American Society for Microbiology honors James W. Snyder
The 2009 American Society for Microbiology (ASM) TREK Diagnostic ABMM/ABMLI Professional Recognition Award is presented to James W. Snyder, Ph.D., D(ABMM), Director, University of Louisville Hospital, and Professor of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Division of Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine. This award recognizes a Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM) or the American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology (ABMLI) for outstanding contributions to the professional recognition of clinical microbiologists and/or immunologists.
Dr. Snyder is honored for his efforts in bioterrorism preparedness which began several years before the 2001 anthrax attacks. He authored the ASM Cumitech publication, "Laboratory Safety, Management, and Diagnosis of Biological Agents Associated with Bioterrorism," in 2000, and the American Academy of Microbiology colloquium report, "Bioterrorism Threats to our Future." These publications helped form the basis for the training of frontline clinical microbiologists to be prepared for detection and identification of possible bioterrorism agents.
He is a charter member of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) that was created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to prepare the laboratory for bioterrorism events. The foundation of the LRN is comprised of the sentinel laboratories that perform diagnostic microbiological testing. Dr. Snyder represented clinical microbiologists and provided essential input to the LRN leadership on the laboratories' capabilities and needs. He has worked on the ASM's Working Group on Sentinel Protocols, which were adopted by ASM, and are the standards for the other professional groups in the LRN. The 2001 anthrax attack was diagnosed by a clinical laboratory using the techniques outlined in the Bacillus anthracis Sentinel Protocol.
Dr. Snyder received his Ph.D. from the University of Dayton. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Source: American Society for Microbiology
