Honoring the Life and Legacy of Twyla Bartel
Dear SWC Members,
It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we share the unexpected passing of our beloved friend, colleague, mentor, and former SWC leader, Twyla Brianne Bartel, DO, MBA, FACNM, FSNMMI, DABR, on June 15, 2026.
Twyla was the quintessential servant leader, always striving to improve the lives of everyone around her through teaching, volunteerism, mentorship, sponsorship, advocacy, and endless compassion and positivity. She was a role model through her work and life, as well as an extraordinary physician, educator, leader, and advocate whose influence reached nearly every corner of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. To those of us fortunate enough to know her personally, however, she was far more than her remarkable list of accomplishments. She was a constant positive energy in every room she entered, always freely generous with her time, knowledge, and attention. She was dependable, compassionate, and willing to help no matter how big or small the task. She approached every project with energy, purpose, and commitment. She was always supporting the development of trainees and junior members in our community…providing encouragement, support, and mentorship to take on more challenging educational projects and leadership roles. She has touched the lives of so many and her loss to our community is profound.
If you are reading this post, your life has likely been touched directly or indirectly by Twyla’s exceptional and longstanding service to the Southwestern Chapter (SWC-SNMMI), which includes serving multiple terms as Trustee, Historian, Educational Committee Chair, Co-Organizer of the SWC-SNMMI Resident Review, Annual Meeting Speaker & Moderator, Abstract Reviewer, and President. And whether it was her job or not, her voice and energy was always present to help in any way she could…securing speakers, promoting the advancement of more junior members, coming up with fresh ideas to engage the membership, ensuring ongoing education about the field of Nuclear Medicine, keeping us on our toes during Jeopardy sessions at the Annual Meetings, and even sponsoring line-dancing at our most recent Annual Meeting in her hometown of Tulsa.
Twyla's influence extended throughout the larger nuclear medicine community. She served on the ACNM and SNMMI Board of Directors, led the Correlative Imaging Council and Academic Council, and held leadership positions within the PET Center of Excellence and Women in Nuclear Medicine. She also organized numerous in-person and online webinars to reach larger and larger audiences within the nuclear medicine community. She was a respected leader in the development of clinical standards and evidence-based practice serving in ACNM, SNMMI, ACR, and other organizational roles to help lead or develop practice parameters, procedure standards, and appropriate-use criteria addressing FDG PET/CT in oncology, thyroid cancer imaging, parathyroid scintigraphy, bone scintigraphy, renal scintigraphy, infection and inflammation imaging, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary scintigraphy, and many other areas. Her work helped shape how nuclear medicine is practiced and taught across the country.
Twyla has also served as Director and Associate Director of the Nuclear Medicine Residency Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, as Chief of Nuclear Medicine and PET Director, and as an Associate Professor of Radiology. She authored and contributed to major nuclear medicine and radiology textbooks, book chapters, continuing medical education programs, webinars, scientific presentations, and more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and professional standards. Her academic work advanced PET/CT, parathyroid and thyroid imaging, multiple myeloma imaging, oncology, infection imaging, quality and safety, and many other areas of our specialty. More recently, Twyla was a business leader and co-owner of Global Advanced Imaging (GAI), which provides sub-specialty interpretations and support for nuclear cardiology, oncologic PET/CT, infection/inflammation PET/CT, and evaluation for dementia, seizures, tumor response. GAI also gives back to the community, with a commitment to particularly support organizations working to better the lives of children and veterans.
Twyla's contributions have been recognized through the Southwestern Chapter Distinguished Service Award, among many other honors throughout the field, including the SNMMI Distinguished Educator Award, Academic Council Lifetime Achievement Award, Academic Council Distinguished Service Award, Tom Miller Lectureship Award, Women in Nuclear Medicine "She Paved the Way" Award, ACNM Service Award, ACNM Personal Mentor Award, ACNM Lifetime Achievement Award, 2025 ACNM Gold Medal Award, and has also been selected to receive the 2026 ACNM President's Award.
