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.
Volume 39 Number 5 | October 2025 Summary Heather Parks reflects on how a colleague used self-help books to overcome burnout and highlights resources that can support healthcare professionals. She reviews several titles, including Self-Care for Allied Health Professionals, Managing Stress, Atomic Habits, and The High Five Habit, alongside podcasts and apps. Parks encourages readers…
Volume 39 Number 5 | October 2025 Summary A recent American Hospital Association study highlights alarming mental health struggles among healthcare workers, with high rates of stress, burnout, and anxiety, yet few accessing support. Kelcey Harper shares their personal journey of depression, burnout, and recovery, emphasizing the importance of seeking help. They urge workplaces to…
Volume 39 Number 5 | October 2025 Summary Medical laboratory professionals face mental health challenges from understaffing, constant training, and complex scheduling. Marionette Yvonne Agatep-Cortez highlights resilience strategies such as improving workflow with technology, prioritizing self-care, practicing mindfulness, fostering teamwork, and adopting flexible scheduling. By addressing workload, stress, and staffing issues, labs can build supportive…
Volume 39 Number 5 | October 2025 Summary Clinical laboratory professionals face unique stressors that impact mental health, from high-pressure accuracy demands to staffing shortages. Maria Sue Abiera highlights resilience as a skill built through emotional regulation, peer support, adaptability, and purpose. By fostering self-care, open dialogue, organizational support, and advocacy, medical laboratory teams can…
Volume 39 Number 5 | October 2025 Summary A student-led project at McNeese State University used expired blood bank reagents to study their accuracy in blood typing, blending research with education. Results showed expired reagents were moderately reliable for ABO typing but unreliable for Rh typing. Beyond findings, students gained confidence, technical skills, and research…
Volume 39 Number 5 | October 2025 Summary ASCLS President-Elect Stacey Robinson calls for building a “learning organization” around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Using a systems approach, she emphasizes systems thinking, breaking assumptions, shared vision, and team learning. Robinson urges patience, sustainable progress, and embedding DEIB into ASCLS’s culture, ensuring it becomes an ongoing,…
Volume 39 Number 5 | October 2025 Summary ASCLS honored Dr. Hassan Aziz for his 39-year career in clinical laboratory science, marked by leadership, mentorship, and global impact, with the 2025 ASCLS Pinnacle Award. From academic roles in the United States and Qatar to serving as ASCLS president and International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science…
Volume 39 Number 4 | August 2025 Summary In reflecting on her unexpected journey as ASCLS president, author Pat Tille emphasizes that true success comes from collective growth, relationships, and impact. She highlights key organizational accomplishments—including revitalizing the Clinical Laboratory Science journal and strengthening advocacy efforts—and credits volunteers and members as the driving force behind…
Volume 39 Number 4 | August 2025 Summary Medical laboratory professionals face growing challenges including workforce shortages, regulatory uncertainty, and cuts to public health infrastructure. Author Nicholas Moore urges the profession to engage in advocacy through education, mentorship, and empowerment of early-career professionals. By raising their collective voice, laboratorians can safeguard the profession’s future and…
Volume 39 Number 4 | August 2025 Summary Advocacy in clinical laboratory science starts with simple actions like conversations or invitations. ASCLS empowers members through resources like the Labvocate website and Labvocate Symposium. Legislative engagement is key, especially amid healthcare cuts and outdated policies. Getting involved—even by saying “yes” to small asks—helps raise the profession’s…