The first radiopharmacist training program began at University of Southern California as a Master’s program.  The faculty included Walter Wolfe, Mannie Tubis and Carol Marcus.  A graduate of this program, Richard Keesee, had a dream to commercialize radiopharmacy.  He migrated to the University of New Mexico in 1971 and was successful in obtaining the first pharmacy licensure for a radiopharmacy.  The first commercial radiopharmacy opened at UNM in 1972.  In 1973, UNM began offering the first certificate program for radiopharmacist education and training.  Many of the early graduates went onto establish commercial radiopharmacies during the early 1970’s.  The outgrowth from this simple dream is now a reality with nearly 500 radiopharmacies operating in the US as established contributors to the health care system.