Ruth Tesar

Ms. Ruth Tesar has been involved in the field of Molecular Imaging since 1993. Ms. Tesar gained her experience in PET center operations where she continues to provide management oversight as the CEO to Northern California PET Imaging Center, one of the first free-standing PET centers established in the US. The PET center team helped to establish the data to support many of the clinical indications for PET in oncology and continues to be a leader in the PET field. She was involved as an officer in the start up of PETNET Pharmaceuticals in 1996. Most recently she has been involved in a cooperative venture to produce biomarkers for research, ultimately for clinical use, Optimal Tracers.

She was intensely involved in gaining insurance coverage for PET procedures by private payers and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She has served as President of the Institute for Clinical PET (now World Molecular Imaging Society) and served as a Board member of that organization for seven years. She is a member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, serving on various committees including the PET Center of Excellence Board of Directors.

Ms. Tesar has authored multiple peer-reviewed papers and abstracts on the subjects of clinical PET, the cost benefits of PET in clinical practice, and the payment for PET procedures. She is an invited speaker on the subjects of reimbursement and marketing for clinical PET. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University, Nuclear Medicine Technology Training from the University of California at Davis, and completed graduate work in health administration and health policy at the University of Southern California. She is located in Sacramento, California.