Medical Toxicology Fellowship

HAZMAT

Poison Center: The National Capital Poison Center serves the District of Columbia plus multiple jurisdictions in suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia.  Hazardous Materials Teams from these jurisdictions consult the National Capital Poison Center during incidents; fellows will serve as consultants.  These teams request and receive training from Poison Center staff. They also periodically request protocol reviews. Fellows will take advantage of these opportunities.  Fellows have the opportunity to participate in local and regional disaster response planning committees, exercises and programs. Many of these are multidisciplinary, including emergency medicine, other health care providers, public safety officers from local, regional, state, and federal agencies, and community organizations and participants.

University: The George Washington University provides clinical and academic experiences for Medical Toxicology Fellows in hazardous materials and disaster response issues.  There is an on-site decontamination facility associated with the Emergency Department. Fellows will have the opportunity for hands-on training in decontamination.  Hazardous materials topics are included in Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds and in conferences related to Occupational and Environmental Health; many faculty in these departments consult with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security [which is within walking distance of the Poison Center]. The Ronald Reagan Institute of Emergency Medicine Disaster Medicine Service provides consultation, training and services to a number of U.S. government, foreign, and non-governmental organizations.  Of note, the Ronald Reagan Institute provides medical direction for the Fairfax County (VA) Task Force Search and Rescue Team. This local team is deployed worldwide for disaster response.