Sandra A. James-Yi, DVM, Ph.D., DABT, DABVT

Background

Dr. Sandra James-Yi is a Toxicologist with more than 30 years of experience in private practice, academia, forensic science, and industry. She holds two doctorates, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. She is a diplomate of both the American Board of Toxicology and the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology and a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Society of Toxicology, Society of Toxicologic Pathology, and American College of Medical Toxicology.

Her expertise spans human, animal, and environmental exposure, and the resulting adverse effects, to a wide breadth of toxicants, including, but not limited to, plant-based toxins, zootoxins, pesticides, endocrine disruptors, fungal mycotoxins, quaternary ammonium compounds, heavy metals, smokeless tobacco products, foods, beverages, dietary supplements, personal care products, medical devices and recreational, nutritional, and prescription drugs.

She has extensive experience in veterinary medicine and surgery, veterinary medical toxicology and pathology, cancer research, human and animal nutritional and personal care product safety, as well as microbial, entomologic (insects), acarologic (ticks and mites), and vector-borne and zoonotic diseases.

In academia, Dr. James-Yi has held academic faculty positions developing the toxicology and pathology curricula for professional and graduate students and has been involved in multidisciplinary, collaborative, and intercollegiate research, as well as being responsible for public health and extension services.

In industry and forensic science, Dr. James-Yi has had extensive, national, and international experience in nutritional and personal care product safety and regulatory toxicologic oversight in the global value stream for ingredients, product development, and manufacturing. Her work has encompassed identifying vulnerable populations and risk assessment and management, with a special focus on pediatric nutrition, reproductive health, women’s health, and aging populations. She has functioned as the global, corporate, technical, product safety lead over the life-cycle of products for internal stakeholders and cross-functional teams in marketing, regulatory affairs, research and development, clinical studies and product testing, manufacturing, education and outreach, medical affairs, product integrity, quality assurance/quality control, global ingredient supply-chain acquisition, legal affairs, emerging issues, and post-marketing surveillance teams. Her forensic experience also includes providing testimony in the United States court of law.

She is a subject matter expert and educator, skilled in comparative biomedical science, and risk assessment and management for dietary supplements, functional foods/nutraceuticals, beverages, personal care products (cosmetics and cosmetic devices), and research and development in nutritional, agricultural, and environmental toxicology for industry, academic institutions, and extension services for professionals and the public.