Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Nyu Medical Center on 01/08/15 For personal use only.
CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY 14 (2),pp. 143- 146 ( 1979)
History and Development of the California Association of Toxicologists
RICHARD F. SHAW, B.S. San Diego County Coroner's Office San Diego, California 92123 BRYAN S. FINKLE, Ph.D. Center F o r Human Toxicology University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
In an effort to provide a mechanism whereby toxicologists in California could meet periodically to discuss common problems, compare c a s e s and experimental data, present analytical methods, and exchange other information and ideas pertinent to their professional responsibilities, several forensic toxicologists in attendance a t the American Academy of Forensic Sciences conference in Hawaii, February 1967, met and formulated plans f o r the first organizational meeting of the Association which was subsequently held in San Diego, California, in May 1967. The San Diego meeting was attended by 11 forensic toxicologists, but in addition l e t t e r s expressing strong support for the new idea were received from several other practicing toxicologists. There was unanimous agreement that a need existed f o r closer cooperation among all toxicologists (clinical, forensic, those in government, and those in private laboratories) f o r prompt exchange of information and new ideas on developments in the field.
143 Copyright 0 1979 hy Marcel Dekker. Inc All Rights Reserved. Neither this work nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Nyu Medical Center on 01/08/15 For personal use only.
144
SHAW AND FINKLE
It was decided to hold meetings four times each year, on Saturday afternoons, at a location convenient to a major airport in Northern o r Southern California. The meetings were to be practical, roundtable working sessions characterized by complete frankness aimed at mutual assistance. Several topics were suggested, and for the first meeting barbiturate case problems including investigative history, analysis, and interpretation of results were chosen for discussion. Thus, on the 27th of May, 1967 the California Association of Toxicologists (CAT) was born. The Association continued to meet quarterly on an informal basis for approximately 6 years. At first, membership was mainly drawn from Coroner, Sheriff, Medical Examiner, and District Attorney toxicologists, but it steadily grew and was strengthened by toxicology personnel from private, government, clinical, and hospital laboratories. Members found the agenda and work a t the meetings was such that actual attendance and participation was necessary to gain full benefit; in consequence, attendance grew from 11 a t the initial meeting to 40-50 people per meeting during subsequent years. Today it is not unusual to have more than 100 toxicologists meeting for a whole day-donating four Saturdays each year. The group discussion at the early meetings developed spontaneously from daily problems that confronted the toxicologist, and although the topics would perhaps now seem mundane, they did provide a means for cooperative professional support. The organizational duties during these early times were informally performed by Bryan S. Finkle and Richard F. Shaw, who collectively recorded and distributed the proceedings to all participants and to those with a legitimate professional interest. It was gratifying, and provided considerable encouragement to the group, that several coroners, forensic pathologists, and medicolegal investigators showed an active interest in these Saturday working parties. As the membership grew to the 100 mark, there became an obvious need for more formal organization, with a simple but necessary constitution, by-law guidelines, officers, and registration of the CAT' s name at the State Capitol. The meetings had by now extended to full day sessions, and membership, although still primarily composed of Californians, included practicing toxicologists from the states of Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, Texas, Wisconsin, Missouri, Connecticut, and North Carolina. More recently, corresponding members from Australia and the Netherlands have been accepted into the Association. The need for guidance and control was accepted by the membership, and in 1973 the election of the first permanent officers took place. They were P. C. Reynolds, President; C. B. Walberg, Vice President; R. F. Shaw, SecretaryTreasurer; R. H. Cravey, Recording Secretary; and B. S. Finkle, Member at Large.
Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Nyu Medical Center on 01/08/15 For personal use only.
