Nuclear Medicine Technology Program

Program Description
The School of Nuclear Medicine Technology at the University of Tennessee Medical Center is a 12-month certificate program designed to prepare students for certification as Nuclear Medicine Technologists. The program is professionally accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRC-NMT)*. The full time program includes both didactic study and clinical practice. Didactic areas of instruction include clinical nuclear medicine, nuclear physics, radiochemistry, patient care, radiation safety, radiobiology, nuclear imaging instrumentation, and computer applications. Hands on, clinical training is emphasized as each student participates in clinical training at UTMC (the area’s only Level 1 trauma center and academic teaching hospital) and six additional affiliated sites (see below). Students successfully completing the program are eligible to take the national certification exams for Nuclear Medicine Technologists. In addition to the certificate program, a 4-year BS degree is also available through affiliation with the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Middle Tennessee State University.

* The JRC-NMT is nationally recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as the sole agency authorized to accredit professional educational programs in nuclear medicine technology. It provides the foundation for excellence in the nuclear medicine profession by setting standards for education and accrediting academic programs that meet or exceed those standards.

Nuclear Medicine Application and Reference Form

Nuclear Medicine Technology Program Information Packet

Goals and Mission of the Program
Established in 1982 and sponsored by the University of Tennessee Medical Center, the Nuclear Medicine Technology program is designed to produce competent nuclear medicine technologists of a high professional standard. Our expectation is to provide a continuous supply of well qualified nuclear medicine technologists to better serve the medical communities of East Tennessee and surrounding states. The program is committed to excellence in Nuclear Medicine education through state of the art imaging technologies and unmatched clinical experience opportunities.

Job Description
Nuclear medicine technologists are highly specialized health care professionals who perform an integral role on the nuclear medicine/molecular imaging team in diagnosing and treating disease, working with physicians, patients, physicists, nuclear pharmacists, computer specialists, nurses, secretaries and other health care professionals. They have direct patient contact; prepare, calibrate and administer radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and therapy; perform patient imaging procedures (including computer processing) using sophisticated radiation-detecting instrumentation; operate imaging, lab and computer instrumentation; and ensure radiation safety.

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Locally affiliated:

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Knoxville, TN
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Knoxville, TN
Methodist Medical Center, Oak Ridge, TN
Blount Memorial Hospital, Maryville, TN
Cardinal Health, Knoxville, TN (Radiopharmacy)
Fort Loudon Medical Center, Loudon, TN

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Pertinent Names and Addresses:

Mr. Glenn Hathaway
Program Director
Phone 1.VOL.305.9726
Email: ghathawa@mc.utmck.edu

Mary Ann Hoskins
Chairperson, Arts and Sciences Advising Services, University of Tennessee 
1 Alumni Memorial Building 
Office: 1.VOL.974.4481
Email: mhoskins@utk.edu

Jennifer Braswell
Coordinator, Pre-Professional Health Advising, Department of Chemistry
Middle Tennessee State University
241 Davis Science Bldg. - MTSU Box 68
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Phone: 615.898.5465
Email: jbraswel@mtsu.edu

Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology
2000 W. Danforth Road, Ste. 130 #203
Edmond, OK 73003
Phone: 405.285.0546
Internet: http://www.jrcnmt.org

*****Information contained in this web page is subject to revision. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to consult with the school officials on a regular basis.

Websites and Organizations with Additional Information:

Additional information on a career as a nuclear medicine technologist is available from:

Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologists
1850 Samuel Morse Dr. Reston, VA 20190-5316
Telephone: 703-708-9000
Internet: http://www.snm.org

American Society of Radiologic Technologists
15000 Central Ave. SE. Albuquerque, NM 87123
Telephone: 800-444-2778, press 5
Internet: http://www.asrt.org

Bureau of Labor and Statistics
Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nuclear Medicine Technology web page:
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos104.htm

For a list of accredited programs in nuclear medicine technology:

Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology
2000 W. Danforth Rd., Ste 130 #203 Edmond, OK 73003
Telephone: 405-285-0546
Internet: http://www.jrcnmt.org

Information on technologist certification/licensure is available from:

American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
1255 Northland Dr. St. Paul MN 55120-1155
Telephone: 651-687-0048
Internet: http://www.arrt.org

Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board
3558 Habersham @ Northlake, Bldg. 1 Tucker, GA 30084
Telephone: 404-315-1739
Internet: http://www.nmtcb.org

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