Labvocate for your profession by participating in action alerts, apply for national volunteer positions, submit session proposals for the 2021 Joint Annual Meeting, and more.
Labvocate
Use your voice and make a difference for your laboratory community and the patients you care for. ASCLS has two labvocacy campaigns that are very easy to use. ASCLS members have their addresses pre-populated in the Voter Voice system, so it will pick out your Congressperson for you. Participate today and share with your colleagues.
Issue 1: Critical Shortages of Testing Reagents and Supplies Delaying Test Results
Ongoing shortages in clinical laboratory testing materials and supplies appear to be getting worse in parts of the country. As such, it is important for ASCLS members to sound the alarm and educate members of Congress and the Administration. Please send this message to your legislators in Congress and to President Trump and Vice President Pence today!
Issue 2: Clinical Laboratory Workforce in Jeopardy
Presently, Congress is working to enact another COVID-19 relief package of legislation to address the needs of health providers, state and local governments, schools, employers, and individuals in need. While many of the provisions impact testing and other important elements of our health care system and society, Congress has yet to specifically address workforce challenges that laboratory personnel experience in the field today.
Volunteer
Applications are currently open for a number of volunteer positions.
Healthcare Position Paper Task Force
Application Deadline: August 21
ASCLS is forming a task force to review and potentially recommend changes or revisions to an existing position paper on healthcare reform. Learn more.
Ascending Professional Volunteer
Application Deadline: September 4
ASCLS asks for Ascending Professional member volunteers to serve as committee representatives for national committees. Learn more.
Developing Professional Volunteer
Application Deadline: September 4
ASCLS asks for Developing Professional member volunteers to serve as committee representatives for national committees. Learn more.
ASCLS Today Editor-in-Chief
Application Deadline: September 15
The ASCLS Today Editor shapes, solicits, and curates content for the newsletter based on the professional needs of ASCLS members. Learn more.
Clinical Laboratory Science Journal Editor-in-Chief
Application Deadline: September 15
The function of the Editor(s)-in-Chief of Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) is to provide leadership and direction that results in the publishing of a well-respected, peer-reviewed, scientific journal. Learn more.
Call for Proposals for the 2021 Joint Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting Steering Committee is now accepting educational session proposals for the 2021 Joint Annual Meeting (JAM), to be held June 27-July 1 at the Omni Louisville Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. Submit your session proposals by August 31. All confirmed speakers are eligible for substantial registration discounts and some can earn honoraria, so send in your session proposals. Presenters will be able to indicate if they are able to present in person or virtually.
As part of the evaluation survey for this year’s JAM, attendees recommended topics or session ideas for the 2021 JAM program. Check out the compiled list of topics/session ideas—you, or someone you know, might be interested in presenting a topic.
2020 JAM On Demand Provides More Than 60 Hours of P.A.C.E.® Credit
The educational sessions from the highly-rated 2020 Virtual Joint Annual Meeting are now available to stream online through JAM On Demand.
All individual sessions are $10 for ASCLS Members/$15 for non-members.
The Best of 2020 bundle, containing the top 12 sessions according to attendee ratings, is $80 for ASCLS Members/$120 for non-members.
The All Access bundle of all 59 sessions (up to 58.5 hours of P.A.C.E.® credit) is $275 for ASCLS members/$395 for non-members.
Five pre-conference workshops (2 hours of P.A.C.E.® credit per session) are each $20 for ASCLS members/$30 for non-members.
Additionally, two sessions are free to ASCLS members through August 31, 2020:
- Remote Control: How to Zoom through COVID’s Impact on Higher Education
- How the Coronavirus is Impacting Higher EducationHow the Coronavirus is Impacting Higher Education
The Closing Keynote will be free to anyone through June 30, 2021:
Get Involved with the Diversity Advocacy Council
ASCLS is an inclusive, culturally relevant community of people acknowledging their differences and unique characteristics; it is an organization where all persons can engage and participate in a meaningful way empowering everyone to grow and learn. The ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council (DAC) works to advance this value, and on a number of initiatives that promote inclusivity, communication, and cooperation among medical laboratory professionals.
The DAC is in search of candidates to fill the role of chair-elect for the 2020-21 year. Submit your nominations by Monday, August 24..
The DAC will hold a membership meeting and elections on Thursday, September 3, at 8:00 pm Eastern. Registration is free, but optional donations to the DAC to support its mission and scholarship can be made if you so choose.
Ask Me Anything: Traveling Laboratory Professional
Friday, August 28, 7:30 pm Eastern
Join us for the next ASCLS Ascending Professionals Form and Developing Professionals Forum Ask Me Anything (AMA), with special guest Kelsey Lowe, MLS(ASCP)CM, a traveling medical technologist. Register today for the free virtual event on Friday, August 28, at 7:30 pm Eastern.
Kelsey has been a certified medical laboratory scientist for three and a half years, about a year and a half of that time as a traveling laboratory professional. She took her first travel job exactly a year after finishing her internship and working as a microbiology tech at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. She enjoys traveling and learning from medical technologists from all different backgrounds and walks of life. She says, “If you have any interest in traveling, I would highly recommend you give it a try!”
After the AMA, stay for the Ascending Professionals Forum Business Meeting. We look forward to seeing you there!
ASCLS Voices Under 40
Spotlight: Letycia Nunez-Argote, MPH, CPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, Kansas City, Kansas
Spotlight: Letycia Nunez-Argote, MPH, CPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, Kansas City, KansasLetycia is currently employed by University of Kansas Medical Center as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences. In this role, she is responsible for teaching upper division undergraduate courses in basic and clinical immunology, and graduate lecture courses for the doctoral program in research methods, with an emphasis in qualitative research and clinical correlations. She also conducts collaborative and independent scholarly activities associated with education research and program development, health policy, and translational research, including her current study focusing on biomarkers of inflammation and chronic disease in individuals of Hispanic/Latino heritage. Her service to the university includes chairing the School of Health Professions Faculty Elections Committee. Additional service activities include involvement with management of program applications and participation in prospective student advising and current CLS student mentoring. These activities allow her to connect with people who are considering or are actively pursuing an education in CLS. In her conversations with students she is able to show her own passion for the clinical laboratory and listen to their expectations and plans; these interactions fill her with energy and hope for the future. 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.
Connect: The Community Conversations
Check out the recent discussion threads on ASCLS Connect and join the conversations:
- In the Open Forum, the new ASCLS Virtual Learning Steering Committee requests your ideas for “must know” topics you would like to learn about to meet your learning goals.
- Members have shared condolences on the recent passing of three members who were exceptional laboratory professionals: Dr. Kathleen M. Doyle, Amy Lewis, and Sr. Marie Clare Vittetoe.
- In the HematologyHemostasis Scientific Assembly, members are sharing laboratory values that seem to be of interest/importance regarding COVID-19 patients, as well as coagulation issues connected with COVID-19.
- ASCLS continues to share CDC alerts and updates for laboratories through the Open Forum.
Download the MemberCentric App on your mobile device to get the community conversations and more in the palm of your hand.
Key Dates
2021 Joint Annual Meeting Session Proposal Deadline
August 31