NAA Monthly Meeting

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) utilize radioactive isotopes that originate in astrophysical environments. The presentation examines the cosmic nucleosynthesis pathways that ultimately enable modern medical imaging. Beginning with the primordial early universe, the talk traces the formation of the lightest elements and follows their transformation through stellar nucleosynthesis, where successive fusion processes build heavier nuclei, until explosive nucleosynthesis takes over. This is the realm where supernovae and related transient events create the heavy and neutron-rich elements essential to contemporary detector materials and radiopharmaceutical chemistry. The connection between these astrophysical processes and the isotopes of SPECT and PET are explained, and how terrestrial reactors and particle accelerators replicate key aspects of stellar nuclear physics to create them. The presentation frames nuclear medicine as a direct technological descendant of cosmic element formation.

Dr. Wesley Gohn

The speaker is Dr. Wesley Gohn, a Staff Scientist at Siemens Healthineers, where he conducts research and development in medical imaging, with a focus on SPECT technologies. Trained as a nuclear physicist, his work integrates physics, computing, and data science to improve image quality and clinical utility in nuclear medicine.

Prior to entering the medical imaging field, Dr. Gohn participated in major physics experiments at national laboratories, including the Muon g–2 experiment at Fermilab and was a researcher at the Paul Scherrer Institute and Jefferson Lab. He earned a B.S. in Physics from Indiana University and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Gohn has been a member of NAA for five years.

You may also like the following events from Naperville Astronomical Association:

• Next Saturday, 7th February, 07:30 pm, Free Public Stargazing: Naperville Riverwalk in Naperville
• Next month, 17th February, 07:30 pm, Astronomy Fundamentals : Core Concepts About Telescopes in Naperville
• This March, 21st March, 07:30 pm, Free Public Stargazing: Naperville Riverwalk in Naperville

Also check out other Meetups in Naperville.