Dusty York, Chattanooga State associate professor and clinical coordinator of Nuclear Medicine, was named the recipient of the 2017 SNMMI-TS Outstanding Educator of the Year, during the awards recognition portion of the SNMMI Annual Meeting on June 11. According to Nikki Wenzel-Lamb, director of Leadership and SNMMI-TS administrator, “Ms. York has provided significant contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging and, more specifically outstanding achievements as an educator.”
This annual award is open to all educators. Individuals must be nominated by a peer or colleague. Nominations are then reviewed and selected by the SNMMI-TS leadership that includes the society president, president-elect, and immediate past president.
Ms. York was nominated by Chattanooga State Nuclear Medicine Program Director Leesa Ross who said, “Her dedication is the driving force behind her success. Dusty has never ceased to amaze me with her knowledge of the field, her attention to detail, and her concern for others. Her rapport with the students is like no other I have witnessed and her encouragement of them to participate in professional activities post-graduation is exceptional.”
During the award presentation, SNMMI-TS President Sara G. Johnson said, “Dusty has been a member of SNMMI-TS since 1999, retains membership in the Southeastern Chapter, serves as SNMMI-TS Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Week Committee Chair, is a SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy graduate, serves as a NCOR delegate-at-large, and was recently elected as director-at-large (a member of the SNMMI board of directors).”
Upon receiving her award, Ms. York said, “I am honored to join such a remarkable and distinguished group of educators. I am humbled because I know so many outstanding and passionate educators in the field of nuclear medicine. I am impressed daily with my previous and current student’s achievements. I love my job and can’t imagine myself anywhere else – that is the biggest reward.”