CERTIFICATION IN TOXICOLOGY:
Fellow, Academy of Toxicological
Sciences (ATS)
Matthew Bogdanffy, PhD, DABT, Fellow, ATS
Boehringer-Ingelheim
Michael Holsapple, PhD, Fellow, ATS
Michigan State University
2015 – 2016 ATS
Board of Directors
Officers
Directors
● Michael Holsapple,
President
● Matthew Bogdanffy, Vice
President
● Paul Foster, SecretaryTreasurer
● Kendall Wallace, Past
President
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Herman Autrup
Lorrene Buckley
Leigh Ann Burns Naas
Samuel Cohen
Donald Fox
Kyle Kolaja
Jane Ellen Simmons
History of ATS
The following quote from a June 26, 1980 letter
from Dr. Borzelleca, Chairman of the ACT Task
Force on Professional Standards, documents
the beginning of the Academy . . .
“The rapid development of the science of Toxicology has
prompted the need to assure uniformly high standards
in the understanding and interpretation of toxicity data
developed for the protection of public health. The
identification of qualified individuals meeting these
high standards is of prime importance.”
ATS Vision
To be recognized as the leading
international organization that
certifies toxicologists by peer review
of the applicants’ career in toxicology
ATS Mission
To establish a process by which
practicing toxicologists are certified
based on peer review of three focus
areas, as reflected on the ATS
application form
Evaluation of ATS
Applications
Peer-review (conducted by ATS Board of Directors)
● Relevant Education: Degree, post-doctoral fellowship (as appropriate), years
of professional experience, continuing education (# of hours)
● Professional Practice in Toxicology: Publications (5 best, others, reviews,
etc.), editorial responsibilities & peer review activities, professional scientific
memberships & active participation in toxicology activities (scientific
meetings, etc.)
● Professional Recognition: Career development and advancement, outside
activities demonstrating expertise, invited lectures / presentations, and
professional honors / awards
Eligibility is based on candidate’s application (forms available online at
www.acadtoxsci.org)
Eligibility for Status
as an ATS Fellow
Important Context
● Successful applicants must demonstrate a high
level of recognition for expertise and leadership
in the practice of toxicology
● As such, the target audience for ATS are scientists
with many years of experience and expertise,
who are highly recognized in their field
● Being recognized as an ATS Fellow should be an
aspirational goal for junior toxicologists,
postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students
Professional Practice of
Toxicology
● Career advancement
● Publications
● 5 best papers – demonstrate expertise, influence
● All other publications
● Technical reports
● Books, book chapters, and major reviews
● Editorial responsibilities (including editorial
boards, and service as reviewers)
● Participation in toxicology activities
Professional Recognition
in Toxicology
● Professional career advancement: Recognition
of leadership in toxicology based on positions
held, and on increasing levels of responsibility
● Prominence in toxicological sciences: Outside
(non-employer) activities that demonstrate
leadership and recognized expertise
● Professional recognition: Invited lectures /
presentations, and awards / honors
ATS Certification
and Recertification
● With approval of their application by the ATS
Board, an applicant is certified as a Fellow in the
Academy of Toxicological Sciences
● Recertification in the ATS is required every 5
years (forms available at www.acadtoxsci.org)
● Intent of recertification:
● Document continuing active practice and
recognition in the profession of toxicology
● Capture efforts in continuing education and
professional development in the field of toxicology
over the past five years
ATS Code of Ethics
Requires a personal commitment
Fellows of the ATS:
● Conduct their work and themselves with
objectivity and integrity
● Hold as inviolate that credible science is
fundamental to all toxicologic research, and
forms the basis for communicating results
● Recognize a duty to communicate information
concerning health, safety, and toxicity in a
timely and responsible manner, with due
respect for the significance and credibility of
the available data
ATS Code of Ethics
Requires a personal commitment
Fellows of the ATS:
● Give due consideration to the ethical, legal,
social and policy implications of their research
and communications
● Are thoughtful advocates for human and
environmental health
● Abstain from professional judgments
influenced by undisclosed conflicts of interest
(COI’s), make reasonable efforts to disclose
any material COI’s, and insofar as possible,
avoid situations that imply a COI
ATS Code of Ethics
Requires a personal commitment
Fellows of the ATS:
● Observe the spirit, as well as, the letter of the
law, regulations, and ethical standards with
regard to the welfare of humans and animals
involved in their experimental procedures
● Practice high standards of occupational health
and safety for the benefit of themselves, their
co-workers, trainees, and other personnel
An Objective of
Certification by ATS
● Encourage the study and science of toxicology
● Stimulate advancement in the field of toxicology
by establishing standards of practice and
keeping these standards current with advances
in toxicology
● Confer recognition upon members of the
profession who, measured against such
standards, demonstrate exceptional
competence
Benefits of Certification
as Fellow in the ATS
●Objective demonstration of breadth
& current knowledge of toxicology
by peer review
●Advantage in the job market; salary
enhancement
●World-wide recognition
●Enhances credibility