Despite the magnitude of these accomplishments, Twyla's greatest legacy may be the people she encouraged, mentored, supported, and brought together. She made others feel valued. She believed deeply in education, service, collaboration, and the responsibility to prepare the next generation. She never hesitated to answer a call, support a colleague, teach a trainee, or take on another important project.
Twyla was a woman of faith. We take comfort in believing that she is at peace and held in God's loving care. Our SWC-SNMMI community, which includes people of many faiths and traditions, is all united in mourning the loss of an exceptional human being whose life brought knowledge, kindness, and purpose to so many. To know Twyla, is to know a true angel.
Please keep Twyla's family, loved ones, friends, and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers during this profoundly difficult time. Information regarding memorial arrangements and opportunities for the SWC-SNMMI community to honor her life at next year's SWC-SNMMI Annual Meeting will be shared as it becomes available.
While Twyla's absence leaves an immeasurable void throughout the nuclear medicine community, she has made the type of impact that will continue on through the standards she helped establish, the programs she built, the physicians she educated, the colleagues she inspired, the leaders she helped grow, and the many lives she touched.
May her memory be a blessing, and may her extraordinary legacy continue to guide us.
— Shana Elman, MD SWC-SNMMI President-Elect, on behalf of all SWC-SNMMI Leadership
Share Your Memories
Dr. Bartel touched the lives of countless colleagues, friends, students, and professionals throughout her career. If you would like to share a memory, reflection, or message in her honor, we invite you to leave a comment on our Facebook post commemorating her life and legacy.
View the Facebook tribute and share your thoughts here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/swc.snmmi/
(You must be a Facebook Group Member.)
Twyla Through the Years
Reflections and Tributes
“I cannot believe you are no longer with us. The world lost an extraordinary woman today, and words cannot express how many people you touched or the tremendous impact you made during your time on this earth. I lost a dear friend, a colleague, and a woman I deeply admired. You were my partner on so many projects, sessions, activities, lectures, ceremonies, and even the simplest conversations. You never said no. You were a remarkable leader in the ACR, ABR, ABMM, ACNM, SNMMI, RSNA, R&R, and so many other organizations, all while running a successful private radiology company.
You were my superhero, and now you are no longer here.
Words cannot describe the pain so many of us are feeling today. The hole left in our hearts is greater than anyone can imagine. I miss you, my friend. We texted only three weeks ago, and I will carry your final words with me forever.
‘Your candle burned out long before your legend ever did.’ — Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Candle in the Wind (1973)
I love you, my friend. You will always be part of my heart. Watch us from heaven. I miss you.”
~ Bital Savir
“Dear, sweet Twyla Smith-Bartel,
Our profession is a little dimmer today knowing that God has called you home. You were a constant source of positivity, a champion of clinical excellence, and a dedicated mentor to so many women and young professionals throughout your career.
Your kindness, wisdom, and encouragement touched countless lives, and your legacy will continue through those you inspired.
Sitting next to you during so many SNMMI Board of Directors meetings will always be memorable. Rest now, dear friend. You will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.”
~ Tina Buehner
"Your memory will be a blessing to all who knew you. Thank you for your years of service, mentorship, leadership and for your unending kindness and compassion! I will always be grateful for your kindness and mentorship, and for the many opportunities we had to work together, especially teaming up to plan the music for the ACNM Banquet, which will always be a treasured memory! May you rest in peace, singing with the angels up in heaven!"
~ Tom Anderson
“She was such a sweet and humble person, especially considering all she did for the field. Heartbreaking.”
~ Linda Budzinski
“Twyla was the heart and soul of so many of us both personally professionally. There are no words to describe the loss we are all feeling. May she watch over us and continue to guide and mentor us.”
~ Teresa Ellmer
“O dear… I'm devastated. The world lost a beautiful and kind soul and a wonderful colleague. My deepest condolences to her family and close friends. May she rest in peace.”
~ Lisa Bodei
“My deepest condolences to her family and friends and the ABNM, ACNM and SNMMI colleagues at this difficult time. I wish all of us patience and strength in facing her loss from our lives.”
~ Nader Jadvar
“Just so sad that we will not experience your giving spirit anymore.”
~ Cathy S. Cutler
“May her memory be for a blessing. She will be missed.”
~ Helen Nadel