The California Association of Public Health Laboratory Directors, (CAPHLD), has been involved in training and education since its inception in 1950. It was founded to help keep public health laboratory directors abreast of the latest developments in science in general, with a focus on the biological sciences as they relate to public health, State and national health regulations as well as the latest in management techniques.

From the beginning, CAPHLD co-sponsored Annual Institutes, with the State Department of Public Heaalth, and continues with its successor, which were designed primarily for public health laboratory directors. In the early 1970s, it began to include whole day seminars on topical public health and public health laboratory issues. CAPHLD also began Mid-year meetings in the mid 1970's where, on occasions, an all-day symposium would be offered. From 1993 to 1997 the National Laboratory Training Network, (NLTN), Pacific Office, became a co-sponsor in the presentation of symposia. During this period, the Winter Symposium was initiated.
 

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