Campus Connection

New SPECT camera prepares students for careers in precision medicine

Joseph Penchi carefully guides the large imaging detector toward his classmate, watching as the Siemens SPECT camera moves into position. In just a few months, he’ll be performing the same procedure with patients during his clinical rotations. But today he has the opportunity to pause, ask questions and build confidence within the safety of a classroom. 

"This is what I'll be doing every day in my career, so learning how to operate the camera and perform different imaging procedures now helps me prepare for my future patients," he says. 

Penchi and other nuclear medicine technology (NMT) students spent the summer training on a new Siemens SPECT imaging system — hospital-grade technology that gives them experience with the same equipment they'll use during clinical rotations and, eventually, in their careers. 

The investment, made possible through the support of NMT alumnus Aaron Budd and local industry partner LZR, expands hands-on learning in one of the nation's largest in-person bachelor's degree programs in nuclear medicine technology housed here at UWL. Faculty say the new equipment will help students enter an in-demand healthcare field with even greater confidence. 

The SPECT camera detects gamma rays emitted by radiopharmaceuticals to create 3D images that show how organs and tissues are functioning inside the body. Physicians use this type of imaging to help evaluate diseases and disorders such as cancer, heart disease, neurological conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, and endocrine disorders. Unlike many imaging technologies that primarily show anatomy, SPECT imaging goes a step further revealing how the body is functioning. For instance, nuclear medicine technologists can see if blood is flowing properly through the heart or evaluate how cancer is responding to treatment. Such precise imaging helps healthcare providers better diagnose disease, monitor treatment and guide care. 

This summer, UWL NMT students learned more than 120 different nuclear medicine imaging procedures using the new system. 

"This summer has been great because I'm already leaning into what I'll be doing during clinicals," says Carmen Crandall, a UWL senior majoring in NMT. "We learn the concepts in lecture and then immediately apply them in the lab, practicing with the camera and learning patient positioning. That makes the transition to working with patients during clinicals so much easier." 

For Angela Weiler, NMT program director and clinical assistant professor, that's exactly the point. 

Nuclear medicine is a highly specialized and rapidly evolving field.  Students benefit tremendously from hands-on learning on the same type of equipment they'll encounter in hospitals. 

"Students can push a button and see step by step what they need to do. They have time here to slow down, ask questions, and learn each step of the imaging process before they enter the fast-paced clinical environment," Weiler says. "That makes their fundamental skills very strong and gives them confidence when they begin working with patients on clinical rotations." 

That preparation is increasingly important as demand for nuclear medicine professionals continues to grow. 

Since its founding in 1968, UWL's nuclear medicine technology program has built a national reputation for producing highly-skilled graduates. Today, it is one of the country's largest in-person bachelor's degree programs in nuclear medicine technology, and employers consistently seek out its graduates. 

Wisconsin is also home to a strong nuclear medicine industry, with companies that manufacture radiopharmaceuticals and imaging equipment. As a result, graduates find opportunities not only as nuclear medicine technologists but also in areas such as applications training, equipment testing, radiopharmaceutical production, healthcare leadership and other roles across the industry. 

For UWL senior Amber Skrzypcak, the profession became personal after watching her uncle undergo cancer treatment. 

"Seeing how nuclear medicine helped my uncle through his diagnosis and treatment made me realize I wanted to have that same impact on others," she says. 

Students say UWL's combination of classroom instruction, hands-on laboratories and extensive clinical experiences in the program makes that goal attainable. Throughout the program, students develop technical skills such as patient positioning, image quality, radiation safety and administering radiopharmaceuticals. Just as importantly, they learn how to communicate with patients who may be anxious about a diagnosis or medical procedure. 

"One thing I tell my students is they need to be great at conversation and love working with people," Weiler says. "We teach them to keep talking with patients throughout the imaging process to help them feel comfortable. Many students choose this field because they enjoy working one-on-one with patients." 

Penchi, a UWL senior majoring in NMT, says the combination of laboratory practice and clinical experience is part of the reason he chose this field. He wanted to find a major that would create a smooth transition into a healthcare profession. 

The program's emphasis on hands-on learning and professional development continues to produce impressive outcomes. Students often secure jobs months before graduation, and graduates consistently score at or above the 75th percentile on national board examinations. 

The addition of the new SPECT camera will strengthen that preparation for years to come. 

The equipment came to UWL through a partnership between the university, alumnus Aaron Budd and LZR, a nuclear medicine facility in Onalaska. Budd, who works for Siemens Healthineers, remembered Weiler sharing her goal of bringing a SPECT imaging system to campus in 2022. He later helped identify a camera that UWL was able to purchase from LZR at a reduced cost. 

Weiler says LZR's assistance with installation, branding the device, and answering technical questions throughout the process helped make the project a success. 

For Weiler, the new camera represents more than upgraded equipment. It gives students the opportunity to build confidence before entering the hospital, allowing them to focus not only on producing high-quality images but also on caring for the people behind those images. 

"In Nuclear Medicine Technology, I'll have the opportunity to make an impactful difference in people's lives by helping diagnose disease and support new therapies that continue to improve patient care," Skrzypcak says. "What attracted me most to this field was being able to combine my love of science with helping others." 

Shape the future on One Day for UWL 

The impact of the Siemens SPECT camera extends far beyond the equipment itself, reaching generations of students and helping prepare them for their future careers. For those looking to make an impact of their own, One Day for UWL offers an opportunity to invest in the students and programs that will shape the future. Learn more on the One Day for UWL webpage.