Happy Medical Laboratory Professionals Week! Meet the candidates running for ASCLS national office. Early registration for the 2024 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting end May 1. Travel and registration scholarships available for 2024 Joint Annual Meeting. And more!
Happy Medical Laboratory Professionals Week!
Whether you completed the ASCLS Lab Week Run virtual 5K, participated in a lab-themed game or activity, or shared in a potluck, we hope this week has been fun, rewarding, and filled with appreciation for all that you do for patients, the healthcare team, and society as a whole. ASCLS extends and warm and heart-felt thank you to all medical laboratory professionals this week and every week of the year.
Special thanks go to members of the ASCLS Marketing and Communications Committee, Alexandra Adams, Sophia Chandrasekar, Katie Guise, Doryan Redding, Emily Woten, and Laurelin Younger, for creating the Lab Week wordle puzzles shared on social media and all the games and activities that you can print, share, and use in your lab, workplace, or on your own. They are still available for download at Medical Laboratory Professionals Week.
While you’re there, submit your favorite potluck recipe for the ASCLS The Lab Cooks recipe collection . Recipe collection will run from April to July, giving our volunteers time to organize all of the submitted recipes. A digital cookbook will be made available during #Labtober, a week in October that acts as the half-way point to next year’s Lab Week.
Additional appreciation goes to our 2024 Lab Week Run Platinum Sponsors AUDIT MicroControls, BD, COLA, Greiner Bio-One, Scopio, SEKISUI Diagnostics, and TELCOR. All proceeds go to scholarships that help Ascending and Developing Professionals attend ASCLS meetings, advocate for the profession, and become future leaders in the field.
Lab Week Run Flash Sale!
About 1,800 people participated in this year’s ASCLS Lab Week Run so far. There are still a limited number of medals left, which means you still have a chance to participate in the virtual 5K … you can complete the 5K distance anytime and anywhere. We even had one participant swim the 5K!
For a limited time, you can purchase five race packets for $100—a $50 discount. Get your one-of-a-kind medical laboratory-themed medal today!
Meet the Candidates for ASCLS National Office
The ASCLS Nominations Committee is pleased to present the following candidates for office in the 2024-25 Society year. Candidates selected by the House of Delegates will take office during the 2024 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting. Delegates will elect one president-elect; four 3-year term directors; one 1-year term director; one 5-year term member for the Judicial Committee; and four 2-year term members for the Nominations Committee.
New this year, the candidate profiles include an expanded perspective of candidate information, along with a short video. Candidates were asked to answer the following question in a two-minute video: What is one unique skill, experience, and/or expertise that sets you apart to lead ASCLS and the profession in the future? See the videos and read about each candidate here.
In an effort to create more touch points between the candidates running for national positions and the members electing them to those positions, the ASCLS Nominations Committee has scheduled a virtual Meet and Greet and three Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions in May to provide an opportunity for members to ask questions of the candidates running for national positions.
The events are all free to members, but registration is required. Members will submit a question with their registration to ask the candidates for the Ask Me Anything events. The moderators will make efforts to ask the candidates as many questions as time allows. Members are also encouraged to submit a question to ask the candidates at the Virtual Meet and Greet.
Virtual Meet and Greet: Meet Your Judicial and Nominations Committee Candidates
Wednesday, May 1, 2 pm ET
Panelists: John Koenig (Judicial), Sarah Bergbower, Brooke Solberg, Ally Storla, and Ian Wallace (Nominations)
Ask Me Anything: Meet Your President-Elect Candidates
Sunday, May 5, 7 pm ET
Panelists: Kyle Riding and Miles Tompkins
Ask Me Anything: Meet Your Director Candidates Session 1
Monday, May, 13, 7 pm ET
Panelists: Floyd Josephat, Melissa Kasper, Stephanie Noblit, and Adrienne Davis Zapfe.
Ask Me Anything: Meet Your Director Candidates Session 2
Sunday, May 19, 7 pm ET
Panelists: Lindsey Davenport-Landry, Kelcey Harper, Heather Herrington, Emilia Marrero-Greene, and Stacey Lyn Robinson.
The Nominations Committee hope that as members and delegates for your constituent societies, you attend as many of these events as your schedule allows. Recordings will be available after each event. If you have any questions, please contact Toula Castillo.
Upcoming Events
Early Registration for the 2024 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting Ends May 1
July 8-12 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, or Virtual
Save your spot for the 2024 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) today. JAM is the the premier gathering of medical laboratory professionals to share our knowledge, research, and best practices related to our field of laboratory science. JAM also provides flexibility with two attendee options.
