ASCLS Today is the membership newsletter of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.
To submit an article for ASCLS Today, contact Editor Debra Rodahl.
Volume 35 Number 3 | June 2021 Maddie Josephs, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President Diversity and inclusivity initiatives have become more of a priority for many companies and professional organizations. Studies have shown that diversity leads to creativity and improved performance,…
Volume 35 Number 3 | June 2021 Angela Darby, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region III Director In her recent Golden Globes acceptance speech, Jane Fonda made the following remarks: “There’s a story that we’ve been afraid to see and hear about…
Volume 35 Number 3 | June 2021 Heather Herrington, DVM, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Developing Professionals Forum Secretary A few years ago, I was at a conference that featured a presenter who talked about diversity and inclusion while we were having breakfast.…
Volume 35 Number 3 | June 2021 Kora Freeman and Izabel Hanson Introduction Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a bacterial human pathogen with serious clinical implications. C. canimorsus is known to infect hosts with underlying health conditions and is considered normal flora…
Volume 35 Number 3 | June 2021 Jean Bauer, MLS (ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region V Director In the wake of multiple horrors—the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, the shootings in Atlanta, and the others that we have experienced—we as a…
Volume 35 Number 3 | June 2021 Patient Safety Corner Rose Hanna, DCLS, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Patient Safety Committee Kidney function is best determined by the glomerular filtration rate (GFR); however, it is challenging to measure directly and is not…
Volume 35 Number 3 | June 2021 The ASCLS Nominations Committee is pleased to present the following candidates for office in the 2021-22 Society year. Candidates selected by the House of Delegates will take office during the 2021 ASCLS, AGT…
Volume 35 Number 2 | April 2021 Maddie Josephs, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President In June of 2019, which seems like a lifetime ago, I delivered my president-elect candidate presentation to ASCLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) attendees. I discussed the visibility…
Volume 35 Number 2 | April 2021 Deb Rodahl, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM ASCLS recognizes Cheryl Caskey for nearly 20 years of service as ASCLS Today editor. In January, ASCLS President Maddie Josephs posted an item in the ASCLS Open Forum: For…
MLS Students Fill in the Staffing Gaps for COVID-19 Testing Program Volume 35 Number 2 | April 2021 Jessica Bankey, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM “An AMAZING opportunity!!!” That was initially how I proposed the idea to the MLS senior class. What started…
Volume 35 Number 2 | April 2021 Beth Warning, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, AHI(AMT), ASCLS Region IV Director While we hear about mentoring young professionals within ASCLS, have you considered mentoring even younger individuals who have an interest in a healthcare profession…
Volume 35 Number 2 | April 2021 Kaylin Viccellio, MLS(ASCP)CM This article first appeared as a post for the ASCLS Ascending Professionals Forum blog, The Labora-Story. As medical laboratory professionals, most of us are usually confined within the four walls…
Leveraging Social Media to Promote the Profession Volume 35 Number 2 | April 2021 Tera L. Webb, MLS(ASCP)CM, CPHQ, ASCLS Education Scientific Assembly Chair Take a moment to reflect on the medical laboratory profession in the media. When represented in…
A Competition for Cooperation and Learning Volume 35 Number 2 | April 2021 Lisa Hochstein, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region I Director Inter-professional education has become increasingly popular in the health science professions. It is important that students in these professions…
How the Internet Can Be Used to Promote the Profession Volume 35 Number 2 | April 2021 Joanna F. Miranda, MLS(ASCP)CM, and Byanca Narro, MLS(ASCP)CM Who would have thought that a little over six months after our graduation from Texas…
Volume 35 Number 2 | April 2021 Aymen Alsaihati Clinical laboratories are essential to medicine and fundamental to modern research. Laboratory professionals are usually unnoticed and silent due to the fact they are mainly in laboratories and not seen by…
Volume 35 Number 2 | April 2021 Patient Safety Corner Brandy D. Gunsolus, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM The COVID-19 pandemic has done many things, including shining a spotlight on laboratory testing like it has never had before. Unfortunately, what it has also…
Volume 35 Number 2 | April 2021 Plans for the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS), Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT), and Society of American Federal Medical Laboratory Scientists (SAFMLS) 2021 Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) are well underway. JAM…
Maddie Josephs, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President Few organizations perform advocacy as well as ASCLS. After all, it is one of the Society’s strategic pillars. As the premier organization for medical laboratory professionals, ASCLS clearly has advocacy at the core of…
Sara Oswald, ASCLS Developing Professionals Forum Vice Chair A few months ago, one of my work colleagues was visibly upset when she got off the phone with a provider. The chemistry results for this patient were all out of whack,…
THE EMERGING ROLE OF LABORATORY PROFESSIONALS IN THE COVID-19 RESPONSE Shawn Luby, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM Photo credit: Lisa Ferdinando, U.S. Department of Defense So, what can you tell me about these T-cells I keep hearing about?” This was a question I…
Susan J. Leclair, PhD As with many working couples, my husband and I had an average relationship with our town. We paid our taxes and complained but did little more. After retirement, we started to become more active and thus…
HOW ASCLS-HAWAII MOBILIZED TO SAVE IT Sheri Gon, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM; Claire Muranaka, MLT(ASCP), ASCLS-Hawaii President; and Kristen Croom, MLS(ASCP)CMMB(ASCP), ASCLS Region X Director The University of Hawaii at Manoa Budget Committee initially recommended eliminating the Medical Technology Program to save…
Phyllis Ingham, EdD, MLS(ASCP)CM, AHI(AMT), ASCLS Virtual Learning Steering Committee Chair, ASCLS-Georgia President “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” – Charles R. Swindoll What we choose to do with the great…
Terry Kotrla, MS, MT(ASCP)BB, CLEC Steering Committee Chair; DeAnne Maxwell, CLEC Steering Committee Vice Chair; and Dana Powell Baker, MBA, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, CLEC Steering Committee Past Chair CLEC 2021 attendees will have access to more than 40 educational sessions, including…
Stephanie K. Mabry MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSCCM, ASCLS PAC Board of Trustees Chair The ASCLS region with the highest donations receives the PAC-tastic Trophy (top). Individuals who donate $40 or more, receive the annual PAC Pin (above). Many laboratorians see the need…
Stephanie Mihane, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region VIII Director Author Stephanie Mihane advocates for the profession by participating in career fairs. I have decided to take a slightly different approach to advocacy, which is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as “public support…
(AND WHY YOU SHOULD BE ONE, TOO) Marianne T. Downes, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-Pennsylvania President I am no one special. I did not spend my entire life planning to work in a hospital laboratory. I did not even know the field…
George A. Fritsma, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM In the June 2020 issue of ASCLS Today, we wrote of the origins and development of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation’s 2012 Choosing Wisely initiative. We likewise described the progress of the ASCLS…
Patricia Tille, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, AHI(AMT), FACSc, ASCLS E&R Fund Vice Chair What student couldn’t use some additional cash to fund his or her education, graduate studies, or research? The ASCLS Education & Research Fund, Inc., (E&R Fund) provides scholarships and…
Maddie Josephs, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the word, virtual, likely had a different connotation to many. I thought of virtual in the context of virtual reality—something that does not physically exist but occurs because of some…
Cheyenne Reyes, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Ascending Professionals Forum Vice Chair Realizing you are in a momentous time in history brings forth a unique sense of self-awareness. Like many others, 2020 has made me question nearly every aspect of my life. Am…
Scott E. Aikey, DHA, MLS(ASCP)CMDLMCM Author Scott Aikey invested in the physical hardware necessary to create a home office space that is defined and conducive to working remotely. On March 12, 2020, I received notice that I should pack up…
Phyllis Ingham, EdD, MLS(ASCP)CM, AHI(AMT), ASCLS-Georgia President Photo credit: Paul Bulai, Unsplash Coping with life as an educator during a global pandemic has reminded me of an expression, “iron sharpens iron.” “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”…
