Society News Now – September 2023

Laboratory Legislative Symposium early registration discount ends today, participate in #StopLabCuts Day of Action, 2023 Joint Annual Meeting educational sessions on demand, call for 2024 Joint Annual Meeting session proposals, PRISM Movie Nights, Ask Me Anything: Why Join ASCLS, and more.

Laboratory Legislative Symposium

Early Registration Discount Ends Today, Sept 15

October 23-24 | Alexandria, VA, or Virtual

The annual Laboratory Legislative Symposium gives you the chance to join together with medical laboratory professionals from six organizations to meet with your representatives and senators on Capitol Hill as a unified front on behalf of our profession. Each year these leading organizations provide a visible and informed voice and make our concerns known inside Congress.

This year’s Symposium will focus on communicating with Congress about reimbursements, advocating for the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA), and advocating for increased funding for the medical laboratory workforce.

The Legislative Symposium provides a great education on the how-tos of lobbying. Attendees are coached on presentation techniques so you can effectively talk to your congressional representatives during your appointments. Come away with first-hand knowledge of the political system in action and confidence that you make a difference.

This year’s event will be held October 23-24 at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia. In-person and virtual attendee options are available. Sign up by today, September 15 and save $100 off the late/onsite registration rate.

All Symposium events will take place at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town. A block of rooms has been set aside for Legislative Symposium attendees and is available until September 28 or when the block is full.

Last Chance for Registration and Travel Scholarships for Legislative Symposium

Apply by today, September 15

The Ascending Professionals and Developing Professionals Forums will award at least two $750 scholarships per forum to be used towards travel and registration for Ascending and Developing Professionals attending the Laboratory Legislative Symposium, either in-person or virtually.

To be considered, you must be a current ASCLS Developing or Ascending Professional member and be registered for the Laboratory Legislative Symposium, either virtually or in-person, at the time of application. Apply by today, September 15.

Participate in #StopLabCuts Day of Action

Thursday, September 21

ASCLS is proud to be part of the Stop Lab Cuts campaign in support of the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA), which would prevent an up to 15 percent payment cut to laboratory tests, protect patient access to laboratory services, and ensure a robust health care infrastructure. We invite you to support the Stop Lab Cuts campaign on Thursday, September 21, for a “Day of Action” urging Congress to enact SALSA this year.

SALSA is bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would bolster a strong clinical laboratory infrastructure that protects public health and innovation in tomorrow’s diagnostics while providing robust access to improve patient health. More information about the legislation and campaign can be found here.

Here’s how you can support the SALSA Day of Action on September 21:

2. Take two minutes to visit StopLabCuts.org and Take Action to let your member of Congress know that protecting access to clinical laboratory services is important to you.
3. Share your support for SALSA on social media (X, formerly known as Twitter, or LinkedIn) using these sample graphics.

Let’s build on last year’s efforts, when more than 100,000 messages flooded Capitol Hill in support of SALSA. Thank you for supporting the #StopLabCuts campaign on September 21!

2023 Joint Annual Meeting Educational Sessions Available On Demand

If you missed out on attending the 2023 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting this past June, you still have a chance to experience the educational program. We captured the educational sessions at the meeting, and they are now available to stream online through JAM On Demand. You can watch as many sessions as you’d like when it’s convenient for you and claim P.A.C.E.® credit at the same time.

• Individual sessions range in price from $5-$10 ($8-$15 for non-members).
• The JAM 12-PACK bundle, a diverse compilation of 12 highly-rated educational sessions from JAM 2023, is $80 for ASCLS Members/$120 for non-members.

Access national education on a full range of topics conveniently available to you at home, work, and on the road.

Call for 2024 Joint Annual Meeting Session Proposals

Submit by November 4

The Joint Annual Meeting Steering Committee is now accepting scientific session proposals for the 2024 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM), to be held July 8-12 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Submit your session proposals by November 4.

All confirmed speakers are eligible for registration discounts. You do not have to be an ASCLS, AGT, or SAFMLS member to submit a proposal, and multiple proposals may be submitted per speaker.

The JAM Steering Committee is looking for proposals that cover a diverse group of topics related to medical laboratory science, such as scientific advancements, best practices, management, and professional development. Send in your session proposals and please invite laboratory professionals and colleagues who are compelling presenters and leaders in their field to share their expertise as well.

PRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum

Every year the ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council (DAC) hosts a series of activities and events as part of PRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum. 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 organizes virtual activities, including movie nights, book clubs, and conversations with featured guests. All activities are free and held virtually through Zoom.

Save the Dates for 2024

Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC²)

January 19-20, 2024 | Virtual

The Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC²) is designed specifically for laboratory professionals to help you transition into and thrive in management roles.

ELMC² provides 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 events, access to an attendees-only online community, and 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 July.

You can contribute. The ELMC² Steering Committee is open to receiving session proposals (all sessions are one hour) or even ideas of topics to be covered or speakers you’d like to hear. A form has been opened and will be open until the end of September.

Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC)

February 22-24, 2024 | Las Vegas, NV, or Virtual

CLEC is the most impactful annual gathering for faculty, administrators, directors, advisers, and others in medical laboratory education. The conference includes peer-to-peer learning, designed to give you take-aways that you can bring home and implement in your program.

CLEC 2024 will be held February 22-24 at the Westgate Las Vegas. Explore new ways to enhance the student learning experience, discover innovative teaching techniques, build your network of clinical laboratory educators and so much more. Registration will open in November.

Submit Poster Abstracts by October 29

We are currently accepting abstracts for posters at CLEC 2024 in Las Vegas. Share your expertise, research, and other work with more than 600 fellow educators across the nation. Submit your abstracts by October 29.

Registration discounts are provided to the submitting author of accepted poster abstracts. Posters will be displayed digitally at the conference and within the meeting app. Accepted authors who attend CLEC in-person will have the opportunity to participate in poster presentation showcases.

CDC OneLab

Free How to Plan for B. pseudomallei Exposure Cases – A Laboratory Perspective

Tuesday, September 26, 12 pm ET | Virtual

Sign up today

Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei. In 2021, an intraoperative periaortic swab sample was confirmed positive for a Burkholderia species, and three of the 30 clinical staff-identified exposures were confirmed laboratory-acquired exposures. With the increased presence of B. pseudomallei and Melioidosis cases, laboratory workers are at an increased risk of exposure. This presentation will explain the role of laboratory professionals in detecting B. pseudomallei in clinical specimens and how to plan for possible exposure cases.

Objectives

1. Identify educational and other resources available through the OneLab Network.
2. Identify the growth characteristics of Burkholderia pseudomallei.
3. Discuss standardized laboratory tests used to isolate and identify Burkholderia pseudomallei.
4. Recognize the challenges of identifying Burkholderia pseudomallei.
5. Define high-risk versus low-risk exposure and the frequency of laboratory-acquired melioidosis.
6. Explain the indication for post-exposure prophylaxis, and its efficacy

Instruction Level: Intermediate

This webinar is offered as part of the CDC’s OneLab Network. This network provides opportunities for education and training, as well as a space for collaboration between clinical, public health, and CDC laboratory education and training professionals.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Laboratory Systems is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.^® Program.

OneLab Summit

October 3-5 | Virtual

OneLab Summit is a free, annual virtual event that connects laboratory professionals in real-time to support a unified response to laboratory education and training needs. Attendance is open to anyone interested or involved in the laboratory profession. OneLab Summit programming is most relevant to people who provide education or training to clinical and public laboratory professionals.

Registrants are welcome to attend the entire event or only specific sessions of interest. Three sessions offer P.A.C.E.^® credit.

You do not have to be a CDC OneLab REACH member to attend OneLab Summit. However, you must have a OneLab REACH account to obtain ASCLS P.A.C.E.® credit on the sessions offering P.A.C.E.^® credit.

Poster Submissions Due Today! This year, the OneLab Summit will feature a Virtual Exhibit Hall. Attendees can use this online space to highlight their organization’s programs, resources, success stories, and more.

To submit a poster to the Virtual Exhibit Hall, download and complete the poster template and return it to OneLab@cdc.gov by today, September 15. Poster submissions will be capped at 25 posters for the 2023 Summit.

New Episode of Off the Bench Podcast

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

In the August 25 episode, co-hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding reflect on the 2023 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM). They also share advice given by JAM attendees to prospective and new medical laboratory science students and new laboratorians.

