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Workforce Development Committee

The APHL Workforce Development Committee (WDC) provides support to develop and sustain a capable, resilient and innovative laboratory workforce, and advocates for the role and value of public health laboratories.

Questions?

Contact us: [email protected]

Our Purpose

About the Committee

Committee Charge

The Workforce Development Committee (WDC) helps to identify and recommend strategies to solve current and future workforce needs, steer training and continuing education, and promote and encourage diversity in the workforce. WDC supports the fielding of workforce characterization and salary surveys and translates relevant data into key messages for the APHL membership.

Priorities

  • Develop a searchable “Laboratory Credential Directory” resource for public health laboratory professionals and assisting individual pathways to laboratory certifications. 
  • Strengthen collaboration and enhance engagement between WDC and other APHL Committees on workforce initiatives.  
  • Address recruitment and retention challenges in areas with geographic challenges.   
  • Increase awareness for the laboratory profession to support workforce identity initiatives.   
  • Promote professional development through the Leadership for Everyone framework. 
Our Work

Projects and Work Products

Current Projects

The WDC is currently: 

  • Developing a searchable “Laboratory Credential Directory” resource for public health laboratory professionals and assisting their individual pathways to laboratory certifications.   
  • Producing a monthly announcement with resources in the Leadership for Everyone framework.   
  • Developing recruitment and retention resources for areas with geographic challenges.   
  • Supporting the establishment and steering of a new Training Partner Subcommittee that will function under WDC guidance to support training and workforce priorities and identified training needs.    
  • Developing and delivering webinars related to workforce priorities and initiatives. 

Recently Completed Work Products

The Committee was instrumental in producing the following materials: 

  • Launch of a new monthly, Leadership for Everyone flyer with several resources linked within.   
  • Session presentation at PHLTC 2025 for WDC workgroup efforts related to professional identity.   
  • Establishment of a new subcommittee, the Training Partner Subcommittee, which will serve under the direction of WDC.   
  • Creation and further development of the Laboratory Director Board Examination Boot Camp. 
Our Team

Meet the Committee

Anna Strain, PhD
Committee position: Committee Chair | Minnesota Public Health Laboratory Division

Adam Perkins
Committee position: Committee Vice-chair | Missouri State Public Health Laboratory

Sharon Massingale, PhD, HCLD/CC(ABB)
APHL Board Liaison | Alabama Bureau of Clinical Laboratories

Renee Ned-Sykes 
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Liaison  | CDC 

Anita Keese
Texas Department of State Health Services—Central Campus

Bernadette Mathis, MSBA, MLS(ASCP)CM 
Philadelphia Department of Public Health—Bureau of Laboratories 

Bill Lee, PhD
New York State Department of Health-Wadsworth Center 

Carrie Anglewicz, MS
Michigan DHHS Bureau of Laboratories

Cory Weaver, PhD
South Carolina DHEC Public Health Laboratory

Deb Severson, MLS (ASCP)
Fairfax County Health Department Laboratory

Denise Toney, PhD (HCLD)
Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services

Julie Viruez, MLS(ASCP)cm 
Tennessee Public Health Laboratory, Division of Laboratory Services

Kim Smith, MS, CPM
Houston Health Department 

Lixia Liu, PhD, MB(ASCP), D(ABMM)
Indiana Laboratory Services Commission

Samantha Hallis, PhD, TS(ABB), SM(ASCP)CM 
County of Sand Diego, Public Health Services—Laboratory

Savannah Bergman, PhD
Eau Claire City-County Health Department, Wisconsin

Teresa Wolfe, PhD MT(ASCP)
Individual APHL Member 

Christopher Guido, MA
Committee Liaison

Rob Nickla, M(ASCP)CM, QLSCM, RBP(ABSA)CM, CBSP(ABSA)CM 
Manager, Training Program Management

Cathy Johnson, MA, MLS(ASCP)
Director, Workforce and Training

Josh Rowland
Director, Experiential Learning

Chris Bean, PhD, MBA, MT(ASCP)
Chief Learning Officer