The Society of Toxicology, at its 2012 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, awarded its highest member honor, the Merit Award, to Curtis D. Klaassen. The Merit Award is presented in recognition of distinguished contributions to toxicology throughout an entire career in areas of research, teaching, consulting, and service to the Society. Following is the introduction to Dr. Klaassen's award presentation by 2012–2013 SOT Vice President Lois Lehman-McKeeman, who received her PhD, from the University of Kansas Medical Center. "It is likely that I need to make no further introduction, as Curt is widely recognized for his leadership and service to toxicology. However, I will try to highlight his many contributions to capture the essence of honoring him with this award.
Dr. Klaassen is presently University Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he has worked for the past 44 years. During this time he has been instrumental in establishing his department as one of the top departments for research and training in toxicology in the world. In addition to departmental leadership, he has directly trained over 100 PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. From his incredibly productive research efforts, he has published more than 500 original research manuscripts and over 125 book chapters or review articles. If you do the math, he has published on average more than 1 paper a month. He has been recognized internationally as a “highly cited researcher,” and in 2007, ranked as the 7th most-cited researcher in Pharmacology and Toxicology in the world. In addition to those who formally trained with him, Curt developed the Mid-America Toxicology Course, which is frequently used by those seeking certification as toxicologists, and he has been Co-Editor or Editor of the major textbook in toxicology since the 2nd edition of Casarett and Doull’s Toxicology was published.
Dr. Klaassen has served SOT as our president in 1990–1991 and on too many committees to recount. When Toxicological Sciences was launched as the official SOT journal, Society leadership turned to Curt to be its inaugural editor because he brought instant scientific credibility and stature to the journal, and he held this position for more than 5 years.He also served as the President of IUTOX, providing international leadership to toxicology. Curt has won numerous awards for his leadership and service as an educator and scientist. From SOT, he has been recognized with our Achievement Award, Education Award, and the prestigious Burroughs Wellcome Toxicology Scholar Award. In 2010, he was honored by the Women in Toxicology with their Mentoring Award. He also has been recognized at the University of Kansas with numerous awards for research, mentoring, and teaching, and he has been recognized internationally with countless honors of achievement and service to toxicology.
I would be remiss to not briefly comment on Curt Klaassen, the man. He is devoted to his family—a dedicated son, brother, husband, dad, and granddad who enjoys simple family time. He also is a scientific father to all of his trainees, providing compassionate counsel and comfort in times of both professional and personal challenges. Despite how busy he is, he is passionately fanatical about Kansas basketball, and somehow, it is only fitting that the University of Kansas can claim James Naismith, the inventor of the game of basketball, and Curt Klaassen, an architect of toxicology, in its legacy.
The Merit Award is presented to an SOT member to recognize distinguished contributions in areas such as teaching, research, and service to the Society throughout an entire career. Curt Klaassen epitomizes the attributes recognized by the Merit Award. SOT is a better organization, and toxicology is a better science because of Curt Klaassen, and on behalf of the Society, I am honored to present him with the 2012 Merit Award."