About Critical Values

Critical Values is the go-to resource for the entire laboratory team, providing insight and information on the latest research, information, and issues within pathology and laboratory medicine. The print and online magazine invites submissions on topics including, but not limited to, advocacy, education, technology, global health, workforce, workplace best practices, and leadership.

Critical Values Staff

Molly Strzelecki  Editor 

Susan Montgomery  Contributing Editor

Martin Tyminski  Creative Director  

Jennifer Brinson  Art Direction and Design  

The laboratory holds the daily responsibility and privilege of unraveling medical mysteries for the well-being of our patients. The answers we uncover, the invaluable test results, and the guidance we offer are pivotal to providing high-quality care for all patients.

Over the past year, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) has strengthened its commitment to raising the visibility and voice of the laboratory, underscoring the critical perspective that pathologists and medical laboratory scientists provide. As the sole organization that stands with every member of the pathology and laboratory medicine community, we are pioneering the way, empowering you with tools to excel in your unique roles in patient care.

2023 was a year of significant growth for ASCP, as we fostered new avenues for our members, and facilitated partnerships that would strengthen the laboratory’s standing around the world.

In this year’s Annual Report, we recognize and remember the remarkable accomplishments that you, our members, have made possible, including:

• As we return to in-person meetings, the ASCP Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California brought together the pathology and medical laboratory community for three days of live educational sessions and inspirational and motivational keynote addresses from breast cancer spokesman Rob Lowe and COVID vaccine researcher Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire.
• ASCP formed the “Medical and Public Health Laboratory Workforce Coalition”—a collaborative of more than 27 national organizations to promote visibility and work toward building a robust and diverse medical laboratory workforce. The Coalition and ASCP’s Workforce Steering Committee will work tirelessly to promote visibility for the laboratory medicine and pathology profession in high schools, colleges, and universities and improve recruitment and retention to the field.
• ASCP provided testimony in a Senate hearing calling for grants, scholarships, fellowships, and loan repayment programs. ASCP also supported key revisions to the federal student loan programs to make educational loans more affordable and to revamp the federal public services loan forgiveness program. ASCP has also joined with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help strengthen medical laboratory workforce capacity in the United States.

The unwavering expertise, dedication, and commitment of our esteemed members enables us to persevere in our mission to foster transformation, ensuring that the laboratory remains accessible to all, while earning recognition from healthcare leaders and patients as the cornerstone of exceptional care. Together, we will lead the way in shaping the future of pathology and laboratory medicine, for we are a powerful force when we are united as one, and STRONGERTOGETHER.

Robert A. Goulart, MD, MASCP, 2023-2024 ASCP President

E. Blair Holladay, PhD, MASCP, SCT(ASCP)^CM, ASCP Chief Executive Officer

Knowledge

Dedicated pathologists and laboratory professionals play a pivotal role in the success of ASCP’s achievements and are essential to our ongoing endeavors to raise the visibility of the laboratory and solidify our critical role in patient care. Throughout 2023, ASCP continued to provide our members with exceptional educational resources and empower them to deliver high-quality patient care today while simultaneously paving the way for enduring success tomorrow.

Return To Live and In-Person Educational Offerings

ASCP is dedicated to enhancing the quality and fostering engagement of live and in-person learning experiences. These events provide attendees with an opportunity to connect and collaborate with colleagues and create a deeper and more personalized learning experience that cannot be replicated in an online setting. In 2023, ASCP held two Pathology Update meetings, and has a full schedule for Spring 2024.

Continued Development of DE&I Educational Strategy

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Special Interest Group (DE&I SIG) under the Curriculum, Educational Resource and Scientific Advisory Committee (CER-SAC) is taking a two-pronged approach to the development of a DE&I education strategy. The first part of this approach is “curriculum transformation,” with the goal of vetting ASCP’s existing scientific curriculum in all content areas through the lens of intentional, inclusive, unbiased language and removing reference to race-based medicine which has been disproven. To do this in a comprehensive and uniform way, the SIG has drafted a DE&I Recommended Language & Checklist for Content Creators. This living document provides suggestions of empowering language to consider when referring to individuals and communities and cautions against the use of specific language that perpetuates harm. This tool is intended for the review of existing curriculum and to provide guidance in the content creation process going forward.

