SNM Participates in IAEA Symposium in Brazil.

Symposium in Brazil I n January, several hundred nuclear medicine specialists from around the world came together in Porto Alegre, Brazil, for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Symposium on Nuclear Oncology, for which the SNM was a cosponsor and contributor of expert resources and logistic support. Held from January 19 through 23 in cooperation with the government of Brazil, the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, the Asia & Oceania Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, the Association of the Latin American Societies of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, the Brazilian Society of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, and the World Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Council, the symposium had its origins at an SNM meeting in 2002. Ken Maynard, SNM Associate Director of Public Affairs, met informally with Ajit K. Padhy, MD, from the IAEA Division of Human Health. “We met over coffee to talk about possible joint activities that could draw on the expertise of the international nuclear medicine community in ways that would have lasting benefits,” said Maynard. “Padhy suggested this regional symposium format as one that would be ideal in bringing together a mix of developed and developing countries that share a keen interest in the benefits of nuclear medicine, particularly oncologic applications.” Within weeks of the initial meeting, plans for the symposium were already taking shape. “This was a global community effort,” said Maynard. “And the SNM was very much in on the ground floor, advising on topics for sessions and working with the IAEA staff to identify speakers.” Maynard credits Padhy with much of the success of the symposium. “He recognized that this is a crucial time for world nuclear medicine, when rapid developments in our technology are dovetailing with extraordinary discoveries about the genesis and treatment of a number of cancers,” said Maynard. “Padhy also worked to bring together the excellent coalition of cooperating organizations with which the SNM worked in supporting the symposium.” When the symposium opened in Porto Alegre on January 19, the program featured 4 packed days of presentations, posters, special sessions, lectures, and social events. Representing the SNM were Henry D. Royal, MD, SNM president; Alexander MacEwan, MD; Stanley J. Goldsmith, MD; and Chaitanya R. Divgi, MD. Attendees from the United States also included Michael Goris, MD, PhD; Hussein M. Abdel-Dayem, MD; Salvador Borges-Neto, MD; Suresh C. Srivastava, PhD; Abass Alavi, MD; Greg Wiseman, MD; F.F. (Russ) Knapp, Jr., PhD; and Franklin C-L Wong, MD, PhD, JD. “This symposium represents the kind of effort that the SNM is dedicated to encouraging as one of our most important missions,” said Virginia Pappas, SNM executive director. “Our attendees gave their time and expertise to an effort designed to foster an open exchange of scientific information across the broadest possible spectrum of international outreach.” Attendees at the symposium from throughout South and Central America came to hear about topics as traditional as 131I therapy for thyroid cancer and as cutting edge as the latest in PET/CT technology and molecular imaging. “A great deal of interest was expressed in radionuclide therapy in general, including radioimmunotherapy regimens, palliation of bone pain, and treatment, for example, of hepatocellular cancer,” said Goldsmith. He added that the symposium provided an opportunity to assess the current state of PET worldwide. “It was remarkable to learn that FDG for PET imaging is flown in daily to Estonia from Finland,” he said. “At the same time, it’s clear––and saddening—to learn that the cost of PET scanners prohibits many areas from participating in this technological revolution.” Several attendees who gave presentations noted the personal and professional gratification they felt in sharing expertise and knowledge. “That’s not meant to infer in any way that the attendees were uninformed,” cautioned Goldsmith. “What they seemed to benefit from most was a sense of reassurance about what they do. We in the more developed countries not only benefit from wealth (Continued on page 23N) Dr. C.H. Lee, MD, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Korea Institute of Radiologic and Medical Science, Seoul; Adjit K. Padhy, MD; Stanley J. Goldsmith, MD; Myung-Chul Lee, MD, Chair of the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital and president of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology. N E W S L I N E