Stephen Jenniss, Former Director, New Jersey State Department of Health Receives Gold Standard Award From Association of Public Health Laboratories

OMAHA, NE--(Marketwire - Jun 7, 2011) - The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) presented Mr. Stephen Jenniss, former Director of the State of New Jersey Department of Health, Environmental and Chemical Laboratory Services Division, with its 2011 Gold Standard Award for Public Health Laboratory Excellence. The award was presented at a ceremony on Tuesday, June 7, during APHL's Annual Meeting and 5^th State Environmental Laboratory Conference in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Gold Standard Award is given to an APHL member who has made significant contributions to the technical advancement of public health laboratory science and/or practice.

Mr. Jenniss has contributed to the field of environmental public health for more than 35 years, with approximately 20 of those as Laboratory Director of the State of New Jersey Department of Health, where he developed a comprehensive quality assurance program for tests and analyses performed by the Division's laboratories. He also played an integral role in establishing New Jersey's Chemical Threat / Biomonitoring Testing Laboratory to monitor exposure to toxic industrial chemicals. He has authored several journal articles and book chapters related to regulatory compliance monitoring, environmental analysis and quality assurance.

"Mr. Jenniss has made a singular contribution to advancing environmental public health in the state of New Jersey," said Scott Becker, APHL executive director. "However, his influence on public health laboratory science and practice extends beyond the boundaries of his state, notably in the development of standard operating procedures, adherence to quality assurance and monitoring of environmental toxins."

The Association of Public Health Laboratories is a national non-profit located in Silver Spring, MD, that is dedicated to working with members to strengthen governmental laboratories with a public health mandate. By promoting effective programs and public policy, APHL strives to provide public health laboratories with the resources and infrastructure needed to protect the health of US residents and to prevent and control disease globally.