The State Hygienic Laboratory announced on Oct. 17 that Brian Hanft, of the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health, will serve as its 10th Public Health Ambassador.

Brian Hanft

The ambassador program is a one-year collaboration between the State Hygienic Laboratory and a leader in public health, environmental health, education or other area related to the lab’s mission of protecting and improving quality of life.

Hanft has served as the Deputy Director of Public Health and as Environmental Health Service Manager for Cerro Gordo County for the past 16 years. He previously worked in the Polk County Environmental Health Department and the Black Hawk County Health Department. He is a graduate of the CDC Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute.

“It is a great honor and privilege to be selected as the 2018-2019 Public Health Ambassador for the State Hygienic Laboratory,” said Hanft. “I am humbled and eager to help promote and advocate on behalf of SHL. The SHL is a wonderful institution that offers Iowans critically important services and support.”

As ambassador, Hanft plans to focus on strengthening emergency response planning and developing more connections between SHL and local public health agencies and boards of health.

“My vision is that SHL leadership will work with Brian to promote the mission of the lab in these two focus areas,” said SHL Director Michael Pentella. The focus areas align with two of the 11 core functions of public health laboratories – emergency response, and partnerships and communication.

“As a public health professional, I recognize how valuable the SHL system is,” Hanft said. “Over the years, SHL has partnered with local public health agencies on projects leading to scientific advancements making Iowa a safer place to live.”

Hanft succeeds the 2017-2018 Public Health Ambassador Steve Mandernach. Mandernach is the former bureau chief for the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Food Consumer Safety Bureau and now is executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials.