Dr. Ansam Sawalha, director of the Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), was awarded the membership of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicologists (AACT).  This is the first time ever that a Palestinian scholar has got this renowned membership to join (only scholars from two other Arab countries are recognized by the academy: Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates)

The AACT was established in 1968 by a group of toxicologists and physicians with specific goals including: encouraging toxicology studies to better understand the effects of toxic agents on human and animal health, promoting and uniting the efforts of toxicologists to invent new treatments for poisoned patients, enabling data exchange among interested individuals in the field of toxicology, and emphasizing the important roles of toxicological sciences in various aspects of life.  AACT also has many professional relations with various international organizations and it organizes several conferences and scientific meetings.Dr. Sawalha who was awarded the international membership added that obtaining this membership came as a result of the recognized role the PCDIC plays in various directions including the publications that were generated at the center.  It is noteworthy that this membership has been granted to only 114 scientists and scholars worldwide which places Palestine among the elite countries that care about science and health.