ASCLS Provides Expert Input on Future CLIA Regulations | 2026 Labvocate Symposium Early Registration Discount Ends Monday | From the Bench to Leadership | Get Insights from DCLS Leaders | Share Your Experiences and Expertise at ASCLS Events | And more
ASCLS Provides Expert Input on Future CLIA Regulations
ASCLS submitted comments in response to a wide-ranging Request for Information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that will shape future regulations of clinical laboratories under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA).
The voluminous document covers many topics, including breath testing, specimen preparation personnel, handling of suboptimal specimens, remote competency assessment, and cybersecurity.
Subject matter expertise was supplied by members of the ASCLS Government Affairs Committee, in particular, Jesse Day, Elissa Passiment, Brandy Gunsolus, and Judy Davis.
To date, CMS has posted 374 comments received, with all clinical laboratory groups weighing in with their own perspectives.
2026 Labvocate Symposium Early Registration Discount Ends Monday
October 12-13 | Old Town Alexandria, VA | Virtual
Sign up by September 21 and Save
The annual Labvocate Symposium gives you the chance to come together with medical laboratory professionals from six laboratory organizations and make our concerns known inside Congress.
You are coached on presentation techniques and discussion topics so you can effectively talk to your congressional representatives during appointments. You’ll also learn all the important details about the legislative policies affecting our profession so you can labvocate with confidence.
This year’s discussions will focus on:
- The RESULTS Act, which addresses longstanding challenges related to the implementation of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA).
- The Medical Laboratory Personnel Shortage Relief Act of 2025, which would establish a federal grant program to expand laboratory workforce training opportunities across the United States.
Again this year, all ASCLS Developing Professional members can attend Labvocate 2026 virtually at no cost. The Clinical Laboratory Educators Forum has developed a sample curriculum for educators who want to leverage this opportunity for their students.
The event is held at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia. In-person and virtual attendee options are available.
Deadline Today: Registration and Travel Scholarships Available for Labvocate Symposium
The Ascending Professionals and Developing Professionals Forums will award $750 scholarships to be used towards travel and registration for Ascending and Developing Professionals attending the Labvocate Symposium, either in-person or virtually. The exact breakdown of these scholarships will be determined by the number of applicants and their preference of attendance.
To be considered, you must be a current ASCLS Developing Professional or Ascending Professional member and be registered for the Labvcoate Symposium, either virtually or in-person, at the time of application. Apply by today September 18.
From the Bench to Leadership
2026 Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC2)
November 13-14 | Virtual
The Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC2) is designed specifically for medical laboratory professionals to help you prepare for and thrive in management roles.
Educational sessions will include:
- Laboratory Finance 101: The Basics for Laboratory Financial Health
- Digital Competency and Checklists Curated to Your Needs
- The AI-Powered Lab Leader: Practical Prompts for a More Productive Day
- The 90-day LOL Challenge – Learn, Observe and Listen Before You Lead
- The Leader They Remember: Building a Culture Where People Thrive
- And more!
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 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting next June.
Discounted group registration rates are available, $195 and under. For group registration, complete this form.
BONUS: Check out the Laboratory Leadership Resources available through your ASCLS membership.
Attend ELMC2 for Free
The ASCLS Ascending Professionals Forum will award 10 registration scholarships, to attend the virtual Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC2) November 13-14, 2026, for free. Apply by October 31.
Get Insights from DCLS Leaders
Inaugural Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) Symposium
November 5-6, 2026 | Virtual
The future of laboratory medicine is evolving, and you have an opportunity to be part of it.
The inaugural ASCLS DCLS Symposium is designed to celebrate, promote, and advance the future of the DCLS profession. This all-virtual symposium will bring together DCLS practitioners, students, educators, and laboratory leaders to exchange ideas, share best practices, and discover the expanding role of the DCLS in improving patient care.
Opening Keynote from Dr. Brandy Gunsolus
In her keynote, “Leading Through Uncertainty: The DCLS Role in a Changing Healthcare Landscape,” Dr. Gunsolus will explore how DCLS leaders can bring scientific expertise, clinical insight, and systems thinking to the forefront of patient care.
Whether you’re a current DCLS practitioner, considering a DCLS pathway, supporting DCLS integration within your organization, or simply interested in the future of laboratory medicine, this symposium offers valuable perspectives and meaningful connections.
As part of this inaugural event, ASCLS members can register at a significantly reduced rate. Sign up by October 9 for the best rate.
Share Your Experiences and Expertise at ASCLS Events
Call for CLEC 2027 Poster Abstracts
We are currently accepting abstracts for posters at the 2027 Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC) in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas. Share your expertise, research, and other work with more than 600 fellow educators across the nation.
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.
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 2027 will be held February 4-6 at the Loews Arlington Hotel and virtually. 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 October.
Call for 2027 Joint Annual Meeting Session Proposals
The Joint Annual Meeting Steering Committee is now accepting scientific session proposals for the 2027 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM), to be presented June 14-16 in Buffalo, New York.
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.
This is a valuable opportunity for credentialed laboratory professionals to present at a national conference. Please invite laboratorians and colleagues who are compelling presenters and leaders in their field to submit session proposals as well.
