I-TECH Certificate Program in Laboratory Leadership and Management

Dr. Perrone is the Director of this 9 month long, in-service, mentored training program designed to improve the leadership and management skills of senior level clinical and public health laboratory directors and managers. The program is administered through I-TECH and involves faculty and staff from the Department of Global Health as well as global experts form the laboratory practice community. The training format utilizes blended adult learning approach utilizing distance/e-learning as well as two in-country workshops. Four online courses address key competencies in the diagnosis and surveillance of infectious diseases, laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, laboratory operations, laboratory law and regulation, and evidence-based health policy making. The online coursework is delivered using an online learning management system, which is used for the delivery, communications and monitoring and evaluation of entire program.

The program also utilizes local mentors who provide coaching and support to participants as they complete their Capstone Projects. Dr. Perrone and colleagues have collaborated closely with the WHO and CDC as well as multiple Ministries of Health to implement this program. To date 34 participants from 11 countries have successfully completed the program and, as a result, improved their laboratories’ operations in the areas of quality management, biosafety and security, and service delivery.