Volume 40 Number 5 | October 2026
Summary
ASCLS President-Elect Demetra “Toula” Castillo reflects on her ASCLS journey from student member to leader, emphasizing belonging, mentorship, and service. She highlights the importance of member engagement, leadership development, and psychological safety, calling on ASCLS members to help build a welcoming, thriving community for laboratory professionals.
A Message from Your President-Elect
Demetra “Toula” Castillo, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, AHI(AMT)
Almost three decades ago, through a professional development course and the encouragement of my program director, I joined the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science as a Developing Professional member. I attended our state meeting, where I met with professional members from all around Illinois, listened to educational sessions, and led our student bowl team to victory.
I started working in the core laboratory, and none of my colleagues knew about ASCLS or about being a member. Remembering what I learned in my professional development class and identifying myself as a laboratory professional, I maintained my membership.
Years later, I started teaching for my alma mater. Immersed in hematology, education, research, and communication, there was also the familiarity of ASCLS, only this time I was the educator encouraging my students to be a part of a community of professionals, partake in knowledge acquisition, and advocate for themselves and other laboratory professionals. The irony was that through my own dedication and service, my professional identity was transformed into my leadership identity. I found mentors who invested in me, friends who challenged and encouraged me, and opportunities that shaped my career.
Today, I am deeply honored and humbled to serve as your president-elect.
“Ultimately, leadership is not about gaining followers. It is about helping others believe they belong.”
For those I have not yet had the opportunity to meet, I am Demetra “Toula” Castillo, associate professor at the University of Cincinnati. I recently completed my PhD in Medical Health Professions Education, where I studied how leadership develops within graduate medical laboratory science education.
My research reinforced something I have experienced throughout my own ASCLS journey: organizations grow when people grow. Leadership develops through investment in meaningful experiences, reflection, and natural mentorship. Those principles have guided my involvement and will continue to guide me over the next three years.
As I begin this journey, there is one word that comes to mind and that is philotimo. It is a Greek word that cannot be translated by a single English definition. At its heart, it is about living with honor, humility, generosity, responsibility, and service to others, not because anyone is watching, but because it is simply the right thing to do. I believe those values are in ASCLS.
Our strongest organizations are built on listening. The challenges facing laboratory medicine are complex, and no single person has all the answers. Progress comes from bringing together diverse perspectives, encouraging thoughtful dialogue, and making decisions rooted in our shared mission. I look forward to listening to our members and learning from your experiences to help move ASCLS forward.
Members are the heart and soul of this organization and membership continues to be an essential opportunity before us. Our future depends on how we support one another, welcome new professionals into our community, and create opportunities for members to grow through every stage of their careers. We must continue demonstrating belonging in ASCLS by building a culture of psychological safety, where every member feels seen, valued, and empowered to contribute. Recruitment is important, but so is retention. Our members stay because they find purpose, community, and opportunities to make a difference.
Membership is about creating an environment where people belong. Leadership is about helping people discover they belong. Those two ideas naturally support each other.
Leadership is not defined by a title. It develops through experiences that challenge us, through reflection that helps us grow, and relationships that inspire us to become better. They are not meant to be comfortable, but they can make us comfortable with uncertainty.
Leadership is also about making a difference. I have been fortunate to learn from remarkable members who believed in me long before I believed in myself. I hope we continue building natural pathways that encourage members to discover their own leadership potential. Making a difference isn’t defined by geography, but by people. Whether you serve within a local district, constituent society, regional community, or at the national level, your leadership matters.
Every leader stands on the shoulders of those who came before them, and walks arm in arm with those beside them. At a time when all members had the opportunity to vote, being elected to this role has significance. I want to thank you for the confidence you have placed in me, and I do not take this responsibility lightly. Together, we will ensure that ASCLS remains a vibrant, welcoming, and influential voice for all medical laboratory professionals.
Ultimately, leadership is not about gaining followers. It is about helping others believe they belong.
Demetra “Toula” Castillo is Associate Professor at the University of Cincinnati, in Cincinnati, Ohio.