HISPANIC ORGANIZATION of TOXICOLOGISTS (HOT)

2012–2013 President’s Welcome Message

Dear HOT Members,

I was approached a couple of years ago by the past presidents of HOT to run for the Vice President (VP) office. These individuals had a vision to promote, inspire, and support the Hispanic and Latino members of the SOT. This vision has grown into a reality with momentum that needs to be sustained by the active participation of HOT members in the scientific and mentoring activities of the SOT. In addition, with the SOT global vision, our strategic alliances with partners throughout the countries of South America, Central America and the Caribbean can make a difference in bringing the modern practice of toxicology to our friends and neighbors and make the global vision of SOT a reality.

It is with the greatest honor that I am assuming office as the HOT President for 2012–2013.

We accomplished a number of items during the last year which includes:

• Awarding 5 travels awards for the 2012 SOT Annual Meeting (4 PhD students, 1 postdoctoral fellow)
• Sponsored an SOT workshop, an SOT Symposium, and co-chaired an endorsement for a career mentoring workshop
• Had >20 abstracts from HOT Members as poster/platform presentations at the 2012 SOT Annual Meeting
• Participation in the SOT Council for Diversity Initiatives and the Global Senior Scholar Exchange program (GSSEP)
• Now have more than 125+ HOT members and growing!

We have established a solid organizational structure with Committees led by Executive Board members that are responsible for a number of activities that range from outreach and funding travel awards, to interaction with other SIGs via the SIG collaboration group, other Committees such as the K–12 Education Committee, and the Committee for Diversity Initiatives or CDI. As the 2012–2013 President of the HOT, I would like to generate awareness and visibility of HOT by an increased scientific presence at the SOT annual meeting, encouraging participation of all HOT members in the many opportunities SOT provides, and in particular promote our postdocs and students to begin early as active members of HOT and the SOT.

On a personal note, my Hispanic roots originate from the town of Yauco, Puerto Rico, the hometown of my mother and father. I have had the good fortune of visiting Panama, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, and Spain. Through these travels, I have gained an appreciation of the unique diversity among the different Hispanic cultures. United under the HOT SIG I feel we can make a significant contribution to the mission of SOT at many levels.

I would like to thank you as a HOT member for electing me to represent you. A special thank you goes out to our past President, Ofelia Olivero, for her dedication and outstanding leadership. And last but not least, a big thank you to our sponsors.

Leslie Recio
2012–2013 President, HOT
Building Bridges through Toxicology

HOT Reception Program at the 2012 SOT Annual Meeting

Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 6:00–9:00 pm

Jillian’s @ Metreon
101 4th Street, Ste. 1070
San Francisco, CA 94103

We look forward to sharing with you:

1. Reports from Outgoing and Incoming Presidents
2. Travel Awards Presentation
3. Introduction to new HOT Officers
4. Info on upcoming meetings & conferences relevant to HOT members
5. Presentations by our sister Organizations
6. Great Networking Opportunities! Mix and mingle with other cool professionals & students

Congratulations to Elected HOT Board Members

Vice President: Betina Lew
Vice President Elect: Linval DePass
Secretary: Elena Hernandez-Ramon
Treasurer: Ranulfo Lemus Olalde
Councilors: Minerva Mercado-Feliciano, Jorge G. Muñiz Ortiz
Postdoctoral Representative: Azita Cuevas
Student Representative: Rene Viñas

The Hispanic Organization of Toxicologists was founded in 2004 and became a Special Interest Group within the Society of Toxicology in 2006. It is an organization integrated by professionals of Hispanic origin with expertise in scientific areas associated with Toxicology. It serves as a focal point for interaction among Hispanic Toxicologists in the United States and the international Spanish and Portuguese-speaking scientific communities with emphasis in outreach to the Hispanic population. Its main goal is to provide a forum, for the awareness and dissemination of toxicological information and issues as they relate to the Hispanic community. It also provides specific and special support to the SOT on its outreach in global toxicology. One of the Organization’s key objectives is to stimulate discussion, increase general awareness, and engage in the search of relevant toxicological information on issues related to the Hispanic community inside and outside the U.S. Other objectives are listed below:

• Develop and conduct programs and educational activities relevant to the Hispanic community
• Assist SOT council by providing ideas and mechanisms to enhance the development of Hispanic toxicology members
• Enhance and advance the professional development of Hispanic toxicologists by several means, including:
• Sharing of information about research funding sources
• Provide opportunities and mentoring to trainees and junior scientists
• Enhance collaboration among Hispanic toxicologists
• Provide a forum at the SOT Annual Meeting for Hispanic minority researchers
• Stimulate new growth in toxicological issues related to the Hispanic community inside and outside the United States as it relates to the science of toxicology
• Act as a resource to the SOT in the area of toxicology

2011–2012 Travel Award Sponsors
	Ingenieros Lemus de Mexico
2011–2012 Toxenlaces Sponsors

2010–2011 Travel Award Sponsors
Ingenieros Lemus de Mexico
2010–2011 Toxenlaces Sponsors

Sister Organizations: Societies
ATA Asociación Toxicologíca Argentina	SOMTOX Sociedad Mexicana de Toxicología
Asociación Española de Toxicología	Sociedade Brasileira de Toxicologia
Red Iberoamericana de Toxicología y Seguridad Química	Sociedad Cubana de Toxicologia
SRA-LA Society for Risk Analysis Latin America	Asociacion LatinoAmericana de Toxicologia ALATOX
Fundacion Plagbol
Sister Organizations: Universities
Universidad de Cartagena Colombia	Toxicologia Acuatica y Ambiental Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Center for Environmental and Toxicological Research of the University of Puerto Rico