Volume 38 Number 4 | August 2024
Darby Naheedy, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Patient Safety Committee
“I’m a scientist,” I responded. Upon hearing my reply, the interviewer’s face lit up, and she exclaimed, “I am a scientist also! What kind of research do you conduct?”
“I’m not a research scientist; I’m a clinical scientist.” A pit formed in my stomach, accompanied by a slight wave of nausea. Her face appeared to darken, and a chill developed on my temples and cheeks and the blood drained from my face as she said, “Oh, so you’re not a scientist?”
… Ouch.
I had never experienced the challenge of navigating my professional identity. It was astounding to encounter an experienced interviewer who not only seemed unaware of the significance of medical laboratory science but also exhibited professional prejudice.
Not a scientist … I wanted to remind her, my degree and job title both attest to my scientific role.
As I explained my role in the clinical laboratory, I realized effective communication about our profession is essential to enlighten others and dispel misconceptions. All too often, laboratorians have interactions like the one above, yet they highlight a very important point: no one understands our role in healthcare better than we do. It’s time to create our own opportunity for change, by shifting our focus from those who don’t fully grasp our work, to actively advocating for ourselves and our profession. As Oscar Wilde wisely wrote, “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”
“Our test results can determine the effectiveness of treatment, sway the decisions of healthcare providers, and hold the potential for significant change in patients’ lives. We must take pride in our crucial role and communicate this pride to others.”
Laboratory professionals possess many talents, but self-promotion is not typically one of them. Yet we each have unique stories of how we ended up becoming scientists. I stumbled into an MLS program only because I preferred to take fewer chemistry courses than the major I had first chosen. Now, I try not to pay attention to the irony on the days when I’m mostly working on the clinical chemistry bench. The education and training I received from my MLS program have led to innumerable decisions concerning specimen results. Every delta, hemolytic, lipemic, and icteric flag requires my expertise in chemistry to ensure a reliable result. Confirming critical results are valid and are called is extremely important, but let’s not forget the little decisions—ones we may not pay mind to—matter as well. While I ended up in the laboratory by chance, I’m incredibly proud of my work there.
Discussions about our profession increase awareness of our crucial role within healthcare and foster a sense of pride and fulfillment in our work. By sharing our experiences and insights with others, we contribute to a greater understanding of the complexities of diagnostic testing and patient care, striving for the recognition we deserve. Our daily work in the lab carries great importance in influencing patient care outcomes. Laboratory professionals are defenders of accuracy and reliability; we are tasked with ensuring every validated test result meets the highest quality standards. Our test results can determine the effectiveness of treatment, sway the decisions of healthcare providers, and hold the potential for significant change in patients’ lives. We must take pride in our crucial role and communicate this pride to others. By acknowledging the impact of our work and appreciating our contributions to patient care, we enable ourselves to make a genuine difference in the world.
Some of you may share my passion for the clinical laboratory, while others may not. For those who do, I urge you to discuss our work with passion, using words fueled by the fiery spark embedded in your hearts. For those who don’t, I challenge you to learn about the patient beyond the barcode. The work we do on the laboratory bench many times influences medical decision-making and the well-being of patients.
The interview at the start of this article was for a medical school admission. It is no surprise I am not attending that institution. However, I am pleased to share that I expect to earn an additional two letters (DO) after my name next year, to keep my MLS company. Not to worry though, my fellow laboratorians, I haven’t left the lab, and I don’t intend to.
In recent years, I have found my passion for the lab renewed. The rigor of medical school has caused a significant decrease in the hours I can work, though I’ve persisted for three years now maintaining a per diem generalist position. Perhaps absence has made my heart grow fonder. Maybe taking medicine-focused classes once more has contributed to this restored passion. But what I really think revitalized my love for the laboratory is learning about all the ways physicians use test results in diagnosis and managing treatment plans for their patients, neighbors, friends, and family, even you and me.
I would be amiss if any of my 210 classmates became physicians without an understanding of the capabilities medical laboratory professionals have. I’m well known as “that lab girl” and have been the point person for many laboratory questions over the past few years. My MLS background has allowed me to offer recommendations for instructor’s materials, some of which I am happy to see implemented.
Yes, now, I’m sure. My laboratory passion stems from experiencing firsthand the changes I can influence and the impression I leave on others. It comes from seeing the laboratory—something I love—gain the respect I know it deserves.
You don’t have to be a president or hold a board position to join in the quest for professional recognition. Even the smallest action, such as sharing experiences and emphasizing the meaningful purpose of your work, benefits us all.
I’ll conclude with a quote from my favorite author, “Some people charged toward the goal, running for all they had. Others stumbled. But it wasn’t the speed that mattered. It was the direction they were going.” – Brandon Sanderson
Darby Naheedy is a Medical Laboratory Scientist at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Illinois.