National Center for Public Health Laboratory Leadership

Overview

Workforce shortages, cuts in funding, rapid advances in science and technology: these forces have catalyzed change in public health laboratories. At the same time, terrorist threats and emerging infectious diseases have compelled laboratories to add frontline response to their ongoing responsibility for advanced diagnostics.

Ironically the profession lacks a sufficient number of leaders just when it needs them most. In a survey conducted by APHL in 2000, two-thirds of state public health laboratory directors reported a shortage of candidates for leadership positions. Furthermore, those in leadership positions have few options outside of on-the-job experience to hone their leadership skills.

In response, APHL launched the National Center for Public Health Laboratory Leadership in 2002 to prepare current and emerging laboratory leaders with the skills critical to success in a rapidly evolving field. The Center aims to provide:

• Information: Accessible resources specific to laboratory leadership and practice
  
  
• Training: Effective leadership, strategic decision-making and management skills for laboratory directors and other senior professionals
  
  
• Technical Assistance: Solutions to collective and individual challenges confronting laboratories.
  

In addition to serving public health laboratory professionals, the Center works with health organizations in the public and private sectors, and government decision-makers to expand knowledge and awareness of public health laboratories.

APHL Participates in SOC Response Letter

APHL and a many other public health organizations unified to submit a response to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Standard Occupational Classification Revision Policy Committee request for comments this week. ASTHO and 14 public health organizations submitted a letter on July 14, 2006, to the committee as the first step in creating a dialogue that will result in improved data on the public health workforce.

Public Health Grand Rounds

On September 26, 2003 public health laboratories were featured in a national live satellite broadcast and webcast entitled "Disease, Disaster, and Detection: Partnering with Public Health Laboratories. This marked a major accomplishment for the Center, which produced the program in conjunction with UNC's School of Public Health. The goal of Grand Rounds, which regularly sponsors such programming, is to promote a leadership-level national dialogue on public health issues of strategic significance.

If You Missed a Public Health Grand Rounds Program...
To order videotapes or CD-ROMs of past Grand Rounds Programs, click here.

National Center Brochure

This brochure, published in the spring of 2003, provides on overview of the National Center for Public Health Laboratory Leadership.

On the Horizon

The Center plans to develop an orientation package to the public health laboratory for new directors, partner with a CDC-sponsored National Public Health Grand Rounds at the University of North Carolina to produce an educational program for public health and laboratory audiences and continue with National Public Health Laboratory Leadership Forums and workshops. The Center will broaden efforts to identify, evaluate and promote strategies to build a national cadre of laboratory leaders.

For more information, please contact:

Eva J. Perlman, MPH
Sr. Director of Professional Development
240.485.2773 | eperlman@aphl.org