Lab Matters Fall 2018 | Page 3

LAB MATTERS fall 2018 | contents COLUMNS Policy 2 President’s Message 21 Labs Matter: Communicating with Policymakers 3 Executive Director’s Message 22 APHL, CDC Director Discuss New and Ongoing Priorities SECTIONS Global Health 23 Global Health Takes a Regional Approach Institutional Research 4 A Call to Action: Finding a New Path for the Next Generation Infectious Diseases From the Bench 12 Closing the Data Gap on Overdoses in Minnesota 24 Behind the Scenes, APHL is a Key Partner and Driving Force in Influenza Surveillance 26 Louisville Goes for the “Gold” in IGRA TB Testing Environmental Health 14 Private Wells: Regulations, Testing Recommendations and a New Public Health Lab Initiative in Iowa 27 APHL-CDC Bioinformatics Fellowship Builds Lab Capacity, Launches Careers Food Safety Quality Systems 16 BSOs Convene First NE Laboratory Safety Symposium 28 APHL and CaliciNet: Improving Norovirus Surveillance and Outbreak Detection Public Health Preparedness and Response Membership 17 Slated End to BSO Funding Impacting PHL Biosafety Programs 18 Scientists and First Responders: Partnerships for Preparedness and Response 19 The LRN Turns 20: Two Decades of Detecting Threats from Anthrax to Zika Informatics 20 AIMS: 10 Years in the Making 30 The World is Their Oyster: Humboldt County Public Health Laboratory 32 Fairfax County Health Department Laboratory: Serving the National Capital Area Fellows 35 APHL Initiates Classes of AR, Bioinformatics Fellows IN MEMORIAM 36 Toby L. Merlin, MD APHL LAB MATTERS STAFF APHL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gynene Sullivan, MA, CAPM, editor Joanne Bartkus, PhD, D(ABMM), president Karen Klinedinst, art director Grace E. Kubin, PhD, president-elect Jody DeVoll, MAT, advisor 6 FEATURE Time to Welcome the Next Generation of Public Health Laboratory Scientists The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 12,000 new laboratory professionals are needed each year to meet consumer demand. At the same time, while automation has eliminated some less-skilled laboratory jobs, the growing sophistication of public health laboratory analyses has generated demand for scientists with highly specialized training. So how are laboratories recruiting new talent for the “hidden profession?” By taking a hard look into what they really want, and how they want to work. Bill Whitmar, MS, secretary-treasurer To submit an article for consideration, contact Gynene Sullivan, editor, at [email protected]. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) works to strengthen laboratory systems serving the public’s health in the US and globally. APHL’s member laboratories protect the public’s health by monitoring and detecting infectious and foodborne diseases, environmental contaminants, terrorist agents, genetic disorders in newborns and other diverse health threats. Richard S. Steece, PhD, D(ABMM), member-at-large Denise Marie Toney, PhD, HCLD(ABB), member-at-large Scott J. Zimmerman, DrPH, MPH, HCLD(ABB), member- at-large Maria Lucia Ishida, PhD, associate institutional member representative Tamara Theisen, MT(ASCP), local institutional member representative 8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 700 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.aphl.org Mark Wade, local institutional member representative Ewa King, PhD, immediate past president Scott J. Becker, MS, ex officio, executive director, APHL PublicHealthLabs @APHL APHL.org Fall 2018 LAB MATTERS 1