The second part of this approach includes “DE&I curriculum building,” with the goals of making ASCP’s existing DE&I content visible as well as identifying gaps in existing educational offerings and opportunities for potential future curriculum development to meet those identified needs.

Educator’s Toolkit Webinar

ASCP hosted its first faculty development webinar in the Educator’s Toolkit series in 2023, “Educating with Impact: Practical Tips for Creating Engaging Presentations.” More than 400 participants participated in the webinar, and presenters addressed topics including targeting outcomes, lecture building, harnessing the power of visuals, measuring success, and more.

ASCP Provides Award-Winning Content

ASCP received awards from the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions (ACEhp) for two innovative education initiatives. Leading Change in the Delivery of Immuno-Oncology (I-O) Biomarker Testing and Care, supported by Bristol Myers Squibb, received ACEhp’s Award for Outstanding CE Outcomes Assessment for 2023. In addition, Navigating the Emerging and Evolving Landscape of HER2-low Breast Cancer, supported by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., was recognized for Excellence in Educational Design.

The I-O project was recognized for demonstrating an array of outcomes, including individual knowledge gain, application to practice, and impact on patient health, resulting from education that involved a quality improvement collaborative called I-O ChangeMakers and two online modules designed to help pathologists and laboratory professionals improve I-O biomarker testing.

The HER2-low breast cancer project was recognized for its innovative use of peer-to-peer education and a variety of educational approaches designed to accommodate a variety of learner preferences. As a new HER2-low breast cancer therapy was making its way through clinical trials, ASCP sought to get the word out to the pathology and laboratory medicine community about changes that needed to be made in practice. Through the use of live virtual webinars, recorded webinars, YouTube, podcasts, Twitter chats, a downloadable slide set, a HER2-low implementation guide, and a learning collaborative called Pathology Trailblazers, ASCP was able to help prepare pathologists and laboratory professionals for change.

These awards are evidence of ASCP’s strong track record in improving knowledge, competence, and performance throughout its portfolio of education, and recognition of ASCP’s outstanding reputation for member education.

ASCP 2023 Annual Meeting

The ASCP 2023 Annual Meeting was held in Long Beach, California, October 18–20. The three-day event featured more than 120 sessions covering anatomic and clinical pathology, laboratory management, and more. The event offered specialized education tracks for laboratory professionals, pathologists' assistants, residents, and pathologists taught by renowned leaders; video microscopy tutorials on complex cases; and the opportunity to earn CME and CMLE credit.

This year’s Annual Meeting included a dedicated track for laboratory professionals, developed by laboratory professionals, focused on four areas: Chemistry, Hematology/Coagulation, Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine, and Microbiology. In addition, there was also a Laboratory Management and Administration track. A number of pathology tracks were also developed for 2023, including Surgical Pathology, Hematopathology, and Cytopathology.

On Wednesday, October 18, Hollywood icon and philanthropist Rob Lowe joined us as the General Session Keynote speaker. He shared his perspective as an advocate for breast cancer screening and research, having lost his mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to breast cancer and discussed with ASCP CEO Blair Holladay the important role the laboratory plays in delivering quality care to patients undergoing treatment, and the need to raise the visibility of the laboratory.

Thursday, October 19, featured Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire as the Scientific Keynote Speaker. Dr. Corbett-Helaire was the scientific lead of the Vaccine Research Center’s coronavirus team at the U.S. National Institutes of Health where she studied coronavirus biology and vaccine development. She and her colleagues were central to the development of the Moderna mRNA vaccine and the Eli Lilly therapeutic monoclonal antibody. She inspired and reminded attendees to be prepared, and emphasized the weight of purpose behind laboratory-driven data, research, and patient outcomes. Following her remarks, Dr. Corbett-Helaire sat down for a Q&A with Drs. Hannah Wang and Gary Procop.

