ASCLS submits comments and recommendations on the Standard Occupational Classification, new Laboratory Professionals Leadership Certificate Program, 2024 Labvocate Symposium early bird discount ends August 29, registration and travel scholarships available for Labvocate Symposium, opportunities to speak at ASCLS events, and more.
ASCLS Submits Comments and Recommendations on the Standard Occupational Classification
The Bureau of Labor Statistics opened a comment period in June with a deadline of August 12 for comment on the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). The ASCLS Board of Directors supports the standardization of nomenclature within the laboratory profession. ASCLS President Pat Tille signed a letter supporting our recommendations that addressed the SOC-Updates for 2028 (BLS-2024-0001), which was submitted August 12. The following is an excerpt from the letter.
“The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, on behalf of its members and other stakeholders drawn from a broad representation of the clinical laboratory community, is writing to request that that the Standard Occupation Classification Policy Committee (SOCPC) make the following changes to the Standard Occupational Classification in 2028, clarifying how medical laboratory professionals should be accurately coded.
“Our recommendations are consistent with the intent of the SOC, which is ‘designed to reflect the current occupational composition of the United States …’ Updating these titles is necessary to bring about accurate, recognized and unified nomenclature, which is critical to improving the professional visibility and recruitment efforts of these essential healthcare professionals, while improving data collection for these occupations.” Read more.
ASCLS Offers New Laboratory Professionals Leadership Certificate Program
Online Self-Study Courses that Cover Core Leadership Topics
Are you thinking of applying for your first supervisory or management position? Have you been asked to lead a committee or task force for your organization? The Laboratory Leadership Professionals Certificate can help you gain the confidence you desire to reach your goals and potential. The curriculum encompasses a curated core of leadership topics for professionals preparing for first forays into leadership or for those early in their leadership experiences. As such, the courses do not require any prerequisite knowledge or prior preparation in leadership. The skills and knowledge acquired are applicable to the workplace, community groups, or professional societies.
The certificate curriculum includes six courses:
- Visioning, Problem-solving and Decision Making – Key Skills for Laboratory Leaders
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills for Leaders
- Fundamentals of Leadership for Laboratory Professionals
- Leadership Ethics
- Leading with Professionalism
- Leading a Diverse and Inclusive Group
The courses may be completed in the order of your choosing. Upon successful completion of all six courses, you will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate program is being offered at a discounted rate of $50 for members through December 31, 2024.
Thank you to the ASCLS Leadership Development Committee, who worked hard to develop this valuable program.
Upcoming Events
2024 Labvocate Symposium Early Bird Discount Ends August 29
September 30-October 1 | Alexandria, Virginia, or Virtual
The annual Labvocate Symposium (formerly called the Laboratory Legislative Symposium) gives you the chance to come together with medical laboratory professionals from six laboratory organizations and make our concerns known inside Congress.
Designed for advocacy neophytes to experts, the Symposium will provide information on the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA) and how it would address the negative impacts of PAMA; proposed legislation to support the medical laboratory workforce; and the basics of how a bill becomes a law.
Attendees are also coached on presentation techniques so you can effectively talk to your congressional representatives and their staff. You will come away from the two-day event with first-hand knowledge of the political system in action and confidence that you can make a difference.
New this year, all ASCLS Developing Professional members can attend Labvocate 2024 virtually for free.
This year’s event will be held September 30-October 1 at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia. In-person and virtual attendee options are available. Sign up by August 29 and save with the Early Bird discount.
Registration and Travel Scholarships Available for Labvocate Symposium
The Ascending Professionals and Developing Professionals Forums will award at least two $750 scholarships per forum to be used towards travel and registration for Ascending and Developing Professionals attending the Labvocate Symposium, either in-person or virtually. The exact breakdown of these scholarships will be determined by the number of applicants and their preference of attendance.
To be considered, you must be a current ASCLS Developing Professional and Ascending Professional member and be registered for the Labvcoate Symposium, either virtually or in-person, at the time of application. Apply by September 1.
Support Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA)
ASCLS is proud to be part of the Stop Lab Cuts campaign in support of the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA), which would prevent an up to 15 percent payment cut to laboratory tests, protect patient access to laboratory services, and ensure a robust health care infrastructure.
