Below is a message from David M. Souleles, Deputy Agency Director, Public Health Services, Orange County. Please join CAPHLD in celebrating Charlotte's 50 years of service!
Charlotte Egan recently celebrated 50 years of service with Orange County in the Public Health Lab! Charlotte began her career as a Public Health Microbiologist Trainee on January 2, 1969. She later received her California Public Health Microbiologist Certificate and ultimately promoted to Public Health Microbiologist II in 1985.
Charlotte has worked in every section of the laboratory and over her 50 years has witnessed amazing advances in laboratory technology. In the 1980’s, Orange County was at the forefront of the HIV epidemic and Charlotte performed some of the earliest testing available. In 1987, Charlotte performed the first HIV Western Blot to confirm positive HIV screening tests and in December of 2013, she performed the last HIV Western Blot as the lab transitioned to a new testing methodology.
Charlotte played a critical role in testing patient specimens during the 2009 H1N1 Influenza outbreak and the 2014-15 Measles outbreak in Orange County. Charlotte has trained more than 75 microbiologists who continue to work in public health and serve their community.
Charlotte’s peers describe her as;
Conscientious about her quality and standard of work which is a model example for others to follow.”
Instrumental in maintaining the smooth operation of the Virology section.”
An excellent microbiologist in the Virology and serology areas of the laboratory!”
After these 50 years of service, Charlotte will begin a well-earned retirement on May 9 this year. She will be able to spend more time with her family, including her two sweet granddaughters. Retirement will also give Charlotte the opportunity to explore her personal interests and passions. One of her passions is space and the space program and if she could, she would try to qualify for a mission to the International Space Station.
Charlotte’s dedication to her work and the mission of protecting the public’s health for the past 50 years is an incredible achievement and example to us all. Join me in honoring and thanking Charlotte for her great work and service, and best wishes in retirement!
Please join me in congratulating Charlotte on her exemplary service.