Embracing the Past and Future of BNMS

As I write my first blog as BNMS President, I feel honoured to have been elected to serve our nuclear medicine community. Over the next two years I am excited to embrace this role to the fullest, so together we can ensure nuclear medicine in the UK continues to thrive. I would also like to thank my predecessor, Jilly Croasdale, once again, who did such a fantastic job over the last two years.

The past year has been both professionally energising and personally profound for me. This year’s BNMS Spring Meeting in Glasgow was more than a professional milestone. It was a moment of stillness during a time of extraordinary momentum. The meeting buzzed with innovation, from the trailblazing thera(g)nostic and cutting-edge sessions to the energising radiopharmacy and physics tracks, and a vibrant RTN booth. The enthusiasm of our trainees
reminded us that the future of nuclear medicine is not only bright, but also already here.

Yet Glasgow held a quieter resonance for me, too. Scotland has always had a way of holding space for both celebration and sorrow. This year, I have attended weddings brimming with joy and promise, and funerals that reminded me of the fragility of life. Most poignantly, I lost my mother unexpectedly - a loss that reshaped my year and deepened my understanding of what it means to care.

In medicine, we often speak of outcomes, protocols, and precision. But in grief, we learn the immeasurable value of presence, kindness, and simply being. My mother’s passing reminded me that love, like medicine, is both a science and an art. It is in how we listen, how we advocate, and how we show up for one another. These values, so often unspoken, are the true heart of our profession.

I saw those values reflected in our community: in mentorship exchanged over coffee, pride in poster presentations, and moments of shared laughter and quiet support. The 52nd Annual Spring Meeting was a celebration of innovation and resilience. It reaffirmed that nuclear medicine in the UK is not only thriving, it is evolving with purpose.

As we look ahead to the 60th Anniversary Meeting in Manchester (20–22 April 2026), I invite you to join me in shaping a roadmap that honours our legacy while boldly stepping into the future. This milestone is more than a celebration. It is a chance to ask: What kind of society do we want to be? How do we lead in clinical excellence, research, and education, while staying rooted in empathy and equity?

In the context of this broader journey, we have had a welcome boost following the difficult months of radionuclide shortages: the resumption of HDP supply and renewed availability of the SeHCAT test are both encouraging signs of progress.

Special thanks go to our forward thinking Immediate Past President, Jilly Croasdale; UKRG Chair, Clint Waight; all the UKRG Regional Representatives; and our valued industry partners at Curium and GE Healthcare for their tireless collaboration with BNMS in streamlining and allocating HDP stock during this challenging period. This collective effort has been instrumental in sustaining patient care across the UK.

Our first stop on our journey to Manchester is the BNMS Autumn Meeting at The Oval in London, taking place on 29–30 September 2025. The programme, brilliantly shaped by local organisers, Drs Saira Reynolds, Nicola Mulholland, Matt Aldridge, and their team, promises a rich opportunity to share, learn, and connect. I look forward to reading your abstracts and hearing about your latest work.

Over the coming months, I’ll be working alongside the BNMS Council, Officers, Scientific & Education Committee, and working groups, as well as you, our members to co-create a vision for the year ahead. Whether it is advancing nuclear medicine, strengthening the workforce pipeline, or amplifying patient voices, the road to our 60th Anniversary Meeting will be paved with collaboration and care.

If you have ideas, memories, or ambitions for Manchester 2026, I would love to hear them. Whether you are a trainee with bold visions or a longstanding member with stories to share, this is our moment to shape a legacy, together. 

Thank you for your trust, your passion, and your presence. Let’s walk this journey forward side by side.

Prof Sabina Dizdarevic

BNMS President