Suzy Jane Gabelmann Author Suzy Jane Gabelmann and her two children all attend separate virtual classes together in their kitchen. Most mornings, my kids and I sit tucked away at our kitchen table, in a makeshift classroom. Pictures of sight…
Suzanne Butch, MA, MLS(ASCP)CMSBBCMCLMCM The 2021 ASCLS Leadership Academy Class began their journey in May. Instead of greeting and getting to know each other face-to-face, the group met virtually for two days and then attended the virtual ASCLS & AGT…
Constance Stager, MT(ASCP), ASCLS Region IX Director The reliance on air travel for healthcare professionals in Southeast Alaska has added barriers to the already complex situation dealing with COVID-19. Photo credit: Steve Halama, Unslpash We have all been impacted by…
ASCLS is rolling out a new and improved Mentorship Program for the 2020-21 Society year. The program pairs up mentors and mentees for one year to create a supportive environment that fosters a feeling of belonging and value as a…
Ian Wallace, MLS(ASCP)CM Throughout our schooling, laboratory professionals are taught the importance of utilizing platelet and white blood cell (WBC) estimates to verify a potential analyzer error or an issue with the specimen tested. However, with how efficient analyzers have…
Stacy E. Walz, PhD, MT(ASCP), ASCLS Patient Safety Committee Chair Way back in the late 1990s, patient safety and medical errors were highlighted in a groundbreaking report entitled, “To Err Is Human,” followed quickly by another report entitled, “Crossing the…
Maja Chloupkova, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CMSCCM, ASCLS-Oregon Brenda Kochis, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-Washington Our journey of the 2020 Virtual Northwest Medical Laboratory Symposium (NWMLS) began early this year with the certainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team quickly recognized that we could not realistically…
Maddie Josephs, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President Much has been said about the dedication of medical laboratory professionals over the years, and this has only been highlighted during these past several challenging months. I have often said how proud I am…
Beth Warning, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, AHI, ASCLS Region IV Director Meighan Sharp, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-Michigan Government Affairs Committee Co-chair Most often we hear about resistance to change, where people fear it, run from it, and drag their heels to avoid it. We…
Audrey Folsom, DHSc, MSHS, MT(ASCP) Photo credit: Abdrahim Oulfakir, Unsplash Stress is an inevitable part of life. Some stresses are desirable, such as the birth of a child; some are undesirable, such as the loss of a loved one. Situations…
Laboratory students are facing new issues due to COVID-19, like the transition to online classes, delayed or shortened clinical rotations, and limited access to certification exams. Despite general feelings of uncertainty, many have shown considerable resilience and made the most…
Pat Tille, PhD, MT(ASCP) It is the middle of August and the weather is in the 80s and 90s. There is a global pandemic, so all your interactions are limited only to those you share your household with or close…
BE AN INFORMED VOTER IN 2020 Stephanie Noblit, Esp., MLS(ASCP)CM, Jessica Lawless, MLS(ASCP)CM Photo credit: Tom Arthur 2020 brought forth numerous challenges. Whether you consider dealing with challenges to be fun and exciting, or nerve racking and stressful, this year…
The following Constituent Society Awards were given during the 2020 ASCLS Joint Annual Meeting. Visit the ASCLS Awards and Scholarships webpage for information on applying for awards, grants, and scholarships in 2021. Membership Awards Greatest Percentage Increase 1st place – Florida…
ASCLS recognizes 33 loyal members of ASCLS who achieved 50 years of membership, first joining what was known then as the American Society of Medical Technologists (ASMT) in 1970. Karol Brewer Mary Briden Ruby Brower Shirley Carreiro-Ochipa Anna Ciulla Rose…
This recognition celebrates the Member of the Year of each constituent society. These members have been honored by their own constituent society for their leadership on the local and state level. ASCLS is proud to recognize these outstanding members for…
This recognition celebrates an ASCLS member who has made significant contributions to ASCLS at all levels. This is the seventh year for this award. The recipient will have made significant contributions to ASCLS as well as the laboratory field, and…
The Developing Professionals Leadership Award recognizes a student member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and who has contributed to the growth and development of the Developing Professionals Forum. Nominees for the Developing Professionals Leadership Award were Eykka Gundlach, Minnesota, and…
Alpha Mu Tau Fraternity provided $41,000 in scholarships to the following students. Royce Watson Graduate Scholarship: Kristen Sigl Ruth M. French Scholarship: Georgia Artzberger James Holley Scholarship: Rachel Schaeferle Dorothy Morrison Scholarship: Stephanie Jacobson Eleanor Parchman Scholarship: Katelyn Hadlich Ida…
The following Clinical Laboratory Science Journal Distinguished Author Awards were given at the 2020 ASCLS Joint Annual Meeting. Education Section This year’s recipients are Mitzi Glover, Tina Patel Gunaldo, Donald Mercante, Angela Foley, and Michele Zitzman for “Promoting Interprofessionalism within…
The following scientific research and paper and poster awards were given at the 2020 ASCLS Joint Annual Meeting. Scientific Research This year’s recipients are Gerald Redwine, Louis Caruana, Rodney Rohde, and Chris Russian for A Prospective Study of Patients Diagnosed…
The purpose of the ASCLS Board of Directors Award is to recognize persons in the Society who have given exemplary service to the Society in the past year. The following Board of Directors Awards were given at the 2020 ASCLS…
At the Joint Annual Meeting in June 2021, ASCLS delegates will choose from the candidates who have volunteered to serve in leadership positions for the coming year. This is one of the many benefits and responsibilities of belonging to a…
Hassan Aziz, PhD, FACSs, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President-Elect Q. There is much to be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and ASCLS is in a unique position to teach flexibility and resiliency to members who may be just starting in the profession,…
Cindy Johnson, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Past President WOW … what a year it has been! Last year I introduced you to the Johnson Bunch; never imagining that this extremely shy, youngest member of the family would serve as the 2019-20…
Kim Von Ahsen, MHA, MLS(ASCP)CMSLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region VI Director Photo by Tim Mossholder, Unsplash 2020 has been a year of extraordinary challenges—a global pandemic, social unrest, and political uncertainty; however, I believe that it’s also brought a positive focus to…
Kate DeAngelo, MLS(ASCP)CM Being a graveyard employee has many pros and cons. The biggest pro is the glorious seven days off after seven days on. However, overhauling my sleeping schedule from days to nights and back again is undoubtably the…
Andrew Jones, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic sweeps across the United States, clinical testing obligations have largely shifted, requiring instant adjustments in personnel safety, alterations in staffing, and onboarding/validation of new testing platforms. These have led to complete re-designs…
Kelcey E. Harper, MLS(ASCP)CM I was working the night shift at the hospital after picking up an extra shift. The night shift staffing included one person who covered all departments, including phlebotomy draws for inpatients. After a relatively quiet night,…
Pat Tille, PhD, MT(ASCP) Step back for a moment and imagine if everyone was a medical laboratory scientist. What would the worldview look like? Would all individuals have labels on everything in their home, garage, and car? Would we lean…
Donna J. Spannaus-Martin, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM Photo by Micheile Henderson, Unsplash. Over the next five years, four medical/clinical laboratory science programs will be awarded a little over $9.2 million in Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) Awards by the Health Resources and…
Donna Showers, MT(ASCP), FACHE Lobby noun, plural lob·bies. a group of persons who work or conduct a campaign to influence members of a legislature to vote according to the group’s special interest. verb (used without object), lob·bied, lob·by·ing. to solicit…
Elaine C. Stewart, MLS(ASCP)CM What an exciting time to be an Ascending Professional in the laboratory world with our fire burning bright, pushing us full steam ahead through the workday. I am enthralled by the daily mysteries in front of…
Cindy Johnson, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President, 2019-20 Kyle Riding, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Secretary-Treasurer Over the last several months, our ASCLS family has faced an unprecedented global emergency. Laboratory professionals from across the globe have been on the front lines of…
Emilia Marrero-Greene, M Ed, MT(AAB), MLT(ASCP) Author Emilia Marrero-Greene with her daughter and husband. The recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks at the hands of police gave rise to important conversations in our nation. The ASCLS…
Terese Abreu, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region IX Director, 2017-20 Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash During my lifetime I have seen many protests, including the one that is in the book I am reading right now, regarding preservation of old…
