Lab Matters Fall 2024 | Page 141

APHL 2024 POSTER ABSTRACTS

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION

Developing an Effective Environmental Laboratory Workforce

H . Adams 1 , D . Reyes 2 , S . Ganegoda 3 , B . Thames 4 , L . Gillis 5 , Z . English 6 , D . Thomas 7 , City of Wichita Falls 1 , City of Santa Cruz 2 , Auburn University 3 , Charleston Water System 4 , University of South Florida College of Public Health 5 , Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District 6 , Western Illinois University 7

In the April 2022 issue of Journal AWWA , the AWWA Water Quality Laboratory Committee ( WQLC ) joined together with the Association of Public Health Laboratories Environmental Laboratory Science Committee ( APHL ELSC ) and the Water Environment Federation Laboratory Practices Committee ( WEF LPC ) to discuss future workforce needs for environmental laboratories , including those owned and operated by utilities . They concluded that a highly diverse workforce in terms of educational backgrounds , skill sets ( e . g ., communication , analytical and the ability to work in a highpressure environment ) and desired working conditions ( e . g ., field work vs . a laboratory environment ) is needed . One key element identified was the need to bring in a young , talented workforce with a passion for protecting public health and the environment . This poster will continue the discussion , by evaluating how to keep and develop young professionals into a strong workforce ready to meet the challenges of the industry ’ s future . It will be the third workforcerelated poster presented at APHL Annual Conference (‘ 22 and ‘ 23 ) by this collaboration of laboratory committees .

Presenter : Hunter Adams , hunter . adams @ wichitafallstx . gov

DrPH in Public Health and Clinical Laboratory Science and Practice : An Educational Pathway to Address Laboratory Leadership Shortages .

J . Roberts 1 , A . Cannons 2 , P . Amuso 1 , L . Gillis 1 , University of South Florida 1 , Florida Dept . of Health 2

Public health , environmental and agricultural laboratories struggle to retain employees in part due to a lack of career advancement pathways . Consequently , laboratories are commonly unable to replace retiring laboratory directors as the current employees often lack the academic degrees required for credentialling . The University of South Florida ( USF ), College of Public Health worked closely with the Association of Public Health Laboratories ( APHL ) to design an academic program to address this shortage . USF offers an online doctoral degree in public health , a professional degree allowing a candidate to continue working while enrolled . The existing DrPH program was expanded to include a laboratory concentration with courses emphasizing laboratory management and leadership in addition to the sciences . The program competencies are derived from a key 2015 article published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report entitled “ Competency Guidelines for Public Health Laboratory Professionals ” which highlighted the competency domains recommended for the public health laboratory workforce . The program curriculum was largely designed by the APHL Workforce Development Committee including members and associates across multiple states and Canada who donated their time and expertise to create course lectures . The curriculum consists of six courses including laboratory safety and security , bioinformatics , molecular biology and diagnostics , microbiology and a two-course series focused on laboratory leadership and management . A research dissertation focusing on laboratory bench work is also required . In 2023 , APHL hired subject matter experts across multiple states and laboratory types to provide in-depth updates to the concentration courses . The program has enrolled a total of 41 students across seven cohorts and will enroll an eighth cohort in 2024 . Most of the students in the program are public health laboratory employees representing county , state and federal laboratories . Eight students have graduated and the remaining students are all currently active . An additional four students are anticipated to graduate in the next four months . Our graduates plan to become CLIA high complexity laboratory directors ( HCLD ) and the APHL members have worked closely with the American Board of Bioanalysis ( ABB ) to increase awareness of the DrPH degree program and its emphasis on laboratory science . We are grateful to have worked with ABB to create a pathway for our students to certify . As a result , the six students who have attempted the ABB HCLD examination all passed . The remaining two graduates are intending to sit for the exam at the next opportunity . Remarkably , our clinical laboratoryemployed students are sitting for the ABB HCLD exam and express interest in moving to public health laboratories . We anticipate an additional four students will graduate from the program in the next four months and all four have expressed interest in national certification . The USF DrPH Laboratory Science Program students are producing publications , successfully completing their degrees , obtaining their credentials and filling vital public health roles . Leveraging our accredited professional degree program and the expertise of the APHL members , we have created a unique career advancement pathway for the laboratory scientist . Our program is an example of a highly successful cooperation between the APHL and an academic center resulting in graduates who fill a vital public health role .

Presenter : Jill Roberts , jcrobert @ usf . edu

Engaging Interns and Fellows in Development of a STEM Program for High School Students

S . Mikorski 1 , R . Siderits 1 , T . Frez 1 , M . Gichura 2 , S . Dwivedi 2 , H . Mak 1 , L . Kimball 1 , W . Nemeth 1 , A . Preidel 1 , H . Shah 1 , M . Kam 3 , R . Finney 1 , T . Kirn 1 , New Jersey Department of Health , Public Health and Environmental Laboratories 1 , Rutgers , The State University 2 , Association for Public Health Laboratories 3

The New Jersey Public Health and Environmental Laboratories ( PHEL ) has a five-tiered approach to Workforce Development . Outreach to students and post-graduates makes up three of the five tiers : the Internship program in collaboration with Rutgers University and The College of New Jersey , the fellowship program in collaboration with Association for Public Health Laboratories ( APHL ) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and STEM ( Science Technology Engineering and Math ) outreach to high school students .

COVID 19 has impacted all three efforts :

• Halting the internship program for one year

• Boosting fellowship efforts through partnership with APHL

• Halting outreach to younger students