The Society of Toxicology (SOT) learned of the passing of SOT Charter Member John Doull, MD, PhD, FAACT, ATS, on March 24, 2017. Dr. Doull was Professor Emeritus, University of Kansas Medical School and an author of Casarett and Doull’s Toxicology: The Basics of Poisons. His obituary states that "His professional accomplishments are significant, but John was always modest and would not want them all listed. He had significant awards and honors worldwide."
Nonetheless, these "accomplishments" were extraordinary and recognized throughout his career. Among these accolades, in 1993 he was presented with the SOT Merit Award conferred to a member of SOT in recognition of distinguished contributions to toxicology throughout an entire career in areas such as research, teaching, regulatory activities, consulting, and service to the Society. The SOT John Doull Endowment Fund was established in 2010 to honor his “more than 50 years of productive contributions to teaching, research, and application of toxicological principles to safety evaluation in the support and enhancement of public health.” This fund provides annual awards to graduate students or postdoctoral fellows for their research abstracts relating to Health Risk Assessment at the SOT Annual Meeting.
He was the SOT 1986‒1987 President as well as the first recipient of the SOT Founders Award. His scientific interests were diverse and wide as evidenced by his membership in the Clinical and Translational Toxicology, Comparative and Veterinary, Food Safety, Occupational and Public Health, Regulatory and Safety Assessment, and Risk Assessment Specialty Sections as well as the Central States Regional Chapter, which also confers a John Doull Award. This award is presented each year to honor the contributions of its members to the discipline of toxicology and the chapter.
In the field of Toxicology, he was well-known for his scientific expertise as well as for nurturing the next generation of toxicologists. He served as a mentor to two generations of toxicologist while at the University of Chicago and the University of Kansas as well as his long-standing participation in Society activities including the Undergraduate Diversity Program held in conjunction with the SOT Annual Meeting. He served on many national advisory panels and boards, including those of the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council and the National Institutes of Health. On behalf of the Society, I know that I am one among many who will miss his brilliance, affability, jaunty demeanor, and dashing bow ties.