Walter Charles Prozialeck (born August 18, 1952) is an American biomedical educator and scientist. He has written over 100 scientific papers and book chapters. He is known for his research on the toxicity of cadmium, as well as his research on psychoactive drugs and herbal medicine including

marijuana Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, the cannabis plant has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various tra ...

and

kratom ''Mitragyna speciosa'' (commonly known as kratom, an herbal leaf from a tree of the Rubiaceae family, ) is a tropical evergreen tree in the coffee family native to Southeast Asia. It is indigenous to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and ...

, for which he was interviewed in ''

Rolling Stone Magazine ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its cov ...

''.

Early life and education

Walter C. Prozialeck was born in

Johnstown, Pennsylvania Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,411 as of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Located east of Pittsburgh, Johnstown is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropol ...

in 1952. He is the son of a coal miner,

Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation was an American steelmaking company headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. For most of the 20th century, it was one of the world's largest steel producing and shipbuilding companies. At the height of its succe ...

worker Walter Prozialeck. He attended Forest Hills High School and was All-Conference in Football in 1969. He played guard and was a team captain. He received is undergraduate degree from

Juniata College Juniata College is a private liberal arts college in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1876 as a co-educational school, it was the first college started by members of the Church of the Brethren as a center for vocational learning for those wh ...

in 1974. Prozialeck earned his Ph.D. from

Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University is a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in its earliest form in 1824, the university officially combined with Philadelphia University in 2017. To signify its heritage, the univer ...

in 1978 and did a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of

Benjamin Weiss Benjamin Weiss ( he, בנימין ווייס; born 1941) is an American-Israeli mathematician known for his contributions to ergodic theory, topological dynamics, probability theory, game theory, and descriptive set theory. Biography Benjamin ( ...

from 1978-1980. He was associate professor at the

Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) is a private medical school with its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and additional locations in Suwanee, Georgia (PCOM Georgia) and Moultrie, Georgia (PCOM South Georgia). Founded ...

from 1980-1991.

Career

Dr. Prozialeck relocated to Chicago in 1991. He joined the faculty at

Midwestern University Midwestern University (MWU) is a private medical and professional school with campuses in Downers Grove, Illinois and Glendale, Arizona. As of the 2020-21 academic year, a total of 2,987 students were enrolled at the Downers Grove campus and 3, ...

(then Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine). In 1997 he was promoted to Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology at Midwestern University. In 1999 he was the inaugural recipient of the American Osteopathic Association’s Korr Award for excellence in basic biomedical research. He was awarded the American Osteopathic Foundation Educator of the Year Award in 2010. He was named to Juniata College’s Wall of fame and named a Distinguished Alumni. At Midwestern Prozialeck conducted research on the toxicity of cadmium. His research helped find early warning signs of kidney damage due to exposure to cadmium. In 2012 Prozialeck began being published about the controversial drug

. He opposed of the Drug Enforcement Administration's decision to classify the drug

Schedule 1 Schedule 1 may refer to: * Schedule I Controlled Substances within the US Controlled Substances Act * Schedule I Controlled Drugs and Substances within the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act * Schedule I Psychotropic Substances within t ...

, saying that it would make research on the drug extremely difficult. Researchers stated it would potentially escalate the

Opioid Crisis The opioid epidemic, also referred to as the opioid crisis, is the rapid increase in the overuse, misuse/abuse, and overdose deaths attributed either in part or in whole to the class of drugs opiates/opioids since the 1990s. It includes the sign ...

. He was interviewed in ''Rolling Stone'' along with several other researchers. The DEA eventually reversed its decision and handed control to the FDA.

Personal life

He was a rugby player for 25 years and played Club Rugby while at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Prozialeck is the father of blues musician Matthew Prozialeck.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prozialeck, Walter People from Johnstown, Pennsylvania 1952 births Living people Scientists from Pennsylvania American pharmacologists Juniata College alumni Thomas Jefferson University alumni Midwestern University Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine alumni