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Membership Empowerment and Impact Committee

The Membership Empowerment and Impact Committee works to foster a community where every individual feels valued, respected and empowered, to create an environment that embraces a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences.

Questions?

Contact us: [email protected]

Our Purpose

About the Committee

Committee Charge

The Membership Empowerment and Impact Committee is committed to fostering a community where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered. We strive to create an environment that embraces a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. We are dedicated to encouraging open dialogue, understanding, and collaboration that uplifts all voices and supports opportunities for everyone.  

Priorities

The Committee formalized its charge proposal and submitted it to the APHL Board of Directors. That charge was accepted by the board in September 2025.  
Our Work

Projects and Work Products

Current Projects

The Committee is currently working on: 

  • Session proposal submissions for APHL’s 2026 Annual Conference  
  • Book Club Assignments and other resources for APHL membership 
  • Member training opportunities in partnership with Workforce Development Committee 

Recently Completed Work Products

The Committee was instrumental in producing the following materials:

  • Creation of the new ColLABorate Community, “APHL Collective: Your Voice, Your Perspective” 
  • Contributed to updated APHL Member Values 
Our Team

Meet the Committee

The Membership Empowerment and Impact Committee has members representing state, local and institutional APHL member laboratories. (Committee members listed are from the 2025-2026 term. This list will soon be updated with the committee members serving the 2026-2027 term.)

Marilyn Bibbs Freeman, PhD, M(ASCP)
Committee Chair | Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services

Blair Adams
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Laboratory

Nandhakumar Balakrishnan, PhD, HCLD(ABB)
Long Beach Public Health Laboratory

Latricia Lewis
Houston Health Department Laboratory

Joanna Perez, MDxT-P (AAB)
Committee Chair |Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory

Joseph Putrow
Minnesota Department of Agriculture 

Kimyattia Smith, MS, CPM
Vice Chair | Houston Health Department Laboratory

Shonetta Smith, PhD
North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health

Leslie Wolf, PhD, HCLD(ABB)
Board Liaison | Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness Laboratory 

Denise Dory
Lead Specialist, Governance

Lucy Maryogo Robinson
Managing Director, Global Health

Troy Willitt, JD, MPA
General Counsel and Managing Director