Once again, the ASCP Workforce Lounge at ASCP 2023 provided attendees tools and resources for those seeking career advice, and featured networking opportunities, professional advice from ASCP volunteer mentors curated for pathologists and laboratory professionals, and more.

A diverse range of networking opportunities was a big draw for this year’s Annual Meeting, and attendees were able to participate in interactive educational sessions, engage with poster presenters, and share insight at roundtable discussions.

Recognition

The progress, creativity, and contribution we have made to the field of pathology and laboratory medicine is owed to the invaluable support of our members. In 2023, we proudly recognized our members for their unwavering dedication to their profession. We also diligently worked to amplify the significance of your pivotal role in healthcare as you play a defining role in shaping the future of the profession.

40 Under Forty Honorees

ASCP launched its inaugural 40 Under Forty program in 2014, recognizing the top 40 high achieving ASCP member pathologists, laboratory professionals, and pathology residents under the age of 40 for their achievements, leadership, and ability to effect change in pathology and laboratory medicine. Out of the 40 2023 honorees, the 2023 Top Five honorees were identified based on public voting and committee selection.

To learn more about all the 2023 40 Under Forty honorees, visit www.ascp.org/40UnderForty.

Kayode Balogun, MSc, PhD, MSc, PhD, DABCC, FAACC, FIBMS, is an associate director of clinical chemistry and immunology, at Montefiore Medical Center’s department of pathology and an assistant professor of pathology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Dr. Balogun engages in research that centers around maternal and infant health in the context of infectious diseases and the associated biochemical changes resulting from infection and pharmacotherapy.

Meagan Chambers, MD, MS, MSc,  is a neuropathology fellow at the University of Washington and a future assistant professor of pathology in autopsy at Stanford University. Dr. Chambers’ chosen area of focus is hospital-based autopsies, a field in which she is a passionate advocate for communication across healthcare teams, strengthening pathology resident education, and for seeking post-mortem tissue donation through research autopsies.

Matthew M. Hernandez, MD, PhD, is completing his clinical pathology residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City prior to a medical microbiology fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. As a chief resident, he oversaw clinical pathology education for trainees, and engaged in impactful diagnostic and basic research that has bridged gaps between providers and the bench.

Aaron Daniel Shmookler, MD, FASCP, QIA^CM, is associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, and section director of the Blood Bank and Coagulation Laboratory at UK HealthCare. He serves on the Pathology Residency Education Committee and is implementing a curriculum in blood bank/transfusion medicine and coagulation for pathology residents.

Rebecca Yee, PhD, D(ABMM), M(ASCP)^CM, is the chief of microbiology and director of the clinical microbiology and molecular microbiology laboratory sections at George Washington University Hospital, in Washington, D.C. Her research interests focus on the development of novel diagnostic tools for infectious disease diagnoses and exploring the role of novel diagnostics in facilitating antimicrobial stewardship programs. 

ASCP 2023 Award Winners

ASCP’s awards acknowledge the exceptional achievements of its members in advancing the Society and the profession, alongside patients who have contributed to raising awareness and knowledge about the medical laboratory. Additionally, ASCP recognizes a patient advocate whose actions have significantly improved patient care. During the ASCP 2023 Annual Meeting in Long Beach, these outstanding individuals were celebrated for their dedicated contributions to the progression of the pathology and laboratory medicine field, as well as enhancing patient care. Through this recognition, ASCP underscores the vital role that pathologists and laboratory professionals play in the realm of healthcare.

To learn more about these awards, visit www.ascp.org/awards.

