PRESIDENT ’ S MESSAGE
Taking ( and Making ) Opportunities
Like many of my colleagues , I kind of fell into public health . When I was in graduate school , I took some public health courses because I was always interested in public health . But I had created this job description in my head that was a mix of management , clinical laboratory diagnostics and community service . And I said , “ What is this ? I don ’ t know , but this is what I want to do .” I was fortunate enough to be connected to a senior laboratory leader at the Virginia state laboratory , and after sitting down with her for an hour , I walked out going , “ This is exactly what I want to do . This is my job description that I didn ’ t even know existed .”
What I found in the public health laboratory world is an inspiring community . We are highly educated public servants who want to serve our communities and do fantastic quality work . We take whatever challenge is thrown at us , and we figure it out as we go , and we do not hesitate to share our knowledge across our community . In my career as a public health laboratory director , what surprised me is how much I really love policy and regulation . I always thought I was a bench scientist — after all , I ’ d worked in the laboratory since I was 19 ! But once I saw the impact that you can make by bringing people in and exposing them to what we do , I could not let any opportunity to shine a light on our work go to waste . As I got involved in committee work with APHL , starting with the Infectious Diseases committee , I also had the opportunity to take some more leadership roles in the state of California . The state has a public health laboratoryrelated organization and I found myself on different committees , being elected secretary-treasurer , then president . These other roles were a way for me to grow without leaving my laboratory , which was really rewarding .
One of my presidential priorities is retention of our public health laboratory workforce . We have done a really good job within APHL of bringing people into the field and exposing them to the rich and varied work of public health laboratories . I get more phone calls from students or others who are interested in working in public health laboratories than ever before ! And now we have many levels to offer them with fellowships and internships . Many of them stay because of the great work that we do — they really love our community and love working for our laboratory . APHL also has great data on why people leave , as well as some suggestions and things that we can do to get them to stay . So , it ’ s really going to be putting some of those ideas into action based on the data that APHL has gathered and encouraging my fellow directors and leaders in the field . It is up to all of us within the public health community to keep these people here . We have to really engage them and give them opportunities to grow . Fellows and interns are highly motivated — they want to work in public health and are excited to do so . And their excitement , as well as my fellow colleagues ’ across APHL , will be fueling my term as APHL president .
As many of you know , I am very much an extrovert , so I will be looking forward to collaborating with you all over the next year . As Scott stated at APHL 2024 , we have over 5,300 + members engaged in the committees , subcommittees , workgroups and focus groups across the association . There are lots of opportunities for anyone looking for a bit more knowledge about and involvement in the public health community around them . Get involved — it will help your laboratory , and it will help you . It may seem overwhelming at first , or you may think you are not going to have enough time . But the knowledge and connections you will receive will pay dividends to both you and your laboratory in the future . g
There are lots of opportunities for anyone looking for a bit more knowledge about and involvement in the public health community around them . Get involved — it will help your laboratory , and it will help you .”
Megan Crumpler , PhD President , APHL
2 LAB MATTERS Fall 2024
PublicHealthLabs @ APHL APHL . org