ASCLS is one of four organizations selected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (CSELS) to partner with the agency on enhancing clinical laboratory workforce capacity.

The three-year cooperative agreement will support CDC’s OneLab Initiative to help build laboratory preparedness and response competencies among clinical laboratory professionals under a set of “bridge, train, and sustain” strategies.

  • Bridge: strengthening essential links between clinical laboratory and public health laboratory training and continuing education officials and CDC
  • Train: developing and evaluating education and training resources for clinical laboratory professions
  • Sustain: expanding the reach of CDC’s training and workforce development resources.

“ASCLS has worked closely with CDC on other initiatives over the years and we’re honored to support this effort,” said ASCLS President Kimberly Von Ahsen. “This agreement will provide the resources to begin addressing the most critical issue facing our profession: our workforce.”

The initial focus of the agreement will be on compiling and analyzing a database of more than 6,000 P.A.C.E. accredited CE programs from more than 250 providers in 2020 and 2021 to identify gaps and provide a foundation for areas of future development. ASCLS will also aid with growing the OneLab Network and the new OneLab REACH learning management system hosted by CDC.