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

Voices Under 40

Spotlight: Anna Adams, MPH, MLS(ASCP)^CM, REHS, Missoula, Montana

Anna is a medical laboratory scientist at Western Montana Clinic where she serves as lead tech in UA/serology and immunohematology. She also assists her lab manager with EPIC support, updates, and training. Most recently, she took on Lab Week planning coordinator for the clinic.

Anna, a recent (2023) Region 8 Leadership Academy graduate, has already jumped into several leadership roles within ASCLS. She has served as ASCLS-Montana Political Action Committee chair for three years, ASCLS-MT Conference Planning Committee for two years, ASCLS-MT webmaster for two years, and ASCLS-MT Promotion of the Profession chair for one year. She is currently serving as ASCLS-MT president elect. 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.

Congratulations to Newly Elected Officers for the Clinical Laboratory Educators Forum (CLEF)

The CLEF elected six councilors-at-large, a secretary, and two members to the CLEF Committee for Educational Programs and Initiatives (CEPI). They will join the previously elected CLEF chair and vice chair to work on initiatives that engage and facilitate the involvement and interest of educator members in ASCLS. If you are interested in joining the CLEF, join the community on ASCLS Connect (login required).

Chair

Candice S. Grayson, MS, MA, MLS(ASCP)^CM
Program Director, Histotechnology & Medical Laboratory Technology
Community College of Baltimore County

Vice Chair

Phyllis Ingham EdD, MLS(ASCP)^CM, AHI(AMT)
Program Director Medical Laboratory Technology/Phlebotomy
West Georgia Technical College

Councilors

Alexis Carpenter, PhD, MLS(ASCP)^CMMB^CM
Clinical Assistant Professor – Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences
The University of Kansas Medical Center

Stephanie B. Cochrane, MS, MLS(ASCP)^CM
Lecturer, Clinical Coordinator
Rutgers University School of Health Professions

April Nelsen, PhD, MLS(ASCP)
Clinical Assistant Professor/Clinical Coordinator
South Dakota State University

Tiffany Niemann, MS, MLS(ASCP)^CM
MLS Instructor/Lab Coordinator
South Dakota State University

April B. Orange, MM, MLS(ASCP)^CM
Program Director
McLeod Health School of Medical Laboratory Science

Cherika N. Robertson, MEd, MLS(ASCP)^CM
Assistant Professor
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Secretary

Drew Jones, MBA, MLS(ASCP)^CM
Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences
The University of Kansas Medical Center

CEPI Committee

Maridaliz Rodriguez Rosado, PhD, MLS(ASCP)^CM
Education Specialist/Medical Laboratory Scientist Coordinator
MLS Program Director Florida Southern College Clinical Laboratory
Lakeland Regional Medical Center

LaShanta Brice, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)^CMSH(ASCP)^CM
Scientific Engagement & Clinical Education Associate
Diagnostica Stago Inc.

Local Events

Check out events happening in ASCLS constituent societies.

ASCLS-Illinois Fall State Meeting
October 14
Rosemont, Illinois

2023 Northeast Laboratory Conference
October 17-18
Portland, Maine

2023 Northwest Medical Laboratory Symposium
October 26-27
Virtual

ASCLS-Indiana Collaboratorive Laboratory Conference
October 27-28
West Lafayette, Indiana

2024 LSCLS/ASCLS-MS Joint Annual Meeting
March 25-27
Biloxi, Mississippi

Connect: The Community Conversations

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

• The Membership Committee posts “Membership Mondays” questions each week to spur discussion and get to know fellow ASCLS members. A recent question was:
  • What were you doing at the time of the attacks on September 11, 2001?
  • What do you look forward to in fall?
  • What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?
  • What was your most memorable clinical experience?
• In the Clinical Laboratory Educator Forum, members replied to the Teacher Tip Tuesday prompt, how do you respond to the question, “Is this going to be on the test?”

Key Dates

Laboratory Legislative Symposium Early Registration and Travel Scholarship Deadline
September 15

PRISM Movie Night: Neurodivergent
Virtual
September 22
September 23

Ask Me Anything: Why Join ASCLS?
September 24