Volume 39 Number 1 | February 2025 Redefining Reasonable Accommodations in the Clinical Laboratory Tracey K. Gardner, MSEd, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Today Volunteer Contributor “That was easy.” This was the delighted response from the manager in the Disability Resource Office after a meeting about accommodation for a student. At the outset, the accommodation appeared to be…
Volume 39 Number 1 | February 2025 Two Years in Review from a New MLS Katie Guise, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Developing Professionals Forum Chair and Developing Professional Director Like many of us in this profession, I truly stumbled my way into the clinical laboratory field. Two years ago, I sat in my dorm room at a…
Volume 39 Number 1 | February 2025 Ryan Tom, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council Chair The most important aspects of laboratories are the four Es: efficiency, exactness, effectiveness, and expediency. However, smooth operations within the lab are the result of the ways in which each individual working there is respected, treated fairly, and recognized…
Volume 39 Number 1 | February 2025 Heather R. Parks, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Today Volunteer Contributor Since my kids were babies, we’ve been reading But Not the Hippopotamus, by Sandra Boynton. It’s a small, green board book about a shy hippopotamus who feels left out. The moose and goose drink juice at a cafe. The…
Volume 39 Number 1 | February 2025 Stephanie Noblit, Esq, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Director As we discuss ways to increase inclusion and belonging within ASCLS and make our meetings welcoming spaces for all members, we must make sure that we are being trauma-informed. Being trauma-informed means understanding and considering the pervasive nature of trauma and fostering…
Volume 39 Number 1 | February 2025 Marionette Yvonne Agatep-Cortez, MLS(AMT), AHI, ASCLS Today Volunteer Contributor To fully understand this topic, we ought to know the basic meanings of each of the DEIB words so we can sync deeply into our system as to why there is an incessant need to talk about this important…
Volume 39 Number 1 | February 2025 Stacey V. Peralta, DrPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, Patient Safety Committee As clinical laboratory work environments and scientific technologies rapidly evolve, ASCLS supports the delivery of quality laboratory service and promotes diversity to achieve this endeavor. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) become critical pillars of effective patient care in the…
Volume 39 Number 1 | February 2025 Carly Preston, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Today Volunteer Contributor During the 2023 November Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC) meeting, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) released a report compiling its 15-year investigation into the most common deficiencies cited against laboratories. The goal of the report was to identify…
Volume 39 Number 1 | February 2025 It Begins with Asking, How Can I Help Phyllis Ingham EdD, MLS(ASCP)CM, AHI(AMT), ASCLS Leadership Development Committee Chair True leadership is not about titles, power, or accolades. It is about service, empathy, and the willingness to prioritize the needs of others. At its heart, impactful leadership begins with…
Volume 39 Number 1 | February 2025 Summary Graduating medical laboratory students face an important step: certification. This guide outlines how to prepare for certification exams through structured planning, targeted study, active learning, and time management. By using quality resources and support networks, students can confidently pursue certification and launch rewarding careers in the clinical…