Steven A. Seifert, MD, a professor in The University of New Mexico Department of Emergency Medicine and medical director of the New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center, has received the 2022 Matthew J. Ellenhorn Award from the American College of Medical Toxicology.
The award honors the career achievements of those who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of medical toxicology. Matthew Ellenhorn was an early member of and examiner for the American Board of Medical Toxicology who made important contributions to the literature.
Seifert will present the 2022 Ellenhorn Address at the organization’s 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting on March 12. He has had a distinguished career as a medical toxicologist and serves as editor-in-chief of Clinical Toxicology.
“I want to congratulate Dr. Seifert,” said Steve McLaughlin, MD, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine. “He is a legend in the toxicology world, and this award is a fitting recognition of his tremendous accomplishments and contributions to medical toxicology.”
Seifert received his MD from the University of Cincinnati in 1976 and completed an internship in family medicine at the University of Arizona and a fellowship in medical toxicology at the University of Colorado. He also received an advanced certificate in medical writing and editing from The University of Chicago.
Seifert worked as an emergency physician from 1977 to 2001. He served on staff at the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center and later as medical director of the Nebraska Regional Poison Center. He became medical director at the New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center in 2007. He is known for his expertise in snake antivenoms and has published more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Seifert was appointed to the senior editorial board of Clinical Toxicology 2008. He became an associate editor in 2014, and editor-in-chief in 2017.
“In that role, he has carefully, thoughtfully, and ethically guided the journal to its current position of the premier journal in clinical toxicology,” wrote 2013 award winner Jeffrey Brent, MD, PhD, in a nominating letter on Seifert’s behalf.
Seifert is a fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, the American College of Medical Toxicology and the European Association of Poison Centres and Clinical Toxicologists. He has served on the boards of the American College of Medical Toxicology, the American Association of Poison Control Centers and the North American Society of Toxinology.
Seifert received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 2011, the Presidential Merit Award from the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology in 2018 and the Volunteer Faculty Award from the UNM College of Pharmacy in 2019.
A tenor sax player, he has also served on the board of the New Mexico Jazz Workshop.
