Executive Director: Thomas Johnson, Jr. P.O. Box 175 Landisville, PA 17538-0175 TEL: (717) 898-5008 FAX: (717) 898-0713 E-Mail: tjj676@aol.com

Editor: Richard D. Lindgren, M.D., FACNM 6006 Green Tree Road Madison, WI 53711 TEL: (608) 271-4494 FAX: (608) 276-7939 E-Mail: rdlind@chorus.net

Assistant Editor: Eduard V. Kotlyarov, M.D., Ph.D.,FACNM POH Medical Center/Lapeer Regional Hospital 50 N. Perry Street Pontiac, MI 48342 TEL: (248) 338-5608 FAX: (248) 338-5605

Rembember, the ACNM Report is available on the Internet at the following home page: http://www.acnucmed.org

COMMENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK
Michael E. Siegel, M.D., FACNM
President

It has been a busy time since I have had the opportunity to communicate with the readers of our Newsletter. As noted in my announcement (see related article VI) with the enormous effort of Dr. Kotlyarov, the College has been selected to provide academic and educational advice and direct input to an International Nuclear Medicine meeting in Russia in October 2000.

We have been busily preparing the program for our "new millennium" meeting in New Orleans. In addition to a wide variety of topics by well known and experienced speakers, we are working on the concept of mini symposia within the content of the meeting as a whole. Our plans at present include symposia on Cardiac Nuclear Medicine and PET Imaging. It should be a very informative meeting full of pearls to go home with. Of course, this is all in addition to the ever popular "Kotlyarov Quiz."

As discussed and agreed to at our last Board meeting, we have chosen to honor, for the first time, a member of industry with a Honorary Fellowship. We finally chose one who has both directed their corporation towards producing the tools with which to dramatically advance the scope of our practices and who has also been a long-term supporter of the College and its educational mission. I am also pleased to announce that a representative of another of our "partners in industry," has agreed to be our speaker at our Corporate Liaison Luncheon and that one of our newest Fellows will be the keynote speaker at our Fellowship Convocation. (Stay tuned for times and names.)

As this is written, we continue to work with our colleagues at the SNM in trying to reach an equitable arrangement for a discount on registration fees for those members of the SNM or the ACNM who wish to attend both the Business Meeting of the SNM and the Educational Program of the College. I am pleased that both Dr. Bob Carretta, President of SNM, and I are committed to making this happen. Tom Johnson is pursuing this diligently and hopefully we will have a definitive outcome shortly.

I think I've gone on long enough. See you all in New Orleans!

NOTES FROM THE CHAIRMAN'S CORNER
Darwood B. Hance, M.D., FACNM
Chairman, Board of Representatives

Again, this next year we are planning a superb educational thanks largely to the outstanding efforts of our President, Michael E. Siegel, M.D., FACNM, of USC Medical Center. The educational objectives of these meetings are to provide a wide range of clinical practice nuclear medicine topics to attendees. Outstanding speakers are selected to deliver leading edge and practical subject materials. Typically, ten (10) hours of CME credits are provided. The awarding of Fellowships is a highlight of each year's meeting.

The year 2000 Annual Meeting is to be held February 11-13 at the Westin Canal Place in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is immediately preceding the Society of Nuclear Medicine Meeting to be held at the same hotel. We strongly urge those who can attend both meetings to do so. We look forward to seeing you there. Please mark your calendars now and reserve your rooms and flights early in order to avoid last minute disappointments. Let's make the year 2000 meeting a truly outstanding event and educational opportunity for everybody.

EDITORIAL COLUMN
Richard D. Lingren, M.D., FACNM
Editor

This year I am chairing the Fellowship Committee. The Fellowship Committee is responsible for supporting members of the American College of Nuclear Medicine who have made outstanding contributions to Nuclear Medicine and who are qualified to become Fellows.

There are two types of fellowship. The Board of Representatives voted at the last meeting to have a new Honorary Fellowship to individuals that are not physicians or physicists who are not eligible for membership in the College, but have made significant contributions to Nuclear Medicine.

The College may award one gold medal each year. This person is nominated by one or more College members for their service in the College and contributions to Nuclear Medicine.