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF TOXICOLOGISTS
145
Today the Association continues to prosper, both in membership, which now exceeds one hundred sixty, and in professional recognition as a society composed of scientists dedicated to improve the practice, elevate the standards, and advance the cause of toxicology. To these ends the California Association of Toxicologists has to a great degree achieved the goals it set for itself. Increased size and organization have inevitably changed the original informal roundtable sessions to a formal audience and a presented program. However, any loss of personal touch has in large measure been compensated for by the increased program possibilities and scope of activities permitted by the broader base. F o r example; in addition to the completion of 44 consecutive quarterly meetings, the Association has conducted one day workshops in radioimmunoassay, high-pressure liquid chromatography, and gas-liquid chromatography (nitrogen, phosphorus, and electron-capture detectors) techniques to update the expertise of members in new applications to toxicologic analysis. It h a s been possible to periodically invite speakers and guest participants from many areas of the United States who have substantially added to the quality of the programs and perspective of the California membership. Size, professionalism, and scientific credibility have attracted such occasional sponsorship and support from the private sector and State recognition that the Association is often consulted by Government committees and other officials on matters pertinent to the toxicology profession. Not least of the very broad range of these cooperative projects and consultancies are tasks as diverse as the continuing survey of the incidence of drugs in drivers, assistance to the State in formulating their forensic alcohol analysis program, and, most recently, the privilege to be a sponsor for the founding of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology; CAT is now proud to recognize 10 members who have received their Board Certification in Forensic Toxicology. The projects undertaken by the Association as a whole or by groups within the membership have often had consequences of professional importance far beyond the immediate practical work. The implicit development of strong relationships between different subspecialists in toxicology (hitherto viewed as separate), such as clinical and forensic toxicologists, the promotion of mutual respect and recognition of shared responsibilities with pathologists, investigators, lawyers, and even with scientists from analytical instrument companies and biomedical laboratories in private enterprise has had a healthy, vitalizing effect that h a s done much to mature a group whose vision would otherwise have almost certainly become narrow and close. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the willingness of members from all walks of life to share their scientific data and results of applied research and voluntarily involve themselves in proficiency testing accompanied by open constructive criticism of performance standards. It is now clear, 11 years later, that the Association was formed in
146
SHAW AND FINKLE
Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Nyu Medical Center on 01/08/15 For personal use only.
response to needs mostly felt and ill-defined a t the time but nonetheless real. However, the urge for professional growth and recognition has proven to be a worthy motivation to accomplish important practical tasks: most notably to weld a diverse group of biomedical scientists within California into an association in which each recognizes their responsibility to the common purposes of toxicology, a science whose professionals will have a critical influence on the medical health and environmental welfare of society in the next decade.
CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY 14 (2),pp. 143- 146 ( 1979)
History and Development of the California Association of Toxicologists
RICHARD F. SHAW, B.S. San Diego County Coroner's Office San Diego, California 92123 BRYAN S. FINKLE, Ph.D. Center F o r Human Toxicology University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
In an effort to provide a mechanism whereby toxicologists in California could meet periodically to discuss common problems, compare c a s e s and experimental data, present analytical methods, and exchange other information and ideas pertinent to their professional responsibilities, several forensic toxicologists in attendance a t the American Academy of Forensic Sciences conference in Hawaii, February 1967, met and formulated plans f o r the first organizational meeting of the Association which was subsequently held in San Diego, California, in May 1967. The San Diego meeting was attended by 11 forensic toxicologists, but in addition l e t t e r s expressing strong support for the new idea were received from several other practicing toxicologists. There was unanimous agreement that a need existed f o r closer cooperation among all toxicologists (clinical, forensic, those in government, and those in private laboratories) f o r prompt exchange of information and new ideas on developments in the field.
143 Copyright 0 1979 hy Marcel Dekker. Inc All Rights Reserved. Neither this work nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Nyu Medical Center on 01/08/15 For personal use only.
