Public release date: 6-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Garth Hogan ghogan@asmusa.org American Society for Microbiology

Washington, DCJune 6, 2012 Brent Barrett, Indiana State Department of Health, has been honored with the 2012 Scherago-Rubin Award. This award, presented for over twenty years, recognizes an outstanding bench-level clinical microbiologist. It was established by the late Sally Jo Rubin in honor of her grandfather, Professor Morris Scherago. "Barrett personifies the best of clinical microbiology," states his nominator, Judith Lovchik, Indiana State Department of Health Laboratory and and Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM). "His intense focus on clinical microbiology has no parallel."

Barrett received his B.S. in microbiology from Purdue University in 1976 and his American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification in 1980. Barrett worked as a medical microbiologist at Community Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana from 1976 to 1980, then again part-time from 1982 to 1995. In 1996 he began part-time work as a microbiologist at Mid America Clinical Laboratories, which he continues today. His full-time position, which he has held since 1980, is microbiologist at the Indiana State Department of Health in Indianapolis. "Barrett is first and foremost a medical technologist, who for many years has worked in the enteric and parasitic diagnostic laboratory at the Indiana State Department of Health," explains James Snyder, University of Louisville Hospital, and ABMM Diplomate. "With his leadership, this laboratory gained national recognition as one of the few public health laboratories that practices state of the art diagnostics and serves as a major source of information regarding epidemiology and continuing education."

"During his many years as a bench-level clinical microbiologist, Barrett has done more for the continuing education of bench-level clinical microbiology technologists than anyone I have known," explains Larry Gray, Bethesda and Good Samaritan Hospitals, Cincinnati, and ABMM Diplomate. A ProMED-mail Rapporteur, he was presented in 2007 with the ProMED-mail Award for Excellence in Outbreak Reporting on the Internet. He is actively involved in parasitology case studies and workshops for the ASM and the South Central Association for Clinical Microbiology (SCACM), ASM and ASCP audio-conferences on parasitology and Shiga toxin producing E. coli, and SCACM's Interest Group sessions on enteric bacteria and parasitology. Barrett has also been an active participant in ASM activities. He currently serves as Division C list-serv co-moderator, an Askit Expert, and a member of the Clinical Microbiology Portal Committee.

In addition to his other duties, Barrett has been a member of SCACM since 1978 and has served the organization in several elected and appointed positions, including Treasurer, President, Director at Large, Internet Resources Chairman, and Audio-conference Chairman. "Barrett's enthusiasm for, love of, and dedication to bench level clinical microbiology are major reasons SCACM is and continues to be the oldest, largest, and most active clinical microbiology organization in the world," says Gray. In 2006, Barrett was named SCACM's Outstanding Contributor to Clinical Microbiology for his contributions.

Barrett is an excellent instructor who freely shares his expertise and enthusiasm. A highly requested speaker, he frequently presents case studies in parasitology and other enteric diseases. "Barrett's attributes and contributions to diagnostics and continuing education are exceptional and place him in a class of his own. He is truly the consummate medical microbiologist," summarizes Snyder.

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To read Mr. Barrett's biosketch, please visit: http://www.asm.org/index.php/awards-grants/current-scherago-rubin-award-laureate.html

The Scherago-Rubin Award will be presented during the 112th General Meeting of the ASM, June 16 - 19, 2012 in San Francisco, California. ASM is the world's oldest and largest life science organization and has more than 40,000 members worldwide. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences and promote the use of scientific knowledge for improved health and economic and environmental well-being.

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The American Society for Microbiology honors Brent Barrett