Lab Matters Fall 2018 | Page 38

IN MEMORIAM In Memoriam: Toby L. Merlin, MD It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Toby Merlin, who died on August 18 after a short illness. As a longtime champion of accurate and safe laboratory medicine, Toby was a great friend to public health laboratories and to APHL. As director of the Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections at CDC, Toby led numerous programs, including the Laboratory Response Network and the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Cooperative Agreement, and was involved in numerous response activities. His brilliance, patience and pragmatism always won the day. Toby was not only a great colleague, but a good friend. He could always be counted on for sage advice, an open ear and a good laugh. He will be dearly missed. APHL offers our sincere condolences to his family and colleagues at CDC and across the world. 36 LAB MATTERS Fall 2018 To honor the life of Dr. Merlin, the family has established a memorial scholarship fund at the University of New Mexico. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be: • Mailed to the UNM Foundation,Two Woodward Center, 700 Lomas Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, Mexico 87102 • Made by calling 505.313.7626, • Made online at www.unmfund. org/online-giving; at step 2, select “President’s Fund,” at step 5 add Toby’s name. n PublicHealthLabs @APHL APHL.org