Labvocate Symposium

ASCLS is proud to work with American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT), American Medical Technologists (AMT), the National Society for Histotechnology (NSH), and the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists-USA (PAMET-USA) on the newly renamed Labvocate Symposium each year.

Through this ASCLS tradition that originated in 1989, the members of these organizations meet with their representatives and senators on Capitol Hill as a unified front on behalf of our profession. Each year these leading organizations urge their members and leaders to come to Washington to provide a visible and informed voice, and make our concerns known inside Congress.

The Legislative Symposium provides a great education on the how-tos of lobbying. Attendees are coached on presentation techniques so they can effectively talk to their congressional representatives during their appointments. They are well received in the congressional offices. Attendees return home from Washington with first-hand knowledge of the political system in action and confidence that they make a difference.

Labvocate 2024 is scheduled for September 30-October 1, 2024 at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria, VA. Each attendee will receive pre-meeting emails describing the issues to be discussed with their congressional representatives as well as extensive information to be left with each office.

Wondering what Labvocate is like?

Laboratory professionals at all stages of their careers attend the Legislative Symposium. Programming is built to accommodate everyone’s experiences, from first-time attendees to those who know all the secret passages to get around The Hill. Here are views of recent Symposiums.

The ASCLS Ascending Professionals Forum hosted Ask Me Anything: Legislative Symposium 2022 – Perspectives from Capitol Hill, where new attendees talked about their experiences at the event.
ASCLS PAC Chair Stephanie Rink details her experience at the 2018 event.
Past Government Affairs Committee Chair Linda Goosen provides a recap of the 2017 event.
University of Cincinnati student member Erin Barger provides her impressions about attending the Legislative Symposium for the first time.
University of Delaware students Jessica McMahon, Maeve Montesi, and Sara Downie share their thoughts on the experience of attending.
Medical Laboratory Scientist Cherika Robertson shares another first-timer perspective.

Registration

Registration is open to members of ASCLS, ASCP, CLMA, AMT, AGT, NSH, and PAMET-USA. Labvocate 2024 is available for virtual attendees who will not be able to travel to Alexandria/Washington, DC.

New in 2024, all ASCLS Developing Professional members can virtually attend Labvocate 2024 for free.

Deadline	In-Person Attendance	Virtual Attendance
Early Bird (until to 8/29/24)	$290	$95
Regular (until 9/16/2024)	$340	$145
Late/Onsite	$390	$195

Registration will Open July 1, 2024

Health and Safety

COVID and other infectious diseases have the potential to evolve and cause disruptions to normal activities due to personal and public health concerns. ASCLS, first and foremost, has a responsibility to provide safe learning environments for its meeting attendees. As an association of and for healthcare professionals, attendees at our live, face-to-face meetings are expected to exercise sound and ethical professional judgement to protect the health of those around them, which includes proper vaccinations and other measures that limit the spread of infectious diseases like masking and social distancing. Those who are experiencing symptoms should not attend live sessions and should self-quarantine from other attendees.

Accomodations

All Symposium events will take place at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town, located in historic Alexandria, Virginia; convenient to King Street shops and restaurants, Reagan National Airport, and the King Street Metro stop (Blue and Yellow Lines). A block of rooms has been set aside for Legislative Symposium attendees. Accommodations for Labvocate 2024 are $199 for single or double rooms, plus any additional applicable taxes.

Schedule of Events

Sample Agenda

The final agenda and handouts will be available one week prior to the Symposium.

MONDAY, September 30, 2024
7:30 am – 8:00 am	REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:00 am – 8:15 am	Welcome from the Partners
8:15 am – 8:30 am	Meeting Overview
8:30 am – 9:15 am	Overview of the Political Environment in Washington
9:15 am – 10:00am	Issue Brief #1
10:00 am – 10:15 am	BREAK
10:15 am– 11:15 am	Issue Brief #1 Continued
11:15 am – 12:00 pm	Issue Brief #2
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm	Networking Lunch
1:30 pm – 2:15 pm	Preparing for Congressional Visits Review of Issues, Leave Behinds and “Talking Points” Walk Through Feedback on Visits How Congressional Offices Work How Legislative Staff View Your Visit How to Communicate Your Message Effectively
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm	Issue Brief #3
3:00 pm – 3:45 pm	Advocacy Perspectives Outside the Laboratory Profession
3:45 pm – 4:15 pm	BREAK
4:15 pm – 5:00 pm	Congressional Update
5:00 pm – 5:30 pm	Practicing Your Message/Making a Difference Developing your personal advocacy message Breakouts and Role-Playing
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm	RECEPTION

TUESDAY, October 1, 2024
6:30 am – 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:00 am	Begin traveling to Capitol Hill Appointments (on your own)

P.A.C.E. Credit

Attendees will earn 6 contact hours for participating in the 2024 Labvocate Symposium.

Session Description: The Labvocate Symposium brings laboratory professionals and stakeholders together to discuss current legislative and regulatory issues impacting medical laboratory practice. This session will inform the learner of current or potential legislation and federal regulations that can impact the laboratory and the steps they can take to communicate their message and influence member of congress and other federal decision-makers.

General Objectives

Discuss current and proposed federal legislation, and recently passed laws that impact clinical laboratories, including reimbursement for diagnostic testing and federal oversight of laboratory developed tests.
Review ways laboratory professionals can most effectively voice their concerns and impact the legislative process.
Review regulations that effect current and future practice in clinical laboratories.
Recognize the effects changing standards might affect clinical laboratories.
Explain how increasing demand for more testing and more complex testing will outpace the small increases in graduates from current training programs over the coming decade.

Level of Instruction: Intermediate

ASCLS is an approved provider of continuing education by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® program. P.A.C.E. is accepted by the Board of Certification (BOC) Credential Maintenance Program and all licensing states, including California and Florida.