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. ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ 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 ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ 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
Summary TBD.
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, ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ and Donor Testing
Quest Diagnostics
Learning objectives:
- TBD.
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, ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ and Donor Testing
Quest Diagnostics
June 25: Part 3: Academics, Clinical ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ and Other Public Health Avenues
Summary TBD.
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
Learning objectives:
- TBD.
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 TBD: Part 4: Practical Tips for Transitioning into Industry, a Panel Discussion
Summary TBD.
2 p.m. ET
Learning objectives:
- TBD.
Date/Time:
July 20252 p.m. ET
Panel:
TBD. The panel will consist of multiple industry scientists, spanning various areas of industry.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
- .
- Register for ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Microbe 2025 to network in person.
Registration Details
The webinars in this series are free to all.Please email ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ staff with any questions or if you require closed captioning.