In-Person Attendance: JAM will be held at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In addition to the educational program, poster presentations, industry partner exhibits, and networking activities, you’ll also receive access to all recorded JAM educational sessions for 30 days after the event, providing you with about 50 hours of P.A.C.E.®-approved credit.
Virtual Attendance: You will have access to the nearly 50 educational sessions, either streamed live or recorded; industry partner virtual activities; and virtual poster presentations. You will also have access to all recorded JAM educational sessions for 30 days after the event. You get to choose which sessions and events you want to attend live and which recordings you will view later when the time is right. Create a personalized JAM experience that fits your life.
Sign up by May 1 for the best rate.
Travel and Registration Scholarships Available for 2024 Joint Annual Meeting
Deadline: April 30
The Ascending and Developing Professionals Forums will collectively award over $10,000 in travel and registration scholarships to Ascending and Developing Professionals attending the 2024 Joint Annual Meeting (JAM), either in-person or virtually. The exact breakdown of these grants will be determined by the number of applicants and their preference of attendance. Apply by April 30!
Race to JAM Student Trivia Competition
Race to JAM is a national student trivia competition hosted by the ASCLS Developing Professionals Forum. On Saturday, April 13, nine teams participated in the preliminary rounds conducted over Zoom.
We are excited to announce the two final teams: Nebraska Methodist MLS program and Houston Methodist Hospital!
Our finalists will go head-to-head in the Race to JAM finals on Monday, July 8, 5 pm ET, at the 2024 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The winning team will be recognized during the ASCLS Awards Ceremony at JAM on Wednesday, July 10.
Congratulations to all of the teams who participated, and thank you to our volunteer judges and the ASCLS DPF for making this event happen. See you in Pittsburgh!
Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC2) On Demand
ASCLS held the 4th Annual Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC2) in January 2024. The virtual event is specifically designed for laboratory professionals transitioning or hoping to transition into management and included sessions on topics like laboratory accreditation, motivating your team, time management tips, staffing to workload, fostering inclusive group decision-making, and more.
The recorded sessions are now available to stream online through ELMC2 On Demand. Individual sessions are $10 for ASCLS Members/$15 for non-members. The All Access bundle of 20 sessions is available at the discounted rate of $150 for ASCLS members/$210 for non-members.
Empower your future and elevate your leadership with ELMC2 On Demand.
Developing and Ascending Professionals Forums Seek Officer Nominations
Deadline: June 7
Would you like to take on a leadership role in the Developing Professionals Forum (DPF) or the Ascending Professionals Forum (APF)? Or do you know someone who would make an excellent fit? The DPF is seeking its next chair, vice chair, and secretary, and the APF is seeking its next vice chair and secretary. All applicants must be ASCLS Developing or Ascending Professional members as of February 28, 2024.
Submit your applications by June 7, 2024.
Developing Professionals Chair Responsibilities—one-year term (full responsibilities are listed in the Guidelines for Governance):
- Serves as a voting member of the ASCLS Board of Directors (BOD).
- Requires travel to the ASCLS BOD Fall Meeting and Planning Day, September 28-29, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Saturday and Sunday before Laboratory Legislative Symposium).
- Requires participation in the ASCLS BOD Interim Meeting (virtual) in Spring 2025—typically on a Sunday afternoon in March.
- Requires travel to the June 8-12, 2025, Joint Annual Meeting in Sacramento, California.
- Works with the vice chair, secretary, advisor, and other members to complete the charges for the year.
- Must host and participate in monthly conference calls of the DPF that will be determined based on the availability of the DPF Leadership Council.
Developing Professionals Vice Chair Responsibilities—one-year term (full responsibilities are listed in the Guidelines for Governance):
- Assists the chair and secretary in any activities and functions related to the forum.
- Works with the chair, secretary, advisor, and other members to complete the charges for the year.
- Stands in for the chair if they are unable to complete their duties.
- Must participate in monthly conference calls that will be determined based on the availability of the DPF Leadership Council.
Developing Professionals Secretary Responsibilities—one-year term (full responsibilities are listed in the Guidelines for Governance):
- Assists the chair and vice chair in any activities and functions related to the forum.
- Works with the chair, vice chair, advisor, and other members to complete the charges for the year.
- Records the proceedings of all meetings of the DPF.
- Must participate in monthly conference calls that will be determined based on the availability of the DPF Leadership Council.
Ascending Professionals Vice Chair Responsibilities—one-year term, three-year commitment (full responsibilities are listed in the Guidelines for Governance):
- Assists the chair and secretary in any activities and functions related to the forum.
- Works with the chair, secretary, advisor, and other members to complete the charges for the year.
- Stands in for the chair if he/she is unable to complete his/her duties.
- Must participate in monthly conference calls that will be determined based on the availability of the APF Leadership Council.
