Notes from the President: Strengthening the Relationship Between APHL and EPA

By Dr. Patrick Luedtke, M.D.; President, APHL; Director, Unified State Laboratories, Utah Department of Health

I just returned from a wonderful meeting at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) national office in Washington DC with the EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe and Phil Metzger (Advisor to the Deputy Administrator). In attendance from APHL were Scott Becker (Executive Director), Peter Kyriacopoulos (Senior Director Public Policy), and Megan Latshaw (Environmental Health Program Director). 

The core discussion revolved around the potential benefits of an EPA Laboratory Office that would serve to coordinate all environmental laboratory-based policy, practice, and program efforts in a cross cutting fashion. Additionally, this office would serve as a single point of contact for laboratory-based communication efforts to external partners. 

A secondary discussion involved the need for a single data standard across EPA. This discussion included sharing knowledge of the challenges governmental environmental laboratories face concerning multiple data systems, as well as the major benefits that would accrue to our national environmental laboratory system should such a single data standard be adopted. 

Most importantly, our conversation enabled us to describe the interaction between State and local governmental environmental laboratories and EPA, and share a vision on how that interaction can evolve and lead to even better health outcomes. All in all, it was deeply gratifying at a professional and personal level to engage in such a collegial and congenial dialogue – a dialogue that I am excited about continuing as the relationship between APHL and EPA matures and strengthens.

CDC Director Thomas Frieden visits Washington State Public Health Laboratories

By Allison Cook, Public Information Officer, Washington State Department of Health and Romesh Gautom, Ph.D., Director, Public Health Laboratories, Washington State Department of Health


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Tom Frieden recently made his first visit to a public health laboratory during a stop to our state. It was a great honor. While the CDC is one of our most important partners, it doesn’t happen too often that the director is able to make a stop in Washington. We were very excited to host him.

Public Health Laboratories Director Dr. Romesh Gautom 

shows Dr. Frieden through the Microbiology Section of the lab. 

Dr. Brandon Leader, right, looks on.

As it was Dr. Frieden’s first visit to a state lab since becoming CDC director a little more than a year ago, we were happy to give him a brief tour. He had a lot of questions, especially around our food safety, tuberculosis, and shellfish testing work. We showed him areas where we conduct molecular testing including influenza testing, as well as testing for other communicable diseases. 

Dr. Frieden’s visit to our state Public Health Laboratories was brief, but we were pleased with the opportunity to highlight some of the important work we do to protect the people of Washington.

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The opinions expressed here represent those of the author and not APHL.

Threat to Prevention and Public Health Fund Defeated

By Peter Kyriacopoulos, Senior Director of Public Policy, APHL

On September 14, the U.S. Senate defeated an attempt to eliminate the funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund -- created in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the federal health reform law.

Voting on a procedural matter, the Senate rejected an amendment offered by Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska that would have used the resources in the Fund as an off-set for a new federal income tax reporting requirement that will be implemented by the Internal Revenue Service in 2012. The vote was especially significant because of the eight vote margin by which it was defeated, even though there was an extremely strong push by the business community that encouraged the Senate to pass the amendment.

The final vote tally can be found here; a letter of support from Secretary Sebelius (Health and Human Services) and Secretary Geithner (Treasury) is here.

The public health community has never come together so quickly and worked together as cohesively as it did in the effort to preserve the Prevention and Public Health Fund. This accomplishment will be easily replicated for any future attempts to reduce or eliminate the Fund and should send a very clear message to those who seek other uses for it: “Hands Off!”