Fellowship is not limited to more than one individual per year. The Committee has received and is in the process of reviewing thirteen applications for Fellowship at the 27th Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

AMA DELEGATE REPORT
Ronald E. Overfield, M.D., FACNM
Delegate, AMA House of Delegates

Each meeting of the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association has a full agenda, and most seem to have at least one major issue. The 1999 Annual Meeting had a very emotional major item of business that has been a high profile concern for several meetings of the House. This, of course, was the subject of a national collective bargaining unit for physicians and established by the AMA. As in past dealings of this concern by the House, discussions were intense, and standing votes were necessary on the House floor following lengthy debate in the reference committee. The House rejected recommendations from the Board and directed the Board to proceed with the plan. This was done in spite of the fact that only 17% of the nation's physicians are employed and thus be able to join in collective bargaining. There was great concern by many delegates that the AMA must act positively on this issue in order to demonstrate to existing members and prospective members that the organization is relevant and responsive to physician needs. However, there were almost as many other delegates who viewed the action as being perceived as unprofessional for medicine and felt that we might lose members due to the perception of the public that the action was essentially that of forming a union to preserve our own selfish financial interests. Even though the idea of a "strike" used in connection with collective bargaining was not a part of the direction given by the House, it was feared by many that the public would only hear the message of a medical union and interrupted health care delivery with a "strike." Many felt that this was an item that should be handled on a state by state legislative action. Whether in wisdom or lack of, the vote has been taken, and the Board has been given the direction of implementing the plan. It is with much interest that most physicians will now follow the Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 1999 bill sponsored by Representative Tom Campbell of California, which would give physicians and other health professionals the same antitrust exemption that unions currently have to collectively negotiate with health insurance companies and HMOs. A similar bill was signed into law in Texas by Governor Bush in late June of this year.

I can only hope that this latest action by the House of Delegates will indeed help maintain existing membership in the organization and also encourage non-members to write their own check for membership dues. This organization, in my humble opinion, is the only organization that has the capacity to speak effectively and be respected as the organized voice of physicians for themselves and their patients. Specialty organizations are important to most of us, but their influence on the national political scene falls far short of what is needed and expected by physicians at the national level.

As you know, the collective bargaining issue was only one of the many that were debated in reference committees and on the floor of the House. However, none other was as high profile at the time to have the extensive media coverage displayed for that anticipated vote.

For an extensive view of all the actions of the House, please read the American Medical News and/or visit the AMA website at http://www.arna-assn.org and look for the "annual meeting" icon.

ACR INTERSOCIETY SUMMER CONFERENCE
Ronald S. Tikofsky, Ph.D., FACNM
Past President

The 1999 ACR Intersociety Summer Conference examined several issues of particular interest to members of the American College of Nuclear Medicine. While the impact of the discussions and reports presented to the attendees may not be immediate, the topics, such as Societal (Re-) Organization, departmental Reorganization, are of significance to us as a College and as individual practitioners of Nuclear Medicine/Radiology. Nuclear Medicine was represented by the College and one Canadian member of the SNM.

A major topic was that of Societal (Re-) Organization, a hot topic. There was a discussion of mergers, the general feeling was that smaller societies should tag on to the larger societies for structural support and economies in operational expenses. However, all recognized that the primary role of the smaller societies should be educational and scientific, with politicking being left to the larger societies. It was also suggested that sub-specialty societies find ways to develop multidisciplinary constituencies, and that clinicians be recruited and encouraged to join these organizations, most important for the College. There was a strong expression of a need for common meeting calendar. Emphasis was given to having societies look for ways to cooperate to minimize operational expenses while still maintaining independence. Representatives were urged to have their societies reassess their mission and strategic plans and objectively ask whether there is a need for their particular society.

Another major focus was on the (Re-) Organization of Radiology Departments. Much of the discussion was driven by the impact of HMOs, healthcare systems, and hospital reorganization. Emphasis was placed on providing adequate ER coverage based on clinical needs, reorganization based on organ systems. Most importantly was the need for radiologists and by extension Nuclear Medicine physicians to be proactive in the formation of "Centers of Excellence." There is a need for us to become involved in these centers at their formative stages to ensure that we are seen as key players, and yield greater practice opportunities for radiologists and Nuclear Medicine physicians. Basic to the success of such efforts is a departmental organizational structure that provides information to clinicians to help them order appropriate examinations.

