Careers

The Wisconsin Poison Center is supported by a dedicated team of professionals, each contributing to the essential work that we do. Careers within a poison center typically include the following roles:

• Administrative Coordinator – This position ensures smooth administrative operations, tracks resources and inventory, coordinates the distribution of promotional materials, and evaluates patient satisfaction to maintain high-quality service delivery.
• Specialists in Poison Information (SPI) – SPIs are toxicology-trained nurses and pharmacists. They respond to calls from the public and health care professionals, providing crucial support in managing poisoned cases.
• Certified Specialists in Poison Information (CSPI) – CSPIs are toxicology-trained nurses and pharmacists who have passed the national SPI certification exam. They play a critical role in answering calls from the public and health care providers, offering immediate advice and guidance on treatment and care.
• Poison Center Educator – This position is responsible for training new team members, offering educational support to staff, and advising health care teams on how to effectively partner to manage poisoned patients.
• Outreach Program Coordinator – Focused on community outreach, the Outreach Coordinator educates the public, collaborates with public health organizations, and promotes injury prevention initiatives aimed at reducing poisoning and improving health outcomes.
• Poison Center Manager – This role oversees the operations of the Wisconsin Poison Center, manages staff, and coordinates resources to ensure center goals are achieved while ensuring AAPCC accreditation standards are met.
• Associate Medicator Director – The Associate Medical Director is a Physician board certified in Emergency Medicine and Toxicology. Working alongside the Medical Director, the Associate Medical Director provides medical expertise and oversees services to ensure high standards of patient care and maintenance of AAPCC accreditation criteria.
• Medical Director – The Medical Director is also an Emergency Medicine and Toxicology board certified Physician and is responsible for overseeing all medical management guidelines for exposures and collaborates with the Poison Center Manager on managing overall operations of the poison center to ensure compliance with AAPCC accreditation criteria.

Most career opportunities at the Wisconsin Poison Center are for C/SPIs, who must be registered nurses or pharmacists. While certification as a CSPI is preferred, it is not required at time of hire; however, it must be obtained after working 2,000 hours and taking 2,000 human exposure cases. 

A “Day in the Life” of a SPI involves answering calls from the public and health care providers, assessing poisoning situations, and offering immediate educational guidance and treatment recommendations. Specialists use their expertise to assess the severity of exposures and provide evidence-based advice, often collaborating with medical professionals to ensure the best possible outcome for patients.

The Wisconsin Poison Center works in collaboration with Children’s Wisconsin. If you're interested in exploring career opportunities, please visit Children's Wisconsin careers.