- Make an effort to attend the Laboratory Legislative Symposium, September 30-October 1, 2024, in Alexandria, Virginia, and the ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting, June 8-12, 2025, in Sacramento, California.
- Transitions to chair of the forum after their term as vice chair, then to past chair and member of the ASCLS Board of Directors in their third year.
Ascending Professionals Secretary Responsibilities—one-year term, may serve two terms (full responsibilities are listed in the Guidelines for Governance):
- Assists the chair and vice chair in scheduling any activities and functions related to the forum • Works with the chair, vice chair, past chair, advisor, and other members to complete the charges for the year.
- Records the proceedings of all meetings of the APF.
- Must participate in monthly conference calls that will be determined based on the availability of the APF Leadership Council.
- Make an effort to attend the Laboratory Legislative Symposium, September 30-October 1, 2024, in Alexandria, Virginia, and the ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting, June 8-12, 2025, in Sacramento, California.
Diversity Advocacy Council Call for Officer Nominations
Deadline: June 7
The ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council (DAC) is seeking nominees for the position of secretary for a partial one-year term.
The secretary shall record and keep in permanent form the minutes of all meetings of the DAC; keeping records of board actions, including overseeing the taking of minutes at all board meetings, sending out meeting announcements, distributing copies of minutes and the agenda to each board member, and assuring that DAC records are maintained.
The secretary of the council can serve a maximum of two (2) two-year terms. This partial one-year term will expire in 2025.
Learn more and submit your nominations by June 7, 2024.
CDC OneLabTM
Free Training Resources Recently Released
OneLab is an initiative developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Division of Laboratory Systems to bridge, train, and sustain a capacity-building community among laboratory professionals and testers to collectively support rapid, large-scale responses to public health emergencies.
The OneLab Rapid Education and Capacity-building Hub (REACH) is a laboratory education and training learning management system specifically designed and tailored for the needs of clinical and public health laboratory professionals. OneLab REACHTM supports the laboratory community by providing relevant and timely education and training resources, including the following.
Fundamentals of Handling Compressed Gas Cylinders Safely
In this basic-level online course, you will learn the physical and chemical hazards associated with compressed gas and compressed gas cylinders, control measures to mitigate risks, and how to work safely with compressed gases and gas cylinders in the laboratory.
Basic microscopy microlearning video job aids
- Basic Microscopy—Cleaning the Microscope
- Basic Microscopy—Focusing the Microscope
- Basic Microscopy—Microscope Components
- Basic Microscopy—Ocular Micrometer Calibration
- Basic Microscopy—Setting Up the Microscope
Introducing OneLab VR!
OneLab is thrilled to present its new virtual reality (VR) environment. Learners can take on-demand VR training or use the space to deliver live training to their own staff. With 12 different laboratories and a 50,000-square-foot virtual facility, OneLab VR empowers laboratory professionals to apply, assess, and improve their skills in a safe and controlled learning environment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Laboratory Systems is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.
OneLab™ and OneLab REACH™ are registered trademarks of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
New Episode of Off the Bench Podcast
Subscribe to the Off the Bench Podcast for discussions on scientific and not-so-scientific ideas in laboratory medicine. New episodes drop the last Friday of each month.
On the March 29 episode, hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding spoke with Letycia Nuñez-Argote, PhD, CPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, about the ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council, the 2024 ASCLS PRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum Book Club, and how we can always be improving and learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion and how we see the world. Special thanks go out to our episode sponsor, the University of Cincinnati Online.
Subscribe to the podcast through Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Voices Under 40
Spotlight: Tiffany Wafford, MS, MLS(ASCP)SBB, La Vernia, Texas
Tiffany serves as a course director for immunohematology and other courses for the Bachelor’s and Master’s in Medical Laboratory Science Program. Tiffany is involved in numerous committees within the university. She is currently a member of the Program Review and Outcomes Assessment Committee, Research Development Committee, Teaching Excellence Committee, MLS Student Progress Committee, and MLS Admissions Committee. In addition, Tiffany advises first year students for professional behaviors and academic progress. Tiffany is involved in mentoring students for research project development and execution.
Tiffany has been actively involved in numerous professional organizations. She has held leadership roles in South Central Association of Blood Banks (SCABB) and is currently serving as chair of the Texas ASCLS Membership Committee. Read more.
ASCLS Voices Under 40 honors ASCLS members who have shown exceptional commitment to the Society, the laboratory profession, and their community at large at a younger age in their professional career. Each month we spotlight one of the shining voices who were selected from many nominations across the country.
Local Events
Check out events happening in ASCLS constituent societies.
