Biography
Dr. Santamaria is a board-certified toxicologist with over thirty (30) years of multidisciplinary consulting experience critically evaluating a broad range of toxicological, epidemiological, and clinical studies, conducting exposure and human health risk assessments, and communicating results to clients and governmental agencies. Dr. Santamaria has conducted safety assessments for a variety of consumer products to determine their compliance with U.S., European, and Canadian regulations and/or California’s Proposition 65 regulations. Dr. Santamaria has addressed product liability and regulatory matters regarding exposure to chemicals in consumer products (e.g., cosmetics, personal care products, toys, tobacco, foods, food packaging, nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cleaning products, paints), or in the workplace or the environment. She has critically evaluated the human health risks associated with consumer, occupational, and/or environmental exposures to a wide variety of chemicals (e.g., manganese, benzene, talc, arsenic, asbestos, trichloroethylene, PCBs, flame retardants, solvents, phthalates).
Prior to her consulting career, Dr. Santamaria worked in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for six years conducting in vitro research to identify chemoprotective substances. Her research identified cruciferous vegetables, especially broccoli, as potentially highly protective against carcinogens. Dr. Santamaria’s Master of Public Health training at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Hygiene focused on Health Policy and Management and Epidemiology. Dr. Santamaria’s doctoral training at the University of Texas School of Public Health was in molecular toxicology, in which she studied the toxicological mechanism of a treatment for psoriasis called PUVA. She has published several book chapters and publications in peer-reviewed journals and has presented seminars on a wide variety of topics.
Education
- Toxicology, PhD, University of Texas School of Public Health
- Health Policy and Management, MPH, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health
- Biology, BS, High Point University
Professional Associations
- Society of Toxicology (SOT)
- American College of Toxicology (SRA)
- International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO)
- American Bar Association (ABA)
Certifications
- Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT) (since 1996)