2026 Joint Annual Meeting Educational Sessions On Demand
If you missed out on attending the 2026 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting this past June, you still have a chance to experience the educational program. The educational sessions from the meeting are now available to stream online through JAM On Demand. 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 are $10 for ASCLS members ($15 for non-members/guests), and learners can earn 1.0 P.A.C.E.® per course completed.
- The All Access: 2026 Joint Annual Meeting bundle contains 42 courses at the discounted rate of $275 for ASCLS members ($400 for non-members/guests) and 42 hours of P.A.C.E.® credit.
Two Advocacy Sessions Free for ASCLS Members
Professional Advocacy: Why We Fight
Presented by Damien Garza, MLT(ASCP)
This engaging, story-driven talk blends humor, personal experience, and real advocacy wins to show why lab professionals must speak up. From workforce shortages to reimbursement cuts, it proves that you don’t need to be a policy expert—just passionate enough to care, show up, and fight for the future of the lab.
Big, Beautiful Labvocacy: Healthcare in the Shadow of OBBA
Presented by Patrick Cooney and Jim Flanigan
Federal and state healthcare policies impact the how medical laboratory professionals practice every day. Actively working to impact those policies is a choice. Effectiveness dependents on knowledgeable and active participants in the legislative and regulatory process or potentially end up as an afterthought when significant changes occur. Since the last Joint Annual Meeting, Congress passed the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) that is bringing about massive changes to the healthcare system in the United States. This presentation will provide a briefing on current issues like laboratory reimbursement, the laboratory workforce in the environment brought about by OBBA.
ASCLS is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.
Stay Certified and Learn on Your Schedule
The 2026-2027 Certification Maintenance Package is a diverse compilation of 12 courses that help you maintain your required continuing education hours for certification.
The bundle includes courses in chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunohematology, and ethics, helping you earn 12 hours of P.A.C.E.®-approved online continuing education.
ASCLS members get a discounted rate of $60 for the 12 courses ($120 for non-members).
New Products in ASCLS Store
Have you checked out the online ASCLS Store? Find ASCLS-themed items:
- Beaker glass
- Socks
- Journal
- Membership pins
- Shot glass
- Microbiology and Blood Bank Lanyards – get $3 off for purchases of 2 or more lanyards
- Lambda Tau pins and cords
Let us know if you have suggestions for new products we should add to the store.
Voices Under 40
Spotlight: Samantha Peterson, PhD MLS(ASCP)CM, Portland, Oregon
Samantha (Sam) was at the University of North Dakota Medical Laboratory Science program for 12 years, most recently as an associate professor and a graduate program director of their MLS master’s program. Sam recently took a position as the program director of a MLT program at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon.
Since joining ASCLS in 2014, Sam has contributed in several ways. In 2017 and 2018, she served as the new professional delegate and nominations chair on the ASCLS-North Dakota Board of Directors, respectively. After taking a step back to complete her PhD, Sam returned to service in full force in 2024. That year, she served as ASCLS-ND president-elect and newsletter editor. She attended the Labvocate Symposium in Alexandria, Virginia, as a representative of ASCLS-ND, meeting with North Dakota legislators to advocate important issues such as PAMA reform and tuition reimbursement. She also contributed to multiple professional meetings at the state, regional, and national levels as an attendee and session moderator. 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 was selected from many nominations across the country.
Off the Bench Podcast Episode: Learning and Leading a Multigenerational Laboratory
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.
The August 31 episode featured Stacey Robinson, Cherie Petersen, and Holly Covas to explore the multigenerational workforce in the medical laboratory. From communication styles and workplace expectations to work-life balance and generational stereotypes, the group discusses where differences can create both challenges and opportunities for understanding.
Subscribe to the podcast through Apple Podcasts , Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Latest Jobs
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Foundation Laboratory
Pomona, California
Medical Laboratory Scientist Supervisor
Ramsey County
Maplewood, Minnesota
Assistant Director of Clinical Chemistry Laboratory/ Open Rank Faculty
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
See more job openings on the ASCLS Career Center.
If you’re looking to fill an opening, post your job in the ASCLS Career Center and get access to over 17,000 candidates.
Local Events
ASCLS-Iowa 2026 Fall Social
September 20
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
ASCLS-Mid-Atlantic Trivia & Scavenger Hunt
September 30
Virtual
Northeast Laboratory Conference 2026
October 6-7
Portland, Maine
ASCLS-New Jersey 2026 Fall Seminar
October 8
Paramus, New Jersey
2026 ASCLS Region V Fall Symposium
October 8–9
Bloomington, Minnesota
ASCLS-Colorado Pumpkin Carving
October 17
Englewood, Colorado
ASCLS-North Carolina Fall Symposium
October 30
Raleigh, North Carolina
ASCLS-Minnesota and ASCP Cozy Lab Collective
November 18
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Key Dates
2026 Labvocate Symposium Early Registration Deadline
September 21
DCLS Symposium Early Registration Deadline
October 9
Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference Early Registration Deadline
October 9