Psotgraduate School of Nuclear Medicine

Integrated Educational Objectives (i.e., Common Core)
The trainee must have acquired the scientific foundation and theoretical and practical training necessary to practice the profession of specialist, and the methodology and culture required for continuing education, as well as a level of professional, decision-making, and operational autonomy resulting from the training program followed. The trainee must acquire: essential knowledge derived from basic sciences, which underpins all the various aspects of the training program and are essential for mastering equipment and the correct application of procedures and methods; fundamental knowledge of molecular biology and genetics; advanced knowledge of the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of neoplastic disease; theoretical knowledge and clinical practice appropriate for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of cancer patients; and finally, the clinical knowledge necessary for an accurate assessment of pathologies in order to optimally implement the appropriate diagnostic, interventional, or therapeutic options, also in compliance with current regulations on radiation protection and radiation safety, assessing risks, costs, and benefits. The ability to communicate clearly and compassionately with patients and their families.
Finally, the trainee must acquire the ability to interact with attending physicians and other specialists, as well as to collaborate with other professionals in the radiology field, and the ability to interpret scientific English.

Basic Educational Objectives
- Fundamentals of mathematics and physics, with particular emphasis on radiation physics;
- Statistics;
- Computer science;
- Tracer theory;
- Image processing;
- Instrumentation and application of electronics in medicine;
- Structure and function of ionizing radiation detection and measurement devices (in vivo and vitro);
- Structure and function of imaging devices;
- Interactions between ionizing radiation and biological structures;
- Radiosensitivity of tissues and organs;
- Radiation protection and radiopathology;
- Fundamentals of physiology and pathophysiology;
- Fundamentals of clinical radiopharmacology;

Educational objectives of the School
- radioactive counting evaluation and statistics;
- radiochemistry, radiopharmacy, and radiopharmaceutical quality control;
- radionuclide labeling of cells, subcellular structures, and biological molecules;
- data acquisition and processing techniques for imaging, with particular emphasis on those related to emission tomography (SPET and PET);
- integration and evaluation of diagnostic results with clinical information and results from other investigations;
- principles and standards for radiation protection of patients, operators, and the public;
- indications, procedures, results, methodologies, and dosimetry related to the applications of radiotracers.

Similar or complementary objectives include:
- preparation and quality control of radiopharmaceuticals;
- administration of radiopharmaceuticals;
- supervision and quality assurance of the preparation, control, and administration of radiopharmaceuticals;
- special methodologies for in vivo diagnostic investigations involving various organs and systems;
- Study of neoplastic and non-neoplastic pathological processes using radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals; applications of radiometabolic therapy for neoplastic and non-neoplastic processes;
- Principles and application of radioimmunology, immunoradiometry, and other techniques related to in vitro nuclear medicine;
- Diagnostic methods that do not use radioactive tracers (CT, MRI);
- Ability to integrate and interpret the results of nuclear medicine methods with those of radiodiagnostic methods, with particular attention to image fusion methods;
- Organization of the activities of a nuclear medicine service and principles of quality assurance;
- Knowledge of the basic methodologies for the proper implementation of scientific research;
- Knowledge of the regulations and legislation regarding the use of radiation energy

Mandatory professional development activities to achieve the following educational objectives:
Attendance at the Neurological Medicine sections and collaboration in the design, execution, reporting, and archiving of in vivo diagnostic tests in the following clinical areas:
- central nervous system;
- cardiovascular system;
- osteoarticular system;
- respiratory system;
- urogenital system;
- digestive system;
- endocrine system;
- hematopoietic and lymphatic systems;
- neoplastic, inflammatory, and degenerative processes.
These activities must be performed on at least 1,000 appropriately distributed cases.
In addition, the resident must attend a Radiometabolic Therapy section for at least three months and perform an adequate number of non-imaging diagnostic tests using radionuclides.

The resident may apply for the diploma after completing the professional development activities.

As part of the training program, the trainee will be expected to learn the scientific foundations of the School's curriculum in order to achieve full maturity and professional competence, including an adequate ability to interpret scientific innovations and a critical understanding that allows them to consciously manage both assistance and their own development. This training may include participation in meetings, conferences, the production of scientific publications, and periods of attendance at qualified Italian and foreign institutions useful for their training.