ASCP President’s Award

Kathryn Foucar, MD, FASCP
Susan Graham, MS, MLS(ASCP)SH^CM

ASCP Masterships

Lee H. Hilborne, MD, MPH, MASCP, DLM(ASCP)^CM
Anne M. Walsh-Feeks, MS, MASCP, PA(ASCP)^CM

ASCP Member Lifetime Achievement Award

Lynette G. Chakkaphak, MS, MLS(ASCP)

ASCP Philip Levine Award for Outstanding Research

Richard L. Haspel, MD, PhD, FASCP

ASCP Member Excellence in Education Award

Rodney E. Rohde, PhD, MS, SM(ASCP)^CMSV^CM,MB^CM

ASCP Member Excellence in Management Award

Diana L. Kremitske, MHA, MS, MLS(ASCP)

ASCP Mentorship Award

Charles D. Sturgis, MD, FASCP
Tywauna D. Wilson, MBA, MLS(ASCP)^CM

H.P. Smith Award for Distinguished Pathology Educator

Aysegul A. Sahin, MD, FASCP

Israel Davidsohn Award for Distinguished Service

Henry M. Rinder, MD, FASCP

Ward Burdick Award for Distinguished Service to Pathology

William G. Finn, MD, MASCP

ASCP Medical Student Award — Gold Award

Emily Kelly, MD, MSc

ASCP Career Ambassador Award

Michelle D. Combs, PhD, MB(ASCP)^CM

ASCP Pathology Ambassador Award

Alexander P. McGeough, MD
Christina B. Narakorn, MHS, MLS(ASCP)^CM, PA(ASCP)^CM

2023 Choosing Wisely Champions Commit to Effective Test Utilization

The Choosing Wisely Champions program recognizes clinicians who are leading efforts to reduce overuse and waste in medicine. The program acknowledges the work of those who provide appropriate care and encourages others to follow their lead. In 2023, ASCP recognized individual clinicians, pathologists, laboratory professionals, and clinical teams for their efforts.

Grace Mahowald, MD, PhD

ARUP Healthcare Advisory Services

Representatives: Sandy Richman, MBA, C(ASCP); Dave Shiembob, MBA, C(ASCP)^CM; and Jennifer Tincher, MBA

Hackensack Meridian Health Laboratory Stewardship Committee

Team Members: William Fleischman, MD, MHS; Barbara Burch, MHA, MLS(ASCP); Alexander Ewing, MD; Albert Rojtman, MD, MLS(ASCP); Zahra F. Ebrahim, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)^CM; Karen Feeney, MPA, MLS(ASCP)DLM; and Adam McMullen, MHA, MLS(ASCP)^CM

Parkview Health System Laboratory Stewardship Committee

Representatives: Lisa Daniel, MLS(ASCP)BB; Nicole Shankster, MLS(ASCP); R. Craig McBride, MD; Trent Miller, MBA, CPA

 

Reach + Influence

In the past year, ASCP has continued to embrace opportunities to extend the laboratory’s reach and impact and elevate it to a prominent position to highlight the remarkable daily contributions of our members. We seek to actively involve the public, policy makers, and others, equipping them with the essential knowledge required to appreciate our work.

ASCP Advocates for the Laboratory and its Patients

In 2023, ASCP furthered its commitment to raising the voice and visibility of the laboratory through numerous advocacy efforts. More than 20,000 ASCP members and friends signed the ASCP Action Alert designed to prevent the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) proposed rule to add nursing degrees to the CLIA high and moderate complexity testing personnel requirements. ASCP’s advocacy was heard loud and clear as more than 99 percent of the comments on the rule opposed this proposal.

The Society also launched a “Patient and Provider Choice” campaign to ensure cervical cancer screening guidelines that are expected to be issued by the United States Preventive Services Task Force in the coming months will continue to protect all women and preserve shared decision-making. The guidelines are expected to be released in late 2023 or early 2024, and ASCP and its members are ready to respond.

ASCP Advocates for Laboratory Payments

ASCP helped attain a significant legislative accomplishment for the laboratory and pathology community by helping to get Congress to block a series of significant cuts to the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) that would have been implemented beginning in January 2023. This victory will help position the laboratory community to advocate for sustainable payment rates through the Saving Access to Laboratory Service Act.

