Victor Waddell, Ph.D., Elected President of Association of Public Health Laboratories

SILVER SPRING, Md., July 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) announced the election of Victor Waddell, Ph.D., as president of the organization. Waddell, the director of the Arizona Public Health Laboratory, will serve a one-year term beginning July 1. He has served on APHL's Board of Directors as Member-At-Large for the past three years and most recently as President-Elect.

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Dr. Waddell joined the Arizona Public Health Laboratory in 2001 and was promoted to director in 2004. He was a member of the design team for Arizona's state-of-the-art laboratory, which was completed in less than 22 months in 2004.

"With budget cuts at all levels of government, this is a challenging time for public health laboratories," said Waddell. "I aim to work with my colleagues to maintain basic laboratory services that protect the public's health. Despite budgetary constraints, our commitment to the public cannot waver."

"Dr. Waddell will provide strong leadership for our profession at this critical juncture when we must be inventive, resourceful and steadfast to continue to deliver essential lab services. We must ensure that the public is protected from foodborne pathogens, emerging diseases like the 2009 H1N1 virus and acts of terrorism," affirmed APHL Executive Director Scott Becker.

Waddell earned a doctorate in Molecular Biology and Genetics and a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences from Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland. Over his 12-year career in public health, he has published numerous articles relating to Public Health and Molecular Biology; organized national and international collaborations on public health issues; managed the budget and operations for three laboratories; and implemented a new laboratory information management system, among other accomplishments.

The Association of Public Health Laboratories is a national non-profit located in Silver Spring, MD, that is dedicated to working with members to strengthen governmental laboratories with a public health mandate. By promoting effective programs and public policy, APHL strives to provide public health laboratories with the resources and infrastructure needed to protect the health of U.S. residents and to prevent and control disease globally.

SOURCE Association of Public Health Laboratories