Stakeholders' views regarding graduate education in Nuclear Medicine Technology in a large metropolitan area

Objectives: The SNMMI-TS has historically supported graduate education for NMTs in a variety of fields, including leadership and education. In recent years, the society has supported building graduate programs specific to the field of MI research. However, the profession itself has not clearly expressed support or dissent for this graduate education initiative. This study explores the attitudes of an array of relevant stakeholders toward master's degree programs that prepare students as both NMTs and molecular imaging researchers, due to low enrollment numbers. Methods: The SNMMI-TS has facilitated the development of graduate programs in molecular imaging research by offering start-up grants to colleges and universities. One school created the program with 2 pathways; one combined NMT training with a research component, and the second focused solely on molecular imaging research for current NMTs. A survey was conducted through SurveyMonkey in the local area to 51 individuals in the nuclear medicine profession to explore opinions of graduate level of education for NMTs.The majority of those surveyed were technologists and managers employed by the NMT program affiliate sites. The survey was also shared with physicians, physicists, and NMT educators in the area that have a connection with the program. All participants were asked to forward the survey to colleagues. The survey consisted of 8 questions, 1 was their title, 5 closed-ended and 2 open-ended questions. Results: The survey yielded 49 responses. An unknown proportion of the responses may represent participants who were forwarded the survey by primary stakeholders. Staff NMTs represented the largest percentage of responses with 49%, supervisors 25%, directors 16%, and the other category as 10%. The response related to the support of a master's degree for entry-level NMTs was an overwhelming 94% saying no. When asked if there was a need for NMT students to acquire a master's degree, the answer was 90% no. Would there be roles in hospitals or imaging centers for entry-level NMTs with a master's degree, 36% said yes and 36% said no and 29% undecided. Yet, almost 70% responded that they did think these individuals would have opportunities in areas such as research. The most interesting response was related to support for a graduate degree for current NMTs who have been working in the field for several years 37% said no, while 27% said yes and 22% responded undecided. The multiple open-ended responses with