Medical toxicology is a subspecialty that focuses on the diagnosis, management and prevention of poisoning and other adverse health effects due to medications, occupational and environmental toxicants, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear events (CBRNE). Here at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso), medical toxicology began as a section of the Department of Emergency Medicine in 1991, became a division in 2009 and provides care to patients at our affiliated teaching hospitals, University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) and El Paso Children's Hospital (EPCH). Because of TTUHSC El Paso's positioning along the U.S.-Mexico border, exposure to an extensive scope of toxicological hazards is present. Consequently, faculty and residents gain experience in the evaluation and management of an array of differential diagnoses. Currently, there is one board certified medical toxicologist on staff as well as several adjunct faculty members.

The Division of Medical Toxicology at TTUHSC El Paso is responsible for the medical direction of the West Texas Regional Poison Center (WTRPC; http://www.poisoncenter.org), the Southwest Center for Pediatric Environmental Health (http://swcpeh.org) and the Medical Toxicology Consultation Services at UMC and EPCH. In addition, the Division of Medical Toxicology hosts residents for a 30 day rotation where they are introduced to the fields of medical toxicology and children's environmental health.