ASCP worked closely with the American Medical Association to get Congress to block a projected 4.5 percent cut in the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). ASCP urged Congress to extend several temporary payment updates that Congress had provided though the end of 2022. As a result, ASCP anticipates that overall reimbursement rates, which differ by medical specialty, will increase for pathologists and independent laboratories approximately 1 percent and 2 percent in 2023.

We further galvanized members and friends to support quality patient care by ensuring laboratories could continue to provide their patients with access to laboratory developed tests (LDTs). We rallied the laboratory community to prevent Congress from passing the VALID Act, which would have provided the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with significant authority over LDTs and could undermine patient access to critical testing and stifle laboratory innovation in developing novel diagnostics. ASCP also helped lead the laboratory and medical communities—securing unanimous support for ASCP’s resolution on LDTs at the American Medical Association House of Delegates—in an advocacy campaign aimed at blocking an FDA-proposed rule claiming regulatory authority over LDTs.

ASCP urged the federal government to help support laboratory workforce development programs. ASCP provided testimony in a Senate hearing calling for grants, scholarships, fellowships, and loan repayment programs. ASCP also supported key revisions to the federal student loan programs to make educational loans more affordable and to revamp the federal public services loan forgiveness program. ASCP has also joined with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help strengthen medical laboratory workforce capacity in the United States through a multi-year grant that will allow ASCP to respond to public health emergencies and foster the development of a quality- and patient-centric community of practice.

2022 Vacancy Survey

The 2022 Vacancy Survey was published in November 2023 in AJCP. Results of the survey show increased overall vacancy rates for laboratory positions in all departments compared to 2020. Overall retirement rates for laboratory professionals increased across almost all departments. Current vacancy survey data presents continued increases in laboratory vacancies and retirements as well as changes in certification requirements, with trends amplified during the pandemic continuing into the present. Qualitative analysis results show that there is an urgent need to focus not only on recruitment, but equally as important, retention of laboratory professionals.

Choosing Wisely Transition

The ABIM Foundation has chosen to end its Choosing Wisely program. ASCP has been a very active participant, serving as the lead organization for pathology and laboratory medicine. We will continue to promote the Choosing Wisely test utilization measures, and work with partner societies to generate new appropriate test utilization measures. The Choosing Wisely Champions will still be recognized annually, as well as we will continue to feature recommendations on the ASCP website as a reference. ASCP will expand our program to focus on appropriate test utilization implementation strategies and data analytics.

ASCP Foundation

The mission of the ASCP Foundation is to promote excellence in laboratory medicine on behalf of patients, pathologists, and laboratory professionals across the globe. The ASCP Foundation is the philanthropic arm of ASCP.

ASCP Foundation Supports the Laboratory

The ASCP Foundation strives to have a real impact for members and the field. In 2023, the ASCP Foundation was able to provide $200,000 to our members and laboratory science program through:

• Travel Grants
• Medical Laboratory Science Program Director Education Grants
• Laboratory Student Scholarships
• Phlebotomy Student Scholarships
• Resident Subspecialty Grants

In late 2022, the ASCP Foundation received a donation from Dr. Philip and Mrs. Sandra Barney, launching the Dr. Philip and Sandra Barney Resident Volunteer Service Award in 2023. The annual recipient of this award is a resident with outstanding ASCP volunteer service. The inaugural award was given at this year’s Annual Meeting in Long Beach, CA, to Constantine Kanakis, MD, MSc, MLS(ASCP)^CM.

Additionally, the ASCP Foundation received a donation from Dr. Alvin Ring, to establish scholarships for laboratory professionals seeking further certification. This scholarship, and the public donation campaign surrounding it, plans to launch in 2024.

The ASCP Foundation continues to support members who have been impacted in the United States impacted by natural disasters through its Emergency Relief Fund.

 

Value of Certification

The ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) plays a pivotal role in enhancing the value and positive impact of laboratory professionals. Through setting and maintaining exacting standards, the ASCP BOC ensures high-level competency and proficiency of laboratory team members. This commitment to excellence significantly contributes to the profession's progressive and positive outcomes. In 2023, the ASCP BOC notably expanded its capacity to provide exceptional credential services, reinforcing its dedication to improving patient outcomes and professional standards.