Mary Ann McLane, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Past President Author Mary Ann McLane has been teaching her neighbors in her retirement village about the difference between antibody and molecular tests, as well as teaching them how to use Zoom. Such an…
James Hollowell, MLS(ASCP)CM, 2019-20 ASCLS Developing Professionals Forum Vice Chair During this past year in my clinical rotations, I was able to experience a wide variety of laboratories and learn from a diverse and talented multitude of laboratory scientists. I…
Jie Gao, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, and Floyd Josephat, EdD, MT(ASCP) The recent joint American and European guidelines on the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rely heavily upon the measurements of cardiac troponins (cTn), especially troponin T (cTnT) and troponin I…
Meera J. Patel, MS; Subhasis B. Biswas, PhD; and Esther E. Biswas-Fiss, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM* Novel variants of unknown significance are often discovered through genetic testing, which may give rise to the unclear prognosis of pathogenicity. Integration of molecular diagnostic testing…
Cindy Johnson, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President Dear ASCLS Family, As I sit down to write this letter, I am reminded daily of the strength and wisdom that have been displayed by all of you as we continue to fight the…
Learning from the Past and De-Weaponizing Disease Miles Tompkins, MLT(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-Oklahoma President, ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council Chair “I won’t come to your funeral when you die from AIDS.” Despite being almost 25 years since I came out as a gay…
Conversations from Twitter Kathryn Golab, MLS(ASCP)CM This past February, the American Journal for Clinical Pathology released the results of a study completed by the ASCP Institute for Science, Technology, and Public Policy about workforce job satisfaction, well-being, and burnout among…
Karrie Hovis, MHS, MLS(ASCP)CM, CQIA Author Karrie Hovis was redeployed to the molecular laboratory to perform the SARS-CoV-2 assay. Monday, March 9, 2020, started like any other weekday. Kids went to school while parents reported to the office. However, the…
Navigating the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in North Dakota Christie Massen PhD, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM The North Dakota Public Health Laboratory staff before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The laboratory capacity expanded during the pandemic through many critical partnerships. Being the laboratory director at the…
George A. Fritsma, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM In February of 2017, George Fritsma and the late Cindy Johns led a Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC) plenary session entitled, “Enhancing Laboratory Communication to Reduce Extra-analytical Errors.” The presenters referred to the American Board…
Kristen Croom, MLS(ASCP)CM, MB(ASCP), ASCLS Region X Director I want to start by saying a huge MAHALO to our laboratory teams working to care for our patients during this pandemic. We have seen unprecedented changes to our healthcare system and…
Beth Warning, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, AHI(AMT), ASCLS Region IV Director Linda Gorman befriended author Beth Warning at the 2001 CLEC. Through their friendship, Beth was introduced to more and more opportunities within ASCLS. At one time or another, you may have…
Paula Griswold, PhD, MT(ASCP), and Jessica Dolecheck, PhD Part of soft skills training, ULM College of Health Sciences faculty coordinated professional luncheons where healthcare employers and students interacted for meaningful, social connections. Photo credit: ULM Photo Services Preparing students for…
Aymen Alsaihati Healthcare and laboratory practices need to implement a high-quality management system to assure patient safety and provide reliable and precise results. This, in turn, will help in providing more accurate diagnoses. “Accreditation is an effective way to demonstrate…
Courtney Shrader, MSHS, MLS(ASCP)CM, CPHQ Integrating a culture of safety into the clinical laboratory requires hard work and teamwork. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources to help healthcare professionals create or improve the safety culture provided on the ASCLS Patient…
These are unprecedented times for laboratorians. The COVID-19 pandemic has touched us all—especially those on the frontlines. These professionals have given above and beyond as they collect specimens and perform COVID-19 test evaluations and validations and testing. Many have done…
Cindy Johnson, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President Merriam-Webster defines visibility as the ability to see or be seen; the quality or state of being known to the public. We have been encouraged by ASCLS passionate past presidents to “Be the Face,”…
Kim Von Ahsen, MHS, MLS(ASCP)CMSLSCM, ASCLS Region VI Director Photo credit: Lewis Ogden As we started the ASCLS 2019-20 year, ASCLS President-Elect Maddie Josephs defined the word visibility in her response to the Candidate’s Question: What is missing within ASCLS…
J. Eric Stanford, MHA, MLS(ASCP)CM What does “Visibility of the Profession” mean to you? If you asked someone on the street what your role is as a laboratory scientist, would they be able to answer? Across many laboratory scientists, in…
The ASCLS Nominations Committee is pleased to present the following candidates for office in the 2020-21 Society year. Candidates selected by the House of Delegates will take office during the 2020 ASCLS-AGT Virtual Joint Annual Meeting. Delegates will elect one…
Gerald D. Redwine, PhD, MT(ASCP) The physical and chemical examination of urine samples plays an essential role in the diagnosis of patients’ pathological conditions. However, the sheer number of routine urinalysis can minimize their significance, especially considering that most analyses…
Carolyn Sabady, PBT(ASCP) It is no secret that phlebotomists and laboratory personnel carry a significant amount of weight on their shoulders. Whether they are assisting in a stat situation, processing a sample, or acting as a liaison between the patient…
James Hollowell, ASCLS Developing Professionals Forum Vice Chair University of Louisiana-Monroe MLS graduate Jennifer Nguyen at the Spring Into Health event in Monroe, LA. Students used “glitter bug” solution and UV lights to show kids how dirty their hands can…
Kim Alexis Espejo, ASCLS-IL and Region VI Developing Professional Chair The MLS Club at the University of Illinois Springfield participates in campus events to promote the club and advocate for the medical laboratory science profession. Medical laboratory science (MLS), the…
Patient Safety Corner Stacy E. Walz, PhD, MS, MT(ASCP), ASCLS Patient Safety Committee Chair One of the many wonderful resources easily accessible by laboratory professionals, other healthcare professionals, and the general public, is the blog, Lab Testing Matters, sponsored and…
Cindy Johnson, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President Many of you have been asked to step into a leadership role that you may not have felt qualified to take on. However, someone had confidence that you could fulfill this role, perhaps with…
Jean Bauer, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region V Director Photo credit: Maciej Ciupa Are leaders born with the ability to lead, or is leadership learned? The answer is both. The road to becoming a leader can start in different ways. Some professionals…
Diane Valentin, MS, MT(ASCP)MB Twice a year I am “forced” to look at the ASCLS Code of Ethics.1 Not because my boss is making me do this but because I am doing it for the sake of my students. In…
Jessica Lawless, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Ascending Professionals Forum Vice Chair Photo credit: Josef F. Stuefer As a graduate of Texas A&M University, which has one of the most active alumni organizations in the world, I have always understood the importance of…
Chloe Thompson, MLS(ASCP)CM The symptoms of burnout range from increased cynicism and decreased ability to concentrate on our tasks at hand to disrupted sleep, headaches, and other physical symptoms. Photo credit: Rolf Dietrich Brecher Burnout. We all know the feeling—where…
Jie Gao, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM The clinical laboratory always seeks to improve services due to its close association to patient safety and satisfaction. However, clinical laboratory testing is a highly complex process (i.e., preanalytical phase, analytical phase, and postanalytical phase), and…
April Nelsen, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM; Rosemarie Clauson, MLS(ASCP)CM; Kassi Erickson, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM; Stacie Lansink, MS, MT(ASCP); and Tiffany Niemann, MLS(ASCP)CM After weeks of shortness of breath and sharp chest pain, a 48-year-old Caucasian female presented to the ED in a hypertensive…
George A. Fritsma, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM Lt. George Fritsma in 1970 and George Fritsma now. When I joined ASCLS—then the American Society for Medical Technology (ASMT)—in 1970, I was an Air Force first lieutenant directing a lab at Selfridge AFB north…
Sarah Beatty, MHSA, MLS(ASCP)CM, and Doryan Redding, ASCLS Patient Safety Committee Members 2019 was a busy year in patient safety. It saw new innovations in technology and practice as providers, health centers, and organizations move toward thinking of patients as…
