Contributors to the Society of Toxicology (SOT) Endowment Fund are active participants in ensuring that the Society fulfills its vision of “creating a safer and healthier world by advancing the science of toxicology” now and in the future. In the SOT 2013‒2014 fiscal year, the Education, Global Activities, SOT Strategic Priorities, and Student Travel Funds, as well as the Harry W. Hays Memorial Fund, contributed financially to SOT initiatives that address one or more of the Society’s Strategic Priorities. The Honor Roll of Contributors is being recognized in this issue of the Communiqué newsletter blog and is prominently displayed on the SOT website.
Undergraduate Education
During the SOT 2014 Annual Meeting, the fourth Undergraduate Educator Award was presented to William D. Atchison, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University. During his tenure, he has trained 17 PhD students, 6 graduate students, and more than 100 undergraduate students. As noted in his SOT Award description: “Dr. Atchison’s passion is to provide opportunities for undergraduate education in the biomedical sciences coupled with research experiences aimed at under-represented minority students. In collaboration with the University of Puerto Rico, he developed and established a National Institutes of Health—National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes‒funded R25–Diversity Education grant that provides research experiences for Hispanic undergraduates. Dr. Atchison makes annual visits to campuses of the University of Puerto Rico to recruit/interview students for the program. Many of these students have gone on to participate in SOT Annual Meeting by presenting their research. To date, 40 undergraduate students have received training through this program. Similarly, Dr. Atchison has received funding from Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine to initiate a smaller program for preveterinary students.” This award was established to recognize the efforts to increase the pipeline of future toxicologists and is funded via the Endowment Education Fund. Pictured at the right is 2011–2014 SOT Councilor Dori R. Germolec (left) presenting the SOT 2014 Undergraduate Education Award to William D. Atchison (right).
Minority and Undergraduate Student Travel to SOT Annual Meeting
Hundreds of students, many of whom now are leaders in SOT, attended their first meeting by receiving a student travel award funded by the Society. Throughout the more than 53 year history of the Society, it has been recognized that this participation is essential to “building for the future of toxicology.” The Strategic Priorities Fund provided travel support for additional undergraduate students to participate in the Annual Meeting and the Undergraduate Program that is hosted by the Committee on Diversity Initiatives (CDI). This focus on undergraduate participation will continue at the 54th Annual Meeting to be held March 22‒26, 2015 in San Diego, California.
Perry J. Gerry Student Travel Award
The 2014 Perry J. Gehring Diversity Student Travel Award recipient was Pamella B. Tijerina of New York University School of Medicine. This Endowment Fund Award provides special recognition and travel support for an undergraduate or a graduate student who participated in the SOT Undergraduate Minority Program within the last four years and is presenting an abstract at the meeting. Ms. Tijerina participated in the 2011 Undergraduate Education Program. The Awardee is selected by CDI and recognizes Dr. Gehring who served as the 1980‒1981 SOT President. In addition to his important scientific contributions, particularly in biological modeling and evidence-based assessment, he was committed to encouraging individuals from ethnic groups under-represented in the sciences to enter biomedical science and toxicology.
SOT/AstraZeneca/SOT Endowment Fund/IUTOX Travel Awards
SOT/AstraZeneca/SOT Endowment Fund/IUTOX Travel Awards are conferred to either junior or senior scientists from a country where toxicology is under‒represented. These scientists must have an active research program or be currently in the practice of toxicology in order to qualify to attend the SOT Annual Meeting. In 2014, these awards, administered by IUTOX, provided support for 11 awardees who traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, from China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Tunisia. A list of the 2014 recipients is available on the SOT website.
SOT Founders Award
John A. Thomas received the 2014 SOT Founders Award. The announcement of his award stated that “throughout his distinguished career, Dr.
Thomas’s contributions to toxicological sciences in many different areas, ranging from the safety of nutrients and food ingredients to pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, health promoting agents, and environmental chemicals, have been highly recognized by his peers and the scientific community. He continues to be an educator and a scientist, and the discipline of toxicology will continue to benefit from his vision and leadership. During his years in academia, he mentored undergraduate and graduate students, post doctoral fellows, and numerous colleagues.”
As a member of SOT since 1971, Dr. Thomas has served as an SOT Continuing Education Lecturer (1983, 1985, and 1988); SOT Councilor (1985–1987); President of two Regional Chapter Executive Committees: Midwest Chapter (1988) and Gulf Coast Chapter (now Lone Star Chapter–1998); and as the SOT Education Committee Chair (2000). He is the recipient of multiple prestigious awards including the SOT Merit Award (1998). Pictured at the right are SOT 2013–2014 Secretary Judith T. Zelikoff (left), SOT 2014 Founders Award recipient John A. Thomas (center), and 2012–2014 Endowment Fund Board Chair Jeff Handler (right).
Matching Funds Available To Enhance Your Contribution
To add your support to the future of toxicology, please visit the SOT website.