Beginners’ Guide to Toxicology for Medical Students

Alexa Peterson OMSIV - Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
EMRA MSC SE1 Representative 2020-2021

Are you a medical student interested in Toxicology? Not sure what Toxicologists really do? Toxicology is a vast field, and as medical students, we have very limited exposure to the field while in school. There are some quick and easy steps you can take as a medical student to introduce and immerse yourself into the field of Toxicology, so without further ado, let’s talk Tox!

The first step is to join the American College of Medical Toxicology. Best part, an annual membership is only $25.00 for a student! This easy step gains you access to monthly webinars, scientific meetings, a research network and more!

Now that you have taken the first step to introduce yourself and are officially part of the community, the next step is to learn what toxicologists do in the day-to-day clinical setting. EMRA Toxicology Committee recently hosted a Tox Talk Tuesday lecture series consisting of educational lectures presented by toxicologists in a case-based style format. This series was specifically aimed at the medical student learner level. Check out the Tox Talk presentations.

Speaking of EMRA and its commitment to getting students involved, let’s keep building your network by joining the EMRA Toxicology Committee. It’s free to join and another easy way to meet others interested in toxicology. This is not only important for education purposes but introduces you to a network of mentors. The committee meets every couple weeks to discuss research papers, plan events for big conferences such as, ACEP and CORD, and more.

As we all know, social media is important, and expanding your social media horizons can be an easy step to find the latest information in the Toxicology community. Just like the emergency medicine community, toxicology has a large presence on Twitter. So, this is your sign to create your own Twitter account if you don’t have one yet! To get you started, here are some leaders in the Toxicology community that would be worth a follow for up-to-date information and Tox fun facts. Another easy option would be to search the hashtag, #ToxTalk on Twitter. Join the conversation!

@ProMammaDoc
@ToddPhillips
@ZiadKazzi
@acmtmedtox
@ToxNyu

Just as social media is a useful resource to discovering your toxicology community, so are podcasts! Here are a few of our favorite toxicology episodes for beginners to check out. Listen in while working out or on your commute in to shift!

Podcast Highlights

CoreEM – Urine Drug Screens Hosts Dr. Bree Tse, and Dr. Brian Gilberti discuss the (F)utility (?) of ED Utox screens with our very own Dr. Phil DiSalvo. Available on Apple Podcasts.

Maybe podcasts aren’t your thing, maybe you’re more into Grand Rounds for in-depth coverage of hot topics. ACMT's Grand Rounds offer an in-depth and interactive platform for learning and discussion about issues that impact the research and practice of medical toxicology. Experts from within and outside medical toxicology will share their knowledge and experience and highlight areas for collaboration and mutual understanding.

Lastly, EMRA wants you to be on your game while on shift. If you’re a medical student on clinical rotations, you need to have the EMRA and ACMT Medical Toxicology Guide in hand! This on-shift guide will help you quickly and effectively treat the poisoned patient, providing clear, concise direction at the bedside. Used in conjunction with your regional poison control center or medical toxicologist, the EMRA and ACMT Medical Toxicology Guide is your first line of defense. If you’re an EMRA member, you can get a discounted price at only $17! Get your copy today!

By just taking these few steps, not only will you be leaps and bounds ahead of others in toxicology, but you will have that extra edge on clinical rotations in the Emergency Department when you have a tox patient sneak in. Additionally, by joining the community early, one can start to determine if a toxicology fellowship is the right fit for you. There are so many resources out there to explore and hopefully, this guide will help point you in the right direction so you can hit the ground running!

Additional Resources