SALSA is bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would simplify the data reporting process by providing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with the authority to collect data from a statistical sampling of all major types of laboratories that provide services to seniors, including independent, hospital, and physician office laboratories. This would achieve accurate and sustainable Medicare rates for laboratory services, ensuring a strong clinical laboratory infrastructure to protect public health and innovation in tomorrow’s diagnostics.
Here’s how you can support the SALSA:
- Take two minutes to visit StopLabCuts.org and Take Action to let your member of Congress know that protecting access to clinical laboratory services is important to you.
- Share your support for SALSA on social media using these sample graphics.
- Attend the 2024 Labvocate Symposium, September 30-October 1, for in-depth information about SALSA and PAMA, as well as coaching on how to speak with legislators about the importance of passing SALSA.
Opportunities to Share Your Experiences and Expertise at ASCLS Events
Submit Session Proposals or Ideas for the 2025 Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference
The Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC2) Steering Committee is currently accepting full proposals, as well as ideas, for sessions for the 2025 program. Session topics or themes include personnel/human resources, financial management, workplace culture, operations and automation, compliance and regulations, and ethics. Submit your session proposal or idea by September 30.
Save the date for the 2025 ELMC2: January 24-25. The all-virtual ELMC2 is designed specifically for medical laboratory professionals to help you transition into and thrive in management roles.
ELMC2 provides two days of programming (live and streamed for up to 30 days after the live event), up to 20 hours of P.A.C.E.® credit, networking events, access to an attendees-only online community, and follow up programming expected to take place 6-12 weeks after the conclusion of the virtual conference, as well as special meet-ups at the ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting in June.
Call for 2025 Joint Annual Meeting Session Proposals
The Joint Annual Meeting Steering Committee is now accepting scientific session proposals for the 2025 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM), to be held June 8-12 in Sacramento, California. Submit your session proposals by October 19.
All confirmed speakers are eligible for registration discounts. You do not have to be an ASCLS, AGT, or SAFMLS member to submit a proposal, and multiple proposals may be submitted per speaker.
The JAM Steering Committee is looking for proposals that cover a diverse group of topics related to medical laboratory science, such as scientific advancements, best practices, management, and professional development. Send in your session proposals and please invite laboratory professionals and colleagues who are compelling presenters and leaders in their field to share their expertise as well.
Share Your Favorite Potluck Recipes
The ASCLS Marketing & Communications Committee is compiling a digital cookbook of recipes for potlucks that have been lab-tested and approved by you! The 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. Submit your favorite recipes today.
Free CDC OneLab™ Resources
Tools and Strategies for Increasing Learner Engagement
August 28, 11 am-12 pm ET | Webinar
The goal of this webinar is to discuss tools, practices, and strategies to help laboratory trainers increase learner engagement before, during, and after training. Increasing learners’ engagement empowers trainers to increase their capacity to train their laboratory staff. This webinar will also facilitate the exchange of ideas among the Training of Trainers (ToT) community of practice.
“Ready? Set? Test!” Patient Testing Is Important. Get the Right Result. Session 1
August 28, 12-1 pm ET | Webinar
Each year 14 billion laboratory tests drive the majority of medical decisions. Many of these tests do not require routine regulatory oversight under a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Certificate of Waiver from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The “Ready? Set? Test!” free resources equip testing personnel with the basic training they need to perform waived patient testing safely and accurately and ensure reliable, high-quality test results. This event will highlight the “Ready? Set? Test!” resources and waived testing best practices for professionals and volunteers who perform or coordinate waived testing at non-traditional sites or settings (e.g., nursing homes, clinics, and jails).
Fundamentals of Quality Management Systems
Online Course
This basic-level course provides information on the key elements of laboratory quality management systems for external clinical and public health laboratory professionals and is approved for 1.0 contact hour of P.A.C.E.® credit.
At the end of this course, learners should be able to:
- Identify three benefits of a laboratory quality management system (QMS)
- Describe the basic process of implementing a laboratory QMS
- Describe their role and responsibilities as a team member implementing laboratory QMS
- Identify the 12 quality system essentials (QSE)
About OneLab
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 REACH supports the laboratory community by providing relevant and timely education and training resources.
CDC’s OneLab Network provides opportunities for education and training, as well as a space for collaboration between clinical, public health, individuals who perform or coordinate testing at non-laboratory sites, and CDC laboratory education and training professionals.
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).
