Dean L Rice, MD
(SWC-SNMMI-TS President 2014-2015)
Please tell us about yourself.
US Navy retired 2002. Graduated HS in Marietta, Oklahoma, PET and PET/CT were always focus of my career after retiring USN 2002. Graduated from submarine school and spent best 5 years of my career on the USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) Gold. Retired as HM1((SS).
Biggest Texas Ranger Fan alive. Been a fan since 1974.
Give us your background information related to your professional training, including nuclear medicine, and what inspired you to enter this field.
1) R/EMT 1980-82 As an EMT on a ambulance my first encounter with NM took place 1981 at a hospital when I saw my first brain scan on a very old analog camera. From the first moment of seeing that scan, I knew what I wanted to do with my career.
2) Basic X-Ray Technologist 1984
3) Served two years on USS Peleliu LHA-5 as a Xray technician
4) Graduated Nuclear Medicine School 1991 San Diego Ca.
5) Graduated Submarine IDC School 1996
6) Retired as HM1(SS) 2002
What do you consider your primary contribution(s) to Nuclear Medicine?
My biggest accomplishments were two fold. As the Chief technologist for the VA Dallas, I was honored to select a group of technologists that were a reflection of what I felt were worthy of serving our veterans with quality and technical advanced equipment, training to operate equipment and treat them with the respect and provide high quality care they deserved and earned. We as a group were instrumental in converting the department that introduced PET/CT to Dallas VA, introducing and promoting SPECT/CT and opened a clinic at the VA FWOPC. The biggest affect while at the VA North Texas was the introduction and continuous high standard quality work.
As the President of the SWC/Technologist 2014-15, I helped create the first Leadership Academy for the SWC. I was recently thanked by a very dear friend and attendee of that first class and told me how I made an impact on her professional career. My contributions overall have been the people that have influenced me and those that I have helped influence and guide.
In what year were you a SWC-SNMMI President, and how did you first become involved with the chapter?
2014-15. After retiring and settling in North Texas, I became involved with the SWC to help guide me and learn new technology, meet technologists that I could learn from. As the more meetings I went to, the more and more I was influenced to get involved and help guide others as I was.
Please describe anything else that you would like for your Nuclear Medicine colleagues to know about yourself.
I was very active in the SNNMI and IAC and served on a number of committees such as the Leadership Committee, Grants and awards, and Membership Committee.
Attended the Leadership Academy for SNMMI 2012
Texas TAG Representative 2017-18
Board of Directors IAC NM/PET/CT 2014-19