When COVID-19 hit, he joined the ADHS Laboratory to be part of the solution

When COVID-19 changed all of our lives in so many different ways, Adrian Fichter decided it was important to become part of the solution.

A scientist with degrees in conservation biology and ecology, he became interested in public health as COVID-19 spread. He joined the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory in early 2021, right in the middle of the COVID-19 response, and in December 2021 was promoted to serve as the lab’s supervisor for the Shipping and Receiving unit in the Office of Support Services and Operations.

Fichter’s team is responsible for making sure clinical samples (e.g. blood, urine, etc.) and other substances (e.g. water, food, etc.) sent to the lab are directed efficiently to the appropriate scientist for testing. It’s a vital role not only for the lab but for anyone in Arizona who has a sample tested.

“Many tests are time sensitive, so it’s important that we process the samples quickly,” Fichter said. “Making this process as streamlined as possible increases the lab’s ability to provide results efficiently. That improves the health outcomes for patients.”

That efficiency also is vital for new parents. The lab processes screening tests for all of the nearly 80,000 babies born in Arizona each year. Those tests need to be moved and tested expeditiously so any needed treatments can begin as soon as possible.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic response has ended, Fichter believes the role of the Shipping and Receiving unit in the lab will remain “incredibly important to the health of Arizonans.” Especially as cases begin to rise again.

“Receiving enables the rest of the lab to succeed by organizing samples and identifying errors before they become major issues,” he said.

September is National Public Health Laboratory appreciation month. The approximately 125 people who work in the lab are dedicated to improving the health of people across Arizona.

“Aside from the knowledge that my actions help people in Arizona, the best thing about this job are the people I work with,” he said. “Everyone in my department, and everyone in the lab as a whole, is motivated to work together to better help the community.”

By Kathryn Wangsness|2023-09-22T14:54:54-07:00September 22nd, 2023|General, Preparedness|Comments Off

About the Author: Kathryn Wangsness

Kathryn Wangsness, MHA, is the Assistant Bureau Chief for the Bureau of State Laboratory Services (ASPHL) at the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). Kathryn has been part of the ADHS team since 1997 working as a scientist, certification officer, office chief and now bureau chief over the Offices of Chemistry, Laboratory Licensure and Certification, and Support Services and Operations. She earned her Masters of Health Administration from the University of Phoenix and her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry from Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. Kathryn joined ADHS in 1997 as a chemist analyzing water samples for inorganic parameters. In 2001, she accepted a position as a Blood Alcohol consultant, which lasted two years, and concurrently as a Federal/State Laboratory Licensure Surveyor in the Office of Laboratory Services. She is an approved EPA certification officer for inspecting inorganics, organics, and microbiology compliance testing in drinking water laboratories. In 2006, she accepted the position of quality assurance manager. In 2008, Kathryn became the Office Chief for the Office of Laboratory Services. She is an alumnus of the APHL Emerging Leader Program and participates in the Emerging Leader Alumni Network (ELAN). She has been trained in continuous quality improvement strategies such as Lean and Six Sigma. She has assisted the laboratory in becoming ISO/IEC 17025 accredited for food and forensic testing. Kathryn is an active participant in APHL and has served as a member of the Laboratory Systems and Standards Committee from 2021 to present, as a member and as chair the last three years, of the Environmental Laboratory Science Committee from 2009 to 2021, as Chair of the Governmental Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Subcommittee from 2009 to 2016, has participated in numerous workgroups, Co-chaired the Public Health Laboratory Competencies workgroups for surveillance and communication from 2012 to 2014, and chaired the Data Acceptance Workgroup.