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.
Susan Naka MT(ASCP)CM, MS, ASCLS-Hawaii Past President Kristen Croom, MLS(ASCP)CM, MB(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-Hawaii Past President The ASCLS-Hawaii society decided to take a different approach to activities for the 2015-2016 year. At an annual board meeting in early 2015, some members said the biggest issue in Hawaii was members and prospective members not seeing the “value of…
Judy Moore, B.S. Current blood banking policies in the United States require screening blood donors for behaviors that might increase their risk of infectious disease and then deferring them if necessary. Donor blood is also screened by serological and nucleic acid tests for various known transfusion-transmissible diseases to ensure safety and protect the transfusion recipients.…
Halcyon St. Hill, Ed.D., M.S., MLS(ASCP)CM, FASAHP, ASCLS Diversity Advisory Council Member Diversity and inclusiveness are not just buzz words; they are terms that address the uniqueness of each individual and extend beyond our perceptions of each person. Perceptions are deeply rooted in our beliefs, values, and life experiences, and may lead to unprecedented judgements.…
Jessica McMahon, Maeve Montesi, Sara Downie As three University of Delaware Medical Laboratory Sciences students, we had no idea what to expect at our first ASCLS Legislative Symposium in Washington, D.C. We were unfamiliar with what lobbying was, how it was done, or the extreme importance of the issues for which we were lobbying. Although…
Suzanne Campbell, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Past President ASCLS leaders move the Society forward based on direction from our strategic map. Our unique critical objective defines the overall focus on ASCLS and is supported by six pillars – marketing, membership, organization efficiency and internal communications, advocacy and professional promotion, collaboration, and education. The ASCLS Board of…
Kelcey E Harper, MLS(ASCP)CM, New Professionals and New Members Forum Chair When I was a student, I spent countless hours studying for exams hoping I would make it to graduation. Prior to graduation, I spent hours searching for jobs hoping I would get an offer before I even had my degree in hand. I didn’t…
Maria Rodriguez, ASCLS Student Forum Chair If I received a dime every time I needed to explain what Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) is, I would have more money than Bill Gates. The first 100 times that people asked me I was more than happy to answer, but there came a point where it was exhausting…
Stephanie K. Rink, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Political Action Committee Vice Chair Between all the federal regulatory changes to personnel standards, cuts to laboratory reimbursement, and the current environment in Washington, myself and many other laboratorians find ourselves wishing we could have a larger impact on political issues, particularly with respect to those affecting our profession. …
Nadine Fydryszewski, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Region II Director As we move through the phases of our life, we are constantly challenged with balancing our personal and professional lives. We are often in conflict with regard to all we must do versus all we want to do; all we are versus all we want to be.…
Deb Rodahl, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President I am a firm believer in the value that ASCLS brings to the Clinical Laboratory Sciences profession and to the practitioners within this profession. ASCLS has helped shape who I am professionally and personally, for which I will always be grateful. I joined ASCLS in 1990 and was immediately…