Voices Under 40
Spotlight: Ellis McVoy, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, Sherwood, Arkansas
Ellis is the manager of laboratory operations at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. At Arkansas Children’s Hospital, he works and collaborates with department managers in directing compliance with policies, procedures and best practices in support of optimal performance of the laboratory. He also works directly with the laboratory admin director in the execution of initiatives supporting the laboratory strategic plan. Beyond his job-specific duties, Ellis has also served as the quality management representative of the Transfusion Committee, ED Blood Culture Contamination Reduction Committee leader, ED Length of Stay Reduction Committee leader, and quality management representative for the ED Quality Committee.
Ellis’ first ASCLS exposure was as a student attending the ASCLS-Arkansas conference. Since then, he has accomplished so much for the organization and the profession at large, participating in many career fairs, laboratory presentations, and even securing multiple Lab Week proclamations for Arkansas. 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
ASCLS-Michigan Summer Social
August 24
Holt, Michigan
2024 Hawaii Clinical Laboratory Conference (HCLC)
September 20-21
Honolulu, Hawaii
ASCLS Region V Meeting
October 10-11
Fargo, North Dakota
2024 Northeast Laboratory Conference (ASCLS-Maine)
October 15-16
Portland, Maine
Northwest Medical Laboratory Symposium (ASCLS-Washington and ASCLS-Oregon)
October 24-25
Virtual
Welcome New Members
We’re happy to welcome 81 individuals who joined ASCLS in the past month.
Professional Members
Johnson Agwu Anthony, NC
Kirsten Bultman, IA
JoHanna Caylor, IA
Lisa Cook, WA
Siddra Dar, PA
Bailey Hicks, CO
Kyle House, NE
Ingrid Jones, OK
Rita Khongphatthana, OH
Karyn Kodama, HI
Jaedyn Mauck, IA
Romulo Mendoza, NY
Nicole Montague, MO
Rukayat Oni, WI
Katelynn Perry, AL
Samsondeen Rajee, NC
Jennifer Rousseau, OR
Maria Saez-Buenaobra, IL
Wisdon Seshie, CT
John Sutter, CA
Gregory Urbanowitz, WI
Enerva Villa, IA
Katie Wilkinson, KY
Ascending Professional Members
Steven Albergine, WA
Zahrea Baisey-Butler, NC
Jennifer Blake, OK
Gillian D’Onofrio, NY
Lisa Edwards, NC
Minh Nam Nguyen, NY
Donna Orwan, PA
Rebecca Thompson, WI
Developing Professional Members
Ramla Abdulahi, MN
Melissa Acevedo, TN
River Adams, CO
Stephany Aguilar Meza, NJ
Zahraa Al Issa, MN
Ali Ali, MN
Margarita Anastasiou, NV
Trevor Anderson, PA
Lance Arbilo, TX
Kaitlyn Bachmann, WI
Daniela Basave, NY
Brittney Bauer, OH
Zipporah Bean, MS
Neha Bist, OH
Ian Black, OH
Yesenia Blanco, NY
Danielle Bonner, TN
Abigail Brack, WI
Tess Breiholz, NC
Sydney Broucek, OH
Autumn Buck, PA
Yureli Bustos Flores, TX
Brenna Byars, MI
Lily Cahalan, MN
Reyna Cano Garcia, NY
Azucena Carranza-Arroyo, CO
Bianka Castaneda, OH
Brianna Cavallo, NY
Trisa Chacko, PA
Claire Choroba, MI
Rachel Coblentz, VA
William Collier, TN
Sydney Cramer, MI
Quinn Dahlen, MN
Elijah Dayton, MN
Triccia Delos Santos, MN
Kylie Dennis, FL
Khushi Desai, PA
Terrica DeShields, TN
Michael DiFiore, NJ
Madison Drager, PA
Mackenzie Dunn, OH
Olivia Eddy, MN
Chyann Emmett, FL
Sarah Evans, PA
Matthew Fehrle, PA
Paige Felton, PA
Ashelee Ferguson, NY
Joeson Fosah, TX
Alicia Fox, PA
Carly Frierdich, MI
Shannon Garrity, MN
Ryan Gonia, TN
Stephanie Gordon, GA
Emma Gorman, WI
Larissa Gotfrey, IL
