Why Contribute?
ERF launches careers of physicians, scientists and technologists by providing early and essential financial support. These funds allow for cutting edge pilot research and make it possible for students and trainees to expand their knowledge base through educational activities or rigorous academic study.
Unrestricted gifts are among the most valuable to ERF, because they allow the Foundation to allocate funds wherever the need is greatest, and to take advantage of unique opportunities as they arise. Your contribution may be used to support costs associated with providing or administering education programs, research grants, awareness, outreach and much more. Supporting ERF through an unrestricted gift would include the Foundation Fund.
You also have the option of designating your gift for directed purposes or for the endowment.
Directed gifts allow you to designate your donation to a specific grant, award, scholarship, particular specialty, career field, or a priority area that the Foundation supports. When you make a directed gift to ERF, you enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting a program that is personally meaningful to you. Supporting ERF through a directed gift would include the following funds:
- The Curie Fund for Women in Leadership
- The SNMMI Grants and Awards Fund
- The ACNM Fund
Endowed gifts provide security over the long term by expanding the Foundation’s permanent financial base and creating a predictable source of future income for such things as endowed fellowships, research grants, technologist scholarships, or named awards. Supporting ERF through an endowed gift would include the following funds:
- The Paul Cole Endowed Technologist Scholarship Fund
- The SRS Hot Atom Fund
- The Hyman Ghesani Fund
- The Richard L. Wahl Mid Career Leadership Award
- An Endowed Scholarship Program You Create
Active Campaigns:
The Foundation Fund:
Donations to the Foundation Fund allow the ERF Board of Directors to allocate funds wherever the need is greatest, and to take advantage of unique opportunities as they arise.
Contributions may be used to support costs associated with providing or administering education programs, research grants, awareness, outreach and much more.
The SNMMI Grants and Awards Fund:
For over four decades ERF has supported the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Grants, Awards and Scholarship program.
Each year we provide close to $300,000 to the SNMMI to provide grants, awards and scholarships to its members.
With the exception of two Professional Development and Education Fund (PDEF) Awards, ERF is the sole source of the SNMMI Grants Program. Gifts to this fund support:
- Major Research Grants
- SNMMI Molecular Imaging Research Grant for a Junior Academic Faculty
- SNMMI Postdoctoral Molecular Imaging Scholar Program
- SNMMI Predoctoral Molecular Imaging Scholar Program
- Merit
- Young Investigator (Council) Award
- CMIIT Laboratory Professionals Awards
- Loevinger Berman Award (MIRD Committee)
- Abstract Awards
- Fellowships
- Travel Awards
- SNMMI Travel Awards
- JNM YIA Best Paper Travel Awards
- Technologist Awards
- Scholarships
- JNMT Best Paper
- Outstanding Technologist and Educator Awards
- Abstract Awards
- Bachelor’s Degree Scholarships
- Advanced Practitioner Scholarships
- SNMMI-TS Master’s Program
Donations to the Foundation Fund allow the ERF Board of Directors to allocate funds wherever the need is greatest, and to take advantage of unique opportunities as they arise.
Contributions may be used to support costs associated with providing or administering education programs, research grants, awareness, outreach and much more.
The Paul Cole Endowed Technologist Scholarship Fund:
This hallmark endowed program funded by ERF helps to support students who continue to pursue their dreams in the nuclear medicine profession. Donations go directly to SNMMI-TS to support Paul Cole Scholarship winners.
Established in the memory of Paul Cole, a champion of student education and former president of the SNMTS, the scholarships are based on financial need, academic performance and program director recommendations. Nearly 350 technologist students demonstrating academic excellence and financial needs have received assistance through the ERF’s Paul Cole Scholarship and have completed their certificate, associate or bachelor’s degrees.
