The Mildred S. Christian Career Achievement Award

ATS established the Mildred S. Christian Career Achievement Award to honor the memory of Dr. Christian, known to many as “Millie.” She gave much of her time and financial resources to the Academy and helped to make the ATS into an efficient and scientifically recognized organization. Many of the policies and practices used today benefit from her efforts.

The award is conferred upon an ATS Fellow who has clearly demonstrated a lasting impact on toxicological sciences. The criteria for the award include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. The awardee must be an ATS Fellow in good standing as either a full ATS Fellow or ATS Emeritus. A Fellow that is a current member of the Board of Directors of ATS is not eligible to receive the award.
  2. The awardee must have demonstrated extraordinary scientific achievement through publications, professional activities, and/or leadership that have enhanced the practice of toxicology as judged by the Board of Directors.

Process

The ATS Board of Directors is requesting nominations from the ATS Fellows for the 2024 Mildred S. Christian Award.

All nominations for the 2024 award must be submitted on the official ATS Mildred Christian Award Nomination form, available by clicking on the link below.  While the candidate’s CV must accompany the nomination form, the nominator must also describe on the form how they believe their candidate meets the criteria for the award.  Only one secondary letter per candidate is requested.  If more are submitted in addition to the one listed on the nomination form, the Awards Committee will consider these at their discretion.  Note that nominations submitted in 2022 for the 2023 award do not need to be resubmitted.

If you believe an ATS Fellow meets the criteria for this award, we request that you submit the nomination form along with the nominee’s biographical information (complete CV if possible) to Susie Masten at smasten@acadtoxsci.org for the Board’s consideration. The deadline for receipt of nominations and secondary letters for the 2023 award is November 1, 2023.

Mildred Christian Award Nomination Form Link

 

2023 Award Recipient

James A. Popp, DVM, PhD, ATS, IATP, DACVP

 

James A. Popp received his D.V.M. degree from The Ohio State University followed by residency training in veterinary pathology and a Ph.D. degree in Comparative Pathology from the University of California, Davis. Following post-doctoral training in biochemical pathology and chemical carcinogenesis at Fels Research Institute (Temple Medical School), he served on the faculty of the University of Florida before joining the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology (CIIT) shortly after the Institute was founded. Over the ensuing 15 years, Dr. Popp developed and directed a productive research program in hepatotoxicity and hepatocarcinogenesis with emphasis on liver tumor promotion. During part of his tenure at CIIT, he served as a Department Head and Vice President of the Institute. He has held the position of Vice President in several pharmaceutical companies for 11 years. In 2004, Dr. Popp founded Stratoxon LLC, a toxicology consulting organization providing advice and support regarding issues identified in animal toxicity studies.

Professional expertise is recognized by board certification as a Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Pathology and by peer recognition as a Fellow, Academy of Toxicological Sciences and as a Fellow, International Academy of Toxicologic Pathology. Dr. Popp has served in the leadership of several professional societies including service as President of the Society of Toxicologic Pathology, President of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences and President of the Society of Toxicology. In addition to other awards received, Dr. Popp was recognized by the Society of Toxicologic Pathology as recipient of the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Popp has been a frequent contributor to governmental toxicology efforts including service of a 3 year term on the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors and the Report on Carcinogens subcommittee, as Chair of several NTP special workshops and as Chair of the Board of Scientific Advisors for the FDA National Center for Toxicological Research. Dr. Popp has authored or co-authored 140 peer reviewed publications/book chapters and has served as editor/co-editor of 5 books/monographs with emphasis on hepatocarcinogenesis and toxicologic pathology.

 

 

 

To see past award recipients, click here