Lisa Hochstein, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region I Director ASCLS-NY brings continuing education opportunities to all members by holding meetings upstate and downstate in alternate years. In Region I, we have three active constituent state societies. These societies are both large…
Cindy Johnson, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President Merriam-Webster defines advocacy as the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal. Advocacy is one of the strategic pillars of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS). The Society works towards…
Stephanie Mihane, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region VIII Director Advocacy is active support of a cause. ASCLS advocacy can be understood as standing up and speaking out for the collective good, voicing concerns of the members, and collaborating with individuals or groups…
Jennifer Bushnell, MEd, MT(ASCP) The setting makes no difference, whether business or social. Most of us would agree that a person’s name is one of his or her most valued forms of identity. To use someone’s name correctly is a…
Dana Bostic, MBA, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, CLEC 2020 Steering Committee Chair; and Hassan Aziz, PhD, FACSs, MLS(ASCP)CM, CLEC 2020 Steering Committee Vice Chair Over 500 clinical laboratory science educators, industry partners, and friends from across the country—including around the globe—will come…
Katie Napier, ASCLS Developing Professionals Forum Region IV Representative Katie Napier and fellow students from the University of Cincinnati Medical Laboratory Science program pose in front of the U.S. Capitol during the 2019 Legislative Symposium in Washington, D.C. When I’ve…
Jessica Lawless, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Ascending Professionals Forum Vice Chair Jessica Lawless on Capitol Hill to meet with her congressional representatives during the 2019 Legislative Symposium. In March 2019 I attended my first Laboratory Legislative Symposium. I had been looking forward…
Barbara Snyderman, MLS(ASCP)CM, DLM, ASCLS E&R Fund Vice Chair What student couldn’t use some additional cash to fund his or her education, graduate studies, or research? The ASCLS Education & Research Fund, Inc., (E&R Fund) provides scholarships and grants available…
Kristen Croom, MLS(ASCP)CMMBCM, ASCLS Region X Director ASCLS-Hawaii participates in the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine’s Joint Health Opportunities Conference. Members of ASCLS-Hawaii volunteer at a Girl Scouts STEM Fest. Typically, advocacy is thought of as…
Brandy Gunsolus, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Patient Safety Committee Vice Chair, ASCLS Representative to the Coalition to Improve Diagnosis The Coalition to Improve Diagnosis hosted an annual in-person meeting November 10-13 in Washington, D.C., where coalition representatives met to discuss what…
Minh Kosfeld, PhD, MLT(ASCP)CM As a working medical laboratory scientist and educator, I have found blood gas testing a challenging concept for many, coworkers and students alike. In this brief case I will provide a basic example of blood gas…
The ASCLS Government Affairs Committee hosted a free webinar on October 3, 2019, to provide ASCLS members with an overview of advocacy and how to get involved. The presentation focused on the importance of advocacy, the technical aspects of regulation…
Cindy Johnson, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President Life-long learning is critical to laboratory professionals maintaining their expertise and advancing in their careers, as well as advancing the profession. ASCLS develops and delivers educational programming to assure that laboratory professionals acquire that…
Beth Warning, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region IV Director Congratulations! You may have just celebrated 40 years as a medical lab professional and are looking forward to retirement. You may be known as the coagulation guru, the “pee queen,” or the…
Christal Lane, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM Maya Angelou reciting her poem, “On the Pulse of Morning,” at Bill Clinton’s presidential inauguration in 1993. One of my favorite quotes is from Maya Angelou: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then…
Brandy Gunsolus, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM Medical laboratories are continuously faced with more obstacles. However, the theme is inherently the same: do more with less. I have seen laboratories pinch pennies in an effort to make budget when supplies, shipping costs, and…
W. Jon Windsor, MLS(ASCP)CM Figure 1: A map of endemic areas (in yellow) for A. americanum Imagine all of your absolute favorite foods. Now, what if every time you enjoyed one of those foods, several hours later you were plagued…
PATIENT SAFETY AND HAND-OFF COMMUNICATION Courtney Shrader, MLS(ASCP)CM From 1995-2004 the Joint Commission estimated about 65 percent of 2,966 adverse events were due to communication issues. In 2005, that percentage grew to 70, and half of the events occurred during…
Maddie Josephs, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President-Elect ASCLS, our grassroots professional organization, relies on the collective action of our members—and most importantly our member volunteers—to make our voices heard and to make a positive impact in healthcare. Indeed, the strength of…
Suzanne Butch, MA, MLS(ASCP)CMSBBCMCLMCM The 2019-20 ASCLS Leadership Academy class met for two days before the ASCLS-AGT Joint Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, last June. The group got to know each other while enthusiastically performing group activities, listening to…
Karrie Hovis, MHS, MLS(ASCP)CM, CMP, CQIA The 2021 Tri-State Meeting will be held April 5-8 in New Orleans and will host ASCLS-Mississippi, the Louisiana Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, and the Texas Association for Clinical Laboratory Science. Photo credit: Eric Gross…
Nearly 700 laboratory professionals and colleagues came together in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of the first Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) of ASCLS and the Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT). This partnership between ASCLS and AGT resulted in expanded educational…
Cindy Johnson, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President ASCLS exists to advance the expertise of clinical laboratory professionals who, as integral members of interprofessional healthcare teams, deliver quality, consumer-focused, outcomes-oriented clinical laboratory services through all phases of the testing process to prevent,…
Maddie Josephs, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President-Elect Q. What is missing within ASCLS or other laboratory professional organizations that limits our ability to recruit and maintain members? A. While I would like to address this issue within ASCLS, I suspect the…
Janelle M. Chiasera, PhD, ASCLS Region III Director Figure 1: The Golden Circle and The Human Brain This past spring ASCLS provided a unique opportunity for members to participate in a leadership book discussion. The book selected for discussion was…
Kathy Doig, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM ASCLS and AGT members who played critical roles in negotiating the NCA and BOR merger and who served on the initial Board of Governors of the BOC came together during the 2019 Joint Annual Meeting in…
Eykka Gundlach, Chair I am a student at the University of Minnesota and currently in clinical rotations. I’ll graduate with my BS in medical laboratory science in December. When I’m not focused on schoolwork, I enjoy knitting and spending time…
Charlotte, North Carolina, was the site of the 87th Annual ASCLS Awards Ceremony, made possible by volunteer support of the Awards Committee, awards judges, and ASCLS staff. Scott Aikey, ASCLS president 2008-09, presided as master of ceremonies, and Roslyn McQueen,…
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors a member who has made remarkable contributions to ASCLS and the laboratory field, and who, by outstanding example, has inspired others. Nominees for the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award were: Cheryl Caskey, Louisiana; John Landis, Michigan;…
The Developing Professionals Leadership Award recognizes a student member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and who has contributed to the growth and development of the Developing Professionals Forum. Nominees for the Developing Professionals Forum Leadership Award were Alex Boryszczuk, Illinois;…
Alpha Mu Tau Fraternity provided $45,000 in scholarships to the following students. Royce Watson Graduate Scholarship: Abbey Hilden Ruth M. French Scholarship: Joanna Miranda James Holley Scholarship: Tanya Kranski Dorothy Morrison Scholarship: Alexandra Mercorelli Eleanor Parchman Scholarship: Sasha-Gaye Isaacs Ida…
Each year, the ASCLS Board of Directors honors those individuals who have made a significant contribution to ASCLS this past year. The following members were recognized with plaques: Candice Grayson, 2019 Chair for CLEC in Baltimore Jillene Collins, 2019 Chair…
Stacy Walz, PhD, MS, MT(ASCP), ASCLS Patient Safety Committee Chair The ASCLS Patient Safety Committee is a hard-working committee comprised of 14 appointed members and more than 20 interested observers and resources, divided among three workgroups: Education and Research, Products…
Rachel Hulse, EdD, MLS(ASCP)CM ISU’s 2018-19 cohort attending the ASCLS-Idaho 2019 Spring Convention. Members of the ASCLS-Idaho leadership awarding students on their research projects during the scientific assembly session. Membership in professional organizations, such as ASCLS, offers a myriad of…
