Message from APHL Leadership: Redefining Resilience

Re • sil • ience – the capability of a body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially be compressive stress; an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change [Merriam Webster, 2026]

Leading in a time of uncertainty is never easy, and 2025 was unprecedented in its uncertainty. A change in federal executive and legislative power resulted in sweeping, foundational changes to the way APHL did business. APHL staff faced funding cuts across all areas – programmatic and operational – which resulted in a temporary loss of personnel.

And yet…

The public health laboratory work continued. APHL continued to deliver in-person conferences and events and was still able to support the work of our numerous committees, subcommittees and workgroups. We were able to ask a lot of hard questions of ourselves and of our members to determine how the association would survive. We conducted an eight-month strategic planning process that resulted in a refocus of the association’s values.

APHL has always done a really good job of defining what “public health” means for our members. From putting in a purchase request for a new freezer to servicing HVAC equipment in the laboratory to assisting a company in developing a new test, we all know that we are a part of public health infrastructure and our ability to innovate into challenging times is a strength that we carry in our day-to-day lives.

For public health, we would like to separate ourselves from that textbook definition of “resilience” as not only the ability to persevere, but to also shape the future while responding to stress. We look at these challenges as opportunities to step beyond what has been and to make public health science and practice better and more accessible. And it’s not just our members that are devoted to that mission and vision, but also our staff who continue to accomplish amazing things.

For this year’s Annual Report, we are revisiting stories of impact from the 2025 calendar year. From the value of training to the 10^th Anniversary of CaliciNet to safeguarding newborn health, we continue to proudly support our members in their efforts to protect the health of their communities and loved ones. We are honored and humbled by what APHL members and staff have accomplished in this year of change and challenges.

We encourage you to share this report with key constituencies within your jurisdiction. Consider forwarding it to state and local health officials, epidemiologists, clinical laboratories, university collaborators and community partners, sharing it on social media or posting it on your laboratory website with examples of your achievements in the past year.

As we continue to make real-world impacts for our members and public health community, we are grateful for the continuing support of our members and federal partners—including but not limited to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Food and Drug Administration, the US Health Resources and Services Administration and the US Environmental Protection Agency—and all our public and private collaborators, both old and new.

With best wishes,

Megan Crumpler, PhD, HCLD(ABB)
President, 2024-2025
Past president, 2025-2026

Scott Shone, PhD, HCLD(ABB)
President-elect, 2024-2025
President, 2025-2026

Scott Becker, MS
Chief Executive Officer, APHL