DMLI(ASCP) Exam Launched and Recognized by CMS/CDC in 2023

Effective April 1, 2023, the ASCP BOC began accepting applications for the Diplomate in Medical Laboratory Immunology (DMLI) Certification exam. By July 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) accepted the ASCP BOC DMLI certification as an approved board examination for high complexity laboratory directors. This approval is inclusive of all individuals that pass the DMLI(ASCP) exam on or after April 1, 2023. This recognition by CMS and CDC is a significant milestone for medical laboratory immunologists, the patients we serve, and is another hallmark of BOC excellence.

Continued Expansion of ASCP BOC and ASCPⁱ

The ASCP BOC saw an increase in exam volume in 2023. For FY2023, 14,898 certification exams were given, up 5 percent from FY2022, with 10,245 credential holders, a 4 percent increase over FY2022. ASCPⁱ certification saw a 36 percent increase in exams given over the previous fiscal year, with 7,280 certification exams given and 3,864 credential holders, a 33 percent increase over FY2022.

Nomenclature Wins

The BOC Nomenclature Taskforce continued advocating and gaining visibility for the standardized Medical Laboratory Scientist nomenclature. A campaign to include collateral of an “I am MLS” logo, imagery, pledge, FAQs, endorsement of “Promoting the Medical Laboratory Science Profession through Standardized Titles” and pending job descriptions are proving of benefit. Professional partners continue to express interest, collaborate, or seek insights through the BOC’s unified nomenclature philosophies. A webinar entitled “Promoting the Profession by Aligning Educational Program Titles to the Medical Laboratory Science Career” was sponsored by ASCP, ASCLS, ASCP BOC, and NAACLS, drawing over 1,000 enrolled participants.

BOC Publications, Presentations, and Social Media Presence

Throughout 2023, the ASCP BOC published and presented several papers and studies in an effort to raise awareness of the laboratory and strengthen the laboratory’s position in healthcare. These included:

• Diplomate in Medical Laboratory Immunology Certification Examination: A New Chapter for Medical Laboratory Immunology. Immunohorizons. August 2023; 7 (8): 600-610 https://doi.org/10.4049/immunohorizons.2300030
• Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Accredited Programs and Graduates who Sat for the ASCP BOC Examination: Program Directors’ Perspective. Laboratory Medicine, September 2023
• Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Accredited Programs and Graduates who Sat for the ASCP BOC Examination: Graduates’ Perspective Laboratory Medicine, Pending Publication
• Board of Certification Update Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC), March 2023
• Board of Certification Update, Q&A ASCLS, AGT, SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting, June 2023
• Serving NextGen Laboratory Professionals ASCP Council of Laboratory Professionals, July 2023
• Addressing Opportunities & Misunderstandings of ASCP BOC International Certification in the Philippines ADLM Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, July 25-27, 2023
• The Value of Credentialing – ASCP Board of Certification Congress of Brazilian Society of Clinical Pathology/Laboratory Medicine (SBPC/ML) & 32nd World Congress of the Association of Societies of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (WASPaLM), September 5-8, 2023
• Opportunities for Promoting ASCPⁱ Credentials in Current & Emerging International Markets ASCP Annual Meeting, October 18-20, 2023
• The ASCP BOC Exam Development Process ASCP Annual Meeting, October 18-20, 2023
• Enhancing Patient Care Through ASCPⁱ Credentials International Forum on Quality & Safety in Healthcare – Melbourne, October 30, 2023

As part of its commitment to providing exceptional concierge service to all constituents, the ASCP BOC has expanded its social media portfolio with the launch of a Spanish-language Facebook group. This initiative is aimed at promoting the ASCP BOC's credentials more effectively among Spanish-speaking laboratory professionals, pathologists, and interested stakeholders. The group is designed to foster enhanced connectivity and engagement, allowing members to interact, share, and learn about the ASCP BOC in their native language, thereby enriching their professional experience.