Cindy Johnson, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, 2019-20 ASCLS President Who would have ever imagined that the extremely shy, youngest member of the “Johnson Bunch” would be your next president of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science? I am truly honored to…
Roslyn McQueen, PhD, CCRC, ASCLS Past President It has been a distinct honor for me to serve as the 2018-19 president of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. I believe in ASCLS and recognize it as an essential organization…
Zac Lunak, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, HTL(ASCP) A histotechnician embeds patient tissue into a mold. Photo credit: Ilka Cole A histotechnician uses a microtome to cut samples of patient tissue. Photo credit: Tech Sgt. Liliana Moreno As medical laboratory professionals, many of…
Floyd Josephat, EdD, MT(ASCP) The clinical education practicum serves as an intricate connector in our journey from the classroom curriculum to real work responsibilities. It has become a key component in both hospital and university-based clinical laboratory science programs. This…
Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-PA President This redesigned website serves as a resource for students or recent graduates who are interested in, but know very little about, careers in the laboratory sciences. Have you visited the new and improved…
Aymen Alsaihati Diversity is a sensitive topic that many people do not like to speak about or even face. It felt strange to receive an email to write about and share my experience and opinion as an ASCLS member from…
Maddie Josephs, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President-Elect and Past Region I Director New England ASCLS History At the 2019 ASCLS-AGT Joint Annual Meeting in Charlotte this June, I spoke with several new leaders who asked a variety of questions about the…
Raedean Hiebert, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-Minnesota 2018-19 President One of the most interesting things about being a member of ASCLS is the people you meet and the stories they tell of their journeys in the profession. Each one of us has…
Mary Ann McLane, PhD, ASCLS Past President Back in 2017, when I received the ASCLS Lifetime Achievement Award, I commented that, “Retirement does not mean that I am dead. You haven’t seen anything yet!” Retirement became a true reality in…
At the 2019 Joint Annual Meeting, ASCLS recognized 22 members who achieved the 50 Years of ASCLS Membership Milestone. This impressive list includes Susan Leclair and Cheryl Caskey, two members who personify the meaning of #Lab4Life. Susan was a founder…
Roslyn McQueen, PhD, CCRC, ASCLS President Throughout the year, my ASCLS Today articles have focused on the theme of ASCEND – Exemplifying Sustainable Excellence in Laboratory Medicine. ASCEND represents the call to action for an organization experiencing change and transformation.…
Stephanie Mihane, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region VIII Director As healthcare becomes more consumer focused, the need for immediate results continues to drive the ever-increasing demand for point of care testing. Photo credit: Philips Communications I have been a point of care…
Beth Warning, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region IV Director The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) organizes the Health Careers Showcase (top) and Health Career Explorer program (bottom) to recruit high school students into healthcare careers, including medical laboratory science. We are…
THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CARE Kim Von Ahsen, MHA, MLS(ASCP)CMSLSCM, ASCLS Region VI Director Doing little acts of kindness are another form of self-care, which is essential to your overall health. I love the ritual of having a cup of coffee…
Carolyn Sabady, PBT(ASCP) Top: Graduates of the ACL Laboratories (AdvocateAurora Health) phlebotomy training program. Bottom: Author Carolyn Sabady is phlebotomy supervisor at ACL Laboratories. There is an urgent need across the country for phlebotomists. According to the Bureau of Labor…
Thanh Nguyen, MLS(ASCP)CM As I researched career opportunities for medical laboratory scientists (MLSs) back in 2016, I found a very disturbing issue. My home state of Nebraska and nearby Iowa were not states with personnel licensure requirements for laboratory professionals.…
Joshua X. Pulido, MHA, MT(ASCP) Respiratory tract infections are common and can be asymptomatic or manifest as a mild illness with progression into serious complications, hospitalization,1,2 or death.4 Influenza and other viral pathogens such as adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial…
Cheyenne Reyes, MLS(ASCP)CM From left: Jessica Lawless and Cheyenne Reyes visited the staff of John Kennedy, senator from Louisiana, during the 2019 Legislative Symposium. My first Legislative Symposium was an experience that I will forever remember. Being able to see…
Allicia Gunderman Before attending the 2019 Legislative Symposium, I was aware of the shortage of medical laboratory scientists. But seeing the magnitude of the shortage and oncoming retirement presented at the symposium was eye opening. The statistics presented there made…
Justin Hanenberg, MLS(ASCP)CM From left: Justin Hanenberg and Amanda Fulton organized a social gathering for ASCLS-CA at Angel City Brewery during their Oktoberfest celebration. And Justin represented ASCLS-CA at the 2019 Legislative Symposium in Washington, D.C. Major changes are coming…
Claude Rector, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region VII Director What do you do? We have all been asked that question. How do you answer that question? Is it an easy question to answer? Do you think the person who asked that…
Roslyn McQueen, PhD, CCRC, ASCLS President The education pillar in our strategic map is supported by strategies to expand continuing education, as well as promote professional development and ethical standards. As I write this article, June is right around the…
Nadine Fydryszewski, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region II Director The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines people as “human beings making up a group or assembly or linked by a common interest,” and power as “the ability to act or produce an effect ……
Julie Bayer-Vile, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSCCMMBCM Delegates to the ASCLS House of Delegates (HOD) discuss Society business and governance that is voted on by the HOD during the 2018 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Having been a member of ASCLS for almost five…
IMPROVING PATIENT AUTONOMY OR RISKING PATIENT SAFETY? Brandy D. Gunsolus, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Patient Safety Committee Member In traditional healthcare, all patients visit their physicians, receive a laboratory order for tests, results are sent to their physicians, and the physician…
Cheyenne Reyes, ASCLS Region VII Developing Professional Representative Photo credit: CDC/ Jim Gathany While completing her degree in medical laboratory science, Cheyenne Reyes worked as a phlebotomist. This gave her a unique perspective of the laboratory through the eyes of…
HAVE IT ALL AT A WASHINGTON STATE SEMINAR Leslie Nakagawa, MLS(ASCP), ASCLS-WA President Coastal beaches, mountain views, and wine country all contribute to the natural beauty of Washington State. Each of the seasons brings out a different type of scenery…
Linda Goossen, PhD, MT(ASCP), ASCLS Government Affairs Committee Nearly 120 clinical laboratory professionals from 38 states met in Washington, D.C., March 18-19 for the 31st Annual Legislative Symposium. Sponsored by six professional organizations—the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (ASCLS),…
Creating Stronger and Financially-Sustainable Clinics in Haiti Tim Randolph, PhD, MT(ASCP) Randolph World Ministries, Inc., is operated by Tim and Liz Randolph out of their home. They make two annual medical mission trips to Haiti with teams that have included…
Alison Rossdeutscher, MLS(ASCP)CM Case History A 70-year-old male was transported by EMSA to the hospital after falling in his home. The patient had an established diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS). This disease…
The goal of the ASCLS Mentorship Program is to create a supportive environment that fosters a feeling of belonging and value as a member of the ASCLS community. Students, new professionals, and new members will develop meaningful relationships with mentors…
Roslyn McQueen, PhD, CCRC, ASCLS President ASCLS is a premier organization whose mere existence enhances the quality of laboratory medicine and the quality of healthcare. We are the “best and the brightest,” yet we still struggle with membership participation. We…
Jean Bauer, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region V Director Fresh talent brings in fresh views. It invigorates an organization. And in our current healthcare environment, the importance of developing laboratory leaders is vital to ensure we have a voice at the table…
Maddie Josephs, MS, MT(ASCP), ASCLS Region I Director Catie recently completed the MLT program at the Community College of Rhode Island, which changed her life. As an educator, I have an opportunity to meet a wide variety of students, from…
The ASCLS Nominations Committee is pleased to present the following candidates for office in the 2019-20 Society year. Candidates selected by the House of Delegates will take office at the 2019 ASCLS Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. {/textblock_content}[/yee_text_block][yee_accordion onclick_position=”text”…
