Do You Want an Inspirational Career? Choose Nuclear Medicine

All specialties of medicine require a continuous stream of skilled trainees in order to renew and grow. Over the 75 y of its existence, the field of nuclear medicine has rejuvenated itself repeatedly by welcoming waves of diverse trainees with adventuresome spirits who recognize the promise of the tracer principle for scientific discovery, clinical diagnosis, and targeted radionuclide therapy. Most recently, the rapid development of molecular imaging for precision medicine has made the field attractive to trainees seeking to combine expertise in nuclear medicine with high-level abilities in cross-sectional imaging. Also, substantial advances in therapeutic index achieved with modern targeted radionuclide therapy, combined with quantitative PET and SPECT imaging for dosimetry, have opened up exciting opportunities for radiotheranostics, ushering in a distinct group of trainees who want to combine nuclear medicine expertise with therapy including patient management. The training programs of the future will need to directly address the special needs of these diagnosticians and therapists. A subset of these groups will likely seek additional training in clinical or research fellowships to deepen their expertise in molecular imaging or targeted therapy. This enhanced training will increase the likelihood for an impactful career, whether in research, clinical care, or both. If we are truly going to attract the best and brightest students to nuclear medicine, leaders and mentors in the field must educate themselves in both aspects of nuclear medicine so we can fully capitalize on the opportunities to improve patient care with radionuclides.