October 20 ASCLS webinar on sharing science; ASCLS publishes new Choosing Wisely recommendations; 2021 Joint Annual Meeting sessions available on demand; October 4 registration deadline for the Laboratory Legislative Symposium; new Off the Bench podcast episodes; and more.

ASCLS Free Monthly Webinar

Rachel MorrisSharing Science: Conference Poster Presentations

October 20, 8 pm Eastern

Speaker: Rachel Morris, PhD, MLT(ASCP)CM, Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program, Michigan State University 

Ever wanted to present an interesting case or a research project at a conference, but weren’t sure where to begin? Join us to learn how to create an engaging and accurate scientific poster, so you can share what you’ve learned in the lab with your colleagues.

Objectives:

  • List and describe the essential parts of a scientific poster.
  • Design an engaging poster layout
  • Develop a short “poster talk” for conference attendees

Register now.

If you can’t attend live, register anyway—those who pre-register will receive access to the webinar recording.

ASCLS is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.

 

ASCLS Publishes Second Set of Choosing Wisely Recommendations

Choosing Wisely LogoASCLS, in collaboration with the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), published five new recommendations for the Choosing Wisely initiative, operated by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation.

The following recommendations were posted to the Choosing Wisely site on September 13:

  1. Avoid routine prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT, APTT) pre-operative screens on asymptomatic patients, use instead a history-based bleeding assessment test.
  1. Do not order a homocysteine assay as part of the thrombophilia work up.
  1. Do not order a protein S activity assay for measuring protein S function. Instead, order free protein S antigen.
  1. Do not use viscoelastic testing to determine blood product transfusions in trauma patient resuscitation without an established, institutional treatment algorithm in place.
  1. Do not use serum cortisol levels as initial screening for adrenal hyperfunction [Cushing syndrome], instead consider superior strategies provided in the justification.

These recommendations, amplified with clarifying discussions and references, appear on the Choosing Wisely web site , along with the first five ASCLS recommendations published in June 2020.

“Choosing Wisely, ASCLS, and ASCP collaboration has been a partnership that has allowed laboratory professionals to share their expertise with practitioners regarding appropriate utilization and interpretation of diagnostic laboratory test,” said Muneeza Esani, PhD, MPH, MT(ASCP), chair of the ASCLS Choosing Wisely Committee. “As laboratory professionals, this important effort allows us to directly contribute to patient care.” Read more.

 

2021 Joint Annual Meeting Session Recordings On Demand

2021 Joint Annual Meeting On DemandThe educational sessions from the highly-rated 2021 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) are now available to stream online through JAM On Demand.

  • All individual sessions are $10 for ASCLS Members/$15 for non-members.
  • The Best of 2021 JAM bundle , containing 13 sessions and 16 popular presenters distilled from attendees’ favorite sessions with just the right mix of scientific topics, is $80 for ASCLS Members/$120 for non-members.
  • The All Access bundle of all 57 sessions (up to 57 hours of P.A.C.E.® credit) is $200 for ASCLS members/$300 for non-members.

Access national education on a full range of topics conveniently available to you at home, work, and on the road.

 

Upcoming Events

Register for the 2021 Laboratory Legislative Symposium by October 4

The annual Laboratory Legislative Symposium gives you the chance to team up with medical laboratory professionals from seven laboratory organizations and make our concerns known inside Congress. This year’s symposium offers both in-person and virtual attendance options.

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, and they are well received by the congressional offices. Attendees come away with first-hand knowledge of the political system in action and confidence that they make a difference.

This year’s event will be held October 25-26 at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia. A limited number of in-person registrations are still available. Register by October 4 and save $50 off the onsite rate.

 

logo dac verticalGet Involved with the Diversity Advocacy Council

September 29, 7 pm Eastern

ASCLS is an inclusive, culturally relevant community of people acknowledging their differences and unique characteristics; it is an organization where all persons can engage and participate in a meaningful way empowering everyone to grow and learn. The ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council (DAC) works to advance this value, and on a number of initiatives that promote inclusivity, communication, and cooperation among medical laboratory professionals.

 

The DAC will hold a membership meeting on Wednesday, September 29, 7-8:30 pm Eastern , to review guidelines for governance and start planning upcoming events, such as PRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum. All are welcome to attend.

 

Cindy Johnson, Jessical Lawless, Stephanie Noblit, Ali NussbaumAsk Me Anything: Legislation and the Lab

October 10, 8 pm Eastern

Join us for the next ASCLS Ascending Professionals Forum (APF) and Developing Professionals Forum (DPF) Ask Me Anything (AMA) to learn how legislation can and does affect the laboratory, as well as how we might impact it. Panelists will include Cindy Johnson, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM; Jessica Lawless, MLS(ASCP)CM; Stephanie Noblit, JD, MLS(ASCP)CM; and Ali Nussbaum, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM. Join us for the free virtual event on Sunday, October 10, at 8 pm Eastern.

 

The DPF and APF host bi-monthly AMAs on a variety of career-related topics to help answer all your burning questions. View a playlist of previous career advice AMAs on the ASCLS YouTube channel.

