About us
The Illinois Poison Center is a non-profit health service that provides comprehensive and trusted information and treatment advice on potentially harmful substances via a free, confidential 24-hour hotline staffed by medical experts .
The IPC serves as the state’s leading source of medical consultation and advanced toxicology training for healthcare professionals. It also offers education on poison prevention and information on potentially harmful substances to the general public via community outreach and online training programs.
The IPC’s services save lives, improve patient care and save the people of Illinois $50 million annually due to fewer 911 calls, doctor and ER visits, and reduced time spent in hospitals.
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About this Blog
Get a “behind the curtains” look at what it’s like to work at the largest and oldest Poison Center in the country. It’s fast-paced. It can be stressful at times as we talk to worried individuals and parents. It’s challenging at times with the limited funding we receive. But we gotta tell ya — we love it. It’s highly fulfilling to help people with their questions and especially in their moments of great need and anxiety.
We hope to share stories with you — some uplifting, some humorous, and some serious — so that you really get a feel for what we do and learn about potentially poisonous substances that exist everywhere in everyday things. We’ll also be providing practical tips to keep you and your family safe throughout the year. You’ll be updated on how you can be involved in the long-term sustainability of the IPC. No blog about poison control would be complete without a sprinkle of mind-bending facts, and geeky, scientific tidbits.
About the Bloggers
Mike Wahl MD has served as medical director of the Illinois Poison Center since 1998. He grew up in Northern California and went to college at UC Santa Barbara. He loves spring, summer and fall in the Midwest . . . he sometimes thinks winter is the price of admission for the other three.
Dr. Carol DesLauriers is the Operations Director for the Illinois Poison Center. She is a pharmacist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Applied Toxicology. Carol has a penchant for board games, is never late, and can’t imagine life without diet orange Sunkist.
Tony Burda Rph, DABAT
The Man, the Myth, the Legend.
Gail Moran serves as our wizard of grants and fund development. Certified as a grant writer and evaluator, she brings over 20 years experience in proposal development and program management to help the IL Poison Center maintain and build its relations with foundations, corporations, and individuals. She employs her skills in philanthropy and marketing to effectively manage donor stewardship and communications.
Vickie Dance grew up with five siblings who always seemed to find stuff that gave them “unwanted and/or unexpected reactions”; a true Poison Center case study! When not in the call center (snack center) looking for dark chocolate, she’s overseeing outreach, education and communications.
Najja Howard is the master communicator for the IL Poison Center. She handles all of the IL Poison Center’s social media, media relations, and general communications initiatives. Najja has many hobbies, but none more important than spending time with family and traveling as much as possible.
