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Lillian Stark began employment at Florida Department of Health as a laboratory technician in viral serology in June 1972 while completing research for my doctoral dissertation at U.S.F. Over the years she advanced through various technical and supervisory positions, and presently directs the Virology Department of the Tampa Branch Laboratory (TBL). She is licensed by the State of Florida as a Clinical Laboratory Director for the specialties of Microbiology and Serology (license # DI 602).
Dr. Stark supervises environmental sample testing for viral isolation/detection and identification (e.g., enterovirus and norovirus) and protocol development on specimens from environmental waters, wastewaters and food (FDA and CDC/ELC grants). Virus isolation/detection assays are also performed on clinical specimens for arbovirus, enterovirus, herpesviruses and myxovirus, on virus vectors (e.g., mosquitoes) and on animal hosts of the etiologic agents of human disease. she also conducts related serological studies on human and animal specimens.
The mosquito-borne encephalitis viruses are a significant public health problem in Florida, with endemic SLE, EEE and now WN virus present, as well as the potential for imported Dengue. She directs the laboratory based surveillance program for arboviruses, including the statewide "sentinel chicken" program, serological surveillance activities for early detection and disease prevention, and "dead bird" surveillance for West Nile and other arboviruses. This department has been investigating Florida arboviruses since the early 1960's, with a number of publications on the topic and has collaborated on a number of arbovirus projects and grants with state and federal agencies.
Additionally, Dr. Stark has directed and performed projects involving: the development of methods for detecting virus in foods, transport of enteroviruses and coliphage through the soil, a prospective (cohort) epidemiological investigation of enterovirus infections in children in conjunction with an environmental study of virus movement from septic tanks, development of standard methods protocols for enteric virus assay of environmental specimens, surveillance for enteroviruses and protozoan parasites (Giardia & Cryptosporidium) in the environment and water potability (MPA).
Dr. Stark is a member of the State of Florida Arbovirus Interagency Working Group and the University of South Florida Institutional Biosafety Committee. As an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the USF College of Public Health, she has taught graduate level classes in Environmental Health Microbiology and Public Health Immunology. she has served as a mentor for six CDC/APHL Emerging Infectious Disease Training Fellows (1996-8, 2000-4) and has trained and supervised a number of M.P.H. students from the University of South Florida College of Public Health. |