Diversity, Equity + Inclusion

Cultivating a laboratory workforce that mirrors diverse patient populations it supports is pivotal in the quest to tackle health inequalities and enhance patient well-being. The ASCP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee continues to dedicate its efforts toward nurturing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive laboratory workforce that reflects the diverse communities it serves.

ASCP Highlights DE&I Awareness Efforts

Through the ASCP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) initiative, we are dedicated to fostering a vibrant pathology and laboratory medicine workforce. In 2023, ASCP continued promoting DE&I resources to recognize underrepresented minorities and their efforts to bring awareness to the importance of diversity in the laboratory. We highlighted interviews and resources for Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Indigenous Peoples Day. If you’re interested in nominating someone for recognition during one of these months, please email diversity@ascp.org.

ASCP also participated in the Clinical Laboratory Partners Forum September 2023 meeting hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to discuss laboratory’s role in advancing health equity. ASCP’s presentation focused on the Society’s DE&I strategic pillars and showcased a sample of our most recent work done to date, which includes:

• Using of our grassroot volunteer network of Career Ambassadors to build awareness of the profession through the use of The Lab Drawer to help deliver interactive and engaging hands-on hematology and microbiology experiments to students in middle school through high school.
• Partnering with the University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies on finding a Career Path into the Clinical Laboratory Workforce to help ASCP develop strategies to improve recruitment and retention of clinical laboratory workers.
• Working with the National Kidney Foundation and the broader medical community to support eGFR calculations that do not rely upon race adjustment factors to diagnose and treat chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• Collaborating to remove an exclusionary laboratory test reference range affecting individuals from areas where malaria is endemic (commonly Africa and the Middle East) and establishing a new, more accurate term reflecting the normal genetic variant (formerly “Benign Ethnic Neutropenia” vs. “Duffy null associated neutrophil count (DANC).” ASCP submitted the recommendation, and it was adopted in the Choosing Wisely program. The recommendation will be used to educate patients and providers on this important issue.
• Working with the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) and other experts in the blood banking/transfusion community to begin work on the development of a nationwide red blood cell (RBC) alloantibody registry and data exchange. This RBC exchange/registry will benefit individuals with Sickle Cell Disease and other frequently transfused patients by providing accurate, timely data to clinicians that will in turn, improve overall care delivery.

New DE&I Award Established

In 2023, the ASCP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Awareness Workgroup established the ASCP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. This annual award recognizes an ASCP member who has made significant strides to promote the ideals of diversity, inclusion and equity. For consideration, nominees should exemplify excellence in diversity and inclusion, such as leading efforts in recruiting, retaining, and educating diverse membership or work staff; mentoring coworkers from underrepresented groups; educating members and/or coworkers on the importance of inclusion and diversity; developing programs aimed at tolerance and inclusivity while working to eliminate discrimination, biases, exclusion, inequalities; and more. Recipients will be recognized at the ASCP Awards Luncheon starting at the ASCP 2024 Annual Meeting in Chicago. For more details, please visit ascp.org/awards.

Position Statement Suggestions

ASCP is dedicated to encouraging member involvement in all aspects that influence patient care within pathology and laboratory medicine. Our unwavering commitment is directed toward the ongoing enhancement of fair and accessible provision of pathology and laboratory services for every patient and all communities. In 2023 we established an online resource for members to inquire about or suggest a position for the Commission on Science, Technology and Policy to consider. Members may email positionstatements@ascp.org to submit their inquiry or suggestion.

Global Community

ASCP is committed to the global advancement of pathology and laboratory medicine, with a mission to facilitate transformative changes that ensure universal access to laboratory services. Throughout 2023, ASCP’s Center for Global Health spursuit of innovative strategies and the establishment of collaborative partnerships aimed at delivering equipment, training, and mentorship to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These endeavors are at the core of our mission to elevate patient care on a global scale.

