Volume 38 Number 1 | February 2024 Claude Rector, MA, MLS(ASCP), ASCLS President Inclusion is a multifaceted concept that encapsulates the idea of creating environments where all individuals—regardless of their background, abilities, or characteristics—feel valued and respected. Over the years, the concept of inclusion has evolved from a focus on specific groups, such as individuals…
Volume 38 Number 1 | February 2024 Patient Safety Corner Georgia Vega, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Patient Safety Committee Chair Approximately 68 million people in the United States speak languages other than English at home, with the top five being Spanish (61.6 percent), Chinese (5.2 percent), Tagalog (2.6 percent), Vietnamese (2.3 percent), and Arabic (1.9 percent).…
Volume 38 Number 1 | February 2024 Christen Diel, MS-CLS, MLS(ASCP), ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council Councilor-at-Large Ryan J. Tom, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council Chair One of the five core values of ASCLS includes promoting diversity to support the delivery of quality laboratory services through equity, inclusion, and belonging. These values are critical for…
Volume 38 Number 1 | February 2024 Yon Choi-Gomes, MAEd, MLS(ASCP); Robina Colclough-Davy, MS, MLS(ASCP); Lisa Hochstein, MS, MLS(ASCP); Melinda Liu, MLS(ASCP); and Angela Robinson, MS, MLS(ASCP) The St. Johns’s University Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program is in the county of Queens in New York City, a melting pot of culture. Our location has one of…
Volume 38 Number 1 | February 2024 Alexandra Adams, MLS(ASCP), ASCLS Ascending Professionals Forum Councilor-at-Large One thing I can say for certain is that as time passes, generations change. Whether that is through clothing, music taste, or even work ethic, each generation has its own defining characteristics. Mixing all these personalities in the laboratory can…
Volume 38 Number 1 | February 2024 Sara A. Taylor, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CMMBCM, ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council Councilor-at-Large Patricia Marterer, PhD The terms learning disability and difficulty/disorder are similar, and they are often mistakenly used interchangeably. Learning disabilities refers to specific neurological conditions that affect an individual’s ability to learn. Thus, learning disabilities are often associated…
Volume 38 Number 1 | February 2024 Joshua Pulido, MHA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Board of Directors Emerging from the pandemic, there have been significant changes in the overall workforce. While laboratory workforce shortages have been a top-of-mind concern for many years, all areas of healthcare are now impacted.1 Aiding to the ever-growing laboratory workforce shortage, the…
Volume 38 Number 1 | February 2024 Aditi Sarkar, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Developing Professionals Forum Chair, ASCLS Board of Directors In the dynamic realm of healthcare, ASCLS stands as a beacon, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the delivery of quality laboratory services. As we delve into the crucial intricacies of diversity, inclusivity, equity, and…
Volume 38 Number 1 | February 2024 Phyllis Ingham, EdD, MLS(ASCP)CM, AHI(AMT), ASCLS Today Volunteer Contributor In today’s world that often feels fast-paced and ever-changing, there is a timeless and fundamental need that transcends the boundaries of culture, age, and circumstance—belonging. It is a word that carries with it a profound sense of connection, a…
Volume 38 Number 1 | February 2024 Victoria Roop, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Today Volunteer Contributor Diversity can mean so many things for so many people. So where do we start? First, let’s dig into the definition. According to the Oxford English Language Dictionary, diversity means, “The state of being diverse, variety.” And “The practice or quality…