ASCLS Celebrates a Labvocacy Win, A Gift of Free CE for You, Virtual Events in January, Apply for ASCLS Awards and Scholarships, and more.

ASCLS Celebrates a Labvocacy Win

PAMA Cuts DelayedPAMA Cuts Delayed to January 2023

On December 10, after a successful advocacy effort on the part of ASCLS and our colleagues at every other laboratory organization, President Biden signed the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act, which will delay cuts to the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule under PAMA for one year until January of 2023.

This success took enormous effort, and thanks go out to all who emailed, tweeted, or called their congress members and senators. This will give the laboratory community time to work on a permanent solution to the problem, which will be challenging.

We still face an unprecedented workforce shortage that requires federal programs to help address. After the first of the year, our focus will shift there, but success will require a much larger number of Labvocates generating a lot more pressure on Congress.

This was just a warmup. Sign up for future alerts in the Labvocate Action Center.

 

A Gift for You

Gift BoxesTreat Yourself to Free CE

As this year comes to an end, ASCLS recognizes the tremendous amount of work you do, day after day, for your patients, the entire healthcare team, and the future of the profession. The work you do is vital to diagnose, treat, and improve lives everyday.

Take some time to treat yourself this month. ASCLS is gifting medical laboratory professionals a free $15 coupon that can be used toward any continuing education course, self-study, webinar, or bundled package on Labucate.org. The coupon code ASCLSgift21 is good through January 15, 2022. You do not have to be an ASCLS member to participate in this offer.

With courses starting at $10, Labucate.org allows you to learn a new skill or dive deep into a topic that fascinates you. You can also earn P.A.C.E.® credit to finish up your certification or licensure requirements.

 

2022 Awards and Scholarships Deadlines

Submit ASCLS Awards Nominations by February 15

Do you know someone who would be a good candidate for an ASCLS award, grant, or scholarship? The ASCLS Awards Committee encourages members to submit nominations for the following awards by February 15.

  • Ascending Professional Leadership Award
  • Developing Professional Leadership Award
  • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • State Society Website Award
  • State Society Publications Award (for both print and web-based publications)
  • Scientific Assembly Professional Achievement Award
  • Scientific Research Award
  • Theriot Award (for media and equipment development)

Details for applying for these awards and the link to submit applications are on the Awards and Scholarships webpage. Questions can be addressed to the Awards Committee at awards@ascls.org.

Nominating a worthy member for one of these awards is a great way to recognize the valued work of our dedicated members and to honor them at the Awards Ceremony at the 2022 Joint Annual Meeting, June 26-30.

 

Scholarship Applications Due April 1

The Alpha Mu Tau Fraternity and ASCLS Education and Research Fund support the advancement of medical laboratory professionals through graduate and undergraduate scholarships for clinical laboratory science students. Applicants for all scholarships must be ASCLS members. Learn more about eligibility requirements and download the application.

 

ASCLS Education & Research Fund Raises over $2,000 for Grants and Scholarships

Lab-themed ornamentThank you to everyone who participated in the ASCLS Education & Research Fund Handmade for the Holidays fundraiser. The event featured a raffle, silent auction, and handmade items for sale, raising about $2,100 for ASCLS member research grants and scholarships for students in clinical laboratory science programs.

Established in 1953, the fund supports scholarships for clinical laboratory science students and funds research in laboratory science to be used for pilot studies, preliminary data collection, and early grants for investigators new to research.

 

Upcoming Events

2022 Clinical Laboratory Educators ConferenceLearn from Your Peers at CLEC 2022

Registration for the 2022 Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC) is open, and a discounted early bird rate is available through January 14.

CLEC is the most impactful annual gathering for faculty, administrators, directors, advisers, and all in medical laboratory education. The program offers more than 40 educational sessions that will explore new ways to enhance the student learning experience, demonstrate innovative teaching techniques, solve program management challenges, and so much more.

CLEC 2022 will be held March 14-16 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colorado. To provide you flexibility to participate in CLEC in the format that best fits your personal circumstances, you have the option to attend CLEC either in Denver or virtually through the streaming device of your choice, wherever you are. Reserve your spot today!

 

ELMC2Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC2)

January 14-15, 2022
Virtual Event

The Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC2) is designed specifically for laboratory professionals to help them transition into and thrive in management roles. ASCLS works to instill in laboratory professionals the skills to lead/take management/leadership positions within and outside the laboratory and prepares laboratory professionals to understand and speak the languages of quality with other professionals with whom they interface (nursing, pharmacy, and medicine).

