Sara L. Johnson, EdD, Named President-Elect of the SNMMI Technologist Section

LOS ANGELES -- Sara L. Johnson, EdD, MAEd, BS, CNMT, NMTCB(RS), RT(N)(CT)(ARRT), FSNMMI-TS, has been named president-elect of the SNMMI Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). Johnson is a PET/CT technologist at Florida Cancer Specialists in Brandon, Florida, and a didactic instructor at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts. SNMMI introduced its 2026-27 officers at its 2026 Annual Meeting, held May 30 - June 2 in Los Angeles.

"I am deeply honored to serve the SNMMI Technologist Section in this capacity," said Johnson. "Our field is evolving rapidly, and technologists must be positioned to lead in the era of molecular imaging and theranostics. I look forward to working alongside our members, committees, and partners to build a stronger workforce, protect our professional identity, and ensure that every technologist has the resources and support they need to thrive."

Among her priorities, Johnson aims to protect and advance the scope of practice for nuclear medicine technologists, ensuring their roles are clearly defined and reflected in professional guidelines, training expectations, and stakeholder conversations. She will also work to strengthen the national workforce pipeline -- addressing gaps in recruitment, clinical training access, and long-term retention -- and to formalize education-driven partnerships with industry that deliver standardized, practical training resources as new technologies and radiopharmaceuticals are introduced into clinical practice.

Johnson received her bachelor of science in Nuclear Medicine Technology from Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 2002, and a master of arts in education in adult education from Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio, in 2010. She earned her doctorate in Education, with a focus on Curriculum and Assessment, from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida, in 2023. She began her career as a staff technologist at Cleveland Clinic and Union Hospital and has since held roles as a program director, program manager, clinical account manager, and didactic instructor.

Sara L. Johnson, EdD

An SNMMI-TS member for 25 years, Johnson has served the section in many capacities. She currently serves as chair of the SNMMI-TS Professional Development and Education Fund, member of the SNMMI-TS Executive Board, and member of the SNMMI-TS Continuing Education, Advocacy, and Molecular Therapy Task Force committees, among others. She chaired the SNMMI-TS Women in Nuclear Medicine Committee from 2024 to 2025 and has been a reviewer and associate editor for the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology since 2018. She has also served on the SNMMI-TS Program Committee, Finance Committee, Publications Committee, and Educators Committee and was a member of the SNMMI-TS National Council of Representatives as Education Area Representative from 2016 to 2021.

Additionally, Johnson currently serves as president of the Florida Nuclear Medicine Technologists and is a member of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board from 2015 to 2019, including as chair in 2019, and as a site visitor for the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology from 2015 to 2021.

Johnson's contributions to nuclear medicine technology have been recognized with numerous honors, including designation as an SNMMI-TS Fellow in 2023, the Kathy Kelleher Award from the Florida Nuclear Medicine Technologists in 2021, and completion of the SNMMI-TS Advanced Leadership Academy in 2021. She is also a recipient of the SNMMI-TS Career Advancement Grant (2019) and a graduate of the SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy (2016). She has authored 21 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributed 2 book chapters, and delivered more than 25 invited speaker presentations.

Other SNMMI officers elected for 2026-27 are Heather Jacene, MD, Boston, Massachusetts, as president, Gary Ulaner, MD, PhD, FSNMMI, FACNM, Laguna Hills, California, as president-elect, and Jason S. Lewis, PhD, FSNMMI, New York, New York, as vice president-elect. Other SNMMI-TS officers for 2026 27 are Shannon Youngblood, EdD, MSRS, CNMT, RT(CT), Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, as president.

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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.