of thyroid cancer, MIBG in the assessment of pheochromocytoma, radiolabled WBCs in the evaluation of infection, and 99mTc in the detection of gastrointestinal bleeds, among a host of other discoveries. Alavi has been associated with the University of Pennsylvania for all of his career, beginning with a fellowship in Nuclear Medicine in 1971–1973. He was promoted to professor of radiology in 1982, and served as chief of the Division of Nuclear Medicine from 1979 to 2006. Since then, he has been the director of research education in the Department of Radiology. Alavi has performed numerous research studies utilizing FDG since its inception. Furthermore, soon after the introduction of CT in the early '70s and MRI in the early '80s, Alavi has conducted research that combines PET with these imaging modalities. He is an expert in modern imaging techniques and the clinical applications of PET imaging for the detection of cancer and other disorders including dementia, seizures, cardiovascular disease, and infection. Alavi served as a member and chairman of scientific study sections at the NIH and American Cancer Society. He has trained and mentored countless students in modern imaging techniques, and many of his former students and research fellows now occupy leadership positions in medical imaging across the world. 1971-1973: Fellow, Nuclear Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 1973-1974: Instructor in Radiology, Dept. of Radiology, Univ. of Pennsylvania School of Medicine 1974-1977: Assistant Professor Radiology, Dept. of Radiology, Univ. of Pennsylvania School of Medicine 1977-1982: Associate Professor of Radiology, Dept. of Radiology, Univ. of Pennsylvania School of Medicine 1979-2006: Chief, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania 1979-1991: Co-director, Positron Emission Tomography Center, University of Pennsylvania 1991-2006: Medical Director, Positron Emission Tomography Center, University of Pennsylvania 1982–present: Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine 1984–present: Associate Director, Center for the Study of Aging, University of Pennsylvania 2006–present: Director of Research Education, Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania PET Positron emission tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique that produces a three-dimensional image of molecular processes in the body. The system detects pairs of gamma rays emitted as a result of the annihilation of positrons emitted from radionuclides (tracers), which are used to label biologically active molecules. One of the factors most responsible for the widespread adoption of positron imaging was the development of radiopharmaceuticals. In particular, the development of labeled 2-Fludeoxyglucose