Onboarding: For New Lab Directors

​Communicating clearly, effectively: A director may be spokesperson for the lab or help the communications team shape messages. Effective communication extends into community outreach, interacting with legislatures and working with outside deputies, officials and executives.

• Communications Checklist:  Use the right messages in clear, concise, meaningful ways for more effective communications, management and teamwork.
• Message Development Process: Use this step-by-step message development method for all kinds of advocacy communications—within the lab or without.
• Media Training: As part of its new lab director orientation, APHL will often offer hands-on media training, including on-camera guidance.

​Improve yourself, better your lab: Set personal goals and realistic ways of reaching them. Tracking your own success will help strengthen your lab moving forward.

• Lab Director Self-Evaluation Form: Track effectiveness at the first month mark.
• Lab Director Personal Development Plan: Reach your goals in a timely manner.
• Lab Director Training Plan: Further leadership skills through continued education—and contact Member Services for more training program offerings.
• Lab System Improvement Program: Meet the right people and collaborate with partners toward meeting your lab system’s needs. This program helps improve labs through system performance assessments.

Be ready for anything:

• Emergency Preparedness Checklist: No matter how new you are to the job, your lab must always be prepared to be an effective responder in health emergencies.
• Importance of public awareness: Know how to talk about your lab in all situations—and how to make the case for its essentiality to public health. Use these guides and presentations:
• Public Health Lab Awareness Toolkit - Salmonella Outbreak, Mercury Spill,  Forensic Surveillance of K2
• MMWR - "Guidelines for Biosafety Laboratory Competency"
• Communicating with the SHO and Legislature: Get insight into dealing with these important state groups.

Training and professional development:

• APHL Member Professional Development and Training:  A host of services to help you develop the complex skill sets needed in running a lab.
• The National Center for Public Health Laboratory Leadership: Offers new director orientation programs and other leadership forums.
• The National Laboratory Training Network (NLTN):  Includes continuing education training programs.