Environmental Factor, August 2009, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

SOT Holds Reception for Birnbaum

By Eddy Ball
August 2009

Joyce Martin, left, joined Walker, center, and Birnbaum for light conversation early in the evening. (Photo courtesy of SOT)

Birnbaum made a point of speaking individually with many of the attendees, including Congressman Moran, right. (Photo courtesy of SOT)

Well-wishers posed with the guest of honor. Shown, left to right, are Bill Martin, Walker, Price, Birnbaum, Moran and Joyce Martin. (Photo courtesy of SOT)

Shawn Lamb of SOT, Walker, Balbus, Philbert, Joyce Martin, Bill Martin and Hines

Several more of Birnbaum's friends and colleagues gathered for a photo opportunity. Shown, left to right, are Shawn Lamb of SOT, Walker, Balbus, Philbert, Joyce Martin, Bill Martin and Hines. (Photo courtesy of SOT)

The Society of Toxicology (SOT) honored its former president, NIEHS and National Toxicology Program (NTP) Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., with a Capitol Hill reception on July 8 in Washington.

The group invited Birnbaum's colleagues and friends, members of Congress and their staff, the NIEHS Public Interest Partners and representatives from a number of organizations that have an interest in the work of NIEHS to the event, which was held in the new Capitol Visitor's Center. Mary Gant and Leanna Kelly, NIEHS Bethesda, assisted SOT with planning and invitations.

More than 120 people attended the reception, including SOT Council members President Cheryl Walker, Secretary Martin Philbert, Vice President-Elect Jon Cook, Peter Goering, Ronald Hines and Susan Borghoff. Former NIEHS leaders Bill and Joyce Martin, now working in Washington, were also guests.

A longtime friend and supporter of NIEHS, Congressman David Price (D-NC), was the congressional host. In his brief remarks, he talked about his long friendship with Birnbaum and the importance of NIEHS research. Congressmen James Moran (D-VA) and Henry Brown (R-SC) also attended along with staff from a number of congressional offices.

Representatives of the NIH, Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry were at the event.

Representatives of non-government groups included David Jacobs, research director of the Center for Healthy Housing; Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides/National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides; Janet Phoenix, NIEHS Partner; David Mallino, lobbyist for the Laborers Union; Ellie Collinson representing the Breast Cancer Fund; Diane Wood, president of the National Environmental Education Foundation; Susan Boa from the Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment; and John Balbus, former chief health scientist with the Environmental Defense Fund who is now with George Washington University.

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