This constitutes the largest medical toxicology faculty at any single institution in the United States. The Center receives almost 80,000 calls per year, and has a very active Medical Toxicology consult service which is composed of physician toxicologists and toxicologists in training. It is an integral part of the Texas Poison Center Network. The TPCN is the most adequately funded Poison Center network in the United States, with all sites receiving full funding from the State of Texas. The Network hosts several regular activities on a weekly, monthly and annual level, much of which is directed towards education in the field of Toxicology.
Research is conducted jointly in a variety of areas, using all six sites across the state.
The annual TPCN Toxicology Conference will be in its fourth year in 1998. This results in coverage between the six sites, with discussion and transfer of cases between centers. The Parkland Memorial Hospital is a large, county funded hospital over a 100 year history. The Emergency Center has over 120,000 patient-care visits per year. It is currently staffed with house officers from a variety of services, and an Emergency Medicine residency which began in July, 1997.