Summer at Nuclear Diagnostics

By: Kajal Sheth, PharmD ‘08

The word "nuclear" probably brings thoughts of radiation, danger, and hazardous situations to the minds of many. But when I first heard about nuclear pharmacy during the 2006 LIU career fair, I felt the urge to learn more about this new and exciting field. As pharmacy students we don’t really hear much about this branch of pharmacy in any of our classes. I thus applied for a summer intern position at Nuclear Diagnostic Products in Plainview, New York and was lucky enough to get the position.

My daily commute from New Jersey to Long Island five days a week was challenging at times, yet it was all worth the effort. As an intern, I learned about topics that I had never learned in school. I learned about medications used to diagnose and treat patients with cancers and infections of specific organs. Interestingly enough, those same medications -- radioactive material -- can be used for various diagnostic scans when different target specific non-radioactive compounds are added to them. For example, we have all heard about the radioactive iodine species, I131 and I121, used in thyroid scans and in the treatment of hypothyroidism. I learned how these radioactive species are made, both in injectable and capsule formulations. Radioactive substances have no odor, no color, and for the most part, are invisible. Radioactivity is not measured in terms of grams or liters, rather, it has its own specific unit called "curie". There are specific devices to measure radioactivity. Also, I came to know that there are special quality control processes executed every time radioactive doses are sent out to clinics. These quality control processes ensure that the level of radioactivity is safe in all dispensed radioactive species. The regulations regarding the delivery of radioactive materials vary from state to state.

The major concern of many is probably the question of how safe it is to work with radiation. With my limited, but nonetheless quality experience, let me assure you all that as long as you follow the radiation minimization guidelines, it is very safe to work in a nuclear pharmacy.

Overall, it is good to get exposed to different branches of pharmacy to find out where your true interest lies and to experience new things in life. My unique internship experience last summer totally changed my whole outlook towards the profession of pharmacy. Nuclear pharmacy is yet another example of how pharmacists can serve the community via the safe handling of hazardous materials.

We are fortunate to be a part of a profession that presents itself in a variety of forms. I recommend that every student apply for internship positions in different areas of pharmacy.