Volume 39 Number 4 | August 2025
Summary
Advocacy in clinical laboratory science starts with simple actions like conversations or invitations. ASCLS empowers members through resources like the Labvocate website and Labvocate Symposium. Legislative engagement is key, especially amid healthcare cuts and outdated policies. Getting involved—even by saying “yes” to small asks—helps raise the profession’s visibility and shape its future.
Leslie Martineau, MHSA, MS, MLS(ASCP)SC, ASCLS Government Affairs Committee Chair
Wikipedia defines advocacy as “an activity by an individual or group that aims to influence decisions within political, economic, and social institutions.” Advocacy includes a wide range of efforts, such as public speaking, media campaigns, grassroots mobilization, and publishing research, all with the goal of influencing laws, budgets, and public policies. Lobbying, often thought of as a separate effort, is simply a form of advocacy that focuses on direct interaction with legislators about specific pieces of legislation.
For some, the word advocacy sounds formal, even intimidating. But the truth is, advocacy often begins with something simple. Something like a question, an invitation, or a conversation.
And just like that … you are an advocate.
What Does Advocacy Look Like in ASCLS?
The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) has long championed advocacy on behalf of our profession. From influencing federal policy to promoting workforce development, ASCLS empowers members to raise their voices and shape the decisions that affect clinical laboratories across the country.
At the core of this effort is the ASCLS Government Affairs Committee, which works closely with the executive vice president and the organization’s legislative consultant. This dedicated team ensures that members stay informed and engaged by providing regular updates through email communications, the ASCLS website, and now the Labvocate platform, which serves as a central hub for advocacy resources.
“Sometimes, all it takes is one email, one phone call, or one conversation to make an impact.”
Each year, ASCLS hosts the Labvocate Symposium, formerly known as the Laboratory Legislative Symposium. This event offers laboratory professionals a valuable opportunity to learn more about the current legislative and regulatory environment and to meet directly with lawmakers. The focus is on addressing the challenges we face, including staffing shortages, limited funding, and policies that impact public health and laboratory operations.
There is a focus on cuts in healthcare spending, primarily Medicaid. The 2025 budget reconciliation bill signed into law on July 4 could result in $715 billion in healthcare cuts. These reductions could threaten access to healthcare including those in low-income areas, rural health programs, access to laboratory services, and the long-term stability of the workforce. At the same time, outdated provisions in PAMA legislation continue to impact the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule.
In response, grassroots action by ASCLS members will be more important than ever in the months ahead.
Advocacy in Action
One of the best ways to engage in advocacy is to stay informed. The Labvocate website offers easy access to updates on legislation, issues of concern, and action alerts that make it simple to contact elected officials. This issue of ASCLS Today is fully devoted to advocacy, with a collection of articles, personal experiences, and tips for getting involved, regardless of your background or level of experience.
If you have never contacted a legislator before, you are not alone and you are not unqualified. You are an expert in your field. You know how essential laboratory professionals are to accurate diagnoses, effective treatment, and the functioning of public health systems. Sometimes, all it takes is one email, one phone call, or one conversation to make an impact.
And just like that, you are helping amplify our collective voice at the national level.
My Story: How It All Began
Unlike many of you, I did not join ASCLS right out of school. I had already been in the profession for several years when someone simply asked me to become a member, and I said yes. Then someone asked me to help with the Annual Meeting Committee, and again, I said yes.
Before I knew it, I was on a plane to Washington, D.C., attending a Legislative Symposium I had never even heard of before. I did not think of myself as an advocate at the time. But looking back, I realize I already was.
As a laboratory leader, I have a platform to speak with physicians, nurses, and hospital administrators about the vital role we play in healthcare. I share examples of how our work supports patient outcomes and public health decisions. That is advocacy. That is education. That is how we raise awareness and build respect for our profession.
The Power of the Ask
What I have learned over the years is simple. Never underestimate the power of a single ask.
Someone asked me to join ASCLS. Someone asked me to get involved. Someone asked me to attend a meeting. And each time I said yes, I took another step forward as an advocate. Now, I do my best to keep that momentum going. I ask others to participate, to speak up, to attend the Labvocate Symposium, or to reach out to their legislators.
We strengthen our voice one person at a time. One ask at a time.
And just like that … you are an advocate.
How You Can Get Started
If you are wondering how to begin advocating for our profession, the first step is simply to get involved. Start by becoming a member of ASCLS, if you have not already. Membership connects you to a national community of professionals who care deeply about the future of laboratory science. From there, explore the Labvocate website, where you will find current legislative issues, educational materials, and simple tools that make it easy to take action.
Reaching out to your legislators may feel overwhelming at first, but it can be as straightforward as sending a prepared message or explaining why clinical laboratories are essential to patient care and public safety. Another meaningful way to advocate is by sharing your story. Whether you are talking to colleagues, mentoring a student, or educating a healthcare provider about what we do behind the scenes, you are raising awareness and strengthening the profession’s visibility.
Most importantly, be open to opportunities when they come your way. Say yes when someone asks you to serve on a committee, attend an event, or speak on behalf of the profession. Every small step helps shape the broader conversation.
And just like that … you are helping define the future of clinical laboratory science.
Leslie Martineau is Systems Director, Laboratory Services, at CharterCare Health Partners in Providence, Rhode Island.