About Us
Leadpoison.org is Virginia’s online resource for healthcare professionals in providing free continuing medical education and vital, timely information in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of lead poisoning. Lead in various forms, such as paints, gasoline additives, batteries and water pipes is the world’s leading environmental poison of toxic heavy metals, with very serious health hazards to humans -- especially young children.
Leadpoison.org is the on-line extension of a joint program between the VA Public Health Department and the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Virginia. The web site was founded in 2005 by Dr. Christopher Holstege, Director of Medical Toxicology at the University Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va.
Christopher Holstege, M.D.
Dr. Holstege is the Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, and Medical Director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. He joined the department in 1999 and is board certified in Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology, holding a joint appointment in the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Pediatrics.
Dr. Holstege conducts research in the area of clinical toxicology and manages poisoned patients in his medical practice at the University of Virginia. He frequently lectures at both the regional and national levels on a variety of topics including agents of chemical terrorism, envenomations, drugs of abuse, and the medical management of the poisoned patient. He has over 100 abstracts and articles published in peer-reviewed medical journals, periodicals, and books. He is actively involved on numerous committees dealing with terrorism and disaster preparedness.
Awards:
- The prestigious National Faculty Teaching Award from the American College of Emergency Physicians in 2002
- The Deans Award for Clinical Excellence from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 2003
Member:
- Central & Northwest Regional Virginia Disaster Plan Consortium Task Force
- Virginia Hospital& Healthcare Assoc. Hospital Disaster Preparedness Task Force
- American Heart Association National First Aid Task Force