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President's Message
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President
Cheryl Lyn Walker |
SOT’s Global Strategy
Toxicology knows no geographic boundaries. It is a science that crosses country borders and scientific disciplines. Opportunities for toxicology to impact public health are local, regional, and global. It is no surprise then that the proportion of SOT members who are non-US based is steadily growing and currently amounts to 13% of the total SOT membership. Likewise, of the 6,700 attendees at the SOT 2009 Annual Meeting, 16.8% were from outside the U.S.
With this in mind, in 2007 SOT Council set out to determine what should be SOT’s role in advancing the science of toxicology globally. In 2008, Council drafted an SOT Global Strategy with high-level objectives, priorities, and options. A Global Focus Group, reflective of the diversity of the SOT membership, was asked to review the plan and identify any gaps. Members of the Global Focus Group included Ruth A. Roberts (Chair), Kok Wah Hew (Co-Chair), Silvia B. M. Barros, Vicki L. Dellarco, Braulio D. Jimenez-Velez, Sunao Manabe, John B. Morris, Prakash S. Nagarkatti, Denise Robinson Gravatt, Council Contact, and Shawn Lamb, Staff Liaison.
With the Global Focus Groups refinements in hand, Denise Robinson Gravatt presented the SOT Global Strategy to the membership at the 2009 SOT Annual Business Meeting. The plan was also shared with SOT committees and Special Interest Groups, as well as with the IUTOX Executive Council.
SOT’s Global Strategy will appropriately position our organization and chart the course for the future in four key areas of highest priority to the Society.
- Become a Global Forum for Novel Discoveries: SOT recognizes the importance of providing opportunities for discussion of novel and cutting-edge science issues of global importance. Proposed venues could include the SOT Annual Meeting, Contemporary Concepts in Toxicology (CCT) workshops (within and outside the U.S.), and jointly sponsored sessions with Non-U.S. based organizations. The World Health Organization, European Environment Agency, and IUTOX were among those who sponsored the December 7–10, 2009, CCT, PPTOX II: Role of Environmental Stressors in the Developmental Origins of Disease.
- Strengthen Global Partnerships: SOT is a repository of a significant body of expertise and knowledge that can be made more accessible to the world. IUTOX will continue to be a significant partner for some components of this strategic objective, particularly related to supporting the growth and development of the discipline of toxicology in developing countries. SOT’s support of the Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries (CTDC) and the SOT/AstraZeneca/IUTOX travel awards are demonstrations of this commitment.
- Increase Reliance of Global Decision Makers on Science: There are inconsistencies in the application of toxicology within various regulatory frameworks in different regions of the world. SOT will take a leading role in organizing international workshops, satellite meetings, and other mechanisms to help reach a common understanding of global issues for policy makers and the public.
- Strengthen and Deepen Member Engagement to Address Global Needs: SOT will continue to encourage non-U.S.-based membership and actively engage a diversity of perspectives to help evolve our global role. The creation of the SIGs (Special Interest Groups) is one example of efforts to enhance services for member sectors with global interests and to create opportunities for small group engagement.
In 2009–2011, SOT will use three parallel components to implement the Global Strategy: existing SOT committees and groups will be asked to integrate aspects of the global strategy that fit within their missions; SOT Council will lead the engagement with IUTOX; and the Global Strategy Task Force has been chartered to evaluate opportunities with the global strategy that are not linked with existing SOT structures. The Global Strategy Task force will be made up of Ruth Roberts, Chairperson, Silvia Barros, Denise Robinson Gravatt, Kok Wah Hew, HOT: Betzabet Quintanilla, TAO: Tony Ndifor, ASIO: Satheesh Anand, KTAA: Ji-Eun Lee, AACT: John C. Zhuang, WIT: Laura Andrews, Jon Cook, Council Contact, Michael Holsapple, Co-Council Contact, and Shawn Lamb, Staff Liaison.
In addition, as part of its strategy to foster its global initiative, SOT has made available $6,000 in matching funds to support the efforts of Regional Chapters, Specialty Sections, and Special Interest Groups in implementing this strategy. More information is available on the Global Initiatives section of the SOT Web site. Proposals are due by June 1.
The Society’s reach and impact will continue to expand globally because of the expertise and experience of our members focused on “creating a safer and healthier world by advancing the science of toxicology.”
Cheryl Lyn Walker,
2009–2010 SOT President
Past President’s Messages
Past Presidents of the Society
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