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. ASM 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 Microbiology 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, 2025
2 p.m. ET

Speakers: 

Jean B. Patel, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
President
JBP Microbiology 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

In the second webinar of the “Public Health and Beyond: A Career Exploration Series,” Christine Bean, Ph.D., MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, and Kileen Shier, Ph.D., MBA, D(ABMM), MLS(ASCP)CM, will share their career journeys. Both Bean and Shier previously worked in public health or federal positions, with Bean working as the director of the New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories and Shier working as the director of microbiology at the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Presently, Bean is the chief learning officer at the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) where she oversees training and workforce development, including fellowship, internship and leadership programs for national public health laboratory workforce initiatives. Shier is the senior scientific director of microbiology and donor testing at Quest Diagnostics. Shier and Bean will discuss their career paths and share advice for transitioning between jobs.

Learning objectives:

• Describe various career paths available to microbiologists.
• Become familiar with leading reference laboratories as a microbiology career.
• Become aware of career possibilities that promote education and bolster the microbiology workforce.
• Review lessons learned from microbiologists who have made career transitions.

Date/Time:

June 4, 2025
2 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, Microbiology and Donor Testing
Quest Diagnostics 

June 25: Part 3: Academics, Clinical Microbiology and Other Public Health Avenues

Summary TBD.

Learning objectives:

• TBD.

Date/Time:

June 25, 2025
2 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 7: Part 4: Practical Tips for Transitioning Into Industry, a Panel Discussion

Hear from a panel of ASM Corporate Council representatives on how to improve your application when applying to industry. 

Learning objectives:

• TBD.

Date/Time:

July 7, 2025
2 p.m. ET

Panel:

Michael Loeffelholz, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
Vice President, Scientific Affairs
Cepheid


Stephanie Mitchell, Ph.D., D(ABMM) 
Principal Scientist, Senior Director, Scientific Affairs
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics

Ashley Nenninger, Ph.D.
Senior Manager, Scientific Affairs
Hologic, Inc.

Lindsey Nielsen, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
Medical Advisor
bioMérieux

Ben Svarczkopf, M.S., MT(ASCP)
Head of Global Strategic Marketing
Diasorin

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

Level of Instruction

Cost

This webinar series is free to all.

Continuing Education (CE) Credit

Supplemental Resources

• ASM-Weber State University Microbiology Certificate Program.
• Career Pathways in Clinical and Public Health Microbiology Webinar.
• Register for ASM Microbe 2025 to network in person or attend Profession of Microbiology (POM) career coaching sessions or workshops.
• Career Conversations episode on switching from public health microbiology to clinical microbiology.

Registration Details