Time is Running out to Stop Lab Cuts and Protect Patient Care | ASCLS Joins 230 Medical Organizations to Urge Congressional Oversight of Changes to U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule | Apply for ASCLS Awards and Scholarships | Last Chance for CLEC 2026 Regular Registration Rate | and More
Time is Running out to Stop Lab Cuts and Protect Patient Care
Devastating reimbursement cuts under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) will be implemented on February 1, if no action is taken by Congress before the end of next January.
Yesterday, ASCLS, with the American Clinical Laboratory Association, presented a webinar for medical laboratory professionals on The Stakes of PAMA Reform. Presenters emphasized that continued PAMA implementation threatens patient access, laboratory sustainability, and accurate rate‑setting. These cuts will impact individual MLSs and MLTs with staffing challenges and increased workloads; deferred investment for instrumentation and quality systems; and limited opportunities for training, career advancement, and wage growth.
They advocated for passage of the bipartisan RESULTS Act, which would modernize data collection, reduce administrative burden, freeze 2025 rates, and establish guardrails to prevent destabilizing future cuts.
Now is the time to make your voice heard! Visit StopLabCuts.org for a quick and easy-to-use TAKE ACTION platform to contact your members of Congress.
Spread the word to your colleagues, family, and friends, and encourage them to take action as well. We will all be impacted if these cuts are implemented on February 1.
ASCLS Joins 230 Medical Organizations to Urge Congressional Oversight of Changes to U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule
On January 9, ASCLS joined the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and 230 other organizations to sign on to a letter urging Congress to conduct swift and robust oversight regarding the abrupt changes to the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule announced on Jan. 5, 2026.
These changes were made without scientific justification or the standard process, which ensures transparency and input from the public and key stakeholders. The letter urges Congress to investigate why the schedule was changed, why credible scientific evidence was ignored, and why the committee charged with advising the HHS Secretary on immunizations did not discuss the schedule changes as a part of their public meeting process.
“This is an important issue where there is strong consensus amongst medical and public health professionals,” stated ASCLS President Dr. Kyle B. Riding. “ASCLS continues to use its advocacy agenda to join coalitions that have the potential to make tremendous impact.”
Apply for ASCLS Awards and Scholarships
Awards Nominations Due March 15
Each year, ASCLS honors the medical laboratory professionals who make our Society stronger, our profession more vibrant, and our patient care better. A wide range of awards are open now, offering meaningful opportunities for recognition, career advancement, and professional visibility.
Submit your nominations for the following awards by March 15.
- Ascending Professional Leadership and Achievement Awards
- Community Engagement Award
- Developing Professional Leadership and Achievement Awards
- Pinnacle Award
- Scientific Research Award
- Theriot Award (for media and equipment development)
Details for applying for these awards and the link to submit applications are on the Awards and Scholarships webpage. Questions can be addressed to awards@ascls.org.
Recognizing excellence strengthens the entire profession. Encourage your colleagues—and yourself—to apply or nominate deserving members. The ASCLS Awards Ceremony will be held June 30 at the 2026 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting in St. Louis.
Scholarships Available for Undergraduate and Graduate CLS Students
The Alpha Mu Tau Fraternity and ASCLS Education & Research (E&R) Fund, Inc., support the advancement of medical laboratory professionals through graduate and undergraduate scholarships for clinical laboratory science students. Applicants for all scholarships must be ASCLS members. Applications are due by March 1.
Last Chance for CLEC 2026 Regular Registration Rate
February 5-7 | Bellevue, WA | Virtual
Be part of the single largest gathering of clinical laboratory educators—the 2026 Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC). Join nearly 600 of your peers who have already signed up, February 5-7 in Bellevue, Washington, or virtually. Save $60 when you sign up by January 21.
CLEC is the most impactful annual gathering for faculty, administrators, directors, advisers, and all in medical laboratory education. The program offers about 40 educational sessions that will explore new ways to enhance the student learning experience, demonstrate innovative teaching techniques, solve program management challenges, and so much more. Browse the educational sessions that will be offered at CLEC 2026.
Upcoming Events
Mid-Year ASCLS House of Delegates Meeting
January 18, 2 pm ET | Virtual
ASCLS will hold its sixth annual mid-year virtual meeting of the House of Delegates (HOD) on Sunday, January 18, at 2 pm Eastern. The agenda includes:
- President’s Update
- Finance Update
- Elections Committee
- Advocacy Agenda
- Constituent Society Policy
- Bylaws Regarding Regional Councils
Delegates, who began their term with the first session of the 2025-2026 House of Delegates in June 2025, will attend the meeting through a unique Zoom link sent directly to them. Any ASCLS member can watch the livestream on YouTube. Additional details will be shared on ASCLS Connect in January.
PRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum
Candid Conversation with Connie Mahon
The ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council (DAC) invites you to participate in the sixth annual PRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum. Join medical laboratory friends and colleagues as we celebrate and ignite discussions regarding diversity in the profession and the inequities in our healthcare system.
The first 2026 PRISM event will be a Candid Conversation with Connie Mahon. Connie Mahon is a Filipino immigrant, clinical microbiologist, and educator whose career spans the bench, the classroom, and federal leadership. She brings a deeply personal commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion—shaped by her arrival in the United States 55 years ago, when she learned what it meant to navigate unfamiliar systems, work twice as hard to be seen, and find her footing in spaces where Asian voices were often overlooked.
