Gottschalk can think of no better way to go out

Health battle threatens to end run of 43 straight years at SNM meeting

In a postscript to the 2006 Cassen Lecture, Dr. Alexander Gottschalk, a nuclear medicine pioneer associated with the development of technetium-99m for diagnostic nuclear medicine, disclosed that he was battling a life-threatening medical condition. He declined to disclose the exact nature of his condition. While Gottshalk remained dry-eyed, several long-time colleagues cried as he voiced a possible farewell.

"Let me close on a personal note," he said. "I am battling a serious medical condition. For medical reasons, this may be my last SNM meeting. If that is true, I will certainly miss seeing my old friends and making new friends. I will miss putting my two bits in during the discussion sessions I go to, but mostly I will miss the terrific science that surrounds us all at this meeting. I firmly believe that nuclear medicine will be a major modality that brings the molecular biologist to the bedside. But if this is the end of a 43-year run, it is hard to think of a better way to go out."

Gottschalk reported in mid-September that his condition had stabilized following therapy, and he felt well. He is scheduled to speak at the RSNA meeting in November. -JB