Dr. Campbell willingly stepped up to the acting role following the retirement of the former Chief more than 18 months ago. He did not aspire to be the Lab Chief but stepped up because the department needed a leader. He has led the department through many challenges from administrative, to environmental, to regulatory, even while maintaining his previous responsibilities as medical director for several laboratory sections.
He is a well-respected and trusted resource who provides guidance with kindness, humility and creativity with music and humor. His greatest skill is his willingness and ability to break down a problem into smaller pieces and coach staff in making progress. He is thoughtful and always willing to make time for any staff, provider, patient, or project.
His passion for teaching and mentoring is apparent through his presentations and guidance for all staff in VACT, VISN1, and various groups and committees and labs that trust VACT reference lab services across the entire VHA community as well as the Yale Medical School, CAP committees, American Society for Microbiology and I am sure many others.
He has led the standardization of reference values for the VISN, teaches residents, and led the VACT team successfully through many CAP inspections, As the medical director for the Microbiology and Mycobacteriology Reference Laboratory he is always willing to help anyone with a question.
VA Connecticut is so grateful to Dr. Campbell for his commitment to laboratory medicine and his ability to navigate the many challenges during his tenure, including electrical shutdowns, water shutdowns, staffing crises, floods that knocked out crucial lab instrumentation, helped lead many in and outside the lab through the COVID pandemic and many more events that were not as visible all while still performing his former role.
For all these reasons, we feel that Dr. Campbell is more than deserving of this award to recognize his many valuable contributions, especially is leadership and support of PLMS at VACT, VISN1 and VHA.