Nicole Grant, WI
Ashlee Green, OH
Wanda Green, CO
Nevaya Gurung, MN
April Harrington, MN
Lauren Hartman, PA
Reema Hassan, NJ
Kylie Hawley, TX
Danielle Herouvis, OH
Katlyn Hilbert, PA
Daniella Hosack, OH
Cora Huls, MN
Vi Huynh, MI
Mehik Iqbal, NC
Tessa Johnson, CA
Dahyun Jung, NY
Jessica Kang, TN
Jacquelyn Kearns, OH
Sydney Keith, TN
Nicholas Kelly, CO
Natalie Kiconco, MN
Madison Kodis, PA
Vikram Koti, GA
Emily LaCasse, MN
Seth Laidley, CA
Alyssa Lambert, VT
Alyssa Lambrecht, IL
Joseph Lauria, NY
Katie Learn, OH
Mya Lego, MN
Yuliya Lester, OH
Christina Lewis, PA
Justin Li, NY
Montgomery Lin, TN
Natalia Lizardo, NY
Titita Loudtragulngam, OH
Claudia Macias, CO
Caitlin Manion, IL
Carissa Manthie, MN
Sydney Mares, MN
Jessica Martinez, TN
Andrea McCann, OK
Alejandro Medina, NY
Brianna Mercado, CO
Sophia Miao, NY
Najah Mohamed, MN
Jade Morgan, TN
Kelsey Mosher, AR
Genesis Nelson, PA
Don Nguyen, MN
Jessica Nhan, CA
Mya Olivo, MN
Alexia Ostrander, OH
Michelle Paulsen, MN
Marissa Perry, KY
Giang Pham, MN
Arturo Picaso, AR
Sara Povolny, MN
Zaina Rashid, MN
Ryan Reinking, MN
Rachel Rhein, MN
Makayla Rhodes, PA
Abigail Robertson, TX
Alexa Rocha, TX
Alondra Rodriguez, MI
Duncan Rose, WI
Jenna Rubertucci, PA
Mya Ruch, TN
Elena Ruiz-Reyes, WI
Lubaba Safi, MN
Elisabeth Salazar, NY
Kierstin Schroeder, WI
Esther Seiter, GA
Chokey Sharma, MN
Sydney Sharon, MI
Joshua Kent Sicangco, WA
Analise Smee, MN
Sarah Sookhansingh, OH
Angelica Stack, NY
Meghan Stoltzman, MN
Savannah Stuelke, MN
Chen Sun, MN
Alicia Surface, MO
Panisara Sutthipong, TX
Natalie Swingler, PA
Alivia Taylor, OH
Veronica Taylor, NE
Walker Temperton, PA
Laura Teunion-Smith, OH
See Thao, MN
Faith Thompson, OH
Sydney Thompson, TN
Lisa Truong, MI
Katarzyna Trzesniewski, NY
Maxwell Valeriano, PA
Riley Walker, UT
Ashley Walton, MN
Carley Wardlow, TN
Adrienne West, NY
Fiona Whitman, PA
Sara Williams, TN
Eindre Win, OH
Rebecca Witty, TN
Olivia Wolcott, MN
Ina Xhelilaj, MN
Shawn Yasui, MN
Jennifer Yeon, CA
Natalie Young, OH
Xi Yu, AR
Community Member
Emma Brackens, TX
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 was your favorite Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) experience?
- How do you prefer to talk shop outside your lab?
In the Immunology/Immunohematology Scientific Assembly, members shared advice on SBB or a transfusion masters degree programs.
In the Hematology/Hemostasis Scientific Assembly, a member collected information about bronchial alveolar lavage (bal), and another received recommendations for hematology textbooks.
In the Clinical Laboratory Educators Forum, members answered questions regarding California CLS licensure for out of state students.
In the Open Forum, members discussed the Bureau of Labor Statistics opened a comment period for comment on the Standard Occupational Classification and how to respond before the August 12 deadline.
Also in the Open Forum, a member started a “Hot Topic Tuesday” discussion on Utilization of AI in Diagnostic Laboratory Testing.
Members also congratulated member Darby Naheedy, who earned the CAP Distinguished Medical Student Award, and ASCLS Director Ali Nussbaum, who was named recipient of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
Key Dates
Labvocate Symposium Early Bird Registration Deadline
August 29
Labvocate Symposium Travel and Registration Scholarship Deadline
September 1
Labvocate Symposium Regular Registration Deadline
September 16