Joanna Ellis, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, CHWI Future Peruvian laboratory professional with Professor Ellis at the microscope. Francisco James and Jamie Vreeland perform anemia screening in Aco, Peru. From left: Jennifer Pemp, Ashley Wells, Professor Ellis, Ashleigh Graham, and Idahlia Bland in…
Ally Storla, MLS(ASCP)CM ASCLS members volunteer at the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., in the ASCLS booth to introduce kids and adults to medical laboratory science. Science festivals are events designed to spread the excitement and fun…
One Ascending Professional’s Experience with Mentors Angela Zellner, C(ASCP)CM Angela Zellner is participating in multiple mentoring programs, including the 2018-19 ASCLS Mentorship Program. “Your career needs many mentors, not just one.” I recall reading this in an article by Dorie…
Roslyn McQueen, PhD, CCRC, ASCLS President As this is my first column of 2019, it is a good time to reflect on the past and plan for the future. In this month’s column, I will share my personal journey to…
Courtney Bennetts, ASCLS Region IX Student Representative Genaro Hernandez, Jr., MLT(ASCP), ASCLS Oregon Student Representative Region IX ASCLS Region IX members gathered at the 2018 ASCLS Annual Meeting in Chicago. ASCLS invests significant resources in student development to provide opportunities…
Franki-Marie Herdt, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Ascending Professionals Forum Region VIII Representative I first stepped into a laboratory as a child in biology class, as most kids do. I loved the hands-on projects and real-world information we were given. Getting real answers…
Floyd Josephat, EdD, MT(ASCP), ASCLS Education Scientific Assembly Chair The CPA program is an advanced-practice program for the medical laboratory science profession with emphasis on the clinical aspects of laboratory medicine. Photo courtesy UAB. Sam Cook mentioned about 50 years…
HOW A NEW SPECTROPHOTOMETER ADDS NEW DIMENSIONS OF LEARNING AND DISCOVERY IN CLINICAL LABORATORY EDUCATION Gerald D. Redwine, PhD, MT(ASCP), ASCLS Chemistry/Urinalysis Scientific Assembly Chair Technology has taken cognition to the highest levels of learning in our labs, especially the…
THE ART OF COLLABORATION AND ACTIVE LISTENING Toula Castillo, MLS(ASCP)CM, 2018-19 ASCLS-IL President Modern day healthcare is a hailstorm of change, and it can be overwhelming not only to the novice, but to the seasoned professional as well. In these…
Terese Abreu, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region IX Director The other morning, I drove down a street I’ve driven down every week for 10 years and noticed a new bakery and deli. I stopped in to check it out and discovered it…
Barbara Snyderman, MLS(ASCP)CM, DLM, ASCLS E&R Fund, Inc., Vice Chair What student couldn’t use some additional cash to fund their education, graduate studies, or research? The ASCLS Education & Research (E&R) Fund, Inc., provides scholarships and grants for students enrolled…
Kathy Doig, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM, ASCLS Leadership Development Committee Chair Each year, ASCLS constituent societies recognize individuals who, by virtue of their ASCLS activities to date, show promise to contribute as future leaders for ASCLS at the local, regional, and national…
Michelle Moy, MAdEd, MT(ASCP)SC, 2017-18 ASCLS Promotion of the Profession Committee Chair Chicago Public School children received the school supplies donated by ASCLS members during 2018 Annual Meeting. At the 2018 ASCLS Annual Meeting in Chicago, the Society collected school…
Roslyn McQueen, PhD, CCRC, ASCLS President The theme for the 2018-19 ASCLS program year is “Exemplifying Sustainable Excellence in Laboratory Medicine” with ASCEND as the acronym that represents six key target areas. Each ASCLS Today column will be devoted to…
TIPS ON MANAGING YOUR LIFE LIKE A SUCCESSFUL RINGMASTER Kristen Croom, MLS(ASCP)CMMBCM, ASCLS Region X Director Do you ever get the feeling that you are the ill-prepared ringmaster in your very own three-ring circus? Lions and clowns are running around,…
Ivan Sanchez, MLS(ASCP)CM After countless hours of reading, studying, and preparing for your Board of Certification (BOC) exam you finally pass and get your MLS certification. Phew! Now you begin the process of getting your first MLS job. Time to…
THE STRUGGLE TO FIND BONE MARROW DONORS FOR MULTIRACIAL PATIENTS Amanda Fulton, MB(ASCP)CM This past year I began a new position in the Histocompatibility Laboratory (HLA) at City of Hope. In this new role I search the national and worldwide…
Paula L. Griswold, PhD, MT(ASCP), and Stacy Starks, PhD In today’s world and academic environment, keeping classroom content stimulating while promoting student engagement are challenges faced by professors throughout academia. Classroom interactions need to be engaging and thought-provoking to allow…
Jennifer Bushnell, MEd, MLS(ASCP)CM Diversity is often interpreted as a complex web of issues involving individuals who differ in ethnicity, religion, political beliefs, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, and many other types of attributes. Although some individuals may never agree upon…
Wael Hassan, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM Anytime informatics is mentioned in the laboratory environment, laboratorians think about the Laboratory Information System (LIS) and relate the word to IT and technical support that is beyond the laboratory scope of business. Although informatics is…
MEETING THE NEEDS OF PATIENTS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND THE PUBLIC Susan Leclair, PhD, Consumer Information Response Team Chair Knowledge is power. Patients who understand their laboratory results are more likely to participate in their healthcare from a position of knowledge.…
Pat Tille, PhD, MT(ASCP), FACSc Health insurance costs are rising. Reimbursement rates are falling. Clinical laboratories are facing critical workforce shortages. There is no time like the present to remember what ASCLS does and why it’s important to be a…
Maddie Josephs, MLS(ASCP)CM, Region I Director Last year, the ASCLS Board of Directors assembled the Root Cause Task Force to determine the cause of the “lack of leadership—either in experience or volunteers—that leads to vacancies or recycling of individuals.” The…
At the Annual Meeting in June 2019, ASCLS delegates will choose from the candidates who have volunteered to serve in leadership positions for the coming year. This is one of the many benefits and responsibilities of belonging to a grassroots…
Susan Stalewski, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM Members will often indicate that they would like to be more active and involved in the organization. ASCLS Scientific Assemblies are excellent vehicles for member involvement and connection with ASCLS on a state and national level.…
Ally Storla, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Georgia President Elect ASCLS Georgia is a unique state society that enjoys strong bonds from longtime members who provide their expertise and leadership experience before passing the torch to the Ascending Professionals. ASCLS Georgia has annually…
Roslyn McQueen, PhD, CCRC, ASCLS President I am excited to begin the 2018-19 ASCLS year under the theme, “ASCEND – Exemplifying Sustainable Excellence in Laboratory Medicine.” The organization will answer the call to action, addressing the critical issues that impact…
Janelle M. Chiasera, PhD, Region III Director The Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a recommendation to move healthcare institutions toward becoming high reliability organizations (HROs). An HRO is defined as an organization whose clients can count on the organization to…
Deb Rodahl, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Past President It has been my honor and privilege to serve as ASCLS president for the last year. I am a firm believer in the value that ASCLS brings to the clinical laboratory sciences profession…
Maria Rodriguez, MLS(ASCP)CM My high school counselor used to quote Pablo Neruda at the end of every academic year: “Nosotros, los de entonces, ya no somos los mismos.” This quote was his eloquent way of making us reflect on how…
Kristy Andrus, MLT(ASCP)CM My journey to become a licensed, certified MLT has surely been a long and rewarding one. I have been interested in the medical profession since I was a child. The difficulties and challenges I would have to…
Each year, the ASCLS Board of Directors honors those individuals who have made a significant contribution to ASCLS this past year. The following members were recognized with plaques: Karen Chandler, 2018 Co-Chair for CLEC in Houston Brandy Greenhill, 2018 Co-Chair…
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors a member who has made remarkable contributions to ASCLS and the laboratory field, and who, by outstanding example, has inspired others. Nominees for the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award were: Judy Davis, Tennessee; Kathleen Finnegan, New…
Louann Lawrence, DrPH, Chair, ASCLS Education and Research Fund, Inc. The ASCLS Education and Research (E&R) Fund, Inc., awarded two research grants and six scholarships at the ASCLS Annual Meeting in Chicago, totaling $10,000 in grant funds and $11,000 in…
Promotion of the Profession Committee Award winners Leon Headley, 50-year member Constituent Society Members of the Year Chicago was the site of the 86th Annual ASCLS Awards Ceremony, made possible by volunteer support of the Awards Committee, awards judges, ASCLS…
