Meet Our Staff

Krista Osterthaler, MPH

Krista Osterthaler is the Chief Development and Communications Officer for the National Capital Poison Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and accredited poison control center in Washington, DC. In her current role, Krista is responsible for public education, communications, and development activities for the center and webPOISONCONTROL.

Krista began her career as a teacher in an underserved public high school, eventually joining poison control as a poisoning prevention educator. Krista has since served as the first Vice President for the American Association of Poison Control Centers, National Poisoning Prevention Council Chair, and Director of Programs and Research at Safe Kids Worldwide. Krista has a bachelor's degree in biology and music, a master's degree in public health, and graduate certificates in epidemiology and visual and digital health communications. Krista lives in Maryland, where she obsessively monitors visitors to her Bird Buddy and is the mom and caretaker of two humans, an English Setter, a Bearded Dragon, a gerbil, and countless plants.