2016 HONORARY MEMBER AWARD

This award is given to recognize extraordinary achievement and an exceptional level of service and support for the Section and mission of the SMRT.

Jennifer Olson
My career with the Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (SMRM) began in 1987 as their Accountant with a total staff of three. The Society was rapidly growing as were my responsibilities and in 1992 I became the Assistant Director. During that time an interest in starting a Section for MR Technologists was formed with a Steering Committee headed by Drs. John Crues and Herbert Kressel, William Faulkner and Carolyn Roth (Watson) represented by the SMRI (Society of Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and the SMRM (Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine). In 1991 the first SMRT Annual Meeting was held in San Francisco in conjunction with SMRM. The SMRT’s name at the time was the Combined Section for Magnetic Resonance Technologists, later to become SMRT when the SMRM and SMRI formally merged in 1994.

As Assistant Director I took over the administration of SMRT with a membership of 530 technologists. There was much to accomplish for the SMRT, with the main focus of bringing quality MR education to technologists around the world. I consider myself to be so very lucky to have worked over the years with so many dedicated and compassionate leaders of the SMRT; working together we have brought SMRT to what it is today. In order to bring quality MR education and professional development to technologists around the world there were many ways to accomplish this:

  • Liaison with a very active and involved SMRT Executive Committee and Policy Board for continued governance, professional growth and plans for future endeavors of SMRT
  • Assisting with all SMRT Standing and AdHoc Committees: Executive, Awards, Bylaws, Education, External Relations, Finance, Chapters & Regionals, Membership, Nominations, Program, Publications, RCEEM Ad-Hoc, Safety Ad-Hoc and Ad-Hoc SMRT Past President’s Council
  • Signals Newsletter: Updating our membership on all activities of the SMRT (84 published Signals, print and web)
  • Regional Meetings: Bringing accredited education to technologists around the world (100+ Regional Meetings held)
  • SMRT Chapters: Organizing Local Chapters to present accredited educational meetings and to network with their peers (12 Chapters)
  • SMRT Annual Meetings: Meetings were held in conjunction with ISMRM throughout the world. Abstract submissions continued to grow over the years. (23 SMRT Meetings)
  • Accreditation: In 2005 SMRT is recognized by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) as a Recognized Continuing Education
  • Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM) for CE Education of all SMRT activities and to sponsor educational programs outside of SMRT
  • Accredited Educational Home Study Programs: The Home Studies bring the highest quality, up-to-date MR education for SMRT members. Print, web and video educational programs (64 Quarterly Published Home Studies as well as Web and Video Education programs from Annual Meetings)
  • Co-Published the Magnetic Resonance Curriculum: Published first in 2006 and updated in 2008. Jointly published with members from the SMRT, ASRT, ARRT, AEIRS and the JRCERT
  • Liaison with ISMRM and SMRT Committees regarding current and future programs of the SMRT
  • Liaison with ISMRM Management and Staff to assist with all SMRT activities

I will always be so grateful to have known over the many years the truly wonderful dedicated volunteers of SMRT and the wonderful, amazing ISMRM staff. I feel so very honored to have been a part of SMRT’s professional growth. I know that SMRT will continue to grow and reach out to MR technologists around the world with their many high quality MR educational programs and their high level of professionalism in the ever-evolving world of MR technology, with the main goal of improved patient healthcare around the world. Onwards!!

Society for MR Radiographers & Technologists
2300 Clayton Road, Suite 620
Concord, CA 94520, USA
Tel: +1 925-825-SMRT (7678)
Fax: +1 510-841-2340
smrt@ismrm.org