These early experiences continue to inform her lifelong advocacy for belonging and equitable opportunity in the clinical laboratory profession. Throughout her career, Connie has championed access to mentorship, advancement, and leadership pathways, especially for immigrants, women, and professionals of color. Her work reflects a belief that inclusive practices are essential to building strong, resilient laboratory teams.
Webinar – The Mindful Medical Laboratorian
February 26, 1 pm ET | Virtual
Learn how the practice of mindfulness can be applied in the clinical laboratory setting to reduce errors. Topics will include “ancient wisdom” from our urinalysis analyzers, creation of your own personal maintenance plan, transition practices between work and home, mindful use of social media, and more.
Presenter: Kerry Toups, MS, MLS(ASCP), Fletcher Technical Community College
This webinar is free for ASCLS members ($10 for non-members). Preregistration is required. If you can’t attend live, register anyway—those who pre-register will receive access to the webinar recording.
Learning Objectives
- List key benefits associated with the practice of mindfulness.
- Describe ways to incorporate mindfulness into the clinical laboratory setting.
- Discuss the benefits of incorporating mindfulness into everyday tasks.
Instruction Level: Basic
ASCLS is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.
11th Annual ASCLS Lab Week Run
April 19-25, 2026
Step out of your labs and into your communities to help spread the word about the medical laboratory profession by participating in the ASCLS Lab Week Virtual Run.
This virtual race can be completed any time during Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (April 19-25, 2026) and anywhere. Participants can walk, use a treadmill, run outside, or even ride a bike to complete the 5K distance (or 3.1 miles). Organize a group run with friends and family, or go solo.
Early Bird Pricing is available through February 15. All proceeds go to scholarships that help medical laboratory professionals attend ASCLS meetings, advocate for the profession, and become future leaders in the field.
2026 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM)
June 28-July 2 | St. Louis or Virtual
ASCLS, the Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT), and Society of American Federal Medical Laboratory Scientists (SAFMLS) come together each summer for JAM, the premier gathering of laboratory professionals to share their knowledge, research, and best practices related to the field of laboratory science.
- Learn from about 50 P.A.C.E.®-approved scientific sessions from all three organizations.
- Network and socialize with peers from across the country and around the world.
- Explore exhibit booths from a wide range of industry partners.
- Attend in-person or virtually, and access session recordings for at least 30 days after the event.
Put it on your 2026 calendar, and get those PTO requests in soon.
Clinical Laboratory Science Journal Updates
New Content Available
As Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) journal prepares to release its first issue since 2024, at least seven articles were published ahead of print this month.
Stay tuned for additional information about the new issue coming soon.
Call for Manuscripts
CLS journal is currently soliciting manuscripts for publication.
Topics of interest include:
- Research findings related to the profession
- Findings from quality improvement projects undertaken in your facility
- Novel teaching methods
- Review articles of timely scientific topics
Learn more about how to submit manuscripts. If you have questions, please contact, CLS Editor-in-Chief Catherine Otto at clseditor@ascls.org.
Voices Under 40
Spotlight: Heather Santaniello, MB(ASCP), MLS(ASCP)CM, Kansas City, Kansas
Heather is the medical laboratory scientist at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Kansas City.
Heather has held many roles at the state and regional level, including ASCLS-Kansas chair of public relations from 2021 to 2025, president-elect from 2022 to 2024, president from 2024 to 2025, and Political Action Committee Board of Trustees for Region VI from 2021 to 2022. She has also served on several national committees, including the ASCLS Bioterrorism Preparedness Position Paper Task Force and the ASCLS Political Action Committee chair from 2022 to 2024.
Heather says that her dedication to improving patient care, fostering professional growth, and advocating for the importance of the laboratory field is what keeps her motivated within the laboratory and ASCLS. “It’s about community and collaboration; sharing knowledge, supporting peers, and driving progress within the laboratory.” 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 was selected from many nominations across the country.
New Off the Bench Podcast Episode
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 December 26 episode, hosts Sophia and Doryan take a look at the stats for the 2025 Off the Bench Season, and share upcoming events for 2026.
Subscribe to the podcast through Apple Podcasts , Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Latest Jobs
Clinical Laboratory Technologist
Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx County, New York
Assistant Professor of Medical Laboratory Science
Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Tanana Chiefs Conference
Fairbanks, Alaska
See more job openings on the ASCLS Career Center.
Local Events
ASCLS-Montana Labvocate Day Webinar
February 5
Virtual
Valentine’s Day Card Making
February 7
Denver, Colorado
Minnesota Clinical Laboratory Collaborative
March 19-20
Saint Paul, Minnesota
ASCLS-Idaho Spring Conference
April 2-3
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Missouri-Kansas Joint Conference and Exhibits
April 8-9
Overland Park, Kansas
ASCLS-Texas Annual State Convention
April 8-10
San Antonio, Texas
ASCLS-Michigan Annual Conference
April 12-14
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
ASCLS-Wisconsin State Convention
April 14-15
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Clinical Laboratory Collaborative Conference (ASCLS-Colorado and ASCLS-Wyoming)
April 16-17
Denver, Colorado
2026 Arkansas Laboratory Conference
April 17
Little Rock, Arkansas
2026 ColLABoration
April 28-29
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
ASCLS-New Jersey Spring Seminar & Expo
April 30
Somerset, New Jersey
ASCLS-Montana Spring Meeting
May 7-9
Anaconda, Montana
Key Dates
PRISM: Candid Conversation with Connie Mahon
Virtual
February 3
Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference Regular Registration Deadline
Bellevue, WA, or Virtual
January 21
Webinar – The Mindful Medical Laboratorian
Virtual
February 26