 

 

Call for 2022 Joint Annual Meeting Session Proposals

2022 Joint Annual Meeting

The Joint Annual Meeting Steering Committee is now accepting educational session proposals for the 2022 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM), to be held June 26-30 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Submit your session proposals by October 22.

 

All confirmed speakers are eligible for substantial registration discounts. You do not have to be an ASCLS, AGT, or SAFMLS member to submit a proposal, and multiple proposals may be submitted.

 

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.

 

CLEC 2019 Poster PresentationsSubmit CLEC 2022 Poster Presentation Abstracts

ASCLS is currently accepting abstracts for poster presentations at the 2022 Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC). Influence the future of clinical laboratory science education by sharing your expertise, research, and other work with more than 500 fellow educators across the nation. Submit your abstracts by November 7.

 

CLEC 2022 will be held March 14-16 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colorado. Registration discounts are provided to accepted poster presenting authors. Posters may be presented either virtually or in person.

 

ELMC2Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC2)

January 14-15, 2022

Virtual Event

The Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC2) is designed specifically for laboratory professionals to help them transition into and thrive in management roles.

 

ELMC2 provides two days of virtual programming (live and streamed for up to 30 days after the live event), up to 20 hours of P.A.C.E.® credit, networking and social 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 Joint Annual Meeting in June. Register today.

 

PRISMPRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum

January 12-17, 2022

Virtual Event

The ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council (DAC) invites you to participate in PRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum, which debuted in January 2021. Join medical laboratory friends and colleagues as we celebrate and ignite discussions regarding diversity in the profession and the inequities in our healthcare system.

 

As leaders and members, we understand that the most uncomfortable conversations can be the most educational, productive, and inspiring. With this in mind, the DAC organized PRISM, a series of virtual activities that culminates with a candid conversation with a featured guest. Learn more.

 

New Episodes of Off the Bench Podcast

Off the Bench PodcastSubscribe to the Off the Bench Podcast for discussions on scientific and not-to-scientific ideas in laboratory medicine. New episodes drop the last Friday of each month.

 

Out today, September 24, is “10 Common Lab Deficiencies,” produced by April Shields, graduate of the 2021 ASCLS Leadership Academy. In the episode, Lucia Berte, MA, MT(ASCP)SBB, DLM, President of Laboratories Made Better! P.C., shares laboratory accreditation organizations’ data on the most common deficiencies reported by their assessors. She also presents resources for reducing or eliminating deficiencies. This episode is available for one hour of P.A.C.E.® credit. Visit Off the Bench Podcast: 10 Common Lab Deficiencies to participate in the self-study through Labucate.org and earn your credit. Free for ASCLS members ($10 for non-members).

 

On the August 27 episode, “HLA Typing and Why It’s Important,” hosts Justin Hanenberg and Galina Dronova found out how the HLA laboratories help clinical care teams monitor patient care for solid organ and hematopoietic cell transplants. Dr. Justin Kreuter, a clinical pathologist at Mayo Clinic, used case studies to explain why HLA typing is important, as well as discussed the history and the future of the field.

 

Subscribe to the podcast through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify.

 

Voices Under 40

Spotlight: Cara Bushmaker, MLS(ASCP)CM, Hamilton, Montana

Cara is employed as a technical supervisor at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital in Hamilton, Montana. Cara has served on the Leadership Development Team as a member and most recently as chair of the team. She also served as a member of the Ebola Preparedness Taskforce and incorporated BSL preparedness into the current laboratory design to be ready for the next emerging infectious disease, as well as testifying before the city council as a subject matter expert on COVID-19.

 

Cara has held many roles within ASCLS-MT, starting as a student representative in 2018 to the New Professionals Forum, then as a board member, newsletter editor, and then president of ASCLS-MT in 2019, as well as served on the board of the ASCLS Region VIII. Additionally, she has served on the planning committees for both the ASCLS-MT and the Region VIII IMSS Annual Meetings. 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.

 

Fall Meetings

Come together with medical laboratory professionals in your local area, either online or face-to-face, for CE and networking.

Intermountain States Seminar (IMSS) 2021
October 3-5, 2021
Jackson Hole, WY

2021 Virtual Northwest Medical Laboratory Symposium
October 6-8, 2021
Virtual

2021 ASCLS Region V Fall Symposium
October 7-8, 2021
Sioux Falls, SD

Gateway to Laboratory Learning
November 10-11, 2021
St. Louis – St Charles, MO

 

Connect: The Community Conversations

ASCLS Connect is an invaluable way to ask questions, share feedback, and stay connected with your family of laboratorians. Here are some of the recent discussions you may have missed:

Download the MemberCentric App on your mobile device to get the community conversations and more in the palm of your hand.

 

Key Dates

Laboratory Legislative Symposium Online Registration Deadline
October 4

Sharing Science: Conference Poster Presentations Webinar
October 20

2022 Joint Annual Meeting Session Proposal Deadline
October 22