New Fellowship Program For Japanese Physicians Sponsored By SNM/Nihon Medi-Physics

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Radiology / Nuclear Medicine;  MRI / PET / Ultrasound;  Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 08 Nov 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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SNM, the world's largest molecular imaging and nuclear medicine society, recently announced a new, two-year $24,000 fellowship program in the United States for Japanese physicians in the early stages of their career.

"The SNM Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship will advance fellows' research and clinical experience, as well as facilitate professional development, so young Japanese physicians can make significant contributions to the field of molecular imaging and nuclear medicine," said SNM President Alexander J. McEwan. "With this new program, SNM continues its long-time tradition of promoting -- and expanding -- the discovery of new science and the creation of new techniques and technologies," added the professor and chair of the Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Alberta, and director of oncologic imaging at Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Canada. "SNM is especially grateful to Nihon Medi-Physics, a Japanese diagnostic nuclear medicine firm, and SNM members Henry N. Wagner Jr. and Kanji Torizuka for sponsoring the fellowship," said McEwan. This fellowship encourages Japanese physicians to enhance international research and clinical collaboration with their American colleagues in molecular imaging and nuclear medicine and enhances cooperation between SNM and the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine (JSNM), he added.

"For almost half a century, Japanese physicians and scientists have studied nuclear medicine in the United States. Scores of them founded and now head departments of nuclear medicine and radiology in Japan," said Wagner, professor emeritus of medicine and radiology at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Md. "This fellowship is a step toward ensuring that this outstanding relationship will continue far into the future of this exciting, new, revolutionary specialty of molecular imaging," he added. The fellowship will help assist Japanese physicians in becoming the new leaders of molecular imaging and nuclear medicine in cardiology, oncology, neurology, radiology and other specialties, said Wagner.

"This program will greatly contribute to the further progress of molecular imaging and nuclear medicine in Japan," noted Torizuka, emeritus professor of Kyoto University and Fukui Medical University. "Young Japanese physicians will have invaluable experiences in the United States through this wonderful program. They can then lead the exciting new era of molecular imaging and nuclear medicine in Japan, maintaining collaboration and friendship with colleagues in the United States," he added.

Eligible recipients must be permanent residents of Japan, receiving their Japanese medical license within the past 15 years. To learn more, visit SNM's Web site.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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About SNM -- Advancing Molecular Imaging and Therapy SNM is an international scientific and professional organization of more than 16,000 members dedicated to promoting the science, technology and practical applications of molecular and nuclear imaging to diagnose, manage and treat diseases in women, men and children. Founded more than 50 years ago, SNM continues to provide essential resources for health care practitioners and patients; publish the most prominent peer-reviewed journal in the field (the Journal of Nuclear Medicine); host the premier annual meeting for medical imaging; sponsor research grants, fellowships and awards; and train physicians, technologists, scientists, physicists, chemists and radiopharmacists in state-of-the-art imaging procedures and advances. SNM members have introduced -- and continue to explore -- biological and technological innovations in medicine that noninvasively investigate the molecular basis of diseases, benefiting countless generations of patients. SNM is based in Reston, Va.; additional information can be found online at http://www.snm.org/.

Source: Maryann Verrillo
Society of Nuclear Medicine