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.

Ryan Tom

Promoting DEIB in a Laboratory

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…

Heather Parks reading But Not The Hippopotamus

A Lesson from Sandra Boynton

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…

Stacey Peralta

The Importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

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…

Carly Preston

Common Laboratory Deficiencies and Ways to Avoid Them

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…

Phyllis Ingham

Becoming a Leader That Makes a Difference

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…

Sarah Steinberg

Board of Certification Preparation for New Graduates

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…

Pat Tille

Ethics of Association Leadership—Walking a Fine Line

Volume 38 Number 6 | December 2024 Pat Tille, PhD, MLS(ASCP), AHI(AMT), FACSc, ASCLS President Leadership. What does that mean, and how does one navigate the relationship and expectations of others in a member-driven organization such as the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS)? As a member of ASCLS since 1992, several strategic actions…

Larissa Todd

From the Classroom to the Bench

Volume 38 Number 6 | December 2024 Instilling Values that Ensure Patient Safety Every Step of the Way Larissa Todd, MLS (ASCP)CM, ASCLS Patient Safety Committee While the workings of the laboratory may seem distant from the patient experience, it’s essential to recognize that patients are ultimately the end users of laboratory services. Ensuring patient…