The American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT) ‐ A Rich Heritage En Route to an Exciting Future

In 1900, 20 physicians met in Washington, DC, to form the American Therapeutic Society (ATS) as a means of advancing rational therapeutics through “the application of any method or agency which might ameliorate, cure, or prevent disease.”1 This mission, articulated over a century ago by the ATS, which eventually evolved into our modern day American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT), has remained a focal point of our mission. Over the past 20 years, ASCPT has developed several 5year strategic plans to further build on this mission and to articulate a vision for the Society that would guide us into the future. These plans have been underpinned by a solid set of core principles and tactical plans to ensure that ASCPT progressed as intended. Our current strategic plan (2015–2020) “ASCPT: Transforming Translation” builds on previous strategic plans and intends to broaden the Society’s reach to those disciplines closely aligned with translational medicine.2 As stated in this plan, ASCPT’s mission is to “Advance clinical pharmacology, translational medicine, and therapeutics for the benefit of patients and society.” Our vision to become the authority on the science and practice of translational medicine, by building on a foundation of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, will require us to build and be recognized for our leadership and influence in these areas. Therefore, it seems completely appropriate in this inaugural issue of Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) published under the aegis of ASCPT, to highlight our current strategic plan, given the explicit inclusion of translational medicine in ASCPT’s mission and vision. This mission and vision is presented with our Society’s core principles and goals in Table 1. ASCPT strongly believes in several “Core Principles” that provide guidance and a solid foundation upon which to launch our plans for the future2: