Knoxville, TN – The Southeastern Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SECSNMMI) will honor Bennett S. Greenspan, M.D., M.S. FACNM, FACR, FSNMMI,
FAAPM with the presentation of the Marshall Brucer Award, the highest honor the SECSNMMI can bestow upon a member. The Brucer Award will be presented to Dr. Greenspan at the 2024 SECSNMMI Annual Meeting, September 27-29, 2024, in Knoxville, Tennessee, recognizing his many years of service to nuclear medicine as well as his leadership in organized nuclear medicine at the local, regional, chapter and national levels.
The Marshall Brucer Award is given at the Southeastern Chapter meeting to a chapter member who has dedicated their life to the specialty of nuclear medicine and given distinguished service to the chapter.
Doctor Greenspan is currently affiliated with the Augusta VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA. He received his M.D. degree from the University of Illinois in Chicago and is certified in Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Radiology by the ABR and in Nuclear Medicine by the ABNM. Dr. Greenspan has been involved in research, education, and national service and leadership for many years, and is a national and international leader in nuclear medicine. Dr. Greenspan’s research and scholarly interests include radiopharmaceutical therapy in oncology, PET/CT imaging in oncology, diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer, osteoporosis, and the effects of low-level radiation. A prolific author and lecturer, Greenspan has authored or co-authored numerous manuscripts and publications and has accepted many invitations to speak.
A consummate volunteer, Greenspan has offered his time and talent in support of numerous medical, radiology and nuclear medicine related organizations. Among these include: American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), American Board of Radiology (ABR), American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine (ABSNM) American College of Nuclear Medicine (ACNM), American College of Nuclear Physicians (ACNP), American College of Radiology (ACR), American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Association of University Radiologists (AUR), International Society of Clinical Densitometry (ISCD), National Association of VA Chiefs in Nuclear Medicine, Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB), Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). World Association of Radiopharmaceutical and Molecular Therapy (WARMTH), World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology and World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS) and many other local, national and international organizations.
Greenspan joined the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) in 1981 and served as a member or officer on many commissions, committees, and councils over the years. He was elected to the position of Vice President-Elect in 2015 and moved up to President-Elect in 2016 and onto President for 2017 – 2018.
Greenspan has been a member of the Eastern Great Lakes Chapter and Missouri Valley Chapter before joining the Southeastern Chapter in 2012, and he has contributed greatly to the success of the Chapter. He was elected to the Executive Council in 2013 and served as the Scientific Program Chair for the 2015 Annual Meeting. He was elected to serve as Secretary from 2016 – 2018 and then elected President-Elect in 2018. Greenspan served as the SECSNMMI President from 2019-2021, guiding the chapter through the COVID pandemic. He also served as chair of the SECSNMMI Nominating Committee and the Marshall Brucer Award Committee in 2022.
On a personal note, Doctor Greenspan enjoying playing chess when he has time, and he and his wife,, Linda, enjoy traveling, in particular following total solar eclipses, that, in his opinion, is the most spectacular site in nature.
There are few people who, during a lifetime, make a substantial impact on a specialty in medicine. The Southeastern Chapter was fortunate to have had such a person amongst its members – Marshall Brucer.
Brucer became the first chairman of the Medical Division of the Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies in 1948. Brucer coined the term “nuclear medicine” and convinced the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission to allow use of radiotracers in medicine, if the physicians using the tracers were well trained (setting the groundwork for the residency structure in place today). He was an author, storyteller, and educator, and almost single-handedly organized and formed the Southeastern Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine. He served as the Chapter’s first president (1957-1959) and was the fifth president of the national society. The Marshall Brucer Award was created in his honor in 1991. Dr. Greenspan is truly deserving of this award.
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