Autumn Forward: Strategic Focus, Clinical Preparedness and Innovation

As we step into autumn and a new academic year, the British Nuclear Medicine Society enters a season of renewed purpose. It is a time to refocus, re-energise, and recommit to the priorities that define our specialty and shape our future.

Strategic Focus

At the heart of our strategic direction are three pillars:

• Workforce sustainability: Supporting recruitment, retention, and wellbeing across nuclear medicine teams.
  

Workforce sustainability in nuclear medicine demands more than numbers. It requires a strategic, compassionate approach to recruitment, retention, and wellbeing. Supporting our teams means valuing diverse skill-mix while safeguarding service quality in an ever-evolving clinical landscape. Let’s build a workforce that’s not only sustainable but inspired.

• Equitable access to molecular imaging and therapies: Championing timely diagnostics and therapeutic pathways for all patients.

As nuclear medicine continues to evolve, so too must our clinical preparedness. BNMS continues to advocate for equitable access to diagnostics and therapies. Whether it is lobbying for wider availability of Ga-68 PET or ensuring that theragnostics are not limited to a handful of centres, we are committed to making nuclear medicine a national, not a postcode, priority. These efforts reflect our broader commitment to clinical excellence,
translational science, and proactive leadership.

• National policy influence: Ensuring nuclear medicine is embedded in strategic healthcare planning and future-facing policy.

Together with IPEM, we are advocating for statutory registration for technologists in nuclear medicine - a vital step not only for professional recognition, but for safeguarding patients and staff. This is about trust, accountability, and ensuring excellence at every level.

As we look ahead, expanding national training numbers for doctors is critical. The future of nuclear medicine demands bold investment in talent across all professional groups, visionary leadership, and a united commitment to progress.

Innovation- September spotlight

Innovation is the engine of progress in nuclear medicine. September offered a compelling glimpse into the future. This time through the lens of nuclear cardiology. This month our research BNMS webinar was calling attention to cardiac imaging. It’s like a forgotten hero of NM that deserves a comeback. Despite its historical importance, interest has waned. The suggestion to revive it using molecular techniques and total body imaging is compelling.

The recent BNMS webinar brought together leading voices in nuclear medicine to explore the evolving landscape of cardiac imaging through molecular techniques. With keynote speaker Dr Richard Southworth and expert panellists Prof Phil Blower, Dr Kshama Wechalekar and Dr Ian Armstrong, the session underscored the expanding role of radiopharmaceuticals in cardiovascular care, and the importance of interdisciplinary
collaboration in advancing diagnostic precision and patient outcomes.

Beyond the science, the webinar’s tone seems to emphasise hope and enthusiasm, which is vital for attracting new talent and driving innovation. The idea that enthusiasm can drive research forward despite staffing shortages is both hopeful and strategic. It’s not just about filling roles; it’s about inspiring people to shape the future of nuclear medicine. 

Furthermore, cutting-edge technology is essential, but it’s not cheap. “It comes with high cost” is a blunt but honest reminder. Balancing innovation with budget constraints is a real puzzle for healthcare systems.

The recent series of free research webinars, initiated by our Imminent Past President Jilly Croasdale, served as a powerful call to action-energising the future of nuclear medicine and keeping our members actively engaged.

I am thrilled to see the surge in UK-led research in radiopharmaceutical development and machine learning and AI-enhanced imaging. BNMS is exploring new ways to support early career researchers, including travel grants and mentorship schemes. If you’re working on something exciting and would like me to share this with our members, please let me know. I’d love to spotlight your work. I’m proud to serve as your president and look forward to the conversations, collaborations, and challenges ahead.

Stay tuned and save the date

As we move into a new season, there is much more to come! I am excited to announce a packed calendar of initiatives designed to inform, connect, and elevate the nuclear medicine community.

Monthly Webinar Series

Our monthly webinars will continue over the next six months, featuring insights from past presidents and leading experts. Our research/educational calendar is filling up fast. These sessions will spotlight key developments, foster collaboration, and keep our community engaged with the past, present and future of nuclear medicine and support ongoing professional education.

Clinical Standards for Emerging Therapies

With the rising use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., Ozempic, Vegovy) and dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists (e.g., Mounjaro) for weight loss, obesity management and diabetes, BNMS is taking proactive steps. The Professional Standards Committee (PSC) is working to issue a position statement to address their potential interference with nuclear medicine procedures. This will support clinicians in navigating scan interpretation and timing.

BNMS Autumn Meeting – Kia Oval London

Finally, as we step into a new season, the changing landscape brings fresh opportunities to reconnect, collaborate, and reimagine the future of our field. Join us at Kia Oval London on 29th–30th September for the BNMS Autumn Meeting, where professionals from across the discipline will gather to share insights, spark innovation, and shape what comes next in nuclear medicine. Let’s move forward, together.

Warmest wishes
Prof Sabina Dizdarevic
BNMS President