Lab Matters Summer 2024 | Page 5

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ’ S MESSAGE

If you think about APHL presidents now and you think of our presidents 20 years ago , the same commitment is there in terms of science and leadership . What ’ s changed is their roles back home in their public health laboratories . It is a very different job than it was 20 years ago , 15 years ago , 10 years ago and five years ago . While it used to be overseeing a facility of highly educated experts and engaging mostly in science , in today ’ s world , they take on a larger variety of roles : tour guide , communications expert , mentor , cheerleader , as well as scientific leader . I think the same thing is true with APHL .

At APHL , we are not stagnant because our members are not stagnant . The issues certainly change all the time , and we focus on changing our ways of thinking with the times , changing with whatever is thrown at us , trying to also predict and to be on the front end of whatever it happens to be . For example , we ’ ve been thinking about the workforce development crisis for a long time . We ’ ve been plotting , we ’ ve been planning , and when the opportunity came , we made a case that there needs to be an infusion of resources so that we can reinvigorate what was a once rather small fellowship program . But it was also understanding the time that we ’ re living in , understanding what the opportunities are , what the challenges are . The commitment hasn ’ t changed , the work life has changed . And we have to adapt with it to support our members best .

One of the benefits that I have in my role is that I get to work with a great group of people , but transition and change does happen . In my many years at APHL , I have had the good fortune to have worked with many individuals at all levels of our membership . If you look across our organization and to our past leadership , many of those folks are still engaged . So , we don ’ t let you go — once you ’ re in , you ’ re in ! What is interesting to me about APHL ’ s member leadership is that they are more early- to mid-career than in the past . That ’ s a good thing because not only do they have many more years to give us in different ways , but they are also a reflection of the changing demographics within our membership and offer new ways of thinking and approaching different situations .

As a membership organization , member engagement is critical . In my presentation at the opening session at APHL 2024 , I commented on the fact that we have over 5,300 people engaged in APHL activities — committees , subcommittees , workgroups , focus groups and taskforces . As I was preparing that slide , I kept wondering “ Who ARE all these people ?” Then I saw a few of them — over 1,300 strong — at APHL 2024 ! I also was able to show photos of recent groundbreakings , many of which were in rural and frontier communities , reflecting Tim Southern ’ s priority of engaging those communities . We know it takes time for these things to rise to a certain level of awareness . But when they do finally get there , it enriches all our experiences .

The continued member engagement is so exciting . You feel it at in-person meetings , you feel it on virtual platforms when talking to colleagues and peers , and you feel it during those committee calls when our folks really connect on issues that they are passionate about . We want that energy to also come through our podcast , through our communication channels and through all the publications we have . Because all those voices matter . I used to joke inside APHL that we would often go to STP — the same 10 people , same 20 people , same 30 people — when we needed some expertise or wanted to have our members ’ voices heard . That is not the case anymore . The world does change , and APHL changes as needed . While I get to have a new boss every year , I also get to partner with people for a long period of time . And that keeps me coming back , year after year . g

The commitment hasn ’ t changed , the work life has changed . And we have to adapt with it to support our members best .”

Scott Becker , MS Chief Executive Officer , APHL