Alpha Mu Tau Fraternity provided $45,000 in scholarships to the following students: AMTF Graduate Scholarship: Whitney Strosnider, Virginia Dorothy Morrison Scholarship: Ryan Barry, New York Eleanor Parchman Scholarship: Morgan Fisher, Virginia Ida & May Reilly Undergraduate Scholarship: Mariah Alanis, Oregon…
Scientific Assembly Professional Achievement Award winners Scientific Assembly Professional Achievement Award recognizes outstanding professional achievement of an ASCLS member within his or her chosen academic, scientific, and vocational interest. Laboratory Administration/Consultant/Quality/Accreditation/Industry: J. R. Constance Chemistry/Urinalysis: Dyan Monte Verde Microbiology/Public Health:…
New Professional Leadership Award nominees The Student Forum Leadership Award recognizes a student member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and who has contributed to the growth and development of the Student Forum. Nominees for the Student Forum Leadership Award were:…
Diane Davis, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CMSCCM, SLSCM In 1948 an ambitious, long-term prospective study started in the small town of Framingham, Massachusetts1. The goal was to follow a large group of adults over many years to study the evolution of hypertension and…
Stephanie K. Rink, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSCCM, ASCLS PAC Chair Members of ASCLS-MI meet with Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow. For me and many ASCLS members, the Legislative Symposium in Washington, D.C., each March is the most anticipated event of the year. The…
Susan Stalewski, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-Wisconsin Past President You know you’re from Wisconsin when: green and gold make up the bulk of your wardrobe; “bubbler” is part of your vocabulary; you know the difference between frozen custard and ice cream; 40…
Deb Rodahl, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, 2017-18 ASCLS President Over the last few months, I have had the pleasure of attending four of our constituent society spring meetings. Our spring meetings are such a great opportunity to experience all the benefits of…
Holly Weinberg, MLS(ASCP)SH, Region Region VIII Director The Region VIII Leadership Academy (R8LA) graduated our fifth class of Interns at the ASCLS Annual Meeting in Chicago this summer. Now that we’ve been running for a few years, it’s time to…
Bev McCarron, Rutgers University The patient, a quadriplegic with an irregular heartbeat, was set to get a pacemaker when a test came back suggesting he had pneumonia, delaying surgery and lengthening his hospital stay. But when a medical team consulted…
Linda Hickok, MLS(ASCP)CM, Political Action Committee Secretary The ASCLS/Political Action Committee (PAC) is a voluntary nonprofit organization created to provide financial and educational support for the election campaigns of responsible candidates for Congress. All PACs are legal, ethical, and strictly…
Written in collaboration with ASCLS and ASCP Board of Certification Medical laboratory science associations’ blogs, discussion boards, and listserv lists are continually populated with questions concerning what to teach laboratory science students, how to prepare for the American Society for…
Jennifer Hawkins Randle, MSHA, CLC(AMT) The pre-analytical phase is viable in every aspect of a healthcare professional career. As laboratorians, we depend on phlebotomists for most of our preanalytical phase. It is not just the phlebotomists that the lab depends…
Cherika Robertson, MEd, MLS(ASCP)CM Excited. Nervous. Intimidated. Those were my initial feelings upon first arriving in Washington, D.C., for the 2018 Legislative Symposium. I had never thought of myself as being interested in politics, or much less as a lobbyist.…
Kyleigh Ellis, 2017-18 Region VII Student Representative Achieve teaching and academic excellence with the new ASCLS Laboratory Educator Institute. This online institute assists with professional development in critical areas that include education/teaching, administration/leadership, clinical practice, and research. The institute includes…
Payman Nasr, PhD, MT(ASCP) Distance learning is the result of progressive steps in the evolution of correspondence courses which had become popular in the first half of the 20th century. Over decades, as new technologies became commonplace, the correspondence courses…
Rebecca Matthews, MLS(ASCP)CM Imagine being a new graduate, fresh out of school and hungry for your first real job in the professional world. You have passed your certification exam and you begin searching for a generalist position in an effort…
Beth Warning, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, Region IV Director If you worked in marketing, the term WIFM would be standard language. WIFM stands for “What’s in it for me?” indicating that at the base of all sales are the needs of your…
The ASCLS Board of Directors is recommending the following changes to the ASCLS Bylaws. These amendments will be discussed and voted upon at the House of Delegates meeting to be held Thursday, August 2, 2018, at the Swissotel Chicago. Background:…
Rana Walley, PhD, MLS (ASCP)CM, ASCLS-MS President; Lee Byrd, MT(ASCP)H, ASCLS-MS Board of Directors Member “Team A, for 5 points, what is the role of hemoglobin?” asked the Student Bowl Moderator, Lee Byrd. “Hemoglobin carries oxygen,” answered the captain for…
Kyleigh Ellis, Region VII Student Representative Case Study: A young, recent college graduate walks into a lab setting to meet with a clinical laboratory supervisor seeking a job. He is sweating profusely and seems to be shaking. Stuttering, he admits…
Rachel L. Alexander, MS, MB(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Molecular Diagnostics Scientific Assembly Vice Chair, Technical Supervisor for MicroGenDX As a 2011 master’s degree graduate of the Texas Tech Health Science Center Molecular Pathology program, I was bright-eyed and eager to begin my…
S. Renee Hodgkins, PhD, MT(ASCP); Jennifer Jones, MLS(ASCP)CM A 43-year-old female presented with syncope one day after routine umbilical hernia repair surgery. A CT scan revealed an abdominal wall hematoma. The patient rapidly progressed to multi-organ failure requiring continuous renal…
In March, the ASCLS Board of Directors approved changes to the Society’s membership dues, which is part of a multiyear effort to modernize and simplify ASCLS membership structures. These changes will be in effect for the coming Society year and…
Kim Von Ahsen, MHA, MLS(ASCP)CM, SLSCM, Region VI Director It doesn’t take a scientist to figure out that the demand for one’s time is probably the greatest pressure in today’s society. Pressure to work more due to shortages in the…
Cherika Robertson, MEd, MLS(ASCP)CM Clinical laboratory science has a deep history. The Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, Arkansas, is an example of this long running, prestigious history. UAMS…
Franki-Marie Herdt, MLT(ASCP) I have been a microbiology technician at a local regional medical center for a little more than three years now and have worked with numerous doctors, nurses, and pharmacists during this time. The medical center employs great…
Monica Bustos, MSHS, SM(ASCP)CM A 74-year-old man with a history of atrial fibrillation, chronic renal impairment, diabetes mellitus II, essential hypertension, gout, and hyperlipidemia presented to the emergency room with hypotension, some shortness of breath, and dizziness. The patient had…
Lindsey Keill, MLS(ASCP)CMSBB; Stacie Lansink, MS, MT(ASCP); April Nelson, MLS(ASCP)CM; Tiffany Montalvo, MLS(ASCP)CM A 22-year-old female presented to the blood bank to donate blood. A type and screen were performed. The donor typed as B-positive with a positive antibody screen.…
James March Mistler, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-CNE President, Diversity Advocacy Council Chair When one thinks of LGBT+ rights, one may automatically think of marriage equality, political movements, employment rights, or even education. But one issue that is often overlooked is healthcare.…
Joan Polancic, MSEd, MLS(ASCP)CM; Kyle Riding, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM Entry Level Curriculum Revision Committee Co-Chairs The Entry Level Curriculum was created to provide guidance as to the knowledge and skills a new graduate at the medical laboratory technologist (MLT) or medical…
Sally Pestana, MT(ASCP), Region X Past Director Gather clinical laboratory science educators together and within a few minutes the conversation is likely to turn to the challenge of securing clinical sites. Gather clinical laboratory science employers together and within a…
Suzanne Campbell, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Past President The next pillar of our Strategic Map is collaboration. Just as we see the benefit of unified voices versus that of an individual, it is in the best interest of ASCLS to collaborate…
Darius Y. Wilson, EdD, MAT, MT(ASCP), MLS Program Chair, Baptist College of Health Sciences As an educator, it is my responsibility to teach and, more importantly, model professionalism to medical laboratory science students and even colleagues. Students have participated in…
Shannon Billings, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, Laboratory Manager, Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center, Las Vegas, Nevada Most mass casualty stories are told from the point of view of the victims or the first responders, the doctors, medics, nurses, or police. This is…
