Loyola Physician Honored by Nuclear Medicine Group

Robert Henkin, MD, of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine has received a lifetime achievement award from the American College of Nuclear Physicians (ACNP).

ACNP is a professional society that represents the interests of nuclear medicine physicians before legislative and regulatory bodies.

"I feel tremendously honored," Henkin said.

Henkin, 66, is a professor emeritus in the Department of Radiology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He practiced at Loyola from 1976 until retirement in 2005.

Henkin has published about 100 research papers and is executive editor of the two most widely used nuclear medicine textbooks. He still works about three days a week teaching, consulting and representing ACNP before government agencies.

Nuclear medicine uses small amounts of radioactive materials to diagnose and treat disease. "A lot of exciting things are going on in the field now," Henkin said.

Henkin grew up in New York City. He went to medical school at New York University and did his residency in nuclear medicine at Northwestern University. He said he decided to specialize in nuclear medicine "because it has chemistry, engineering and physics -- all the things I love. It's been a fun ride the whole time."