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SOT recognizes nonmembers who embody outstanding and sustained achievements in the field of toxicology and/or allied disciplines with Honorary membership.

SOT is bestowing Barry H. Rumack, MD, with Honorary Membership in recognition of his groundbreaking work in determining toxicity risks associated with acetaminophen and developing a treatment for acetaminophen toxicity.

Dr. Rumack earned his BS in microbiology at the University of Chicago and his MD at the University of Wisconsin. He completed his residency at the University of Colorado and fellowships with the National Institutes of Health, University of Chicago, and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (United Kingdom). It was during these fellowships that Dr. Rumack began his instrumental research into the toxic effects of acetaminophen, the culmination of which was the development of the Rumack-Matthew Nomogram that is still in use in emergency departments worldwide to assess the toxicity potential of acetaminophen overdoses.

Upon returning to the University of Colorado as Director of the Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center, Denver Health and Hospitals, Dr. Rumack began his work researching an antidote to acetaminophen toxicity. In 1985, based on an extensive clinical trial on the effects of N-acetylcysteine, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of N-acetylcystaine as an antidote to acetaminophen toxicity—the only approved antidote, which has saved millions of lives around the world.

In more recent times, Dr. Rumack partnered with SOT member Hartmut Jaeschke, PhD, on researching another antidote to acetaminophen toxicity. What they found was that fomepizole has a wider therapeutic window and less side effects, while not inhibiting regeneration. Fomepizole is now in a phase III clinical trial as an adjunct therapy to N-acetylcysteine in late-presenting and severe overdoses of acetaminophen toxicity.

Another accomplishment that has saved countless lives is the creation of the Poisindex, a toxicology database that is utilized in poison control centers across 92 countries.

Dr. Rumack’s 240+ publications have been cited more than 18,000 times (h-factor: 71), and he has received many awards, including the Annual Recognition Award of the American Association of Poison Control Centers (1985); the Clinton Thienes Award of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (1991); an Honorary Doctor degree from Jagellonian University, Krakow, Poland (1995); the Matthew J. Ellenhorn Award from the American College of Medical Toxicology (2001); and the Career Achievement Award of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (2011). More recently (2023), Dr. Rumack was honored with the Prince Mahidol Award from Thailand. This prestigious award is given to an individual “for outstanding innovation, leadership, and achievement in advancing population health, which result in significant and sustained impact on population health and well-being and promote equity and social justice.”

Due to Dr. Rumack’s lifelong work as a clinical toxicologist, SOT is proud to present him with Honorary Membership in the Society.

#Awards