Lab Matters Summer 2025 | Page 4

PRESIDENT’ S AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’ S MESSAGE

At APHL 2025, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Megan Crumpler, Dr. Scott Shone, Scott Becker and Michelle Forman for a wide-ranging conversation. This is a brief snippet of that conversation that has been edited for clarity. You can hear the full conversation in episode 34 of Lab Culture, available on APHLBlog. org.

~ G. S.

Gynene Sullivan: I want to shift the conversation a little bit to talk about Megan and your tenure as president of APHL. Did any surprises come up while you were having your year?

Megan Crumpler: Maybe a few. Sullivan: Just a few? Crumpler: Yeah.

Sullivan: So, what were some of the high points of your tenure while you’ ve been president?

Crumpler: I think just the friendships that I’ ve made with some in this room. Being able to really be in the weeds of decision making and being a part of that. I received a compliment from one of our colleagues the other day saying,“ I think you’ ll be remembered as a president who was really good at making decisions.” And I said,“ well, that’ s my whole personality, so good.”

I’ m glad it’ s showing through. And I was really touched by that because I joked with them and said my friends come to me with their paint colors and say,“ Megan, what color?” And I pick it, and they say,“ okay, thank you,” because that’ s what I’ m good at doing.

I started with my focus supporting the fellowship and internship programs. We host six fellows in our lab and have interns. We’ ve definitely utilized that program and are so grateful for it. My goal was also retention. We’ ve got these great people in, so how do we keep them? And the definition of retention has now changed. It’ s now how do we grab these people and find a way to even think about keeping them, let alone wanting them to stay with us. So that’ s changed. Thankfully, the fellowship and internship program is still kicking, so we’ ll utilize that as much as we can. Early on in the new administration, I actually was at APHL headquarters, and I was there with

Scott, and we cried together. It was very powerful to be present with APHL staff and say, we are here for you, what can we do? I am here for you. I wanted to make sure that they saw that their president was here for the members and here for APHL staff. I was very grateful actually to be there that week, even though it was very challenging.

Scott Becker: So was I!

Crumpler: While that was not a great time, I think it was a highlight for me because I was able to physically contribute. And that’ s really important to me. I love community. I love being around people. I always tell my kids,“ If something bad happens to someone, you just show up.” I don’ t know what happened and you don’ t have to say anything. But you just show up because that’ s what you know, that’ s what we do for the people that we care for.

Sullivan: Would that be your advice to incoming president Scott Shone to be present and show up for your people?

Crumpler: Yes, but I don’ t think I have to tell him that!