ENCINO SCIENTIST'S PET SCAN WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.

Byline: TRACY ZABORAC Community Columnist

In case you ever need a PET scan, you can thank Michael Phelps of Encino. His work could save your life.

``PET was created to allow scientists and physicians from different disciplines to come together to develop ways to study the biology of disease as it takes place in the ultimate laboratory - the human body,'' said Phelps, 59, who invented the positron emission tomography scan.

Phelps' PET scan was recently awarded the prestigious Enrico Fermi Award from President Clinton.

``Dr. Phelps made possible an innovative technology that has improved medical research and health care,'' Clinton said in a statement.

Positron emission tomography, first developed by Phelps in 1973, is a medical imaging technique that allows doctors and scientists to watch the biological process of a disease, thereby providing critical information that can help with earlier diagnosis and better therapies.

PET scanning is now the standard for studying the brain, heart and cancer, and provides improved diagnosis for epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular disease and several types of cancers.

``I am deeply honored to receive this award,'' Phelps said. ``I would like to acknowledge my colleague Edward Hoffman, who worked with me when we developed the first PET scanner, as well as many other colleagues here at UCLA who have contributed so much to the success of PET.''

Phelps, the chairman of the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at the University of California, Los Angeles, established the first PET clinic for patient care at the school. There are now more than 800 of the clinics worldwide.

``The work of Mike Phelps represents the best of what UCLA has to offer,'' said UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale.

The Enrico Fermi Award, the government's oldest science and technology prize, honors a lifetime of achievement in the field of nuclear energy. It includes a gold medallion and a $100,000 honorarium from U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson.

Phelps will receive the award during a ceremony that will take place in Washington, D.C., in April.

Several local students have been selected to receive full scholarships to attend the Ryman Program for Young Artists.

Sarah Davis Roggero, Lydia Potapenko and Frankell Ivan Baramdyka of Glendale; Natalie Ann Fabia and Lindsey Nicole Warren of Van Nuys; Alexandra Celia Salkin of La Canada Flintridge; Arianne Pagsishan of Tujunga; Abraham Rodriguez Artuz of Arleta; Sara Melissa Berrenson of Granada Hills; Bunnseng Prom of Burbank; Rhea Nicole Rebbe of North Hills; Matthew David Guerrero of Mission Hills; and Alexandru Tudor Penescu of Reseda.

The artistic high school seniors went through a rigorous selection process and will receive $1,000 for the full cost of instruction, art materials and public transportation.

Classes are taught by professional artists at the Fine Arts Studio at the University of Southern California.

Through the program, the students will sharpen skills, improve portfolios and prepare for college.

Eight-year-old Burbank resident Zachary Dwyer is the winner of a national comic-strip drawing contest, ``Calling Captain Calcium!''

``I just did my best,'' said Dwyer. ``I had no idea I'd win. I'm so excited!''

Dwyer will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship and his school, Roscomare Road School in Los Angeles, will receive $2,500 for its health or physical education curricula.

The school's principal, Giuseppa DiMarco, says the money will go toward new playground equipment.

Corie Chapman of Lancaster was a runner-up and will receive a $500 scholarship.

And since The Minute Maid Co. and Kellogg Co. sponsored the contest, the kids will get a year's supply of calcium-fortified orange juice and cereal bars.

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