Figures with different gender identities

BREAKING OUT OF THE GENDER BINARY BOX

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, 5:00 am hit and I was on my way up to the floor to draw…

Plant growing in pot of money

MLS PROGRAMS RECEIVE MILLIONS IN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS

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 Services Administration (HRSA). The SDS Program is intended to increase diversity in the health professions…

U.S. Congressional Seal

LOBBYING: YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT

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 or try to influence the votes of members of a legislative body. verb (used with…

CHASING A ZEBRA

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 me and the desire to search for answers to those mysteries. The new mystery that…

Cindy Johnson, ASCLS President 2019-20

THE POWER OF BEING UNIQUELY YOU

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 the COVID-19 pandemic. Our professional family has continued to generate the results that drive medical…

Emilia Marrero-Greene with her daughter and husband

ENDING DISPARITIES WITHIN THE LABORATORY COMMUNITY

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 Board of Directors and the Diversity Advocacy Council pledge to focus on discrimination and disparities…

ROOTS TO WINGS

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 growth forests. The book begins with roots, and as a biology major, I find it…

NOT ALONE

Cara Bushmaker, MLS(ASCP)CM, 2019-20 ASCLS-Montana President Montana is known as the “Last Best Place.” As I thought about the topic of diversity, I would not have described Montana as a diverse place. I would venture that the feeling I have is largely due to our limited population. I felt my own hesitance echoed by my…