Lab Culture

At this year's APHL Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, we talked APHL's current board president, president-elect and CEO about the challenges and successes of the past year and the focus of the year to come. APHL President Dr. Scott Shone (director, North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health) reflected on his call for APHL and the greater public health laboratory community to be "obnoxiously positive" by sharing stories of our collective accomplishments. And President-Elect Dr. Sharon Massingale talked about the value of regional consortia in bringing laboratory leaders together to support each other in their work. Dr. Massingale also talked about how she found her way to public health, a journey that was neither easy nor linear. APHL's top leaders discussed this, our 75 year history and more in this episode. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://www.aphlblog.org/lab-culture-ep-35-oregons-one-health-approach-to-yersinia-enterocolitica-case/How did a baby become ill with Yersinia enterocolitica, bacteria most often found in pork, when no contaminated food was found in the home? In this episode of Lab Culture, Dr. Karim Morey, a microbiologist with the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory, explains that routine laboratory testing, a comprehensive and sophisticated foodborne illness investigation process, and a One Health approach helped solve this unique case. Don't miss this interview by Stephanie Barahona, APHL's media specialist, which is in both English and Spanish. Find the Spanish version of the conversation shortly after the 16-minute mark.

At the 2025 APHL Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon, APHL's current board president, president-elect and CEO sat down for a conversation about the challenges and successes of the past year. APHL President Dr. Megan Crumpler (director, Orange County Public Health Laboratory) and President-Elect Dr. Scott Shone (director, North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health) shared their experiences with major laboratory construction projects and their own approach to leadership. Along with APHL CEO Scott Becker, they discuss the challenges faced by public health laboratories and the need for a more visible role in local communities and our nation's public health system. "I think we need to be obnoxiously positive and share how awesome we are," strongly stated Dr. Shone.

This episode is coming to you from the 2024 APHL Annual Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! We had the opportunity to chat with APHL's current President, President-elect and CEO about their experiences and observations from their roles. They are three extremely dedicated public health leaders who have come together at the Annual Conference for learning and collaborating, but also to see their colleagues who they consider friends and family. Don't miss this episode!

Tim Southern, PhD, D(ABMM) APHL President, 2023-2024 Laboratory Director, South Dakota Public Health Laboratory

Megan Crumpler, PhD, HCLD(ABB) APHL President-Elect 2023-2024 Director, Orange County Public Health Laboratory

Scott J. Becker, MS APHL Chief Executive Officer

What is the CDC Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS)? In this episode, we learn more about it from two current LLS fellows. Drs. Courtnee Bell and Emily Yarosz discuss how they learned about the fellowship, their experiences and where they see themselves when their fellowships end.

CDC Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS)

Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS)

Minnesota Public Health Laboratory

Public Health Laboratory Fellowship Program: an APHL-CDC Initiative

APHL Blog

Today's show is a conversation between four past winners of APHL's Leadership in Biosafety and Biosecurity Award. Jill Power, Christina Egan, Carrie Anglewicz and Andrew Cannons share their thoughts on the past, present and future of biosafety in public health laboratories.

Andrew C. Cannons, PhD Laboratory Director Bureau of Public Health Laboratories –Tampa Florida Department of Health

Jill J. Power, MS Deputy Director New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Carrie Anglewicz, MS Biosafety Officer, Laboratory Outreach Bureau of Laboratories Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Christina Egan, PhD Deputy Director, Division of Infectious Diseases Chief, Biodefense and Mycology Laboratories Wadsworth Center New York State Department of Health

Links:

Leadership in Biosafety and Biosecurity Award

Strengthening Lab Biosafety & Biosecurity

APHL Blog posts about biosafety

It's September which means it is Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month! We are kicking off a month of celebrating by chatting with Scott Becker, APHL CEO, about the exciting work being done by public health laboratory staff as well as the challenges many face. Scott also shares what he's most looking forward to in the year to come.

Don't forget to follow #ThanksPHLabs and APHL on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok this Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month!

Links:

2022 Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month Toolkit

E.coli Outbreak with Unknown Food Source (August 2022)

New Public Health Laboratory Workforce Pipeline Project Receives Historic and Much-Needed $282 Million Investment

What is the APHL-CDC Fellowship Program and why should you consider applying?

APHL.org/Fellowships

APHL ID Lab Con 2023

APHL Newborn Screening Symposium

As the 2022 monkeypox outbreak began to spread around the globe, the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) was prepared with the appropriate test and experienced staff trained to perform it. These frontline responders were the first to test suspected monkeypox samples in the US and continue to be vital to this public health emergency response. As we move into the next phase of this response with commercial laboratories coming online to test patients, what is the role of the LRN? What role do public health laboratories, the largest segment of LRN labs, play? In this episode, two key APHL leaders answer these questions and more: Dr. Ewa King, chief program officer, and Chris Mangal, director of public health preparedness and response.

Links:

The LRN's job is to prepare, detect and respond. But what exactly does that mean?

APHL Monkeypox Response

U.S. Monkeypox Outbreak 2022: Situation Summary (CDC)

Day three of the 2022 APHL Annual Conference was a great one! We started off with the annual awards ceremony which always sets the tone for an exciting day. This mini episode includes an interview with one of the APHL-CDC Bioinformatics Fellows about his first experience at the APHL Annual Conference.

Today was the first full day of the 2022 APHL Annual Conference and it did not disappoint! From COVID-19 to newborn screening to food safety and more, there was a fascinating presentation to intrigue anyone. We kicked off the day with a sunrise walk and line danced together after lunch!