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Twyla Bartel, DO, MBA, FACNM, FSNMMI (1962–2026): Leader, Educator, Mentor

Twyla Bartel, DO, MBA, FACNM, FSNMMI, a longtime leader, educator, and mentor in nuclear medicine, passed away on June 15, surrounded by her family.

Bartel grew up in Japan, where her parents served as missionaries, living there for 17 years and becoming fluent in Japanese. She earned her DO from Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2001, then completed a nuclear medicine residency and PET/CT fellowship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2005 and a diagnostic radiology residency in Arkansas in 2014. She also held an MBA and was dual board-certified in nuclear medicine and radiology. She previously served as PET director and chief of nuclear medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences before becoming co-owner, with Dr. Tracy Yarbrough, of Global Advanced Imaging, PLLC, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Bartel contributed extensively to SNMMI. She was the SNMMI PET Advisory Committee (formerly PET Centers of Excellence) president and SNMMI Women in Nuclear Medicine Committee vice-chair. She served on the SNMMI Board of Directors and House of Delegates, was president of the Academic and Correlative Imaging councils, and was a long-standing member of numerous other SNMMI committees. She also worked on clinical guidelines, safety and quality projects, publications, research, government relations, advocacy, and many other areas. She was both a national and an international speaker, including as Highlights speaker for general clinical specialties at the SNMMI Annual Meeting, and was an author and reviewer for both JNM and JNMT.

Twyla Bartel, DO, MBA, FACNM, FSNMMI

A regular speaker at SNMMI Mid-Winter and Annual Meetings, Bartel introduced flipped learning to the Mid-Winter Meeting curriculum, a format that had attendees review material in advance and engage in more interactive sessions on-site.

Bartel was recognized for her mentorship and leadership with the 2024 Women in Nuclear Medicine She Paved the Way Award, the 2023 SNMMI Distinguished Educator Award, the 2021 SNMMI Academic Advisory Committee Presidential Distinguished Service Award, and Fellowship in SNMMI in 2021.

Outside of medicine, Bartel was a musician, recording three LP albums earlier in her life and receiving three Grammy nominations for a song she wrote. She is remembered by colleagues for her unwavering dedication to education, her mentorship and support for early career professionals, and her friendship.

A celebration of life was held on Monday, June 22. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to YouthVision International (https://www.youthvisioninternational.com/).