About the Department
The Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Program includes a vibrant community of physicians, scientists and technologists among others who are actively involved in clinical care, research, and community outreach programs. We work together providing imaging, therapy, and education at several hospitals in Hamilton including the Hamilton General Hospital, the Juravinski Cancer Centre, the McMaster University Medical Centre, and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.
What is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear medicine relies on radiopharmaceuticals, radioactive pharmaceuticals that have met legal requirements for administration to patients. These radiopharmaceuticals can localize metabolic processes and pinpoint sites of disease within organs and/or organ systems. They can also be used in certain cases to treat disease. Typically, a small amount of a radiopharmaceutical is given to a patient by injection, ingestion, or inhalation. The radiopharmaceutical follows a particular metabolic pathway or is attracted to a particular site of disease and releases small amounts of energy (radiation) that can be detected outside of the body by special scanners. These scanners record the movement and localization of radiopharmaceuticals in the body as images. The resulting images are evaluated by physicians to diagnose and treat disease.
The Team
Chief – Dr. Christopher Marriott, PhD, MD, FRCPC (interim)
Chief Assistant – Alicia Cassidy-Bernacki
905-521-2100 ext. 73452
Physicians
- Dr. Katherine Zukotynski
- Dr. Olfat Kamel Hasan
- Dr. Mashael Alhrbi