FEATURE
years—when she will have earned a DrPH
degree—she hopes to be an assistant
director. And in ten years, she is aiming
for a position where “I can have more of
a positive impact on the lab, which can
be achieved by attaining a laboratory
directorship.”
“My goal is to help guide the next phase
of public health laboratory development
and have us become less siloed,” said
Trammell. “Having the opportunity to
hear what these other departments are
working on really helps the laboratory to
see where we should go next and shows
staff how important their work is.”
Asked what she would change
about her job, if she could, Trammell
doesn’t hesitate to respond: (1) more
advancement opportunities, (2) more
PublicHealthLabs
@APHL
training opportunities and (3) more
funding for cutting-edge technology and
research. “It’s about helping,” she said.
“We can’t be afraid to experiment
with new approaches”
Y
ounger scientists aren’t the
only ones thinking about the
future of the public health
laboratory. Ren Salerno, PhD,
director of the Division of
Laboratory Systems at the US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
believes that “if we want to retain and
develop the next generation of laboratory
physicians and scientists, we need to put
them into an environment where they feel
supported as well as empowered.”
APHL.org
I didn’t want to lose any
opportunities to work in a lab;
that’s where I enjoy being.”
Stephanie Trammell, MPH
Fall 2018 LAB MATTERS
9