The contribution of medical physics to nuclear medicine: a physician's perspective

Abstract

This paper is the second in a series of invited perspectives by four pioneers of nuclear medicine imaging and physics. A medical physicist and a nuclear medicine clinical specialist each take a backward look and a forward look at the contributions of physics to nuclear medicine. Here is a backward look from a nuclear medicine physician's perspective.

Keywords: History; Nuclear medicine; Physics.

Figure 1

Glenn Seaborg (middle) and wife (left), together with the author (right) at a SNM meeting in the late 1990s. Seaborg won the 1951 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, discovered over 100 isotopes, advised 10 Presidents of the USA and was Chairman of the USA Atomic Energy Commission for 10 years.

Figure 2

Hal Oscar Anger (1920 to 2005).

Figure 3

David Kuhl (born in 1929, retired in 2011). Image taken during presentation of the 2009 Japan Prize Award, attended by Emperor Akihito. This prestigious prize was introduced in 1985 to award scientists who contribute to the development of science and technology.

Figure 4

David W Townsend (2nd left) and Ronald Nutt (2nd right). The IEEE Medal for Innovations in Healthcare Technology was given to David W Townsend (2nd left) and Ronald Nutt (2nd right). Photograph taken with Moshe Kam (IEEE President Elect, left) and Pedro Ray (IEEE President, right).