​The Maxson Education, Training & Workforce Development Award honors an individual who has made outstanding contributions to public health laboratory continuing education and workforce development.​ It was established in 1998 in memory of Dr. Thomas E Maxson, who was the director of the Kentucky Public Health Laboratory from 1987 to 1998.

Nominee Consi​derations​

Nominees must be an employee of an APHL member laboratory or CDC.

Nominees should be a public health laboratory scientist, administrator, trainer or educator who has:

  • ​Made significant contributions to the advancement of workforce development and training in public health laboratory science and practice,

  • Worked to provide continuing education opportunities, programs, policies or practices internally and/or externally through outreach to their public health partners, or

  • Demonstrated a history of service with​​ APHL committees, taskforces or workgroups focused on workforce development, education and/or training.​

The Maxson Award shall be conferred on an individual only once.​ Formal recognition for this award will take place at the APHL Annual Conference. 

Past Maxson Award Recipients

2024: Rolinda Bailey, MLS (ASCP), Safety Officer and Responsible Official, Tennessee Public Health Laboratory

2023: Crystal Fortune, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, RBP(ABSA), Newborn Screening Short-Term Follow-Up Coordinator, Montana State Public Health Laboratory​​​

2022: Crystal E. Barrett MAED/T, MLS(ASCP)CM, Laboratory Systems Improvement and Training Manager, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, Richmond, VA

2021: Shannon Sharp, MT(ASCP), Bioterrorism Training Coordinator, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Laboratories

2020: Karen Stiles, State Training Coordinator, Nebraska Public Health Laboratory

2020: Robert Nickla, RBP, M(ASCP), LRN Coordinator, Biosafety Officer, Oregon State Public Health Laboratory

2019: Erin Bowles, MT(ASCP), Laboratory Network Coordinator and Co-Biosafety Officer, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene

2018: Shoolah H. Escott, MS, MT(ASCP), Biosafety Manager, William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute, Massachusetts

2017: Susanne Zanto, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, SM, Montana Laboratory Services Bureau

2016: Nicole Green, PhD, D(ABMM), Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratory

2014: Martin Evans, PhD, MS, MT(ASCP), consultant in public health informatics

2014: Christina Egan, PhD, Chief of Biodefense, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health

2013: Maria Paz Carlos, PhD, DVM, Virology and Immunology Division Chief, Maryland Laboratories Administration

2012: Renee Beckham, Program Specialist IV, Texas Department of State Health Services

2011: Jo Ann Jellison, MS, MT(ASCP), Training Coordinator, Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services

2010: Judy Delany, MS, MPH, MT(ASCP), Liaison to Office of State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support, Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, CDC

2008: Rebecca Perdue, MT(ASCP), Quality Assurance, Safety and Training Manager, Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services

2004: Vickie Whitaker, MT(ASCP), Laboratory Improvement Coordinator, North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health

2003: Sue Shiflett, State Training Coordinator, Michigan Public Health Laboratory

2002: Beth Hochstedler, State Training Coordinator, State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa

2001: Faye Abdulla, BT Coordinator, Tennessee Department of Health, Laboratory Services

2000: Donna Clinkenbeard, State Training Coordinator, Kentucky Division of Laboratory Services