Dr. Charles E. Becker Medal for Outstanding Achievement as a Medical Toxicology Fellow

In a career spanning more than four decades, the contributions of Charles E. Becker, M.D. to scholarship, research, public health promotion, and professional medical education in medical toxicology have earned him international recognition and respect. He has been a pioneering leader in establishing occupational and environmental toxicology as a fundamental component of the practice of medical toxicology. His service to the profession, as President of the American Board of Medical Toxicology (ABMT) from 1985 to 1988, as a charter member of the ABMS Sub-board of Medical Toxicology from 1993 to 1999, and as a mentor to dozens of medical toxicology trainees, has had a decisive impact on the success and prominence of our discipline. Dr. Becker’s academic research and public service in the management of complications of alcohol and opioid abuse and the risks posed by overexposure to metals, solvents, and toxic substances in the workplace and environment have emphasized to all medical toxicologists the crucial role of evidence-based public health action in the prevention of the many health conditions that are a focus of our field.

About the Award

The Charles E. Becker Medal for Outstanding Achievement as a Medical Toxicology Fellow was established with the generous support of Dr. Charles Becker, a pioneering leader in establishing the specialty of medical toxicology. In a career spanning more than four decades, Dr. Becker’s contribution to scholarship, research, public health promotion, and professional medical education in medical toxicology have earned him international recognition and respect.

This award aims to recognize an outstanding fellow who embodies the humanitarian spirit of Dr. Becker and whose professional goals include a desire to make a significant contribution to advance the field of medical toxicology. In addition to accepting the medal, the recipient will receive registration to the Annual Scientific Meeting and $1,500 for travel and lodging expenses.

Award Eligibility

Eligible applicants are those individuals who have recently (within the past 2 years) completed a US ACGME accredited two year fellowship in Medical Toxicology.

Application Process

  1. A nomination letter by the fellowship program chair is required. Only one nomination per fellowship program will be allowed.
  2. The nomination letter should be accompanied by the nominee’s CV and a personal statement from the nominee (up to 750 words) describing how they intend to contribute to the field of medical toxicology. 
  3. The nomination letter may be accompanied by an additional supporting letter of recommendation (optional).
  4. The nomination packet must be submitted by the fellowship program chair to foundation@acmt.net.
  5. All nominations are viable for a two (2) year period.

Selection Process

  1. Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of medical toxicologists representing a spectrum of recent  fellow graduates and senior medical toxicologists. 
  2. Criteria will include, but not necessarily be limited to:
    1. Scholarship, education, and/or research 
    2. Contributions to public health, innovation, humanitarianism, and/or “making a positive difference in the world.” 
  3. The recipient will be presented the medal at the 2025 ACMT Annual Scientific Meeting in Vancouver, Canada.

Application deadline: Monday, November 18, 2024

The Medal

For questions about the award, contact Mimi Bajagich at mimi.bajagich@acmt.net.

Past Recipients

Powell Graham, MD

The American College of Medical Toxicology and the Medical Toxicology Foundation are pleased to announce that Powell Graham, MD is the 2024 recipient of the Charles E. Becker Medal for Outstanding Achievement as a Medical Toxicology Fellow. Dr. Graham is an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicology fellow. He previously served as chief resident UMass and has published on multiple topics including ultrasound and prostate cancer. His current research interests lie in cannabinoids, particularly pediatric exposures.

Dr. Graham received the Becker Medal during a ceremony at the 2024 ACMT Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC.

Courtney Temple, MD

The American College of Medical Toxicology and the Medical Toxicology Foundation are pleased to announce that Courtney Temple, MD is the inaugural recipient of the Charles E. Becker Medal for Outstanding Achievement as a Medical Toxicology Fellow. Dr. Temple completed the Medical Toxicology Fellowship program at Oregon Health and Science University in 2022. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at OHSU and a member of the core faculty of the OHSU Medical Toxicology Fellowship Program.

Dr. Temple received the Becker Medal during a ceremony at the 2023 ACMT Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego, CA.