Continuing Education for Mississippi Public Health Laboratory Staff
The Training Office of the Mississippi Public Health Laboratory coordinates educational activities for the laboratory's technologists, chemists, and other support staff. For over 90 years, Mississippi's Public Health Lab has provided laboratory services in support of county health departments, TB control, water and milk monitoring, and epidemiological investigations.
In addition to these long-standing responsibilities, the Mississippi Public Health Lab is faced with the dual challenge of testing for emerging infectious diseases like novel strains of influenza, SARS, and West Nile Virus as well potential agents of Bioterrorism and Chemical Terrorism. New technologies are constantly being implemented by the Public Health Laboratory, which necessitates continual education and training of personnel.
Regina Derstine, (Training Coordinator), Dana L. Johnson (Chemical Terrorism Coordinator) and Matthew Kowaluk (Bioterrorism Coordinator) facilitate training for Public Health Lab technologists via satellite broadcast, webcasts, and audio/internet conferences that originate at CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), NLTN (National Laboratory Training Network), and other resources.
The Training Office staff coordinates annual workshops with the National Laboratory Training Network to offer P.A.C.E. continuing educational units for laboratorians. These workshops primarily focus on laboratory preparedness for public health emergencies. All educational material and training offered by the Mississippi Public Health Laboratory Training Office is provided in an effort "To Promote And Protect The Health Of All Mississippians."
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