A Pharmacist's Role in Toxicology?

[pharm B]

Out of curiosity, what can a pharmacist do in the toxicology field?

University of Florida used to offer a Masters in Forensic Pharmacy (or something like that). I know some pharmacists have mentioned working for poison control centers.

Does anyone know of a pharmacist working in this field?

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[BADMD]

Forensic Pharmacy won't get you that far initially, but it may become useful later.

There is certainly a role for pharmacists in the Poison Control world. Initially, pharmacists typically work in the call center as a Specialist in Poison Information. After passing the certifying exam and collecting enough points in several area such as research, service, and leadership and gaining enough experience, one can sit for the ABAT exam ( http://www.clintox.org/ABAT_Certification.cfm ).

The ABAT qualifies one to serve in leadership in a Poison Control Center and provides a certain amount of professional credentialing to do other activities in the field of Toxicology. Many (if not most) Poison Control Centers have at least one ABAT certified pharmacists working there. I believe that is usually in the role of administrative director.

Many of the same opportunities that exist for a physician toxicologist are available for a pharmacist toxicologist, although at this time CMS won't pay for bedside clinical services. There are potential opportunities in research, public health, industry, legal work, plus more.

 

[CCLCMer]

I took a tox rotation in med school, and the PCC in Cleveland has a pharmacist working there. I think he mainly does the administrative part while the MD toxicologist does teaching and has an outpatient clinic.

 

[pharm B]

Forensic Pharmacy won't get you that far initially, but it may become useful later.

There is certainly a role for pharmacists in the Poison Control world. Initially, pharmacists typically work in the call center as a Specialist in Poison Information. After passing the certifying exam and collecting enough points in several area such as research, service, and leadership and gaining enough experience, one can sit for the ABAT exam ( http://www.clintox.org/ABAT_Certification.cfm ).

The ABAT qualifies one to serve in leadership in a Poison Control Center and provides a certain amount of professional credentialing to do other activities in the field of Toxicology. Many (if not most) Poison Control Centers have at least one ABAT certified pharmacists working there. I believe that is usually in the role of administrative director.

Many of the same opportunities that exist for a physician toxicologist are available for a pharmacist toxicologist, although at this time CMS won't pay for bedside clinical services. There are potential opportunities in research, public health, industry, legal work, plus more.

Thanks for the in-depth response! At least now I know where to start digging.

 

[Daiphon]

Many pharmacists also have roles on the "other" side of toxicology - namely, working for pharmaceutical companies in a research capacity to either discern whether or not an investigational substance is poisonous, or in concert with an Occupational Medicine specialist to do pharmacovigilance & workplace exposure evaluations...

As one of my beloved PharmD mentors (who happens to hold DABAT certification) points out - "the medical approach to toxicology is all about looking at the patient and figuring out what's going on; the pharmacy approach is about the 'poisontation' - is what's going on consistent with the patient's presentation, and where does the PK/PD say we're going to go." As such, there's a lot of opportunities if one knows where to look, and the ABAT requirements are a good start.

Cheers!
-t