ACNM Fund:
The Richard L. Wahl Mid-Career Leadership Award:
Richard L. Wahl is a physician and scientist who has been integral to the advancement of the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging throughout his career. Through his clinical and research positions at the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University and Washington University, Dr. Wahl provided countless residents, fellows and post-docs with the time, space, attention, and leadership necessary to advance the science to which he has dedicated his life and, in the process, become indispensable in the development of the careers of those he touched.
Donations to this fund are used to provide grants to nuclear medicine and molecular imaging physicians and scientists attempting to advance in their careers. Awards are given to individuals in the middle of their career, at least five years after completion of residency for physicians and of post-doctoral fellowship for scientists. It is not a research award, but will be used to fund education, training, certification, etc. that will enhance the applicant’s ability to advance to a more senior level position.
The Sam Gambhir Trailblazer Award:
The Sam Gambhir Trailblazer Award is named after Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, MD, PhD, an internationally recognized pioneer in molecular imaging. Dr. Gambhir dedicated his career to developing methods of early disease detection, ushering in a new era of molecular imaging to flag signals of disease in nascent stages. Within the field of radiology, Gambhir was known for the development of positron emission tomography reporter genes, which can flag molecular activity that signals something has gone awry in the body. Within the imaging community, he is remembered as a scientific leader with sprawling expertise and an inspiring work ethic. Colleagues and many others who knew him say he was a kind and generous friend, a nurturing mentor, and a catalyst for collaboration.
Donations to the Sam Gambhir Trailblazer Fund allow us to recognize outstanding achievement and excellence in transformative research (either basic science, translational science, or clinical science) and exceptional mentorship for mid-career professionals. Award recipients are acknowledged at the SNMMI Annual Meeting during the Wagner Highlights Lecture.
The Hyman Ghesani Fund:
The Hyman Ghesani Fund was established by Morton Hyman, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Continuum Health Partners, to honor Dr. Munir Ghesani, his nuclear medicine physician. Dr. Ghesani used the donation to create the Hyman-Ghesani RAD-AID SNMMI Global Health Scholarship, which annually selects two U.S. nuclear medicine professionals to advance nuclear medicine practices in East Africa.
Awardees spend two weeks at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, collaborating with clinical teams, sharing imaging protocols, enhancing radiation safety, and delivering educational presentations. These experiences not only improve access to quality imaging for underserved populations but also provide awardees with valuable education and research opportunities. Recipients present their findings at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Annual Meeting, showcasing the program’s impact.
Donations are crucial to expanding and permanently endowing this initiative, ensuring lasting benefits for global health. Please consider supporting the Campaign for Africa Research and Education to help advance nuclear medicine access and quality in underserved regions.
The SRS Hot Atom Fund:
This award honors Dr. Michael J. Welch, a significant contributor to radiopharmaceutical sciences, who leaves a legacy of mentorship and innovation. The SRS-Hot Atom Fund pays tribute to his passion by launching a comprehensive campaign to establish annual grants and awards in radiopharmaceutical sciences, fostering the growth of future scientists. Donations to this fund are used for educational purposes as defined by the Society of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences and given to awardees selected by them.
Radiopharmaceutical science has revolutionized patient care, particularly in oncology and neurology, with groundbreaking tracers improving diagnosis and treatment. To sustain this progress, we must train the next generation of scientists worldwide.
The Curie Fund For Women In Leadership:
The Madame Marie Curie Fund has been created to help women advance to major administrative positions in academia (chairs of departments, deans, etc.) and/or leadership positions within a professional society such as SNMMI.
It is essential that the field of medicine reflects the diverse community that it serves. Sadly, when it comes to women in leadership, it does not. Although there has been a continuous increase in the number of women working in the field of medicine, women rarely reach the highest academic positions as full professors or editorial board members. In fact, despite the fact that women make up approximately half of all medical students and residents and one-third of full-time faculty, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions.
Planned Giving/Estate Planning:
Considering a planned gift allows you to support ERF while providing you a way to redirect your taxes to benefit your family, your community and a mission to which we are all dedicated. Visit the ERF Legacy Club site to learn more: ERF Legacy Club