Michael F. Rieders

Dr. M. Fredric Rieders, Treasurer and a Director at NMS Labs in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

NMS Labs, Inc. is a US and internationally (ISO) accredited private, independent clinical diagnostic toxicology and forensic science laboratory serving justice, patient care, and public health since 1970. Dr. Rieders was CEO from 1988 – 2008 and interim CEO from January to July 2020.

Dr. Rieders is a Founding Director of the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation where he served as Chairman, Secretary, and Chief Science Officer at various times during his over 25 years of active leadership on the Board of Directors. He was the Program Director of Forensic Toxicology for the Foundation’s MSFS Program which he helped to create at Arcadia University. Dr. Rieders continued as volunteer faculty at Arcadia University and in Foundation internship programs providing lectures and seminars including an introduction to cold case forensics where Masters students participated in a cold case review at the Vidocq Society of Philadelphia.

Dr. Rieders is a supporter and guest speaker at the Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute and worked on the African Wildlife Poisoning Program which he continues to sponsor. He leads the development of the now ongoing International Toxic Adulterants Data Base Program.

Dr. Rieders is a Fellow of The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) where he was Chairman of the AAFS Opioids and Emerging Drugs Crisis Committee from 2017 – 2019. He remains active as Chair of the Information Sharing Sub-Committee and as a member of the Toxicology Section.

Dr. Rieders is a Member of the American Public Health Association (APHA) where he has an interest in substance use dependence in pregnant women, opioids and emerging drugs, chemical exposure biomonitoring, and toxic adulterant cutting agents in street drugs.

Dr. Rieders is a member of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT), The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (IAFT), the World Association of Medical Law (WAML), and The National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) where he serves on their Strategic Planning Committee, Workforce Development Subcommittee, Forensic Toxicology Committee, Government Affairs Committee and NAME Foundation Board of Trustees.

He served on Pennsylvania’s Commission on Wrongful Convictions where he worked with the Forensic Science Subcommittee on recommendations to improve the forensic science investigation system. Dr. Rieders has qualified as an Expert in Forensic Toxicology and testified in numerous criminal, civil, and arbitration proceedings.

Dr. Rieders earned a Chemistry degree from Arcadia University (formerly Beaver College) in 1980, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology/Toxicology from Thomas Jefferson University in 1985 where he was active as volunteer faculty and lectured in Toxicology. He is the past President of the Jefferson College of Graduate Studies Alumni Association where he was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus. Dr. Michael F. Rieders was the 2015 honoree of the Jefferson President's Award which is given to Jefferson’s strongest supporters. He continues to serve on Jefferson's Institutional Advancement Board. Dr. Michael F. Rieders and members of the Rieders Family were recognized with Jefferson's Leader of Innovation Medal in May of 2021.

Dr. Rieders served as a Term Trustee on the Arcadia University Board from 2009 - 2012, and as a volunteer faculty member serving as a course director and lecturer in Toxicology at Arcadia’s Master of Forensic Sciences Program. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Advisors and Fellows at The Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Sciences at New Haven University. Dr. Rieders is Chief Science Officer of The Vidocq Society, the premier US cold murder case investigation organization which examines cases and assists law enforcement agencies in identifying leads that may help solve homicides. He was awarded the Dr. Halbert E. Fillinger, Jr. Medal and Lifetime Achievement Award by The Vidocq Society in 2013. Dr. Rieders previously served on the Society's Board of Directors.

Dr. Rieders was an editor of the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences publication Science Technology and National Security and wrote a chapter in Forensic Aspects of Chemical Terrorism and recently published an article on his work with NASA: “Management of a Potentially Toxic Accidental Trialkylamine Ingestion during Spaceflight” in Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine.

Dr. Rieders was featured as a Forensic Scientist in the BBC film, “How Sherlock Holmes Changed the World of Forensic Science” and Smithsonian Channel’s “Forensic Firsts: Proving Poison”. He is a frequent guest speaker and presenter at numerous conferences and seminars.

Dr. Rieders is an avid advanced open-water scuba diver, a sushi chef and enjoys gardening, photography and international travel.