The SOT Council and the Endowment Fund Board greatly appreciate the financial and other contributions made to boost SOT activities. Congratulations to the Mehendale family for their support of the Society and for achieving Visionary status through their significant financial support of the Rekha and Harihara Mehendale Welcome Award Fund for International Graduate Students.
Thanks to a major gift from the Mehendale family, increased funding will be available for one or more awards each year from the Rekha and Harihara Mehendale Welcome Award for International Students. Neelesh Mehendale, MD, the son of Harihara and Rekha, said, “The Mehendale family was inspired to provide a gift toward the Rekha and Harihara Mehendale Welcome Award for International Students because Rekha and Hari lived through the experience of traveling to a new country with limited family and resources. They later dedicated much of their lives to helping new students not only adapt to a new academic environment but also assisting these students in assimilating into a new culture while still acting as extended family members. By providing this additional gift, the Mehendale Family is ensuring that more graduate students can benefit from this resource as they transition to their new phase of life.”
The photo accompanying this article is of Ms. Mehendale and their grandchildren and was selected to honor these grandchildren but also symbolize the legacy which will be carried forward to generations of toxicology students as their research mentors echo not only the probing of research questions but also conveying the humanity and public service imbued by the Mehendales.
In 2026, the SOT award recognizing outstanding undergraduate educators will be renamed the Rekha Mehendale Undergraduate Educator Award.
Dr. Harihara Mehendale’s most enduring legacy from his 41 years of active scientific life was mentoring 36 postdoctoral scholars and 32 PhD students, not only scientifically but also as a life coach. He and his wife provided a caring sanctuary away from home for trainees. The Mehendale Welcome Fund was established in 2023 through the generosity of multiple donors, many of whom had personally experienced the hospitality of the Mehendales when they began their graduate work in his research lab.
Dr. Mehendale’s most consequential contribution to toxicology was to elucidate the compensatory tissue regeneration that occurs after chemical exposure. He had three decades of National Institutes of Health support, authored over 265 publications, and investigated four organ systems, including liver, kidney, blood, and lung. Among the recognitions that he received were the SOT Education Award, American College of Toxicology Lifetime Achievement Award, and the SOT Distinguished Toxicology Scholar Award.
Dr. Mehendale left the remote farm in India he called home at age six, urged by his father to obtain education not available there. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences in India, he completed his PhD in 1969 at North Carolina State University. Postdoctoral experience followed at the University of Kentucky and the NIEHS National Toxicology Program. His first faculty appointment was at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. From 1992 to 2016, he was the Kitty DeGree Endowed Chair in Toxicology at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He also was Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Toxicology for 10 years.
After marrying Harihara in 1967, Ms. Mehendale came to the United States in 1968 despite having no family or contacts in the US. She adapted to her new life and supported Dr. Mehendale through his postdoctoral training and as he rose through the faculty ranks at his various institutions. She earned her associate’s degree in the US and worked as a civil engineer. She helped raise two children and is now a proud grandparent to four grandchildren: Deven Foley, Sona Foley, Leena Mehendale, and Raja Mehendale. Deven has graduated from college and is working as a consultant, and the other three are currently in college.
Ms. Mehendale’s home was always open to Dr. Mehendale’s graduate students, as she knew what it felt like to move to a new place without friends and family. She was always there to provide homecooked meals, motherly advice, and support for these students who had moved so far away from their families. She was integral to the development of these students outside of the lab and their integration into their new society.
The importance of education, mentoring, and teaching was always at the forefront of Dr. Mehendale’s mind. He was immensely proud of his graduate students, who continue to embody his quest for learning and service.
Vivek Dadhania, who helped establish the Endowment Fund stated, “The award goes beyond financial help! It’s about celebrating mentorship and reflecting on the remarkable support shown by Rekha and Harihara Mehendale. Dr. Mehendale’s outstanding mentoring emphasizes the crucial role of timely guidance in academic journeys. As a fortunate recipient of Dr. Mehendale’s guidance and financial aid, I deeply appreciate his immense support. This award also demonstrates the SOT commitment to … offering real support to students from various backgrounds.” In reaching Lifetime Paracelsus Visionary status, the Mehendale family’s support ensures that students will continue to receive support adjusting to their new circumstances.
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