Volume 38 Number 4 | August 2024

Phyllis Ingham, EdD, MLS(ASCP)CM, AHI(AMT), Clinical Laboratory Educators Forum Chair

In the complex landscape of healthcare, where every component plays a critical role, medical laboratory professionals still often stand in the shadows as “unsung heroes.” As we all know, laboratory professionals work diligently conducting tests and analyzing data that provides crucial information, which directly impacts patient safety and positive patient care outcomes. Despite this vital role, our profession often remains in the “shadows” of healthcare with the looming question of how do we get our voices heard so the public actually knows and understands exactly who we are and what we do?

Perhaps the answer to that question really does begin with advocacy. Advocacy—defined as the act of supporting a cause or idea—for the laboratory profession is essential, and I feel it begins with our students—the future of our field. By empowering students and providing them with the necessary tools and experiences, we can ensure that they understand not only the importance of their role in advocating for the profession, but also the importance of how laboratory professionals are a valued member of the healthcare team and the honor of serving together as a community of medical professionals.

So, where do we begin?

This year ASCLS Developing Professional members can attend the 2024 Labvocate Symposium virtually for FREE. Formerly called the Laboratory Legislative Symposium, the event gives you the chance to join together with medical laboratory professionals from six organizations and provide a visible and informed voice to make our concerns known inside Congress. Come away with first-hand knowledge of the political system in action and confidence that you make a difference.

The Labvocate Symposium will be held September 30-October 1 in Alexandria, Virginia, and virtually online. Visit labvocate.org for more information and to sign up.

Education and Awareness

The first step in developing advocates for the laboratory profession is to educate students, enabling them to truly feel the significance and impact of their career path. One way we can do this is to incorporate advocacy into the curriculum, which can be achieved through various means.

  • Inviting guest lecturers from experienced professionals into the classroom who can share their stories of real-world examples of how laboratory results have directly influenced patient outcomes. These “story times” can be very impactful for students and offer connections to the didactic material they are navigating.
  • Organizing field trips to various laboratories and healthcare facilities to showcase the laboratory environments and automation, and give students a “real world” first impression of the laboratory and its role within the healthcare team.
  • Educators can develop curriculum activities to aid students in better understanding their role as an advocate. Students need to learn what an advocate is, how to become an advocate through case-based learning experiences, and then have opportunities to “practice” advocacy.

These types of experiences will assist students in developing a sense of pride in their newly chosen career path and gain a deeper understanding of its significance.

Mentorship and Role Modeling

As educators, we can play a crucial role in shaping students’ attitudes and beliefs about their profession.

  • Intentionally pairing students with mentors that are passionate advocates for the laboratory profession will inspire students to become advocates themselves. Mentors can provide guidance, share their experiences, and help students navigate the complexities of the profession.
  • By incorporating role modeling into the curriculum, students can observe professionals advocating for the profession in various settings and gain a deeper understanding of the practical aspects of advocacy and its impact.
Encouraging Engagement and Leadership

To accurately empower students to become advocates for the profession, we must provide them with opportunities to engage with the broader healthcare community and develop their leadership skills.

  • We can encourage and motivate students to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences to expose them to the larger landscape of laboratory medicine to assist them in their understanding of the challenges and many opportunities facing our profession.
  • Incorporate specific leadership development strategies into the curriculum to advance the skills necessary to advocate for the profession effectively.

By providing these opportunities, we can ensure that our students are well-prepared for their future roles and well equipped to advocate for the profession and drive positive change. Our students will become the “change agents” for our future.

Creating Opportunities for Student Involvement

The first step is to keep students engaged and excited about advocating for the profession, then we need to create opportunities for them to actively participate in advocacy efforts.

  • Organize advocacy campaigns or events on campus or in the community where students can educate others about the importance of laboratory medicine and the role of medical laboratory professionals. Presentations to other college or university classes providing fun facts on “What’s in a Lab Test?” Real time “live” science experiments to showcase the importance of science and STEM activities.
  • Students can create posters or flyers, podcasts, lunch and learns, group activities (fun games like minute-to-win-it), or any opportunity to gather groups of students together and advocate for the profession. This is the time to be creative to “get attention” and focus on the laboratory profession.
  • Select a community “cause” and allow students to showcase how that cause impacts the laboratory profession. For example, as a microbiology group project, we decided to partner with Fight BAC for food safety education. Students developed flyers for various food safety tips; we partnered with community grocery stores to “fill the bag” with flyers; and we set up a display table to showcase the importance of safe food preparation, cooking, and storage. We gave away hand sanitizer samples and embraced our local communities as we further advocated for the laboratory profession.

All these types of activities not only help raise awareness, but also empower students to take ownership of their advocacy efforts and make a tangible impact.

Recognizing and Celebrating Student Advocates

When we recognize and celebrate student advocates for the profession, it helps to maintain their enthusiasm and motivation.

  • Acknowledge student advocacy efforts through special award announcements or special recognition through the college or university website.
  • Showcase student achievements on social media platforms or in a newsletter.
  • Create opportunities for students to share their experiences and insights with peers and even other laboratory professionals already working in the profession.

Highlighting the impact of advocacy efforts hopefully will inspire other students to get involved and create a culture of advocacy within the student community. If we can get students on board and prepare them as advocates early in their career path, there will be hope for the spark to ignite and spread into the workforce among all laboratory professionals. One united voice is the key!

Advocacy for the laboratory medicine profession is imperative, and it begins with our students. By educating them about the profession’s significance, providing mentorship and role modeling, encouraging engagement and leadership skills, creating opportunities for student buy-in and involvement, and recognizing and celebrating student advocates, we can empower them to become advocates for our profession. We can ensure that the role of medical laboratory professionals is recognized, valued, and seen as a vital component of the healthcare team. Championing change starts with our students by empowering them to become Labovocates and lead the way of the future.

References

Phyllis Ingham is Program Director, Medical Laboratory Technology and Phlebotomy, at West Georgia Technical College in Waco, Georgia.