LEADERSHIP
ASCLS Awards Nominations Due February 15
Don’t delay! Many ASCLS award deadlines are fast approaching. The ASCLS Awards Committee encourages members to submit nominations for the following awards by February 15.
- Ascending Professional Leadership Award
- Developing Professional Leadership Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- State Society Website Award
- State Society Publications Award (for both print and web-based publications)
- Scientific Assembly Professional Achievement 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, and also posted in the 2018-19 Awards Guidelines. Questions can be addressed to the Awards Committee at awards@ascls.org.
Nominating a worthy member for one of these awards is a great way to recognize the valued work of our dedicated members and to honor them at the Awards Ceremony at the Annual Meeting.
Volunteer for an ASCLS National Committee
Our Society is great because of the devotion and commitment of our members who enhance our organization through volunteer service. We encourage all members to get involved with ASCLS by volunteering to serve on a national committee. The process to apply is simple.
Visit Connect Community, sign in, and click on “ Volunteer” in the upper navigation bar. You will find “My Volunteer Profile" and then:
- Fill out your "Volunteer Profile."
- Once complete, navigate to "Volunteer Opportunities" under the Volunteer navigation at the top of the page.
- Apply for any of the many opportunities available.
There are positions open on each of the ASCLS committees, as well as other opportunities to represent ASCLS to other organizations or participate in short projects with a smaller time commitment. Sign up by February 4.
Laboratory Science Careers Website Debuts
The Coordinating Council for the Clinical Laboratory Workforce (CCCLW) is pleased to announce the launch of a new and improved Laboratory Science Careers (LSC) website, designed to encourage students to enter our profession.
The website helps to answer the questions, “What is Laboratory Science?” and “Is Laboratory Science Right for Me?” It includes information on careers, education, and other resources, including videos. The “Meet a Professional” section features testimonials from young professionals about why they love what they do. Check out this dynamic new website!
CCCLW hopes that all ASCLS members will help address the workforce shortage in our profession by promoting this website. Please consider sharing the link with your colleagues, with educators and students, with guidance counselors and science teachers, or highlight the website at career fairs, science fairs, or laboratory tours.
If you have comments or questions about the LSC website, please contact Susie Zanto, ASCLS CCCLW liaison.
ASCLS Joins the Coalition to Improve Diagnosis
Every nine minutes, someone in a U.S. hospital dies due to a medical diagnosis that was wrong or delayed. ASCLS has pledged to take action to improve diagnostic quality and safety by joining the Coalition to Improve Diagnosis. The coalition, convened and led by the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, is a collaboration of diverse healthcare organizations singularly focused on improving the diagnostic process.
ASCLS joins more than 50 organizations representing clinicians, patients, health systems, researchers, and testing professionals. Fellow coalition members include the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Clinical Chemistry, American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, and The Joint Commission.
"Patient safety and improving the diagnostic process in medicine is at the heart of who ASCLS and our members are," said Lezlee Koch, chair of the ASCLS Patient Safety Committee. "This is evidenced in our Mission, Code of Ethics, Strategic Map, and the functional role and goals of our Patient Safety Committee. We know that the diagnostic process in medicine is extremely complex and that our profession and its professionals cannot accomplish what needs to be done for the safety of our patients in an isolated manner. The time is now for our organization to strategically partner with other healthcare organizations to begin impacting on diagnostic errors and improving health outcomes. ASCLS’s decision to become an organizational member of the Coalition to Improve Diagnosis is monumental to open the doors that will allow this to happen."
ASCLS Voices Under 40
Spotlight: Mechelle Reeve, MLS(ASCP)CM , from Twin Falls, Idaho
Mechelle is employed by St. Luke’s Magic Valley Hospital as an MLS and blood bank key operator. As a generalist in a 200-bed hospital, Mechelle spends the majority of her time in hematology and blood bank. Not only is she responsible for the day-to-day shift tasks, QC, maintenance, and testing, she also serves as the blood bank go-to person when the supervisor is not on shift. Mechelle enjoys being the blood bank representative on the Transfusion Committee where she can contribute to better practices in transfusion medicine and educate her fellow coworkers and health care providers.
