July 22, 2025, KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Oregon Tech Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technology students Will Duarte and Cody Mueller recently attended the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS) Future Leaders Academy. The program focuses on increasing the leadership abilities of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals.
Held in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Leadership Academy included training from technologists and keynote speakers dedicated to advancing the profession. This training focused on developing leadership skills and organizational expertise for those pursuing national leadership roles within SNMMI-TS.
“It was truly an honor to be selected,” Duarte said. “Over the past two years, I have developed a real love for the field of nuclear medicine. Being invited to attend a national leadership training through SNMMI felt incredibly meaningful. I want to give back to this profession in any way I can, and this experience gave me some valuable tools to help me do that.”
Duarte is a senior in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technology and recently began an externship in Portland, Oregon, at Oregon Health & Science University in radiology. Mueller is a junior in the program and has recently taken over the role of campus Nuclear Medicine Club President from Duarte.
For both Duarte and Mueller, networking was a major focus of the experience. “To be honest, networking was my number one goal,” Duarte said. “It was encouraging to see how much we all have in common despite coming from different programs.” Mueller added, “It was eye-opening to hear about the diverse educational paths other students had taken. It made me even more appreciative of the comprehensive training we receive in the Nuclear Medicine program at Oregon Tech.”
In addition to the Academy, both students attended the SNMMI Annual Meeting. Mueller participated in the SNMMI Knowledge Bowl and attended seminars focused on artificial intelligence and ethics. “I was especially excited to meet and network with the exhibitors such as Siemens, GE, Cardinal Health, United Imaging, and many more. They were incredibly passionate and offered valuable advice on how to succeed in the field,” he said.
Both students see this experience as shaping their careers. “I believe I made some strong, lasting connections with people who will go on to lead this industry,” Duarte said. “I can see myself getting more involved with the organization in the future.” Mueller agreed, saying, “This experience gave me a clearer vision of the future of nuclear medicine and what qualities leaders in the field are looking for in the next generation of technologists.”
Representing Oregon Tech at this national event was a source of pride. “The reputation of our program was very positive, and it was clear that people in the field know and respect what we are doing at Oregon Tech,” said Duarte.
Mueller also noted the significance of Oregon Tech’s consistent presence at the Academy. “It’s really exciting that students from the graduating classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027 have all been selected to represent Oregon Tech at SNMMI. That says a lot about the strength and consistency of our program.” Mueller added, “After learning how rapidly nuclear medicine is evolving, I’ve gained a tremendous respect for our professors who consistently stay current with the latest innovations. Their commitment ensures that we receive the highest quality education possible.”
