New faculty spotlight: Joseph Clemons, MD

Joseph Clemons, MD, is a new faculty member at UNMC.

• Name: Joseph Clemons, MD
• Hometown: Carbondale, Illinois
• New title and department at UNMC: Assistant professor, UNMC Department of Emergency Medicine, and associate medical director, Nebraska Regional Poison Center

Research and professional interests:

• Emergency medicine/medical toxicology
• Plant/animal toxicology
• Radiation toxicity

How I fell in love with emergency medicine/medical toxicology: I developed a passion for emergency medicine due to its fast-paced, high acuity environment and my fascination with diagnosing and treating undifferentiated illnesses. Throughout my training, I had the opportunity to encounter captivating toxicology cases that emphasized the significance of specialized knowledge, ultimately inspiring me to pursue a fellowship in medical toxicology.

Degrees:

• MD, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois
• Emergency Medicine Residency, Kendall Regional Medical Center, Miami, Florida
• Masters of Public Health, University of Illinois Springfield, Springfield, Illinois
• Medical Toxicology Fellowship, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon

Memberships:

• American College of Medical Toxicology
• American Association of Clinical Toxicology

Three things people may not know about me: 

• I really enjoy cooking and discovering new recipes. Back in my high school and undergraduate days, I used to work in various roles at restaurants – from cooking to serving to bartending. Those experiences allowed me to pick up some valuable culinary skills that I now use to whip up delicious meals for my family and friends. 
• I like reading comic books. I picked up this hobby during medical school. Comic books were my go-to for a quick read and fun escape from the world of medicine.        
• When I have some down time, I love tapping into my artistic side through painting and strumming the guitar.