144
SHAW AND FINKLE
It was decided to hold meetings four times each year, on Saturday afternoons, at a location convenient to a major airport in Northern o r Southern California. The meetings were to be practical, roundtable working sessions characterized by complete frankness aimed at mutual assistance. Several topics were suggested, and for the first meeting barbiturate case problems including investigative history, analysis, and interpretation of results were chosen for discussion. Thus, on the 27th of May, 1967 the California Association of Toxicologists (CAT) was born. The Association continued to meet quarterly on an informal basis for approximately 6 years. At first, membership was mainly drawn from Coroner, Sheriff, Medical Examiner, and District Attorney toxicologists, but it steadily grew and was strengthened by toxicology personnel from private, government, clinical, and hospital laboratories. Members found the agenda and work a t the meetings was such that actual attendance and participation was necessary to gain full benefit; in consequence, attendance grew from 11 a t the initial meeting to 40-50 people per meeting during subsequent years. Today it is not unusual to have more than 100 toxicologists meeting for a whole day-donating four Saturdays each year. The group discussion at the early meetings developed spontaneously from daily problems that confronted the toxicologist, and although the topics would perhaps now seem mundane, they did provide a means for cooperative professional support. The organizational duties during these early times were informally performed by Bryan S. Finkle and Richard F. Shaw, who collectively recorded and distributed the proceedings to all participants and to those with a legitimate professional interest. It was gratifying, and provided considerable encouragement to the group, that several coroners, forensic pathologists, and medicolegal investigators showed an active interest in these Saturday working parties. As the membership grew to the 100 mark, there became an obvious need for more formal organization, with a simple but necessary constitution, by-law guidelines, officers, and registration of the CAT' s name at the State Capitol. The meetings had by now extended to full day sessions, and membership, although still primarily composed of Californians, included practicing toxicologists from the states of Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, Texas, Wisconsin, Missouri, Connecticut, and North Carolina. More recently, corresponding members from Australia and the Netherlands have been accepted into the Association. The need for guidance and control was accepted by the membership, and in 1973 the election of the first permanent officers took place. They were P. C. Reynolds, President; C. B. Walberg, Vice President; R. F. Shaw, SecretaryTreasurer; R. H. Cravey, Recording Secretary; and B. S. Finkle, Member at Large.
Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Nyu Medical Center on 01/08/15 For personal use only.
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF TOXICOLOGISTS
145
Today the Association continues to prosper, both in membership, which now exceeds one hundred sixty, and in professional recognition as a society composed of scientists dedicated to improve the practice, elevate the standards, and advance the cause of toxicology. To these ends the California Association of Toxicologists has to a great degree achieved the goals it set for itself. Increased size and organization have inevitably changed the original informal roundtable sessions to a formal audience and a presented program. However, any loss of personal touch has in large measure been compensated for by the increased program possibilities and scope of activities permitted by the broader base. F o r example; in addition to the completion of 44 consecutive quarterly meetings, the Association has conducted one day workshops in radioimmunoassay, high-pressure liquid chromatography, and gas-liquid chromatography (nitrogen, phosphorus, and electron-capture detectors) techniques to update the expertise of members in new applications to toxicologic analysis. It h a s been possible to periodically invite speakers and guest participants from many areas of the United States who have substantially added to the quality of the programs and perspective of the California membership. Size, professionalism, and scientific credibility have attracted such occasional sponsorship and support from the private sector and State recognition that the Association is often consulted by Government committees and other officials on matters pertinent to the toxicology profession. Not least of the very broad range of these cooperative projects and consultancies are tasks as diverse as the continuing survey of the incidence of drugs in drivers, assistance to the State in formulating their forensic alcohol analysis program, and, most recently, the privilege to be a sponsor for the founding of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology; CAT is now proud to recognize 10 members who have received their Board Certification in Forensic Toxicology. The projects undertaken by the Association as a whole or by groups within the membership have often had consequences of professional importance far beyond the immediate practical work. The implicit development of strong relationships between different subspecialists in toxicology (hitherto viewed as separate), such as clinical and forensic toxicologists, the promotion of mutual respect and recognition of shared responsibilities with pathologists, investigators, lawyers, and even with scientists from analytical instrument companies and biomedical laboratories in private enterprise has had a healthy, vitalizing effect that h a s done much to mature a group whose vision would otherwise have almost certainly become narrow and close. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the willingness of members from all walks of life to share their scientific data and results of applied research and voluntarily involve themselves in proficiency testing accompanied by open constructive criticism of performance standards. It is now clear, 11 years later, that the Association was formed in
146
SHAW AND FINKLE
Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Nyu Medical Center on 01/08/15 For personal use only.
response to needs mostly felt and ill-defined a t the time but nonetheless real. However, the urge for professional growth and recognition has proven to be a worthy motivation to accomplish important practical tasks: most notably to weld a diverse group of biomedical scientists within California into an association in which each recognizes their responsibility to the common purposes of toxicology, a science whose professionals will have a critical influence on the medical health and environmental welfare of society in the next decade.
