Welcome! Come and meet our PET staff members. What makes the Hamamatsu/Queen’s PET Imaging Center unique and sets us apart, is our highly trained, dedicated, and experienced staff. Our technicians and staff will make every effort to accommodate your personal needs during your PET scan. With staff members who have been in the medical imaging field for decades, you will absolutely find no better staff in the State who will walk you through your PET scan experience and make sure that your health is priority #1.

Marc Coel, M.D. , Director of Nuclear Medicine

Marc Coel, M.D. is Director of Nuclear Medicine, Queen’s Medical Center, and Professor of Radiology at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii. Before coming to the Queen’s Medical Center, he was previously Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of California, San Diego. 

A medically noted author, he has published more than 80 scientific peer‑reviewed articles, 5 book chapters and an Atlas of Nuclear Medicine text.  In addition to his publications, he also takes special interest in the clinical arena and has conducted many clinical trials, the latest of which have been for the diagnostic use of radiopeptides and radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies in the diagnosis of various malignancies. 

He, along with Dr. Henry Wagner, was responsible for the collaboration between The Queen’s Medical Center and Hamamatsu Photonics in the establishment of the PET Center located in the Queen’s Medical Center.

As a key member of the PET team, Dr. Ko has been working in the nuclear medicine field for most of his professional career. Prior to coming to Hawaii, he was a clinical assistant professor at West Virginia Medical Center in the Radiology Department. Dr. Ko started his medical career in Hawaii as an attending radiologist in the nuclear medicine department at Queen’s Medical Center in 1990.

He is one of two radiologists dedicated to PET, responsible for interpreting PET scans. Together, Drs. Ko and Coel form the best PET team around. Dr. Ko has a particular interest in imaging of the brain.

Ted graduated from the College of DuPage in Chicago, IL in 1990 and majored in Nuclear Medicine. Once out of college, his work experience solidified his educational foundation making him an outstanding PET expert who has both medical/theoretical training, coupled with an extensive work experience in nuclear medicine and more specifically, Positron Emission Tomography.

Most recently before coming to the Hamamatsu/Queen’s PET Imaging Center, Ted managed the Midwest area PET Division for MEDCAP Imaging (A National Nevada Based Imaging Co.) for 2 years from May 2000- May 2002.

He also helped establish the first free standing outpatient PET Center in West Suburban Chicago, IL.  Prior to that, he served as a  PET Imaging Technologist at Glenwood Medical Imaging, Joliet IL.

He was also the President of the Central Chapter, Society of Nuclear Medicine (ATACA)  in 1996, 1997, 1998. As well as a Clinical Instructor for the College of DuPage, School of Nuclear Medicine 1991-2000 and Ted served on the Board of Advisors, College of DuPage, Nuclear Medicine 1990-1998

Patrick has been in the Nuclear Medicine field for almost 30 years. Patrick graduated from Seattle University in 1973 with a degree in biology/chemistry. The following year he received a specialized degree in nuclear medicine technology. During his 30 years in the field of nuclear medicine, Patrick has worked both in California and Hawaii serving in various nuclear medicine roles from senior nuclear medicine technologist, to manager of imaging services (MRI, CT, PET, Cyclotron, PACS).

He is a member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Nuclear Medicine Technologists as well as serving as the 2003 Chairperson for the State of Hawaii Board of Radiologic Technology.

Sara has the distinct honor of being the first employee hired at the Hamamatsu/QMC PET Imaging Center and has done literally thousands of PET scans since the Centers inception in 1997. Back then, she was the workhorse, doing everything from getting pre-authorizations for payment, to processing PET images on the PC. Now days, however, she focuses on the patient ensuring that the PET scans are done right.

As a PET technologist, Sara is responsible for the entire PET scan process which includes placing the patient on the scanner table, adjusting them for the correct positioning, administering the radioisotopes, processing the images on PC, and interacting with the patient during the entire process.

Barbara has been around PET and nuclear medicine since 1992. From 1992-1994, Barbara was a nuclear medicine assistant at the Queen’s Medical Center. She found it to her liking so much, that she went back to school and returned to the nuclear medicine department in June 2001. In November 2001, she transferred to the PET Center as a PET Imaging Assistant. Barbara got her degree in Zoology from UH in 1994.

Barbara’s responsibilities are to make sure that each patient is comfortably taken care of during every phase while in the PET Center. She preps the patient by checking their glucose level, administering the IV, ensures that all instructions have been followed, and checks up on the patients during the PET scan. But it does not stop there. Barbara also has administrative duties which include processing reports and entering patient data into the database

Ryvette has been with the PET Center since 1998 and employed by Queen’s Medical Center since 1991. With over 11 years of medical work experience under her belt, she has extensive experience working in various diagnostic departments which include MRI, CT, x-ray, ultrasound, cardiac invasive/non-invasive, as well as her current PET.

Ryvette schedules patients and is in charge of verifying insurance coverage for all PET patients. If you have any questions regarding PET coverage, Ryvette is the right person to contact as you may be hearing from her as she provides you with valuable information concerning your exam and how you need to prepare for it.

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