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Proposal for a New Specialty Section—Ocular Toxicology
At its meeting in January 2008, SOT Council considered a proposal to support the organizing efforts of SOT members interested in establishing a new Ocular Toxicology Specialty Section. The Specialty Sections are a major pillar of strength in our Society. These focused groupings of our members provide the opportunity for sharing common interests, and create an intimate venue for collegial scientific interaction. The Specialty Sections are also the backbone of the idea and topic generation process that is critical to the creation of many of the Annual Meeting events, including symposia, workshops, and continuing education courses.
In considering this request to create an Ocular Specialty Section, SOT Council reviewed the strength of its existing Specialty Sections. The table on page 18 shows the average number of members (as of July 2007) according to when Specialty Sections were established over the last 25 years (the Neurotoxicology Specialty Section was the first to be established in 1983). The numbers indicate an initial burst with a modest ongoing rate of new Specialty Sections being formed (only 4 so far in the 21st century). In terms of members per Specialty Section, the older more established ones have, on average, more members, but the newer Specialty Sections are not small (our smallest Specialty Section is Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues with 75 members). Importantly, all of the Specialty Sections, large or small, are financially independent and self-sustaining.
| Years |
#SS Established |
Average # Members/SS* |
| 1983–85 |
4 |
313 |
| 1986–90 |
3 |
320 |
| 1991–95 |
6 |
240 |
| 1996–2000 |
4 |
137 |
| 2001–05 |
2 |
190 |
| 2006–08 |
2 |
100 |
*The Average column shows the average number of members per Specialty Section as of July 2007, according to when the Specialty Section was established.
At the 2006 SOT Annual Meeting, there was a session on preclinical ocular toxicology with a good number of attendees. The session was well received, encouraging the request of support for an organizational meeting at the 2008 SOT Annual Meeting in Seattle to gauge the overall interest of the SOT membership in establishing a new Ocular Toxicology Specialty Section. According to SOT practice, establishing a new Specialty Section requires obtaining at least 50 signatures of interested SOT members, and the development of a mission statement, By-Laws, and a three-year plan.
At the 2008 Annual Meeting express your interest in helping to form a new Ocular Toxicology Specialty Section by attending an organizational reception from 5:30 PM–6:30 PM on Monday, March 17, 2008, in the Capitol Hill Room of the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers. For further information, please contact Margaret Wills or Mark Vezina.
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