BNMS November Legacy 

“Concordia res parvae crescunt, discordia magnae dilabuntur”

“In unity little things flourish, in discord great things fall to pieces.” – Dr William Harvey 

Harveian Lecture at Liverpool RCP

I was fortunate to be invited to the Harveian Oration, a tradition that reminds us, that medicine flourishes through unity, respect, and the pursuit of discovery. It was inspiring to hear Professor Feehally’s reflections on nephrology’s journey. Nuclear medicine too is maturing into a discipline of global impact. 

The Harveian Oration, established in 1656 by Dr William Harvey, remains one of the most prestigious platforms in UK medicine. Harvey gifted his patrimonial estate of Burmash in Kent to the Royal College of Physicians, directing that an annual feast and Latin oration should exhort fellows to “search and study out the secrets of nature by way of experiment.” 

He urged mutual respect and collegiality. Harvey’s words remind us that collaboration sustains growth. We in the BNMS community know this well: it is not “I” who matters, but “We/Us”- the team. 

Continued Education for BNMS Members: Free monthly and on-demand webinars

Once again, our BNMS educational schedule proved to be very busy. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our speakers, audience, and sponsors, Novartis, Siemens Healthineers, and Curium, for supporting this month’s webinars.

Multidisciplinary Reporting Webinar Series 

The Multidisciplinary Reporting webinar was a true success, sparking fruitful discussion on the importance of appropriate training, audit, and multiprofessional working. 

Excellent talks were delivered by our radiographer colleagues Mrs Sarah Stace and Miss Amy Bishop from Withybush General Hospital, and Mrs Rose Hazell-Evans from West Suffolk Hospital, highlighting both expertise and collaborative practice. 

This was the first in a new series of joint BNMS/SoR webinars, chaired by Miss Hannah Chandler (Radiographer, LNWH NHS Trust), together with me and Dr Amy Eccles as expert panel members, providing medical perspectives and insights on complex cases.

Webinar – Cardiology & Women’s Health (3rd in Series)

Free on demand for BNMS members! 

What a fabulous series this has been! Our colleague Dr Stefan Vöö and the UCLH team did an outstanding job in creating the programme, with distinguished contributions from honorary guest lecturer Prof Angela Mass (Radboud, Netherlands), Prof Michelle Williams (University of Edinburgh), and esteemed colleagues from UCLH including Dr Deena Neriman, Dr Irfan Kayani, Dr Karen Desouza, Dr Dalila Ludwic, and Dr Arjun Ghosh. The session was co-chaired by Dr Kshama Wechalekar. This third Women’s Health webinar focused on cardiovascular health in women, spotlighting major differences between men’s and women’s hearts. The speakers were impressive, delivering insightful talks that stimulated discussion and highlighted the importance of advancing women’s cardiovascular health.

Colleagues Legends 

While preparing my DXA reporting lecture for Nuclear Medicine Classics: Pitfalls, Patterns and Pearls on 28 October 2025, masterminded by Dr Gopinath Gnanasegaran and the UCLH team, I found myself reflecting on the legendary colleagues I have been fortunate to work with. 

I first learned DXA reporting and the management of patients with osteoporosis from the late Prof Fogelman during my first consultant post at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital. He played a pivotal role in introducing DXA into UK clinical practice and was rightly crowned the “father of radionuclide bone imaging.” His vision and dedication left an indelible mark on our field.

It was equally inspiring to work alongside two past BNMS Presidents: Prof Maisey, who appointed me to my first academic post as Lecturer in PET at KCL and honorary consultant, and Dr Sue Clarke, the legendary first female BNMS President. Wise, supportive, and an extraordinary physician colleague, she shared with me a deep love and enthusiasm for radionuclide therapy. Their example reinforced the importance of teamwork and instilled in me the drive to strive beyond and above every single day. Progress in nuclear medicine has always been, and will always remain, a collective achievement.

Prof John Buscombe retirement 

Another colleague legend, Prof John Buscombe, also a past BNMS President, has now retired from clinical work and from his role as module lead for the MRT/Theragnostics module at the MSc/PGDip/PgCert programme. Brighton and Sussex Medical School marked his retirement last week.

We wish him a long and happy retirement, knowing he will remain active in our community. Indeed, he will feature in the very first of our Past Presidents’ webinars on 13 January 2026. 

Research Highlight – AlphaBet 

This month’s standout publication is AlphaBet, a compelling study from the Hoffman team exploring the therapeutic potential of combining the alpha emitter 223Ra with the beta emitter 177Lu radiopharmaceuticals. 

We have recognised this topic as a priority in our BNMS Research Strategy. AlphaBet reminds us of the power of translational research to reshape clinical paradigms. As we move toward more personalised and potent treatments, it exemplifies the kind of innovation that will define the next era of nuclear medicine. 

I-131 mIBG Delivered for Children’s Care 

I was delighted to learn that the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow received I-131 mIBG from Izotop in Hungary on schedule and without any issues, enabling timely treatment for their young patient. 

Receiving an email from Dr Michael Bradnam, thanking Charlotte, Jilly, myself, and BNMS for helping to expedite the supply of I-131 mIBG last month, truly made my day. Thank you, Michael, for finding time in your busy schedule to write to us. It meant a great deal!

Looking Ahead 

Dates for your diary: 

• Next free BNMS webinar: 2nd December 2025, 6–7 p.m. – the second in our joint SoR/BNMS webinar series, featuring Dr David Little and Dr Emma Owens on 
  Implementation of REALM in Nuclear Medicine, chaired by Mr Tristan Barnden and myself. 
  
  
• 60th Anniversary celebratory event calendar: to be published in early December, featuring exciting highlights including a special series of live webinars and pre-recorded videos with past BNMS Presidents: Celebrating our past and present, shaping the future. These sessions will reflect on key milestones, share wisdom, and inspire the next generation of nuclear medicine professionals. 

We look forward to virtually seeing you on 2nd December!

Warm Regards

Prof Sabina Dizdarevic
BNMS President