Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary The article highlights the vital, often unseen, impact of medical laboratory professionals, illustrated through a multidisciplinary simulation exercise. It emphasizes that their worth comes from life‑saving outcomes, not visibility or external recognition. Lab professionals are encouraged to value their expertise, share their stories, and advocate confidently for…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary Laboratory professionals may feel unseen, yet their work profoundly impacts patients. Through a story of identifying an abnormal specimen that led to a critical diagnosis, the article highlights how phlebotomists, medical laboratory scientists, and lab assistants make life‑changing differences every day. Even without public recognition, their vigilance…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary A new medical laboratory technician describes the shock of transitioning from supervised student work to making independent, high‑stakes clinical decisions. Initially overwhelmed by the responsibility, she gains confidence through mentorship and trust from colleagues. The article highlights the emotional weight of becoming a “hidden clinician” and the…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary Clinical laboratory science educators create a lasting impact beyond the classroom by shaping students’ diagnostic reasoning, professional communication, and commitment to patient safety. Through innovative pedagogy, mentorship, and workforce pipeline support, their choices ripple into stronger clinical practice, improved patient outcomes, and a more resilient profession, multiplying…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary The article highlights how clinical laboratory professionals have suffered from shrinking staff, lost autonomy, and emotional exhaustion. It emphasizes the need for visibility, acknowledging their grief, sacrifices, and unmet needs. By validating their sadness, the author argues, workers can begin to adapt, heal, and reclaim their humanity…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary This article highlights how medical laboratory professionals extend their impact beyond the lab through community engagement and interprofessional collaboration. By working in pro-bono clinics and educational settings, they enhance patient care, improve specimen quality, foster mutual understanding, and strengthen connections between laboratory scientists, clinicians, students, and the…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary This article emphasizes that every medical laboratory test represents a real patient whose safety depends on accuracy. It highlights how errors can jeopardize care and stresses accountability, mindfulness, and leadership in fostering a culture where precision and ethical responsibility outweigh speed in the laboratory. Reinforcing a Culture…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary While physicians are often at the forefront of patient care, diagnostic laboratories serve as the backbone of modern medicine. Medical laboratory professionals, though rarely visible to patients, play an essential role in diagnosing diseases, guiding treatment, and ultimately saving lives. This article emphasizes the importance of laboratory…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary The author traces her path from clinical laboratory scientist to educator, made possible by federally supported graduate funding. She warns that new federal loan limits could restrict access to advanced degrees, shrinking the pipeline of laboratory educators, harming workforce stability, and threatening the future of clinical laboratory…
Volume 40 Number 1 | February 2026 Summary This article outlines how ASCLS members can advance diagnostic stewardship by submitting evidence-based test utilization recommendations. It traces the evolution from Choosing Wisely to Effective Test Utilization, explains submission criteria and review steps, and encourages laboratorians to help reduce misuse, improve patient safety, and promote high‑value care.…