Volume 35 Number 6 | December 2021
DeAnne Maxwell, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, CLEC 2022 Steering Committee Chair
On a snowy day in February 1994, I boarded a plane bound for Newport, Rhode Island, with fellow Indiana MLS program educators Linda Kasper and Bunny Rodak, to attend what would be my first, but definitely not my last, Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC). I was pregnant with my second child, with eight months of program director experience under my belt and a thirst for knowledge.
I remember the highlights: snow, lots of snow. Arnold Schwarzenegger sightings. Moving from one mansion to another, due to filming issues for the movie, True Lies. And the people. The incredible people I met. I was 34 at the time and new to the role, and I met textbook authors and heard speakers share their wisdom and knowledge. And I listened and collected all of it. Since then, I have been fortunate to attend almost every year, and every year is almost as memorable as the first.
CLEC is definitely the most important annual event for administrators, faculty, directors, and advisors in medical laboratory education. It is a unique shared experience unlike any other—where educators from all types of programs and with varying years of experience can gather to exchange innovative ideas, discuss research activities, and receive support from their peers.
The CLEC 2022 Steering Committee is currently at work planning another successful event to be held Monday, March 14, through Wednesday, March 16, at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colorado. This conference will be held as both a live, in-person event and as a virtual event. Registrants will be able to select their attendance option during the registration process.
The educational content addresses the diverse needs of our educator community. From sessions focusing on educational theory, to program management, to meeting the needs of students, the program is designed to give you take-aways that you can bring home and implement in your program. Among the offerings are sessions on:
- creating online labs and demonstrations
- tools for enhancing student retention and wellness
- how to perform ongoing program assessment to ensure program survival
A two-hour pre-conference workshop will also be offered Monday morning, focusing on how you can better prepare clinical preceptors to train and educate students.
In addition to the educational sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with our industry partners and learn about new products, organizations, and companies that can support your educational activities. And of course, there will be time to network and socialize, which I am really looking forward to!
We hope that attendees can join together again in March, either virtually or face-to-face, to reconnect and share stories and successes with one another. We all need each other, especially now, and connection keeps us strong and resilient. Join us at CLEC to rejuvenate your teaching soul. Register by January 14 for the best rate.
DeAnne Maxwell is the Program Director of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at Franciscan Health in Indianapolis, Indiana.
“[E]ducators from all types of programs and with varying years of experience can gather to exchange innovative ideas, discuss research activities, and receive support from their peers.”