What is Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear Medicine is a medical specialty for diagnosis and treatment of serious diseases. As an integrated part of patient care, nuclear medicine is used to studies document organ, function and structure, in contrast to conventional radiology, which create images based upon anatomy. Many of the nuclear medicine studies can measure the degree of function present in an organ, provide important information that allows the physician to detect and treat a disease early. It is nuclear medicine that used the best to study the function of a damaged heart or restriction of blood flow to parts of the brain. The kidneys, liver, thyroid gland, bones and other organ are similarly imaged.

Nuclear Medicine imaging procedures often identify abnormalities very early in the progression of disease long before some medical problems are apparent with other diagnostic tests.

The Technologist’s Role

The Nuclear Medicine Technologist is highly specialized healthcare professional who works closely with Nuclear Medicine Physician. The responsibilities are to:
  • Prepare and administer radioactive chemical compounds, known as radiopharmaceuticals
  • Perform patient imaging procedures using sophisticated radiodetecting instrumentation
  • Accomplish computer processing and image enhancement
  • Analyze biologic specimens in the laboratory
  • Provide images, to analysis, and patient information to the physician for diagnostic interpretation
During the imaging procedures, the technologist works directly with the patient. The technologist:
  • Gains the patient’s confidence by obtaining pertinent history, describing the procedure and answering any questions
  • Monitors the patient’s physical condition during the course of the procedure
  • Notes any specific patient comments, which indicate the need for additional images or might be useful to the physician in interpreting the results of the procedure.
Nuclear Medicine will continue to be a field at the forefront of modern clinical medicine and technological development. The future of Nuclear Medicine is bright, thanks to –
  • The development of new radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
  • Promising research and development of cancer-detecting and cancer-killing agents, such as genetically engineering antibodies
  • The expanding clinical use of exciting new technology known as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Positron Coincidence Detection (PCD), which provide new and unique means of studying biochemistry and metabolism of living tissues.

Career Opportunities

Nuclear Medicine Technologists work in a wide variety of clinical setting such as general and community hospitals, university-affiliated teaching hospitals and Medical Centers, outpatient imaging facilities, clinics, public health institutions, and government and private research institutes.

Program Description

The Nuclear Medicine technology at the St.George University is an 18-month full time program leading to certification in nuclear medicine technology. The integrated curriculum is structured to provide academic training in the principles of medical imaging and practical hands-on clinical experience. The program is designed to develop technical knowledge, critical thinking skills, promote professional ethics. The students are provided with training on state-of-art equipment and will gain competency in routine diagnostic examination, SPECT and PET imaging, radiopharmacy, in-vitro procedures, and therapeutic applications.

Program Goals and Objectives

  • To introduce students to the most recent imaging systems and radiopharmaceuticals
  • To familiarize students with the theories and practices of the nuclear medicine field in a hospitals or clinical facilities
  • To provide students with the knowledge base to perform proper diagnostic studies on patients and thus contribute to a patient well-being
  • To prepare students to for a holistic caregiver’s prospective
  • To develop in students of skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision making
  • To insure students awareness of the importance of ethics, self-evaluation and cooperation in the health-care fields.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to provide the student with a comprehensive body of knowledge and the necessary skills expected of a competent graduate. The curriculum provides skills for a lifetime of continued learning, rewarding careers and to become leaders in the nuclear medicine community.
The curriculum include academic (didactic) instructions that provides learning experiences to help better understand and perform clinical responsibilities, laboratory studies and clinical practicum:
  • Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology
  • Clinical Pathology
  • Management and Methods of Patient Care
  • Concepts in Allied Health Care
  • Nuclear Physics and Instrumentation
  • Radiation Detection and Instrumentation
  • Advanced Instrumentation/Computer Applications
  • Radiation Biology / Radiation Safety
  • Diagnostic Nuclear Imaging Procedures
  • Clinical Nuclear Medicine Procedures
  • Non-Imaging Techniques
  • Radionuclide Chemistry and Radiopharmacy
  • Nuclear Medicine I / Clinical and Therapeutic Applications
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging
  • Nuclear Medicine II / Advanced Applications
  • Clinical Practicum I (Observation/Orientation)
  • Clinical Practicum II (Assisted Clinical Rotation)
  • Clinical Practicum III/Internship (Directly Supervised Clinical Rotation)
  • Clinical Seminars and Conferences
Supervised Clinical Education – very important aspect of the curriculum, and offers a sufficient n well-balanced variety of nuclear medicine procedures, examination and equipment.

ADMISSION

Admission Requirements

The following explains the requirement an applicant must meet to be considered for admission:
  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Must submit official copies of high school or equivalent and college transcripts with completed application form. Obtaining an evaluation of a foreign transcript is responsibility of the applicant.
  • Applicant must have completed at least three years of academic study in the Basic Sciences, as a Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
  • Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation from qualified persons familiar with applicant’s educational and professional background.
  • Individuals must present a strong academic background, especially in math, chemistry and supporting sciences.
  • Applicants need to demonstrate responsibility, a character of high moral integrity, good interpersonal skills and compassion.
  • Applicant must participate in a personal interview with the Program Director

Observation experience

A minimum 8 hours of observation in a nuclear medicine department will be offered to the student prior the admission.