Program Highlights

  • Two days of virtual programming (live and streamed for up to 30 days after the live event)
  • Up to 20 hours of P.A.C.E.® credit
  • Networking and social events
  • Access to an attendees-only online community
  • Follow up programming expected to take place 6-12 weeks after the conclusion of the virtual conference, as well as special meet-ups at the Joint Annual Meeting in June

Register today.

ELMC2 Registration Scholarships for Ascending Professional Members

Twenty virtual attendance registration scholarships are available for ASCLS Ascending Professional Members to attend ELMC2, provided by the ASCLS Ascending Professionals Forum.

This opportunity is only available for Ascending Professional members. Complete the online form by December 27, at 11:59 pm EST.

 

PRISMPRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum

January 12-17, 2022
Virtual Event

The ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council (DAC) invites you to participate in PRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum, which debuted in January 2021. Join medical laboratory friends and colleagues as we celebrate and ignite discussions regarding diversity in the profession and the inequities in our healthcare system.

The DAC has organized a series of virtual activities that are free for any medical laboratory professional to attend. Save the dates for the following.

January 12-17, PRISM Online Fundraiser. All proceeds will go towards the Glenda Price Diversity in Leadership Award. Donations for the online auction are now being accepted through January 11. You can also donate directly to the Glenda Price scholarship by texting PRISM22 to 76278. Every donation counts!

January 12, 7 pm EST, The ABCs of DEI: Advocacy from the Bench to C-suite with Debra BenAvram, FASAE, CAE, AABB Chief Executive Officer.

January 13, PRISM Virtual Book Club, 1 pm EST or 7 pm EST. Read Demanding More: Why Diversity and Inclusion Don’t Happen and What You Can Do About It, by Sheree Atcheson.

January 17, 7 pm EST, Candid Conversations: Scott Aikey, DLM(ASCP)CM, MLS(ASCP)CM, Past President of ASCLS. Kyle Riding, ASCLS Secretary-Treasurer, will interview Scott, who is an inspirational leader and openly gay man. During his time in ASCLS and the clinical laboratory profession, Scott witnessed a multitude of changes in how members of the LGBTQ+ community were seen and cared for by others.

 

Mid-Year Virtual House of Delegates Meeting to be Held January 16

The ASCLS House of Delegates convenes at the Annual Meeting of the Society, and has authority within the Society regarding the:

  • election of the officers and members of the Board of Directors and of elective committees;
  • adoption and amendment of the Bylaws and the Articles of Incorporation according to the laws of the state of incorporation; and
  • approval of professional practice standards, position papers, and the scope and direction for the Society and the profession.

The ASCLS Board of Directors has determined that a mid-year, virtual meeting of the House of Delegates is needed on an ongoing basis. Sunday, January 16, 2022, at 2 pm EST, ASCLS will hold its, mid-year meeting of the ASCLS House of Delegates.

 

Call for Nominations for National Positions

The Nominations Committee is seeking qualified members interested in serving in an elected national position beginning on June 30, 2022. If you or someone you know should be nominated, contact Nominations Committee Chair Deb Rodahl by January 15, 2022.

  • President-elect (3-year commitment, automatically succeeding to President and Past President)
  • Secretary/Treasurer (3-year term)
  • Region Directors for Regions I, VII, and VIII (3-year term)
  • Judicial Committee (one position, 5-year term)
  • Nominations Committee (two positions, 2-year term)

Learn more about each position’s eligibility requirements and duties.

 

Ask Me Anything: Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science

Ask Me Anything: DCLS panelistsWhat are the major benefits of becoming a DCLS as opposed to working in the lab with just an MLS(ASCP) certification? How is the relationship between DCLSs and pathologists? How many years bench time would be recommended before pursuing a DCLS? These are a few of the questions answered during the latest Ask Me Anything virtual event, organized by the ASCLS Developing Professionals Forum (DPF) and Ascending Professionals Forum (APF). If you missed the virtual event, check out the recording of the livestream.

Panelists included Dr. Lindsey Davenport-Landry, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM, and Dr. Regina Wulff, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM; current DCLS student Kathryn Golab, MLS(ASCP)CM, and DCLS Program Director at the University of Kansas Medical Center Renee Hodgkins, PhD, MT(ASCP).