Mechelle serves ASCLS in many capacities. In 2017 Mechelle graduated from the Region VIII Leadership Academy. She also served on the Region VIII board for two years while supporting ASCLS Idaho as the state president. Mechelle has supported several Idaho State Spring Conventions as the registration chair and even put on a presentation for students called “Life after Graduation.” She has also used her talent for writing by contributing several articles for the Idaho state newsletter, Focus. 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.
Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
Register for the 4th Annual ASCLS Lab Week Run
Ready. Set. Go! Registration is now open for the 2019 Lab Week Run. Step out of your labs and into your communities to help spread the word about the medical laboratory profession by participating in the virtual run.
Unlike a traditional race, a virtual race can be run at any time during Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (April 21-27, 2019) and anywhere. Participants can walk, use a treadmill, run outside, or even run in another race concurrently. Go it alone, or recruit a group of friends to complete the 5K (3.1 miles).
Early Early Bird Pricing of $35 is available through January 31; starting February 1 the price goes up to $40. Each race packet will include a finisher medal, t-shirt, race bib, four safety pins, and an ASCLS 2019 calendar magnet. All proceeds go to grants and scholarships that help medical laboratory professionals attend ASCLS meetings, lobby representatives for the profession, and become future leaders in the field.
Events
CLEC Online Registration Ends February 8
The 2019 Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC) kicks off in less than a month. The event includes the opportunity to interact with and learn from 25 exhibiting companies and organizations. On Thursday morning the Commercial Symposia will feature 20-minute presentations from five exhibiting companies about how their products and services can be useful in laboratory education .
In addition to earning up to 13 hours of P.A.C.E.®-approved credit, CLEC offers unique opportunities to make connections with peers at other institutions through networking and social events. Access the full program to learn more about the exciting opportunities at CLEC 2019.
CLEC 2019 will be held February 21-23 in Baltimore at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel. Save money by registering online through February 8.
Legislative Symposium Travel Grants for Developing and Ascending Professionals
The annual ASCLS Legislative Symposium gives you the chance to travel to Washington, D.C., with medical laboratory professionals from six laboratory organizations and make our concerns known inside Congress.
ASCLS Developing and Ascending Professional members who attend are eligible to apply for a $750 travel grant to help alleviate the costs of the Symposium. The deadline to apply is February 11.
The 2019 event will be held March 18-19 at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia. Register by February 15 and save $100 off the onsite rate. To be considered for a travel grant, you must be a current ASCLS member and have registered as a full conference attendee to the Legislative Symposium.
Spring Meetings are in the Air!
Ready for spring yet? Make plans to join ASCLS members in your region for Lab CE and lots of fun.
2019 North Carolina Spring Symposium
April 5
Raleigh, North Carolina
2019 LSCLS/ASCLS-MS Bi-State Meeting
April 8-11
Monroe, Louisiana
ASCLS-MI Annual Conference
April 10-12
East Lansing, Michigan
Ohio Collaborative Laboratory Conference
April 10-12
Columbus, Ohio
TACLS 2019 Annual Meeting
April 10-13
Corpus Christi, Texas
Tennessee Annual Laboratory Conference
April 12-13
Nashville, Tennessee
2019 ASCLS-IL Annual Meeting
April 17-19
Peoria, Illinois
ASCLS Wisconsin Convention - 2019
April 24-25
Appleton, Wisconsin
ASCLS-WA Spring Seminar
April 25-26
Olympia, Washington
Clinical Laboratory Collaborative Conference 2019
May 2-3
Denver, Colorado
ASCLS-PA Annual Spring Meeting
May 5-6
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Add your upcoming events to the ASCLS Events Calendar:
- Visit http://connect.ascls.org/home.
- Log in.
- Go to Upcoming Events under the Events Tab.
- Click on the green Add Event button in the upper right.
Connect: The Community Conversations
Check out the recent discussion threads on ASCLS Connect and join the conversations:
- In the Open Forum, members revived a discussion comparing the PhD and DCLS degrees.
- Also in the Open Forum, participants in the 2019 ASCLS Mentor Program shared their experiences.
- CLEC 2019 registrants provided tips for first-time CLEC attendees planning to join us in Baltimore next month.
- In the Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Community read frequent blog posts with helpful resources and information.
Key Dates
Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC) 2019 Online Registration Deadline
February 8
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ASCLS Awards Deadline
February 15
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Annual Meeting Abstract Submission Deadline
March 1
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