The Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) membership voted June 11 for the proposal to change the name of the organization to the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). In an official vote held at the business meeting portion of the SNMMI 2012 annual meeting in Miami, more than two-thirds of society members present voted affirmatively on the name change.

“Over the past five years, SNM has made a concerted effort to embrace other modalities that, like nuclear medicine, utilize the tracer principle,” said George M. Segall, MD, SNM immediate past president. “The name ‘Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’ retains our rich history and identity while recognizing the growing diversity in our field.  Retaining ‘nuclear medicine’ as part of the society’s name also recognizes the therapeutic, medicinal aspects of nuclear medicine.”

SNM undertook a process to engage its members, providing pros and cons of changing the name and soliciting feedback. In January, the SNM house of delegates passed an amendment to the SNM bylaws that would change the society’s name to the “Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.” The final step was this membership vote at the annual meeting.

“Changing our name is part of the natural progression of the organization to embrace molecular imaging,” said Frederic H. Fahey, DSc, SNM president and co-chair of the SNM Name Change Task Force. “We will continue to engage in activities to promote both nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. As an organization we now stand prepared to lead the way in translating novel imaging and therapeutic strategies for the new era of molecular and personalized medicine.”