On March 1, 2026, at the APHL 14th National Conference on Laboratory Aspects of Tuberculosis, Joseph Shea was honored with the prestigious Ed Desmond Tuberculosis Laboratorian Award. Presented by the National Tuberculosis Coalition of America, this award recognizes exemplary service, dedication, and leadership among tuberculosis laboratory professionals.
Joe began his journey at the Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, in 2013 as a master’s student in the Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) program. After graduating in 2015 – during which he completed an outstanding capstone project focused on Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex whole genome sequencing assay development – he joined the Molecular Mycobacteriology Laboratory as a Research Scientist in September 2015. He was promoted to Research Scientist 2 in 2020.
Over the past decade, Joe has played a pivotal role in the success of the Wadsworth Center’s clinical M. tuberculosis complex whole genome sequencing program. His consistent and expert communication with New York City and New York State Tuberculosis Control partners has been exemplary. Joe’s deep expertise in M. tuberculosis complex genomics, particularly in the interpretation and classification of drug-resistance mutations and the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis, has been instrumental in developing, implementing, and sustaining these advanced clinical methods.
As the laboratory marks 10 years of clinical whole genome sequencing testing—a milestone achieved by only a limited number of public health laboratories due to the technical complexity involved—Joe’s contributions stand out as indispensable. His dedication, technical excellence, and collaborative spirit have been central to this success. Joe remains a highly valued member of the Wadsworth Center team, consistently going above and beyond and fully realizing the promise recognized when he first joined the organization in 2013.