Meeting Location: First United Methodist Church, 603 State Street, Schenectady
Thanks to Rudy Dehn W2JVF and Darrin Nash KD2LCH, this year’s SARA meetings will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church.
The History, Science, Technology, and Development of Computed Tomography (CT) Medical Imaging (a professional and personal life experience)
Speaker: Bob Saltzman WB2ARK
It is likely that most people have had, or will have a CT scan at some time in their life. Have you ever wondered how this complex, extraordinary, and often life-saving medical technology works?
Bob will describe the history, science, technology, and development of the CT medical imaging scanner, using a content-rich computer-based slide presentation and visual aids. His talk will include a look into the discovery and basic concepts of x-rays and the fundamentals of medical imaging, with the objective of demystifying the basic notions associated with CT.
Bob was a member of the General Electric Corporate Research and Development (now Global Research) team that developed GE’s first CT scanners in the late 1970’s. He will relate parts of the remarkable story of this challenging and successful effort to deliver this significantly improved diagnostic device to the medical community, along with his personal experiences working on this project. He will also show examples of his collection of artifacts from the CT project at GE, as time permits.
This presentation was initially developed for and given to GE Global Research and GE Healthcare.
It has since been presented to the Saratoga Academy for Lifelong Learning and the Union College Academy for Lifelong Learning, and will be given to the Medical Society of Schenectady County.
A native of White Plains, NY, Bob earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Union College in 1969, and a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Union Graduate College in 1976. He still is actively involved with Union’s Alumni Council.
Bob was a senior computer systems architect at General Electric Global Research, where he was involved with Internet and intranet-based World Wide Web systems architecture, digital streaming multimedia, computer graphics, research collaboration, laboratory experiment control systems, electronic mail, and network security. He participated in the development of a computer-controlled secure radio dispatching system for several large metropolitan police departments. He developed the radiological graphics system for GE’s first CT medical imaging scanner. He was a member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Graphics, and holds a patent. He retired in 2014 after almost 45 years with GE.
Bob has expertise in personal computers and computer security, photography, music, and has been an FCC licensed amateur operator since 1960 (now advanced class). He worked in theater sound and lighting, and in broadcast television and radio as a disk jockey, sports announcer, and engineer. He has worked with a rock and roll band and been involved in the professional display fireworks business since 1983. Bob has been a researcher and expert on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a topic on which he has lectured nationwide since 1970. Having held several officer ranks, he was a trained firefighter and became a New York State certified Advanced Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic in 1979 (now retired). He was a member of a county-wide Critical Incident Stress Debriefing team for emergency personnel. He is now involved with the Red Cross blood donation program. Bob has two adult children, both involved in the medical field.
Bob is currently on the Curriculum and Special Events Committees of the Union College Academy for Lifelong Learning, where he attends, helps to develop, and teaches courses.