At its 54th annual meeting in Washington DC, the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) recently honored two program faculty with two of its top awards.
Dr. Edward Coleman is a professor, vice chair, and director of the division of nuclear medicine in Duke Radiology. The SNM awarded him the 2007 Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award, which recognized his efforts in advancing molecular imaging and clinical applications of PET, PET/CT, and radionuclide therapy. “With this award, SNM recognizes that Dr. Coleman’s work has had a meaningful and significant impact on molecular imaging and nuclear medicine practice,” said SNM President Martin P. Sandler in a press release. Dr. Coleman was the nuclear medicine physician involved with the development of the first PET scans at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. He worked on obtaining reimbursement for PET procedures, which paved the way for widespread use of PET clinically.
Dr. Michael Zalutsky is a professor of radiology and biomedical engineering at Duke. The SNM awarded him the 2007 Paul C. Aebersold Award for outstanding achievement in basic nuclear medicine science. “With this award, the molecular imaging and nuclear medicine community recognize Dr. Zalutsky’s intellectual capital, national reputation and prominent role in advancing significant contributions to medical science—especially in using molecular targeting to combat cancer,” said SNM President Martin P. Sandler. “He has made many contributions to both the basic and applied aspects of molecular therapy and nuclear medicine in a variety of areas, including radionuclide production, radiochemistry and radiation biology,” added Sandler in a press release. Dr. Zalutsky is also director of the Radiolabeling Facility Shared Resource and is a member of the cancer immunobiology, neuro-oncology and radiation oncology programs in the Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center.
