About ACMT
Who We Are
Founded in 1993, the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) is a professional, nonprofit member association, and the primary organization that serves Medical Toxicologists.
Our membership is comprised of physicians board certified in medical toxicology, and others with recognized expertise in the specialty.
Physician (Full) members come from a variety of primary specialty backgrounds including Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and more.
Several membership opportunities are available to those who work in the field medical toxicology both in the U.S. and internationally (including MPH, PharmD, PhD) or are pursuing a career in medical toxicology (Medical Students, Residents, Fellows in Training.) ACMT supports multiple resident and medical student rotations and clerkships.
What We Do
What is Medical Toxicology? Medical Toxicology is a sub-specialty of medicine with a focus on the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and monitoring of injury and illness from exposure to drugs and chemicals, as well as biological and radiological agents. Medical toxicologists work in clinical, academic, governmental and public health settings, and provide poison control center leadership.
Important areas of medical toxicology include acute drug poisoning; adverse drug events; substance use disorders, addiction and withdrawal; chemicals and radiologic materials; terrorism preparedness; venomous bites and stings; and environmental and workplace exposures. Learn more.
History and Founding
Organization Development (1968 – 1973)
Medical Toxicology is a relatively new medical specialty. In 1968, the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT) was founded. Initially, the AACT was a physician-only organization representing physicians with an interest in clinical toxicology and/or poison control centers. At the time, there was no formal board certification in Medical Toxicology. In 1973, after much debate, AACT opened its membership to non-physicians with an interest in clinical toxicology. These non-physicians consisted mainly of pharmacists, and some nurses and PhDs who were associated with poison control centers.
Recognition by Organized Medicine (1975 – 1992)
Board certification for physicians in Medical Toxicology began in 1975 when a subgroup of physicians from the AACT formed the American Board of Medical Toxicology (ABMT). ABMT wrote and administered this credentialing examination for physicians. ABMT also sponsored an occasional symposium at the national Clinical Toxicology meetings that were organized by AACT. During the late 1970s and 1980s fellowships in Medical Toxicology were organized around the country. These fellowships were not yet ACGME approved. Until 1992, entrance criteria to the Medical Toxicology Board Examination required the completion of a 2-year fellowship or a grandfather practice pathway.
In 1993 the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) formally recognized Medical Toxicology as a medical specialty. A group of physicians from the American Board of Emergency Medicine, American Board of Pediatrics, and American Board of Preventative Medicine met to write the Medical Toxicology examination. With this major development, the American Board of Medical Toxicology (whose primary purpose was to write the examination) was not longer necessary and went out of existence.
The Founding of ACMT (1993 – Present)
The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) was founded in 1993 to fill the void left by the disappearance of ABMT, and to provide a physician only organization for Medical Toxicologists. Since that time, the College has continued to expand. The College now represents the vast majority of physicians who are Board Certified in Medical Toxicology.
In 2000, ACGME began to credential fellowship training in Medical Toxicology. With these changes, the grandfather practice route to Board Examination eligibility has closed.