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Mary Beth Farrell Receives 2026 SNMMI-TS Lifetime Achievement Award for Transformative Contributions to Nuclear Medicine Technology

Reston, VA—Mary Beth Farrell, EdD, CNMT, NCT, FSNMMI-TS, FASNC, has been named the recipient of the 2026 SNMMI-TS Lifetime Achievement Award. Farrell is a nuclear medicine didactic instructor at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in Concord, California, and director of strategic projects and quality analysis at Molecular Imaging Services. The award was announced at the 2026 SNMMI Annual Meeting.

Farrell was honored for her decades of dedication to elevating the nuclear medicine profession through leadership in accreditation, research, and education. During her 17-year tenure with the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission, she served as director of accreditation–nuclear/PET and later as director of research, shaping national standards and driving quality improvement initiatives that continue to impact patient care today. She has authored and edited numerous textbooks, book chapters, and peer-reviewed articles that serve as foundational resources for technologists and educators. A dedicated mentor, Farrell has inspired and guided countless technologists and students, cultivating the next generation of leaders, educators, and authors in nuclear medicine.

“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from the SNMMI-TS,” said Farrell. “Nuclear medicine has been my passion and my life’s work, and I have been fortunate to serve this profession in so many rewarding ways—through accreditation, research, mentorship, and education. Every opportunity in my career has been a result of being involved in the Society.  I encourage everyone to become involved.”

An SNMMI-TS member since 1988, Farrell has been actively involved in committee and leadership roles throughout her career. She has served on the SNMMI-TS Publications Committee since 2003, the SNMMI Quality Committee since 2014, and as CE editor and peer reviewer for the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology since 2015. Farrell also served as a board member of the Nuclear Medicine Technologist Certification Board from 2014 to 2017, holding roles including nuclear cardiology technologist specialty examination chair and accreditation committee chair.

Farrell has received numerous honors throughout her career, including the SNMMI-TS Presidential Distinguished Service Award in 2022 and the SNMMI-TS Presidential Outstanding Achievement Award in both 2015 and 2004. She was named a Fellow of SNMMI-TS (FSNMMI-TS) in 2009 and a Fellow of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (FASNC) in 2012.

Mary Beth Farrell, EdD, CNMT,
NCT, FSNMMI-TS, FASNC

Farrell earned a bachelor of science degree in health science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1989 and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Pittsburgh in 1992. She went on to earn her doctor of education in leadership and learning—healthcare administration and leadership from Aspen University in 2021.

“Mary Beth’s contributions to nuclear medicine technology are immeasurable,” said SNMMI-TS President Cybil J. Nielsen, MBA, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS. “Her commitment to quality, her mentorship of the next generation, and her extraordinary scholarship have profoundly shaped our profession. We are proud to recognize her lifetime of achievement and service.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed by SNMMI-TS, recognizing an individual whose enduring commitment, visionary leadership, and exceptional contributions have profoundly shaped the advancement of nuclear medicine technology. Honorees have demonstrated a legacy of service not only to the SNMMI-TS but to the global nuclear medicine community, elevating professional standards, inspiring future generations and advancing the field through innovation, education, and advocacy.

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About the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to advancing nuclear medicine, molecular imaging, and theranostics—precision medicine that allows diagnosis and treatment to be tailored to individual patients in order to achieve the best possible outcomes. For more information, visit snmmi.org