APHL honors public health leaders at 2019 annual meeting

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is pleased to announce the winners of its annual awards for outstanding achievements in laboratory science, creative approaches to solving today’s public health challenges and exemplary support of laboratories serving the public’s health. Awardees were honored during a ceremony at the 2019 APHL Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. Congratulations to all award winners!

The following awards were presented:

Healthiest Laboratory Award – This award is given to an APHL member laboratory that is committed to safety, environmental process, environmental policy and employee health and wellness.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Laboratory Services Division

Thomas E. Maxson Education, Training and Workforce Development Award – This award was established in August of 1998 in memory of Dr. Maxson, and honors an APHL member who is a public health or clinical laboratory practitioner, trainer or educator who has made significant contributions to public health laboratory practice by creating, delivering or developing continuing education opportunities, programs, policies or practices for the laboratory community. For the first time, the Maxson award was presented at the Public Health Laboratory Training Conference in April.

Erin Bowles, WI Clinical Laboratory Network (WCLN) Coordinator, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH)

On the Front Line Award – This award honors an individual or organization outside of the association’s membership who makes significant contributions to APHL, its membership and mission.

Emilio Esteban, chief scientist, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Emerging Leader Award – This award honors an individual whose leadership has been instrumental in one or more advances in laboratory science, practice, management, policy or education within his or her first five to ten years in the profession.

Marie-Claire Rowlinson, assistant laboratory director and CLIA director, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories – Jacksonville, Florida Department of Health

Leadership in Biosafety and Biosecurity Award – This award honors a laboratory scientist with over 10 years of related service in the field of biosafety and biosecurity in a state and/or local public health laboratory.

Andy Cannons, laboratory director, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories – Tampa, Florida Department of Health
Scott Hughes, associate director, Environmental Sciences & Office of Safety & Emergency Preparedness & Response (OSEPR), New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Public Health Laboratory

Silver Award – This award honors a laboratory scientist with 10 to 15 years of service in a governmental public health laboratory that is recognized as a leader both within their home laboratory as well as external to their laboratory. This year we have two recipients of the Silver Award.

Bryanne Shaw, biology section manager, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Jason Mihalic, office chief, State Laboratory Services, Arizona Department of Health Services

Gold Standard Award – This award recognizes an individual who makes or has made significant contributions to the technical advancement of public health laboratory science and/or practice.

Jack Bennett, ALAB technical leader, Analytical Services and Instrumentation Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Champion of the Public Health Laboratory Award – This award honors federal, state and local elected officials and executive branch employees who have recognized the importance of state and local governmental laboratories that perform testing of public health significance either through support of legislation or federal agency decisions.

Patrick Breysse, director, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Presidential Award – This award recipient is selected by APHL’s president and given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the Association’s work to promote policies that strengthen public health laboratories. This year there are two award winners.

John Besser, deputy chief, Enteric Diseases Laboratory Branch, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Philip Amuso, retired

Lifetime Achievement Award – This award recognizes an individual who has established a history of distinguished service to APHL, made significant contributions to the advancement of public health laboratory science or practice, exhibited leadership in the field of public health, and/or positively influenced public health policy on a national or global level.