Understanding non-profits, particularly those dedicated to research in science & medicine

First Five Presidents of the Society for Molecular Imaging (SMI): Right, Ralph Weissleder (2002); Middle, Chris Contag (2003); 2nd from Left, David Piwnica-Worms (2004); Left, Thomas J. Meade (2005); 2nd from Right, Brian D. Ross (2006). — Right, Ralph Weissleder (2002); Middle, Chris Contag (2003); 2nd from Left, David Piwnica-Worms (2004); Left, Thomas J. Meade (2005); 2nd from Right, Brian D. Ross (2006): The first five Presidents of the Society for Molecular Imaging (SMI)—leaders we were honored to work with during the Society’s formative years. This photograph was taken at the final stand-alone SMI Annual Meeting, held on the Big Island of Hawai‘i in 2006, which attracted more than 1,250 participants. Joan Oefner became the SMI’s first Executive Director following the Society’s inaugural Annual Meeting in 2002. From 2002 through 2006, she wore many hats—serving as administrator, bookkeeper, webmaster, membership coordinator, and meeting planner—as the Society grew rapidly, reaching more than 1,250 members and attracting participants from around the world. We were fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. Molecular imaging was emerging as a highly multidisciplinary field, bringing together scientists, physicians, engineers, physicists, chemists, and innovators from many areas of medicine and technology. It was a privilege to support the leaders of this new field and to work together to build the scientific community, infrastructure, and shared vision needed to move molecular imaging forward. These early years marked an important period in the development of molecular imaging.

Transforming the ideas and vision of our clients into reality while balancing the budget and increasing surpluses to ensure the future. Since beginning this journey working exclusively with non-profit scientific and medical societies, I have had the honor and privilege to assist three scientific and four medical societies make huge advances towards fulfilling their missions. I’ve seen first hand how a group of dedicated professionals working together to achieve seemingly impossible goals can move a scientific and/or medical discipline forward, due to the synergy of their ideas, their contribution of time and energy and the pooling of their expertise and resources. It is refreshing to work in such an environment of transparency which has and always will be an important aspect of non-profit society management. Officers of the society, board members, committee members, speakers at the annual conferences and industry partners contributing their time and resources because they know more can be accomplished together then by one person, lab or institution. They draw intangible benefits in working with others from diverse backgrounds who all share an interest in the mission of the society. The most rewarding part of working with these societies for so long has been watching the young investigators take over leadership in the societies as they have been mentored by the pioneers in their respective fields. That will always be my favorite part of the job!

Share this: