Abstract
Dr. William W. Carlton
The Society of Toxicologic Pathology awarded its first ever Achievement Award to Dr. William W. Carlton at their 24th Annual International Symposium in Washington, D.C. this past June. This prestigious award recognizes the contributions of a scientist who significantly influenced the discipline of toxicologic pathology.
Dr. Carlton, a native of Owensboro Kentucky, received his BS and MS degrees in animal sciences from the University of Kentucky in Lexington in 1953 and 1956 respectively. After completing his DVM at Auburn University in 1960 he entered graduate study at Purdue University, receiving his PhD in 1963. He was recognized as a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1965. He served for three years on the faculty of Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an assistant professor from 1962–1965. He subsequently returned to Purdue as a faculty member where he continued on for the remainder of his career. In 1993, he retired from his position as the Leslie Morton Hutchings distinguished professor of Veterinary Pathology and Toxicology after 28 years in a prominent career as member of the Purdue faculty.
His distinguished career centered on the development of a premier graduate education program in veterinary pathology, an exceptional record of research productivity and scholarship, and outstanding national leadership in veterinary pathology and veterinary toxicology. He developed course materials for graduate courses in laboratory animal pathology, ophthalmic pathology, pathology of neoplastic diseases, toxicologic pathology and pathology of the skeletal muscle. These teaching materials, richly supported by a collection of microscopic slides and photomicrographs, were sought out by graduate students and scientists from throughout the U.S. and abroad as the top collection in the world.
Dr. Carlton developed a broad base knowledge of toxicologic pathology. Although trained as a veterinary pathologist, Dr. Carlton developed expertise in toxicologic pathology through extensive observation and experience thereby becoming one of the intellectual founders of toxicologic pathology. Dr. Carlton’s efforts and contributions to the sub-discipline of toxicologic pathology started before the field was recognized by many scientists and indeed even before it was recognized by many pathologists.
Dr. Carlton generously shared his wealth of knowledge and experience in toxicologic pathology becoming a preeminent educator in the area. While he trained a number of graduate students and residents, as do other academic pathologists, Dr. Carlton’s teaching impacted far beyond the walls of his academic home. Many toxicologic pathologists have either utilized his teaching sets prepared over many years, or alternatively, have advised numerous trainees to avail themselves of the material that Dr. Carlton had accumulated and organized. The impact of this material was not limited to simply its availability, but was enhanced by Dr. Carlton’s enthusiastic sharing and discussing this material with anyone who had an interest in toxicologic pathology. Simply stated, Dr. Carlton is and has been for many years the foremost educator in toxicologic pathology.
Perhaps his greatest legacy lies with the expanding impact of his 23 graduate students. These former students have assumed a wide variety of positions of high responsibility in industry, academia, diagnostic laboratories and government laboratories. They carry on the commitment to excellence in scholarship instilled in them by Dr. Carlton-their demanding but caring mentor.
Dr. Carlton has been a prolific scientist with over 225 published papers, book chapters and books. He has committed his energies and talents to multiple journals as an editor and member of review boards and served as founding coeditor of one of the top current journals in toxicology. He was heavily involved in the national leadership of the American College of Veterinary Pathology serving as Chairperson of the Education Committee and Examination Committee, a member of Council and as Vice-President and President. He was recognized nationally with the Society of Toxicology’s Education Award in 1995 and as a Distinguished Member of the American College of Veterinary Pathology in 2004. He has been repeatedly requested to serve as a pathology and toxicology consultant to federal government committees and task forces and to numerous pharmaceutical companies and organizations.
Dr. Carlton’s dedication to the field in both education and research place him among the great leaders in toxicologic pathology. The Society of Toxicologic Pathology is honored to have such a devoted and enthusiastic leader amongst its ranks and to recognize his accomplishments with the 2006 Achievement Award.