ASCLS-Idaho Student Focused Event
April 23
Twin Falls, Idaho
ASCLS-Idaho Meet & Mingle Event
April 24
Garden City, Idaho
2024 ASCLS-North Dakota State Meeting
April 26-27
Bismarck, North Dakota
ASCLS-Oklahoma Spring Seminar
April 27
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
2024 ASCLS-Pennsylvania Spring Meeting
May 5-6
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
ASCLS-New York Spring Seminar
June 7
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Welcome New Members
We’re happy to welcome 108 individuals who joined ASCLS in the past month.
Sustaining Member
Susan Moran, CO
Professional Members
Karen Asta, NJ
Nicole Barnick, MO
Liliveth Castano, RI
Rebecca Cummings, NC
Micah Jones, NJ
Suk Yul Jung, AR
Kahul Patel, NJ
Kate Pendleton, IA
Jennifer Sekol, MI
Maria Somera-Overly, CA
Elaine Staley, TN
Hallie Steppler, MT
Jennifer Walsh, TN
Rachel Whalen, MI
Ascending Professional Members
Trinitaria Altschul, MA
Danielle Burroughs, FL
Bryce Glover, NC
Megan Heaps, UT
Ariel Hernandez, TX
Stephanie Roddy, VT
Yuriana Ruiz, CA
Katherine Towle, MO
Developing Professional Members
Mia Abella, HI
Ashley Archer, MI
Abbiana Arenas, FL
Jennifer Argo, TX
Lucero Baca, NM
Jessa Mae Baclaan, HI
Jay Mark Ballesteros, HI
Marivel Burnett, HI
Evan Calloway, NC
Marisol Castro, NJ
Jazmin Cavender, MO
Joseph Cavuoti, TX
Brandy Chen, HI
Jane Cho, HI
Kathryn Cochran, NC
Kathleen Cook, NC
Hannah Currie, NC
Samantha Dalton, NC
Corey Daughenbaugh, MO
Michaela Davidson
Jessica Davis, KS
Clarisse Dela Cruz, HI
Victoria DeMeola, NJ
Brooke Dennis, MI
Margaret Dinerstein, UT
Tiffany Easter, AR
Loren Eastman, NC
Kayla Edwards, UT
Kaelie Ellis, NJ
Kendall Enomoto, HI
Mary Eroh, PA
Lily Amina Feliciano, HI
Lucy Fine, MO
Melissa Foxhoven, MT
Samantha Guzman, NJ
Grace Gyolai, WI
Miles Harris, PA
Stephanie Harwood, NC
Rachel Hua, CA
Johnny Huang, HI
Natalie Ishioka, MI
Patrick Jackson, NC
Sierra Kaibel, MT
Gerard Kampf, NY
Mia Kim, NJ
Tia Kukahiko, HI
Virginia LaFosse, NC
Samantha Leemhuis, MI
Cory Leonard, TN
Kelly Li, HI
Tao Liu, HI
Ma. Nizandra Angelica Lunes, HI
Cain Macias, TX
Brandon Madamba, HI
Carol Maldonado, FL
Alejandra Mantilla, NJ
Kiya McCall, NC
Alison McLean, NC
Ava Moats-Landis, OH
Hope Mozzoni, DE
Daniel Nielson, NC
Joy Pajardo, HI
Parul Patel, PA
Coleton Patrick, UT
Emilio Pineda, TX
Rachel Rogers, KY
Luz Rubio, NV
Zoe Ryder-O’Malley, NC
Nicole Sarmiento, HI
Ryan Sueoka, HI
Melinda Sullivan, NC
Keira Sumoba, HI
Amalie Suttie, OR
May Tadeo, HI
Gabrielle Tumaneng, NJ
Mary Tyler, MO
Victoria Valadez, NC
Astrea White, CA
Dawn Williams Tox, NC
Ryan Williamson, ID
Brian Xiong, NC
Angela Yao, HI
Anna Zaikina, NC
Community Members
Joe Prillmayer, KY
Ranika Singh, CA
Connect: The Community Conversations
ASCLS Connect is an invaluable platform to ask questions, share feedback, and stay connected with your community of laboratorians. Here are some of the recent discussions you may have missed.
The Membership Committee posts “Membership Mondays” questions each week to spur discussion and get to know fellow ASCLS members. Recent questions were:
- What are you doing to celebrate Lab Week?
- In honor of World Hemophilia Day, what has been your experience with hemophilia in your career?
- What is your most treasured way to celebrate spring?
- For Women’s History Month, share a woman (or women) you’d like to honor.
In the Open Forum, members have been sharing Medical Laboratory Professionals Week proclamations from their states and cities.
In the Clinical Laboratory Educators Forum, members shared ideas for celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week with their students and discussed recruiting for an advisory board.
Also in the Open Forum, members advised on laboratory information system options.