Thousands celebrate Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, #Labovcate for the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA), upcoming ASCLS events, and more.
Time to Renew Your Membership
ASCLS has already begun the 2023-24 membership renewal season. Thank you to the over 1,000 members who have already signed up for the next Society year, saving significant resources that would have been spent on paper mailings.
For those of you who have not yet renewed, paper notices will arrive by mail in the next few weeks. Renew your membership by July 31 to ensure access to your membership benefits and to maintain your continued membership status. Thank you for your support of ASCLS, and we look forward to another year of connecting with our medical laboratory community.
2023 Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
Lab Week Run
More than 1,800 people participated in the sold out 8th Annual ASCLS Lab Week Run and raised about $52,000 for ASCLS Developing and Ascending Professionals scholarships. Thank you to our Platinum Sponsors Cerus and Sekisui Diagnostics and to everyone who participated and shared your photos and race times. Congratulations!
Lab Week Photo Challenge
This year for Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, ASCLS hosted a fun photo challenge where laboratorians could share photos and show off their labs. We received 61 total submissions, and 1,645 people voted on their favorite photos during Lab Week. Congratulations to our winners in each category, who each won a $50 gift card.
The Bestest Lab: “Stop looking at the Walls, look out the Window!” submitted by Gregory Bass
The Slide of Fame: “Live, Lab, Love” submitted by Ashley Smith
The Fungis in the Lab: “WJMC Lab Rats Class of 2023” submitted by Angela Sanders
Thanks to everyone who submitted photos and who voted for their favorites during Lab Week.
Lab Week Proclamations
ASCLS members in Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, among others, had governors, mayors, or other elected officials sign proclamations that April 23-29, 2023, is Medical Laboratory Professionals Week.
ASCLS/ACLA Lab Week Partnership
Together, ASCLS and the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) developed a social media toolkit in observance of Medical Laboratory Professionals Week to highlight the essential work of America’s laboratory professionals. This content also reiterated the importance of passing the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA) before the end of this year to ensure access to necessary laboratory services for America’s seniors. Thanks to everyone who shared the images and messages on your social media accounts. We reached over 5,600 people on Twitter, more than 13,000 on Facebook, and 27,000 on LinkedIn!
More Lab Week Fun
The ASCLS Marketing and Communications Committee also put together a series of fun games, activities, and quizzes that were posted on social media throughout Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. If you missed them during Lab Week, there’s still time to find out your bacteria name, which lab department you are, and more!
- What Is Your Bacteria Name? Game
- What Lab Department Are You? Quiz
- Design Your Own Scrubs Coloring Page
- Which ASCLS Conference Are You? Quiz
- Which is Older? Game
- Which is Older? Answer Key
- Conflict Resolution Cell Style Quiz
Labvocate for Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA)
The Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA) will repair a flawed data reporting and rate setting methodology put in place by the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) of 2014 and set the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) back on a sustainable path by requiring market rates from all laboratory segments for widely available tests.
ASCLS is coordinating with our colleagues in the rest of the clinical laboratory community and supporting the Stop Lab Cuts campaign with resources and opportunities to take action, in our effort to permanently fix this problem.
As of May 10, 25 members of Congress are sponsoring SALSA. If your senator or representative is not on the list, take action and ask them to be a co-sponsor. You’ll find more helpful resources on stoplabcuts.org.
Without Congressional action, clinical laboratories will face a major, devastating cut in reimbursement via Medicare that will flow directly into most private-payor contracts. Be an active labvocate for passage and encourage every laboratory professional you know to do the same.
Upcoming Events
Gather with Laboratory Professionals from all Facets of Medical Laboratory Science
June 26-30 | Providence, RI or Virtual
The 2023 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) is the premier gathering of medical laboratory professionals to share our knowledge, research, and best practices, as well as connect with friends and colleagues in the medical laboratory community. The educational program will provide you about 60 hours of P.A.C.E.®-approved continuing education. Scientific sessions span Chemistry/Urinalysis to Microbiology/Public Health, Hematology/Hemostasis to Molecular and Biochemical Genetics, Phlebotomy to Generalist/Interdisciplinary, and much more. Browse the educational sessions.
The 2023 JAM will again offer flexibility with two attendee options—in-person and virtual. Sign up by June 9 and save.
In-Person Attendance: JAM will be held at the Omni Providence Hotel and Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island. 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 60 hours of P.A.C.E.®-approved credit.
Virtual Attendance: You will have access to the nearly 60 educational sessions, either streamed live or recorded; industry partner virtual activities; virtual poster presentations; and virtual networking events. 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.
Race to JAM Student Trivia Finals
Race to JAM Student Trivia FinalsJune 26, 5 pm ET, Providence, RI
Race to JAM is a national trivia competition hosted by the ASCLS Developing Professionals Forum. Preliminary rounds were conducted over Zoom in April and the top two teams—Rush University and Houston Methodist Hospital MLS Program—are going head-to-head in the finals in-person at this year’s Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) in Providence, Rhode Island.
Throughout the competition, questions were asked in all subject areas of medical laboratory science with varying degrees of difficulty and point allocations. The finals will consist of two rounds of play, and the team with the highest number of points after those rounds will be crowned the winner. If you’re coming to JAM this year, add the Race to JAM Finals to your schedule.
Molecular Biology Board Certification Preparation Course
Monday, June 26, 8 am-6 pm ET
Call for CLEC 2024 Session Proposals
The Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC) Steering Committee is currently accepting session proposals for CLEC 2024. The submission deadline is June 11.
