Volume 37 Number 4 | August 2023
Claude Rector, MA, MLS(ASCP), ASCLS President, 2023-24
Thank you. Those are the two most powerful words in the world. I would not be here today as president of ASCLS, if not for the help of many of my ASCLS peers. Let me begin the thank you list with Kim, Hassan, Maddie, Cindy, Deb, Suzanne, Barb, Susie, JR, Linda, Cathy, Marcia, Mary Ann, Scott, Rick, Shirlyn, Barb, Paula, and Cheryl. These individuals are all past presidents of ASCLS who have mentored me over the last 15 years. I also would like to include Jim, Andrea, Karrie, Melanie, and Julia—the ASCLS professional staff that makes us all better leaders every day. In addition, I thank Rebecca, Linda, Perry, Kyle, Miles, Pat, Duncan, Rodney, Debbie, Michelle, Karen, Sherry, Stacy, Cherika, and Ellis. I also want to thank my family. They have been supportive of what they call my “lab life.”
Would You Look at This
If you would have told me 38 years ago while I was enrolling at the University of Arkansas that I would one day be president of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, I would not have believed you. I had a different plan that day, and as we all know, plans change all the time. One’s path through life is never a straight path. As a young man this really bothered me.
My journey to this day has included all of the following since the day I left my first job as a soda jerk at my dad’s drugstore: summer camp counselor, graduate student teaching assistant, medical student, research assistant, pharmacy technician, lab tech, medical technologist, medical laboratory scientist, MLT program director, assistant professor, and director of laboratory and respiratory services. I began my career in the medical laboratory 25 years ago. My goal that day was to become a director of the hospital laboratory. Anyone want to guess what new position I began this year? If you guessed director of the hospital laboratory, you are correct. I believe that I have come all the way around a giant career circle, or as some might say, full circle.
“My journey to this day has included all of the following since the day I left my first job as a soda jerk at my dad’s drugstore: summer camp counselor, graduate student teaching assistant, medical student, research assistant, pharmacy technician, lab tech, medical technologist, medical laboratory scientist, MLT program director, assistant professor, and director of laboratory and respiratory services.”
Outstanding
A few years ago, I was introduced to the “Word of the Year.” This is the practice where instead of setting a lot of goals for the year, you select one single word to be your focus for the year. The goals of ASCLS for next year will all tie back to my single word of the year. My word for the next year as president of ASCLS will be outstanding. My favorite definition for outstanding is “distinguished from others in excellence.” Now for the story of how I became fond of the word outstanding.
Late one night, I stumbled upon the movie titled, A Perfect Getaway. The movie tells the story of two couples on a Hawaiian vacation who discover that psychopaths are stalking and murdering tourists on the islands. Maybe not the feel-good movie of the year. The actor who responded to all situations with one word, “outstanding,” was Timothy Olyphant. You may not recognize the name, but you might recognize the actor’s work in Justified and Deadwood. He has become one of my all-time favorite actors. For the next year, please join me and add #Oustanding to all social media posts associated with ASCLS.
The Little Engine that Could
When people ask me, what is the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, the answer I give might surprise a few individuals in the room. ASCLS is a little Society that, despite its size, triumphantly pulls a profession full of wonderful things to the laboratory professionals waiting in the hospitals, clinics, and classrooms. Of course, I am comparing ASCLS to the classic tale, The Little Engine That Could. For the past 15 years, I have heard the following statement from the members of this wonderful Society. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. My goal for the year is that when we gather next year in Pittsburgh, we will be shouting the final line from the childhood classic tale. I thought I could. I thought I could. I thought I could.
Claude Rector is the Director of Laboratory and Respiratory Services at St. Bernards CrossRidge Community Hospital in Wynne, Arkansas.