With the recent reduction in the public health workforce, public health microbiologists are facing unprecedented challenges, with some considering careers in different areas of public health as well as beyond traditional public health. 黑料正能量will host a webinar series focused on career transitions, with an emphasis on those who worked in public health or federal jobs. The first 3 webinars in this series highlight career paths of 6 microbiologists with unique career journeys, who will share their lessons learned and advice for transitioning between career paths. The series will conclude with a panel of industry microbiologists discussing practical tips for applying to industry positions and the various positions in industry where microbiology expertise is particularly translatable.
Learning Objectives
- Describe various career paths available to microbiologists.
- Identify the types of positions within companies and organizations that require microbiology expertise or where microbiology experience is relevant.
- Relate the skills learned in public health roles to other career paths.
- Review lessons learned from microbiologists who have made career transitions.
Webinar Topics
May 21: Part 1: Industry, Consulting, Non-Profits, Global Health and More
In the first webinar of the “Public Health and Beyond: A Career Exploration Series,” Jean Patel, Ph.D., D(ABMM), and J. Royden Saah, M.S., will share their unique career journeys. Patel and Saah will discuss their lessons learned and practical tips for transitioning between careers as microbiologists.
Patel previously worked at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the science team lead for the antibiotic resistance coordination and strategy unit before transitioning into medical and scientific affairs at Beckman Coulter Microbiology and now works in consulting at JBP Consulting, LLC.
Saah currently works as a senior technical expert for scientific partnerships at GeneConvene, where he collaborates with governmental, academic, non-governmental and international organizations. He established the Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Rodents Consortium (GBIRd), volunteered with the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), worked with the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in Liberia and led multiple laboratories at the North Carolina Division of Public Health.
2 p.m. ET
Jean B. Patel, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
President
JBP Microbiology Consulting, LLC
J. Royden Saah, M.S.
Senior Technical Expert, Science Partnerships, GeneConvene
Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
Patel previously worked at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the science team lead for the antibiotic resistance coordination and strategy unit before transitioning into medical and scientific affairs at Beckman Coulter Microbiology and now works in consulting at JBP Consulting, LLC.
Saah currently works as a senior technical expert for scientific partnerships at GeneConvene, where he collaborates with governmental, academic, non-governmental and international organizations. He established the Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Rodents Consortium (GBIRd), volunteered with the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), worked with the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in Liberia and led multiple laboratories at the North Carolina Division of Public Health.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe various career paths available to microbiologists.
- Become familiar with consulting as a microbiology career and recognize the pertinent skill sets.
- Become aware of career possibilities that promote collaboration between governments, nonprofits and industry.
- Relate skills learned in public health roles to other career paths, including global health, industry and pandemic response.
- Review lessons learned from microbiologists who have made career transitions.
Date/Time:
May 21, 20252 p.m. ET
Speakers:
Jean B. Patel, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
President
JBP Microbiology Consulting, LLC
J. Royden Saah, M.S.
Senior Technical Expert, Science Partnerships, GeneConvene
Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
June 4: Part 2: Reference Labs, Education and Scientific Societies
In the second webinar of the “Public Health and Beyond: A Career Exploration Series,” Christine Bean, Ph.D., MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, and Kileen Shier, Ph.D., MBA, D(ABMM), MLS(ASCP)CM, will share their career journeys.
Both Bean and Shier previously worked in public health or federal positions, with Bean working as the director of the New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories and Shier working as the director of microbiology at the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Presently, Bean is the chief learning officer at the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), where she oversees training and workforce development, including fellowship, internship and leadership programs for national public health laboratory workforce initiatives. Shier is the senior scientific director of microbiology and donor testing at Quest Diagnostics. Shier and Bean will discuss their career paths and share advice for transitioning between jobs.
2 p.m. ET
Christine Bean, Ph.D., MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM
Chief Learning Officer
Association of Public Health Laboratories
Kileen Shier, Ph.D., MBA, D(ABMM), MLS(ASCP)CM
Senior Science Director, Microbiology and Donor Testing
Quest Diagnostics
Both Bean and Shier previously worked in public health or federal positions, with Bean working as the director of the New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories and Shier working as the director of microbiology at the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Presently, Bean is the chief learning officer at the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), where she oversees training and workforce development, including fellowship, internship and leadership programs for national public health laboratory workforce initiatives. Shier is the senior scientific director of microbiology and donor testing at Quest Diagnostics. Shier and Bean will discuss their career paths and share advice for transitioning between jobs.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe various career paths available to microbiologists.
- Become familiar with leading reference laboratories as a microbiology career.
- Become aware of career possibilities that promote education and bolster the microbiology workforce.
- Review lessons learned from microbiologists who have made career transitions.