The DPF and APF host bi-monthly AMAs on a variety of career-related topics to help answer all your burning questions. View a playlist of previous career advice AMAs on the ASCLS YouTube channel.

 

Tell Your Story in ASCLS Today

ASCLS Today mastheadWe encourage all ASCLS members to consider contributing to an upcoming issue of ASCLS Today. The most popular articles are personal stories and opinions from medical laboratory professionals about your impact on patient care and/or the profession. Case studies and career advice are also valued by readers.

The ASCLS Today 2021-22 Editorial Calendar provides themes and deadlines for each issue. February 1 is the deadline for the March/April 2022 issue, which will focus on professional visibility. Articles with topics outside the theme will also be considered for publication.

The ASCLS Today Writing Guidelines provide tips for submitting articles. Contact ASCLS Today Editor Deb Rodahl with your article ideas or for more information. #TellYourStory

 

Medical Laboratory Professionals Week

2022 Lab Week Run Medal Mockup7th Annual ASCLS Lab Week Run

Step out of your labs and into your communities to help spread the word about the medical laboratory profession by participating in the ASCLS Lab Week Virtual Run.

This virtual race can be run at any time during Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (April 24-30, 2022) and can be run anywhere. Participants can walk, use a treadmill, run outside, or even ride a bike to complete the 5K distance (or 3.1 miles).

Race packets will go on sale January 1 with Early Bird Pricing available through February 15. All proceeds go to grants and scholarships that help medical laboratory professionals attend ASCLS meetings, lobby representatives for the profession, and become future leaders in the field.

Race organizers are currently looking for sponsors. If you or someone you know is interested in reaching thousands of laboratory professionals, please contact info@labweekrun.com.

 

New Episode of Off the Bench Podcast

Off the Bench PodcastSubscribe to the Off the Bench Podcast for discussions on scientific and not-to-scientific ideas in laboratory medicine. New episodes drop the last Friday of each month.

On the November 26 episode, host Galina Dronova spoke with Rick Panning, Senior Healthcare Consultant at ARUP Laboratories, about the state of healthcare today and how the major trends in the medical laboratory science field shape our daily life. More importantly, they discussed how medical laboratory professionals can be the change that moves the needle in a positive direction.

Subscribe to the podcast through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify.

 

Recruitment Resources

Promote the Profession and Recruit Future Medical Laboratory Professionals

 

Voices Under 40

Lisa BakkenSpotlight: Lisa Bakken, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, CHT(ABHI), LM, Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Lisa is employed by DuPage Medical Group as a Director of Laboratory Services where she oversees 17 technical laboratories and 71 collection sites in six counties in Illinois. She has served ASCLS in many capacities on all levels of leadership and currently serves as an Education & Research Fund, Inc., committee member and on the Nominations Committee.

“I have always been an advocate for the laboratory profession. It was in high school where I was first introduced to clinical laboratory science. At that point I new without any doubt that this was my chosen profession. At Northern Illinois University, I was introduced to the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science professional organization. Since becoming involved as a student and staying active in the Society, ASCLS has shaped my career, goals, and aspirations.” Read more.

ASCLS Voices Under 40 honors ASCLS members who have shown exceptional commitment to the Society, the laboratory profession, and their community at large at a younger age in their professional career. Each month we spotlight one of the shining voices who were selected from many nominations across the country.

 

Welcome New Member

Rene DipasqualeRené Dipasquale, Orlando, Florida

René introduced herself in the #IamASCLS-Introduce Yourself Community: “Hello! My name is René Dipasquale and I just recently became a member of ASCLS. I’m just about to complete my first semester as an MLS student and I couldn’t be happier with how things have been progressing. I’m just as excited to engage more with this community as I am for next semester (which is to say, quite a bit). I’m especially excited to learn more about hematology, as I’ve always been greatly fascinated by blood and have very much enjoyed working with it the few times that I’ve been able to do so previously.” Connect with René.

We encourage ASCLS members to join the #IamASCLS-Introduce Yourself Community to get to know new members and welcome them to our Society.

 

Connect: The Community Conversations

ASCLS Connect is an invaluable way to ask questions, share feedback, and stay connected with your family of laboratorians. Here are some of the recent discussions you may have missed:

Download the MemberCentric App on your mobile device to get the community conversations and more in the palm of your hand.

 

Key Dates

2022 PRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum
January 12-17

2022 Emerging Laboratory Manager Collaborative Conference (ELMC2)
January 14-15

2022 CLEC Early Registration Deadline
January 14