June 30, 2021
June is a great month for so many reasons. The crescendo of high school and undergraduate finals punctuates months of educational labor, creating a pleasant slide into the freedom of summer. The graduating residents and fellows are moving on to their future jobs or fellowships, and we welcome in a new group of residents and fellows to the world of academia. Here in Virginia, the Spring allergens have settled down and the hot weather in the piedmont will lead to hiking trips in search of cool Appalachian waterfalls and visits to the beach.
June is also Pride month. The American Academy of Clinical Toxicology celebrates all colors of the rainbow. The AACT welcomes and encourages our LGBTQ+ membership to get involved in the Academy. We recently established a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force. Jill Theobald and Ally Funk have taken a leadership role in this effort and have already recruited over a dozen volunteers to work on this endeavor. We want your talents, so if you can contribute do not hesitate to contact them or admin@clintox.org. Your efforts will have a lifetime of impact.
If all goes as planned, there will be an AACT membership app launched in July. The app will allow you to take the AACT with you wherever you go. The app will feature access to Clinical Toxicology, membership directory, webinars, announcements and it will serve as your doorway to the North American Conference of Clinical Toxicology. The app will give you greater connections with other members to enhance your communication and collaboration.
Registration for NACCT is now open! We would love to see you in person, but understand if you can only attend virtually. Chris Hoyte and the NACCT development team have been working double-time to meet the needs of the extra complex hybrid meeting. Hotel rooms are going fast, reserve your room ASAP! Rates are available at clintox.org/nacct. Book your room.
Your annual membership expires in a couple days. We changed the timing to fit with the academic year. I hope that you have already renewed your membership. If you have not, remember no academic organization gives you so much at such a low price. The reason AACT is such a bargain, is because we are a volunteer organization, so our success depends on your energy to succeed. Together we all succeed.
Sincerely,
Kirk Cumpston, DO
President, AACT