About Venom Week
The Premier Toxinology Conference brought to you by the North American Society of Toxinology, Inc. (NAST).
Dr. Steven Seifert, MD - NAST / Venom Week Founder
Since 2005, NAST has united leading experts in Clinical Toxinology, Herpetology, Zoo Management, and Pharmaceutical Research for an unparalleled symposium.
If you’ve attended previous Venom Week symposia, you know these events are typically held every two years. However, Venom Week 2025: Year of the Snake is special.
Marking our 20th anniversary, this year’s event celebrates two decades of groundbreaking research and collaboration in venom science and toxinology. This milestone coincident with the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Snake serves as celebration and a reflection on how far we’ve come as a field.
In 2005, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Dr. Steven Seifert and Dr. James Armitage launched what would become Venom Week. From its modest beginnings as the meeting “Snakebites in the New Millennium,” it has grown into an internationally renowned forum for clinicians, veterinarians, researchers, and educators working at the forefront of venom science. This legacy continues to inspire our shared mission, and we look forward to celebrating it with you.
In Memoriam: Dr. Steven Seifert (1950 – 2022)
Dr. Steven Seifert was a trailblazing toxicologist, emergency physician, and jazz musician who served as the Medical Director of the Nebraska Poison Center. He was a pioneer in the study of envenomings, chairing the seminal 2005 meeting “Snakebites in the New Millenium“, which evolved into the Venom Week symposia we cherish today.
Dr. Seifert’s career was marked by extraordinary achievements and numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (2011), the Presidential Merit Award from the Academy of Clinical Toxicology, and the Matthew J. Ellenhorn Career Achievement Award from the American College of Medical Toxicology (2022). His visionary leadership, intellect, and passion for toxicology left an indelible mark on our community.
We honor Dr. Seifert’s memory and the foundation he built as we celebrate this year’s Venom Week: Year of the Snake.