The AACT was founded in 1968 by a group of physicians and scientists with the specific goal of advancing the diagnosis and treatment of poisonings. The mission of the AACT was to unite scientists and clinicians whose research, clinical and academic experience focused on clinical toxicology and to encourage the development of safe, effective therapies and technologies for the treatment of human and animal poisoning.

In 1974, the AACT established the American Board of Medical Toxicology (ABMT) to certify physicians in the specialty of clinical toxicology. This subspecialty was recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties in 1992. In 1985, a second certifying board, the American Board of Applied Toxicology (ABAT) was established for non-physician peer recognition.

Today, the AACT is an international organization whose membership is comprised of clinical and research toxicologists, physicians, veterinarians, nurses, pharmacists, analytical chemists, industrial hygienists, poison information center specialists, and allied professionals.

AACT Past Presidents

*Deceased

2022 - 2024: Christopher Hoyte, MD, FAACT

2020 - 2022: Kirk Cumpston, DO, FAACT

2018 - 2020: Mark Kostic, MD, FAACT

2016 - 2018: Robert Palmer, PhD, DABAT, FAACT

2014 - 2016: Karen Simone, PharmD, DABAT, FAACT

2012 - 2014: Robert S. Hoffman, MD, FAACT

2010 - 2012: Alan Woolf, MD, MPH, FAACT

2008 - 2010: Michael Greenberg, MD, MPH, FAACT

2006 - 2008: G. Randall Bond, MD, FAACT

2004 - 2006: Michael McGuigan, MD, FAACT*

2002 - 2004: Donna Segar, MD, FAACT

2000 - 2002: Milton Tenenbein, MD, FAACT

1998 - 2000: Jeffrey Brent, MD, PhD, FAACT

1996 - 1998: Edward Krenzelok, PharmD, DABAT, FAACT

1994 - 1996: William Banner, MD, PhD, FAACT

1992 - 1994: Wayne Snodgrass, MD, PhD, FAACT

1990 - 1992: Michael McGuigan, MD, FAACT*

1988 - 1990: Donald Kunkel, MD, JD

1986 - 1988: Frederick Lovejoy, Jr., MD, FAACT

1984 - 1986: Helmut M. Redetzki, MD, FAACT*

1982 - 1984: Mark E. Thoman, MD, FAACT, FACMT*

1980 - 1982: Franklin Aldrich, MD, PhD, FAACT*

1978 - 1980: Fred W. Oehme, DVM, PhD, FAACT*

1976 - 1978: Jack Ott, MD, FAACT*

1974 - 1976: Ronald Okun, MD

1972 - 1974: Clinton Thienes, MD, PhD

1970 - 1972: Griffith E. Quinby, MD

1968 - 1970: Eric Comstock, MD, FAACT