Date/Time:
June 4, 20252 p.m. ET
Speakers:
Christine Bean, Ph.D., MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM
Chief Learning Officer
Association of Public Health Laboratories
Kileen Shier, Ph.D., MBA, D(ABMM), MLS(ASCP)CM
Senior Science Director, Microbiology and Donor Testing
Quest Diagnostics
June 25: Part 3: Academics, Clinical Microbiology and Other Public Health Avenues
In the third webinar of the “Public Health and Beyond: A Career Exploration Series,” Anthony Tran, Dr.PH, and Duane Newton, Ph.D., will share their unique career journeys.
Tran is the deputy director at the Center for Laboratory Sciences and the Director of the State Public Health Laboratory at the California Department of Public Health. Prior to these roles, Tran was the Director of the FDA San Francisco Laboratory, the Director of the Public Health Laboratory in Washington, D.C. and the Director of policy and operations at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Newton is presently a career development coach and diagnostic product consultant at DWN Consulting, LLC. Previously he served as virology section manager in the public health laboratory for the state of Michigan and spent almost 2 decades in academia, with roles including director of clinical microbiology laboratories, professor of pathology and Associate Director of the Division of Clinical Pathology at Michigan Medicine. Newton also worked in industry as a scientific affairs manager at Bio-Rad Laboratories.
Tran and Newton will discuss their lessons learned and practical tips for transitioning between careers as microbiologists.
2 p.m. ET
Duane W. Newton, Ph.D., D(ABMM), FIDSA
Founder
DWN Consulting
Anthony Tran, Dr.P.H., MPH, D(ABMM)
Director, State Public Health Laboratory
Deputy Director, Center for Laboratory Sciences
California Department of Public Health
Tran is the deputy director at the Center for Laboratory Sciences and the Director of the State Public Health Laboratory at the California Department of Public Health. Prior to these roles, Tran was the Director of the FDA San Francisco Laboratory, the Director of the Public Health Laboratory in Washington, D.C. and the Director of policy and operations at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Newton is presently a career development coach and diagnostic product consultant at DWN Consulting, LLC. Previously he served as virology section manager in the public health laboratory for the state of Michigan and spent almost 2 decades in academia, with roles including director of clinical microbiology laboratories, professor of pathology and Associate Director of the Division of Clinical Pathology at Michigan Medicine. Newton also worked in industry as a scientific affairs manager at Bio-Rad Laboratories.
Tran and Newton will discuss their lessons learned and practical tips for transitioning between careers as microbiologists.
Learning Objectives:
- Review lessons learned from microbiologists who have made career transitions.
- Identify skills that are translatable between industry, consulting, public health and clinical settings.
- Outline 5 perspective shifts that enhance success in navigating your professional and personal journeys.
Date/Time:
June 25, 20252 p.m. ET
Speakers:
Duane W. Newton, Ph.D., D(ABMM), FIDSA
Founder
DWN Consulting
Anthony Tran, Dr.P.H., MPH, D(ABMM)
Director, State Public Health Laboratory
Deputy Director, Center for Laboratory Sciences
California Department of Public Health
July 7: Part 4: Practical Tips for Transitioning Into Industry, a Panel Discussion
In the fourth and final webinar of the series, 5 microbiologists will share their journey and careers in industry. This webinar will be an interactive panel discussion focusing on navigating the job search, identifying and understanding types of positions relevant to microbiologists, lessons learned and considerations for transitioning to industry.
Date/Time:
July 7, 20252 p.m. ET
Panel:
Michael Loeffelholz, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
Vice President, Scientific Affairs
Cepheid
Stephanie Mitchell, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
Principal Scientist, Senior Director, Scientific Affairs
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics
Ashley Nenninger, Ph.D.
Senior Manager, Scientific Affairs
Hologic, Inc.
Lindsey Nielsen, Ph.D., D(ABMM), SM(ASCP)
Medical Advisor
产颈辞惭茅谤颈别耻虫
Ben Svarczkopf, M.S., MT(ASCP)
Head of Global Strategic Marketing
DiaSorin
Format
- There are 4 webinars in this series.
- Each webinar will be presented live, and the recording of that presentation will be available within 1 week of the live presentation.
- Each webinar's content is independent and does not build on the previous webinars in the series, so learners can register for only those that meet their needs.
Audience
All are welcome; however, this series was created for public health microbiologists (of all career stages) open to transitioning career paths.Level of Instruction
Beginner.Cost
This webinar series is free to all.
Continuing Education (CE) Credit
No CEs will be available for this series. A certificate of attendance will be available for download.Supplemental Resources
- Article: Is a Clinical or Public Health Microbiology Career For You?
- Career Pathways in Microbiology Webinar Series.
- Register for 黑料正能量Microbe 2025 to network in person or attend Profession of Microbiology (POM) career coaching sessions or workshops.
- Career Conversations episode on switching from public health microbiology to clinical microbiology.
Registration Details
The webinars in this series are free to all.Please email 黑料正能量staff with any questions or if you require closed captioning.