Julie Bayer-Vile, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSCCM, MBCM; Mary Ann McLane, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM; Stephanie Noblit, MLS(ASCP)CM; Catherine Otto, MLS(ASCP)CM Region II Leadership Academy Task Force Leadership within any endeavor carries certain universal characteristics in the people who are considered leaders, the instances that…
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Deb Rodahl, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President {/textblock_content}[/yee_text_block][yee_button title=”Stream an interview with Deb and go more in-depth on strengthening constituent societies.” href=”https://www.ascls.org/images/ASCLS_Today/President_Interview/Rodahl_201806_FINAL.mp3″ color=”yee-btn-primary” size=”yee-btn-default” state=”” icon=”” icon_assign=”right” target=”_blank” rel=”” ex_class=”” style_detail=”” yee-widget-theme=”default” border_color=”” border=”none” visiable=”1″][/yee_button][yee_text_block css_animation=”no” ex_class=”” style_detail=”” yee-widget-theme=”default” border_color=”” border=”none”…
Ally Storla, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Georgia President-Elect Debora Ardis, MT(AMT) Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (MLPW) is an exciting time of the year. This year, MLPW will be held April 22 through 28. Every hospital is different and for some, MLPW is…
Marianne T. Downes, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM The American Red Cross reports that in the United States, platelet transfusions are needed every 30 seconds.i This translates into a need of over 1 million platelet units annually. Platelets are clinically useful in a…
Stephanie Godfrey, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-Missouri President “True leadership lies in guiding others to success and ensuring that everyone is performing at his/her best.” This adapted quote from Bill Owens resonates deeply for many leaders within ASCLS. Succession planning is one of…
Andrea Pitkus, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Informatics Scientific Assembly Vice Chair Informatics is the study of data, and their use. Often, but not always, the data may be in information or computer systems. Health informatics is, therefore, the generation and use…
Judy Moore, B.S. Part 1 of this article appeared in the February 2018 issue and discussed a ranking system created by the AABB to prioritize emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) based on their risk to the blood supply. Three were ranked…
D. Wayne Wilson, B.S., MT(AMT) Medical laboratory scientists use their acquired scientific knowledge to correlate a patient’s medical history and laboratory results to validate the patient’s diagnosis. The new information presented is influential in interpreting results, as should be the…
Deb Rodahl, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President If you want to get something done, just ask a busy person! Why is this? Usually it is because they have a proven track record of getting things done (on time) and they practice…
Suzanne Campbell, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Past President Priority Pillar: Organizational Efficiency and Internal Communication As I continue to offer information related to the ASCLS Strategic Map, our next pillar is organizational efficiency and internal communication. Supporting this pillar are five…
ASCLS invites all members to present their research or other relevant findings at the Annual Meeting Poster Competition to be held during the 86th ASCLS Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois. The purpose of the event is to allow ASCLS members…
Louann Lawrence, DrPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, Education and Research Board of Trustees Chair It is time to consider application for 2018 Education and Research (E&R) Fund grants and scholarships. Please encourage undergraduate and graduate students whom you know, as well as ASCLS…
Janelle M. Chiasera, PhD, ASCLS Region III Director Fifteen years after the release of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) landmark report, To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System, a follow-up report released by the IOM in 2015 makes…
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Brooke Solberg, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-North Dakota President and Region V Membership Committee Representative Shannon Jongeward, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-North Dakota Bylaws Chair Those of us that are active participants in ASCLS recognize its critical role in fostering the laboratory profession. Unfortunately,…
Susan Naka MT(ASCP)CM, MS, ASCLS-Hawaii Past President Kristen Croom, MLS(ASCP)CM, MB(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-Hawaii Past President The ASCLS-Hawaii society decided to take a different approach to activities for the 2015-2016 year. At an annual board meeting in early 2015, some members said…
Judy Moore, B.S. Current blood banking policies in the United States require screening blood donors for behaviors that might increase their risk of infectious disease and then deferring them if necessary. Donor blood is also screened by serological and nucleic…
Halcyon St. Hill, Ed.D., M.S., MLS(ASCP)CM, FASAHP, ASCLS Diversity Advisory Council Member Diversity and inclusiveness are not just buzz words; they are terms that address the uniqueness of each individual and extend beyond our perceptions of each person. Perceptions are…
Jessica McMahon, Maeve Montesi, Sara Downie As three University of Delaware Medical Laboratory Sciences students, we had no idea what to expect at our first ASCLS Legislative Symposium in Washington, D.C. We were unfamiliar with what lobbying was, how it…
Suzanne Campbell, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Past President ASCLS leaders move the Society forward based on direction from our strategic map. Our unique critical objective defines the overall focus on ASCLS and is supported by six pillars – marketing, membership, organization…
Kelcey E Harper, MLS(ASCP)CM, New Professionals and New Members Forum Chair When I was a student, I spent countless hours studying for exams hoping I would make it to graduation. Prior to graduation, I spent hours searching for jobs hoping…
Maria Rodriguez, ASCLS Student Forum Chair If I received a dime every time I needed to explain what Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) is, I would have more money than Bill Gates. The first 100 times that people asked me I…
Stephanie K. Rink, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Political Action Committee Vice Chair Between all the federal regulatory changes to personnel standards, cuts to laboratory reimbursement, and the current environment in Washington, myself and many other laboratorians find ourselves wishing we could…
Nadine Fydryszewski, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region II Director As we move through the phases of our life, we are constantly challenged with balancing our personal and professional lives. We are often in conflict with regard to all we must do…
Deb Rodahl, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President I am a firm believer in the value that ASCLS brings to the Clinical Laboratory Sciences profession and to the practitioners within this profession. ASCLS has helped shape who I am professionally and personally,…
Suzanne Campbell, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM ASCLS President During the ASCLS Board of Director’s Long Range Planning Day in March 2016, a unique critical objective for the organization was developed. As the foundation of our new strategic map, ASCLS will “actively engage…
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Deb Rodahl, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM President-Elect "ASCLS and the entire practice field is at a time of great change. New leadership is emerging while long valued leaders are retiring; new technologies continue to drive our profession forward; and we as professionals…
Pat Tille Ph.D. MT(ASCP) FACSC Region V Director In 1992, as a young professional I began a journey in medical laboratory science. As a student with a degree in biological science, I was unsure of what I wanted to pursue…
Ally Storla, MLS(ASCP) Social media has changed how we communicate and connect in the information age. We’ve never been able to spread ideas or connect with each other so easily. Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Reddit, Instagram: all of these provide us…
Linda Goossen, Ph.D., MT(ASCP) Chair, ASCLS Government Affairs Committee The recent international occurrences of Ebola and Zika viruses have reinvigorated the national interest in biosafety and biosecurity in medical and research laboratories. The term “biosecurity” has been used in different…
Dennis J. Ernst MT(ASCP), NCPT(NCCT) Millions of patients are on blood thinners to prevent blood clots that can lead to stroke and other life-threatening complications. Because laboratory tests are critical to determine and monitor their dosage, drawing their blood regularly…
As the 2016-2017 ASCLS Student Forum Officers we would like to introduce ourselves. Greetings! My name is Savannah McPherson, and I will be serving as your 2016-2017 Student Forum Chair. I am thrilled to be able to serve ASCLS in…
The New Professionals and New Members Forum is showcasing a member who exhibits pride in ASCLS, demonstrates hard work, and has excellent leadership skills. For this issue, we would like to spotlight Gretchen Brocksmith. Gretchen received her Bachelor of Science…
by Suzanne Campbell, ASCLS President 2016-2017 ASCLS President Suzanne Campbell presented her vision for the future of the Society during her President’s Acceptance Speech to the House of Delegates in Philadelphia. It is an honor and privilege to serve as…