters within the MVC. The Subchapters take on the responsibility of bringing educational opportunities to technologists at the local level, and I know first-hand how difficult it can be to plan meetings and try to enlist help. To the current Subchapter leaders: thank you, and keep up the great work.

You will notice a few changes in the MVC this year - starting with this updated website! We will also roll out electronic voting for both bylaws changes and officer elections. In addition, the terms of both the President and President-Elect have been extended to two years each. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Tracy Brillos, President-Elect, for her commitment to both two-year terms.

Between the recurrent technetium shortages, reimbursement cuts in the physician office setting, and flooded job market, it seems like Nuclear Medicine is in the middle of a “perfect storm.” It has never been more important to make our voices heard to our legislative representatives. Advocacy is just one of many reasons to consider joining the SNM if you are not already a member. Check out the Legislative Action Center at www.snm.org for help in voicing your concerns to your Senators and Representatives.

Even though our current challenges frequently make the headlines, we do have positive news to focus on as well. The first master’s degree program has opened for technologists to earn the title of Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associate. New technology has emerged for gamma cameras to improve image quality and reduce patient radiation dose. The future is exciting for molecular imaging, with new PET tracers in development for oncology, cardiology, and neurology.

I offer many thanks to Nanci Burchell, Dave Perry, Meghan Torno and Crystal Botkin for their leadership and mentoring over the past several years. I am excited to work with Tracy, Mike Phelan, Dr. Osman, and Mark Wallenmeyer as we take on the challenge of leading the MVC through these tumultuous times and forward. If you have questions or would like to become more involved in this great organization, I encourage you to contact me at myarbrough3@juno.com.

Sincerely,

Melody Yarbrough CNMT, RT(N)