Several direct steps were recommended to enhance the public's awareness and appreciation of the role of the radiologist in their care. There needs to be increased personal interaction with patients and that the radiologist should share findings based on imaging studies directly with the patient. Patients must come first, and we in the radiology community should not lose this focus. The patient's interests must be the primary concern of the radiologist.

The Intersociety Conference is a wonderful opportunity to meet colleagues from all radiological specialties, exchange ideas in an atmosphere of collegiality and make our presence felt. It is my strongest recommendation that we continue to send representatives to this meeting. My thanks to the College for allowing me to be our representative at this year's meeting.

RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR MEDICINE CONFERENCE
Michael E. Siegel, M.D., FACNM

I am pleased to announce that the American College of Nuclear Medicine has been chosen by the Organizing Committee of the upcoming International Conference on the Current Status Nuclear Medicine and Radio-pharmaceuticals as their Provider of Academic Support. This is certainly a welcome confirmation and validation of our role as an organization dedicated to education and expands our influence from the national to the international level.

I would personally, and on behalf of the College, like to thank Dr. Eduard Kotlyarov for the many hours he has devoted to conveying the desired roles of the College in the Conference and negotiating our position with their Organizing Committee.

The conference will be held in Obninsk, Kaluga, Russia (55 miles south of Moscow) from October 23-27, 2000. A part of our role as the provider of academic support is the privilege of selecting several topics and speakers to be presented as keynote speakers at the Conference. The College needs to submit our list of topics and speakers shortly. If any of you wish to present a topic or has a suggestion for a speaker or topic, please contact Dr. Kotlyarov at (248) 338-5604 or Tom Johnson at (717) 898-5008 as soon as possible.

If you wish to present a paper at one of the regular scientific sessions, please correspond directly with the Conference organizers at the following address: International Conference on Current Status of Nuclear Medicine and Radiopharmaceuticals, Obninsk, Kaluga Region, Russian Federation (Fax: 7(095) 956-1440; E-mail: mrrc@mrrc.obninsk.ru). This is an exciting opportunity for the College as well as for those of you who wish to be acquainted with the Russian people and their medical care system.

I look forward to seeing you all in Obninsk!

YOUR VOICE. YOUR CHOICE.

Vote today to strengthen your specialty society's voice. Every specialty society seated in the American Medical Association House of Delegates - the AMA's policy-making body - is guaranteed at least one delegate. Beginning in 1997, specialty societies are awarded additional delegates based on the number of AMA members who choose that society to speak on their behalf. For every 1,000 physicians who designate a specialty society to represent them, that society is awarded an additional delegate.

Make a difference - make your voice heard. You can make a difference in the number of delegates awarded to your specialty society by voting. But remember, you must vote by December 31,1999, to make your vote count in 2000!

Register your vote by telephone or e-mail:

• Telephone 800-652-0605 and follow the simple instructions
• Fax to 847-517-7229
• E-mail to ballot@ama-assn.org. You must provide your 11-digit medical education (ME) number to vote. To obtain your ME number, refer to your AMA membership card or call 800-262-3211.

YEAR 2000 ANNUAL MEETING
Thomas Johnson, Jr.
Executive Director

Mark your calendars for the 27th Annual Meeting of the American College of Nuclear Medicine. Again, the American College of Nuclear Medicine will meet at the same site as the Society of Nuclear Medicine. The meeting will take place February 11-13, 2000, at the Westin Canal Place Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. Program and registration forms to follow.

The meeting content is excellent. A Cardiac Symposium with Drs. Strauss, Maddahi and others; an Oncology/PET Symposium with Drs. Carretta, Kim, Campeau, and Jadvar; Clinical Updates on Infection Imaging, Thyroid Therapy and Diagnosis; a review of Practice Management with Dr. Beven, and the annual unknown case review via a quiz with Dr. Kotlyarov.

Industry will be well represented by the Chief Executive Officer of ADAC Industries at the annual Fellowship Convocation and by the Marketing Accounts Manager for Picker International Nuclear Medicine Division at the Saturday Corporate Liaison Luncheon.

The best news of all! Working with the Society of Nuclear Medicine, both organizations have mutually agreed to reduce registration fees for any attendee who will register for both meetings. Specific details will follow in the registration materials.

MEMBERSHIP
Eduard V. Kotlyarov, M.D., Ph.D., FACNM
Assistant Editor

At the recommendation of the Credentials Committee, the Board of Representatives approved the following individuals for membership. We proudly present the following names: