National Grand Rounds - October 2024

Joshua D. King, MD, FACMT is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pharmacy and the Medical Director of the Maryland Poison Center at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from Penn State College of Medicine, followed by an Internal Medicine residency and chief residency at the University of Virginia. He then completed a Nephrology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital and, after returning to the University of Virginia as a nephrologist, pursued further specialization through a Medical Toxicology fellowship. Dr. King is a dual-specialized clinician-educator in nephrology and medical toxicology, with clinical expertise in extracorporeal treatments for poisonings, therapeutic drug removal, ICU nephrology, and medical education. At the University of Maryland Medical Center, he provides care through both the nephrology and medical toxicology consultation services, focusing on hospitalized patients. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. King is deeply involved in graduate medical education, training residents and fellows, as well as teaching undergraduate medical students. As the Medical Director of the Maryland Poison Center, he oversees the clinical management of poisoning, envenomation, and overdose cases for both the public and healthcare providers. His role also includes educating medical and pharmacy students and supervising physicians who rotate through the center. Dr. King’s research interests lie at the intersection of nephrology and toxicology, particularly in the extracorporeal removal of toxins through modalities such as dialysis and apheresis.

Nicholas E. Nacca, MD, FACMT is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Director of Medical Toxicology, and Associate Fellowship Director of the Medical Toxicology Fellowship Program at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). In addition to his role within the Department of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Nacca holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Environmental Medicine. As Director of Medical Toxicology, Dr. Nacca oversees the educational and clinical operations of the medical toxicology consultation service, where he is actively involved in training medical toxicology fellows, as well as mentoring multidisciplinary teams that include medical residents, pharmacy residents, and medical students. He also staffs and directs a referral-based outpatient Medical Toxicology Clinic, where he provides specialized care to patients requiring toxicological evaluation and treatment. Dr. Nacca’s work bridges clinical practice and education, emphasizing the development of the next generation of toxicology professionals while providing expert consultation in both inpatient and outpatient settings.