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.
Cheyenne Reyes, MLS(ASCP)CM From left: Jessica Lawless and Cheyenne Reyes visited the staff of John Kennedy, senator from Louisiana, during the 2019 Legislative Symposium. My first Legislative Symposium was an experience that I will forever remember. Being able to see how the government works and how it can so closely affect us in this profession…
Allicia Gunderman Before attending the 2019 Legislative Symposium, I was aware of the shortage of medical laboratory scientists. But seeing the magnitude of the shortage and oncoming retirement presented at the symposium was eye opening. The statistics presented there made me wonder why MLS professionals have so little visibility in a time of such dire…
Justin Hanenberg, MLS(ASCP)CM From left: Justin Hanenberg and Amanda Fulton organized a social gathering for ASCLS-CA at Angel City Brewery during their Oktoberfest celebration. And Justin represented ASCLS-CA at the 2019 Legislative Symposium in Washington, D.C. Major changes are coming to the California chapter of ASCLS. A “changing of the guard” might be the most…
Claude Rector, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region VII Director What do you do? We have all been asked that question. How do you answer that question? Is it an easy question to answer? Do you think the person who asked that question understood your answer? My first introduction to how one might answer that question was…
Roslyn McQueen, PhD, CCRC, ASCLS President The education pillar in our strategic map is supported by strategies to expand continuing education, as well as promote professional development and ethical standards. As I write this article, June is right around the corner. How quickly time flies! At this time of year, most of our constituent societies…
Nadine Fydryszewski, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region II Director The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines people as “human beings making up a group or assembly or linked by a common interest,” and power as “the ability to act or produce an effect … possession of control, authority, or influence over others.” People and power—two very strong words that…
Julie Bayer-Vile, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSCCMMBCM Delegates to the ASCLS House of Delegates (HOD) discuss Society business and governance that is voted on by the HOD during the 2018 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Having been a member of ASCLS for almost five years now, I’ve had the privilege of attending and serving as a delegate for my…
IMPROVING PATIENT AUTONOMY OR RISKING PATIENT SAFETY? Brandy D. Gunsolus, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Patient Safety Committee Member In traditional healthcare, all patients visit their physicians, receive a laboratory order for tests, results are sent to their physicians, and the physician would then notify the patient of the results. Times have changed. Now patients can go…
Cheyenne Reyes, ASCLS Region VII Developing Professional Representative Photo credit: CDC/ Jim Gathany While completing her degree in medical laboratory science, Cheyenne Reyes worked as a phlebotomist. This gave her a unique perspective of the laboratory through the eyes of phlebotomists. As most of us have experienced before, very few people know what we do…
HAVE IT ALL AT A WASHINGTON STATE SEMINAR Leslie Nakagawa, MLS(ASCP), ASCLS-WA President Coastal beaches, mountain views, and wine country all contribute to the natural beauty of Washington State. Each of the seasons brings out a different type of scenery throughout the state as well. For an ASCLS-WA member, spring and fall are favorite times…