There is a SHL tradition of sharing knowledge and experiences in a public health laboratory that began in 1904 with the laboratory’s first director, Dr. Henry Albert, and continues today with many staff members who mentor students, teach, and consult with clients and partners.

University of Iowa students test their lab skills at SHL as part of a College of Public Health course.

Dr. Albert set the bar high with a dual appointment as dean in what was known then as the University of Iowa Medical Department and with the Bacteriological Laboratory (now SHL).

Two of the laboratory’s experts work directly with the UI College of Public to teach science courses: Laboratory Director Michael Pentella and Office of Research and Development Director Lucy DesJardin.

This spring, Director Pentella, also clinical professor of epidemiology in the College of Public Health, is teaching “Field Experiences in Public Health” in conjunction with Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, State Public Health Medical Director and Epidemiologist.

This survey course offers topics ranging from techniques and methodology to current and future issues in public health. It includes guest lecturers who discuss their roles in public health or their personal experiences in public health, and on-site visits with a variety of public health professionals.

Pentella is also teaching three other classes in epidemiology this semester: “Diagnostic Microbiology for Epidemiology,” a Web-delivered course; “Infectious Causes of Chronic Disease;” and “Epidemiology Journal Club,” where public health graduate students discuss a selected paper each week.

His courses include students at all levels and from many backgrounds.

“In my courses, it is a mixture. The college partners with other colleges to offer dual degrees, and it is difficult to know what each person’s major is. I know in one course there are students from pharmacy, geography and public health,” Pentella says. “Since the college now has an undergrad program, some of these students may be majoring or minoring in public health.”

Also this spring, Lucy DesJardin teams with UI associate professor of Epidemiology Christine Petersen in the “Public Health Laboratory Techniques” course. DesJardin has taught this course, which is required for the graduate level Certificate in Emerging Infectious Disease Epidemiology, several times with Petersen since 2013.

The course covers common laboratory techniques in emerging infectious respiratory disease research and epidemiologic surveillance laboratories with an emphasis on techniques for culturing, characterization, and serological surveillance of exposure to influenza viruses.

Originally a lecture/observation format, the course was restructured in 2014 to include hands-on experiments on flood response and foodborne outbreaks. This change was made possible by the completion of the SHL’s training laboratory known as the Center for the Advancement of Laboratory Science (CALS) where the course is held from late March through mid-May.

In addition to Dr. Albert, Pentella’s and DesJardin’s roles as instructors mirror that of all previous SHL laboratory directors.

In 1921, Dr. Don M. Griswold, Associate Professor of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, continued as a professor while directing the lab until 1927, as did his successors: Dr. Albert V. Hardy, a member of the UI Medical Faculty, and Dr. Milford Barnes who served from 1930 until 1943 when he resigned to take up full-time duties as professor in the Dept. of Preventive Medicine.

More recently, Dr. Irving H. Borts (1943-1965), William Hausler (1965-1995), and Mary Gilchrist (1995-2006) taught courses throughout their tenures as Hygienic Laboratory directors.

Christopher Atchison, SHL Director Emeritus, continued in his role as clinical professor in Health Management and Policy in the College of Public Health during his term as lab director. He taught “Introduction to Public Health” in the fall and “Contemporary Issues in Health Policy” in both fall and spring semesters.