Realizing the Full Potential of Membership with the American College of Toxicology
Hosted by American College of Toxicology, presented by the Early Career Professional Subcommittee
Moderated by Katherine Duke and Benjamin A. Elser
Released: December 16, 2019
Abstract: The American College of Toxicology (ACT) celebrated the 40th Annual Meeting in the fall of 2019. During this milestone anniversary, we are reminded of the accomplishments of the ACT and its members. This webinar will highlight the benefits of being an ACT member and detail opportunities available to both junior and senior scientists alike. We will hear from veteran ACT members on the many facets and benefits available to you within the organization:
- In honor of Dr. Mildred Christian, ACT’s original historian, Dr. Dave Serota will give an overview of the splendid and unique history of ACT and highlighted how the College has become what it is today. The presentation focused on the numerous changes that have occurred over the years in terms of both the activities of the College and the structure of the Annual Meeting, including a historical description of why ACT was created and the difficulties that it faced in its early years.
- Membership in the American College of Toxicology is a doorway to a multitude of opportunities for advancing one's scientific development and career impact. ACT offers memberships levels appropriate to each scientist's career stage. Dr. Bill Mattes provided detail on membership levels and how to join the College. He also highlighted the impressive work that International Journal of Toxicology, the official journal of ACT, is doing to promote high-quality research in the field and how you can get involved!
- As an ACT member, "you've got a friend," but you could also have a mentor! The College takes Educate, Lead and Serve seriously and to that end, through its Mentorship Program, it connects experienced ACT professionals willing to offer their insight and advice to junior members. Dr. Bill Mattes provided information on the program and how a member can take advantage of it.
- Consistent with its mission to Educate, Lead and Serve, ACT proudly offers a wide array of high-quality educational opportunities for toxicologists at all stages of professional development. Dr. Grace Furman highlighted the various learning opportunities available through the College, including Continuing Education (CE) courses offered each year at the ACT Annual Meeting, ACT-hosted classroom-based courses, and ACT-hosted online courses. A good toxicologist is always in training!
- One of the greatest perks of ACT is the Annual Meeting! 2018-2019 ACT President, Dr. David Compton, spoke to the benefits of attending the Annual Meeting and how to get the most out of it.
Webinar Presentations:
The History of ACT ▸
Speaker: David G. Serota, PhD, DABT, ACT CHARGE40 Working Group Chair, 7th Inning Stretch Consulting, LLC
Membership and Mentorship Program ▸
Speaker: William B. Mattes, PhD, DABT, 2018–19 ACT Membership Committee Chair, Division of Systems Biology National Center for Toxicological Research, US FDA
Educational Opportunities ▸
Speaker: Grace M. Furman, PhD, DABT, 2018–2019 ACT Councilor and Education Committee Chair, Paracelsus, Inc.
Annual Meeting ▸
Speaker: David R. Compton, PhD, DABT, 2018–19 ACT President, Sanofi US
About the Speakers:
Dr. Dave Serota was employed in the CRO industry for 40 years as both a study director and corporate leader, retiring from MPI Research in 2016 as Senior Vice President and Director of Research. Following his retirement, he created the consulting organization, 7th Inning Stretch Consulting LLC, which supports sponsors conducting preclinical toxicology testing. He joined ACT in 1981 and has held many appointed and elected positions including Membership Committee (2004–06), Councilor (2007–09), Vice President (2010), President-elect (2011), President (2012), Past President (2013) Resource Committee Chair (2013–14), Endowment Committee (2015), and chair of the CHARGE40 Working Group (2018–19). In 2015, he was the recipient of the ACT Service Award.
Dr. Bill Mattes is the director of the Division of Systems Biology, part of the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research. He has also been an independent consultant, director of C-Path’s Predictive Safety Testing Consortium (PSTC) and held various positions in biotech (Gene Logic) and pharma (Phamacia, Ciba Geigy). He is a diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology, and has been a Full member of the American College of Toxicology (ACT) since 2007. He has served on the ACT Website Committee (2012–14), the Program Committee and has been on Council (2018–20). He currently fills the guitar chair for Jazzicology at the ACT Annual Meeting.
Dr. Grace Furman has been an independent consultant since 2007 and a Full member of ACT since 2000. Since joining the College, Grace has held several elected positions including Nominating Committee member (2008), Councilor (first term; 2009–11), Secretary (2013–14), Councilor (second term; 2017–20) and Education Committee Co-Chair (2017–18). Grace is currently the Chair of the 2019 Education Committee and an ex officio member of the 2019 Program Committee. In addition, Grace participates as a mentor in the ACT Mentorship Program.
Dr. David Compton has over 30 years of professional experience, having had careers as a university professor, as a CRO safety pharmacologist and toxicology Study Director, and as a toxicologist in the pharmaceutical industry. He received the Students’ Choice Award for Faculty of the Year in 1994, and during this academic period published 60 manuscripts (14 first author) and co-authored 7 book chapters (5 first author). While working in industry Dave was Editor and chapter author of a book published in 2015 (Nonclinical Assessment of Abuse Potential for New Pharmaceuticals). David has been Full member of ACT since 1998, and was first certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT) in 1999. David has served multiple roles within ACT in the last 12 of his 21-year membership: Nominating Committee (2007–08); Symposium Organizer/Chair/Speaker (2008); Chair, ACT 30thAnniversary Celebration Committee (2008–09); Awards Committee (2008-10); Council term (1st term; Dec 2010 to Nov 2013); Chair, ad hoc Website Committee (Jan 2013 to Dec 2014); Council (2nd term; Dec 2013 to Nov 2016); Symposium Organizer/Chair (2016); Vice President (2016–17); President-elect (2017–18); and President (2018–19) with duties as Past-President to be served (2019–20). David is a member of the Editorial Board of International Journal of Toxicology (2012 to present).