CLEC 2024 will be held February 22-24 in Las Vegas at the Westgate Las Vegas. Share your knowledge, experiences, and perspectives on a variety of topics, including educational methodologies, teaching strategies, student centered issues, program management/administration, and faculty development. All educational sessions will be presented in-person.
As part of the evaluation survey for CLEC 2023, attendees were asked for recommended topics or session ideas for the CLEC 2024 program. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in presenting one of these topics or something similar, be sure to send in your proposal.
Free OneLab Virtual Event
Biosafety Practices and Reporting Occupational Exposures to Select Agents and Toxins
Wednesday, May 31, 1 pm ET | Virtual
Description: Learn how to report select agent and toxin identifications and how to recognize and report release or occupational exposure incidents. This presentation will address biosafety and other considerations when identifying bacterial select agents and toxins using Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS).
Attendees may be eligible to receive P.A.C.E.® credit. This 60-minute virtual session is the second webinar in a two-part series and is suitable for basic-level learners.
This webinar is offered as part of the CDC’s OneLab Network. This network provides opportunities for education and training, as well as a space for collaboration between clinical, public health, and CDC laboratory education and training professionals.
Additionally, the CDC’s OneLab REACH™ [supports the laboratory community by providing relevant and timely education and training resources.
Developing and Ascending Professionals Forums Seeking Officer Nominations
Deadline: May 31
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, 2023.
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, October 21-22, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Saturday and Sunday before Laboratory Legislative Symposium).
- Requires participation in the ASCLS BOD Interim Meeting (virtual) in Spring 2024—typically on a Sunday afternoon in March.
- Requires travel to the July 7-11, 2024, Joint Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- 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, October 23-24, 2023, in Alexandria, Virginia, and the ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting, July 7-11, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- 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—two-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, October 23-24, 2023, in Alexandria, Virginia, and the ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting, July 7-11, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Diversity Advocacy Council Call for Officer Nominations
Deadline May 31
Learn more and submit your nomination
The ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council (DAC) is seeking nominees for the positions of vice-chair and secretary.
Vice-chair: The vice-chair will serve in the absence of the chair. The vice-chair shall assist the chair in the discharge of his/her duties. In the event of a vacancy in the position of the chair, the vice chair shall assume the duties of the chair for the unexpired term of the office. The vice-chair shall function in the capacity of program chairperson.
The vice-chair serves a one- (1-) year term beginning and ending with the ASCLS House of Delegates Meeting, held this year on June 30, 2023. The vice-chair will succeed to chair in their second year, then past chair in their final year of the three-year commitment.
Secretary: 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 is elected for a two- (2-) year term, and can serve a maximum of two (2) terms.
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.
What do MDMA, Ketamine, Psilocybin, and DMT have in common? All four previously considered as “drugs of abuse” are now moving into the therapeutic space for life affirming treatments. In the April 28 episode, host Galina Dronova and Dr. Frederick Strathmann discuss the current limitations of laboratory testing and what the future holds. Special thanks go out to our episode sponsor, the University of Cincinnati Online.
Subscribe to the podcast through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify.
Voices Under 40
Spotlight: Kemorine Roberts, MLS(ASCP)CM, Atlanta, Georgia
Kemorine is employed by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta as the urgent care manager. In her role at Children’s Healthcare, she is responsible for the operations and functioning of six (soon to be eight) urgent care laboratories around the metro Atlanta area. She works together with the other system managers to support the function of the entire laboratory system. Specifically for the urgent care locations, she provides daily operational support for her team leads and direct communication between the technologists performing the testing and the physicians servicing the patients.
Kemorine has served ASCLS in many capacities, including Political Action Committee (PAC) Region II representative; Diversity Advocacy Council (DAC) representative; ASCLS-Georgia president-elect, president, past president, and secretary; and she currently sits on the national Nominations Committee. Kemorine is also an ASCLS Leadership Academy graduate. 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.
Welcome New Member
Ryan Tom, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, Middletown, New York
In the #IamASCLS-Introduce Yourself Community, Ryan described how and why he joined the medical laboratory:
“I was looking through the professions that Kean University had to offer. I eventually stumbled upon the Medical Laboratory Science field. I did not understand what the career entailed, so I spoke to the director of the undergrad department, who later became my advisor. It’s great when one profession allows you to take many different routes. You could work in the common areas, such as the hematology or the blood bank department. There are also specialized departments, such as cytotechnology and immunology. With this much versatility, I knew I had found the right career.” Connect with Ryan.
Local Events
Save the dates for upcoming local meetings.
ASCLS-New York Spring Seminar
June 16
Rochester, New York
ASCLS-Georgia/ASCLS-South Carolina Joint Annual Meeting
August 26
Augusta, Georgia
Connect: The Community Conversations
ASCLS Connect is an invaluable way 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. A recent question was:
- Members shared recommendations for MLT to MLS online Bachelor’s programs.
- Members Linda Smith and Kathy Doig posted a second PowerPoint presentation about the change of our professional title to MLS targeted to HR and administrators.
- In the Clinical Laboratory Educators Forum, members gave assistance on how to help students overcome the hurdle, that is math.
- Members advised on how to create a spreadsheet showing laboratory efficiency.
- Members gave feedback to the Health Care Reform Position Paper task force on an updated version of the 2012 Health Care Reform Position Paper.
- Member Jessica Lawless provides, The Lawless 5, a series of short, guided meditations.
Key Dates
2023 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting Regular Registration Deadline
June 9
2024 Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC) Session Proposal Deadline
June 11
2023 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting
Providence, RI, or Virtual
June 26-30