Five-Year PEPFAR Cooperative Agreement

As part of a consortium of laboratory and public health organizations, ASCP secured a five-year award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This cooperative agreement, commencing on September 30, 2023, is a multi-country endeavor aimed at strengthening laboratory systems and services for timely, high-quality testing for HIV, tuberculosis and HIV-related diseases. Our consortium includes the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) as the Prime alongside CRDF Global, U.S. Pharmacopeia and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). ASCP’s pivotal role focuses on delivering high-quality education and building national capacity for training and certifying laboratory professionals, ensuring sustainable laboratory systems and services across multiple continents over the course of five years.

Ongoing Commitment in Mozambique

In 2023, ASCP extended its support to the Mozambican Ministry of Health, facilitating the launch of the country’s inaugural eLearning program for biomedical scientists, encompassing clinical and public health laboratory professionals nationwide. This initiative marks a significant milestone in ASCP’s longstanding collaboration with the Ministry of Health and CDC-Mozambique, particularly in the context of strengthening laboratory capabilities for HIV testing in Mozambique. Building upon prior collaborations with local partners, ASCP responded to identified training needs by developing eLearning content on Biosafety, a critical priority.

Our dedicated Center for Global Health staff and consultants worked in close collaboration with national Biosafety technical experts, employing a blend of virtual and in-person support. The resulting biosafety eLearning course garnered acclaim from Mozambique’s Ministry of Health, CDC-Mozambique, and national laboratory stakeholders. Its national deployment has generated enthusiasm and interest in further eLearning-based refresher trainings and continued education opportunities for Mozambique’s laboratory community.

ASCP maintains an active and engaged partnership with both CDC-Mozambique and the Mozambican Ministry of Health. This collaborative effort encompasses providing technical assistance for educational content development and consultation in various laboratory-specific training areas.

Enhancing Global Patient Health: ASCP’s Collaborative Endeavors

The interconnectedness of global health transcends geographical boundaries, profoundly impacting all of humanity. ASCP’s Center for Global Health continues to nurture vital partnerships with organizations including the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition, City Cancer Challenge (C/CAN), and others to ensure continued support of cancer diagnostics in LMICs. These collaborations help improve patient care around the world.

ASCP remains steadfast in its commitment to elevating the standard of care for patients worldwide. In 2023, ASCP actively engaged in high-level international meetings with organizations such as the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Africa CDC, PEPFAR, and the World Health Organization, presenting valuable insights and passionately advocating for our mission. This concerted effort not only heightened the visibility of our vital work in the laboratory but also underscored the profound interdependence of healthcare systems worldwide.

Our dedication to education and partnership remained unwavering, as exemplified by our active participation in initiatives like the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) conference, jointly sponsored by ASCP and USCAP. This platform facilitated meaningful knowledge exchange and collaboration, reaffirming our commitment to advancing medical knowledge on a global scale. Furthermore, ASCP proudly delivered a keynote address at the annual meeting of the Ethiopia Medical Laboratory Association, cementing our role in fostering excellence in laboratory practices worldwide.

As we look to the future, ASCP continues to seek innovative partnerships that leverage our extensive experience and build upon our past achievements. We are actively pursuing funding opportunities in the field of digital pathology, recognizing its potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery for patients across the globe. This forward-looking approach reflects our dedication to enhancing patient health on a global scale and underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of medical science and technology, bearing in mind that the health of people in distant lands profoundly impacts us all.

ASCP Co-Hosts UICC World Cancer Leaders’ Summit

ASCP proudly co-hosted the Union for International Cancer Control’s World Cancer Leaders’ Summit (WCLS) in Long Beach, October 16–17, as a prelude to the ASCP 2023 Annual Meeting. Themed “Cancer Control in a Changing World,” this invitation-only event convened leaders from the global health and cancer communities. ASCP CEO Dr. Blair Holladay, PhD, MASCP, SCT(ASCP)^CM, delivered a compelling keynote address, emphasizing the significance of collaboration and partnership in expanding cancer care and underscoring the laboratory’s pivotal contribution to this mission.

WCLS 2023 addressed pressing global issues and challenges around cancer care, focusing on both immediate responses to existing needs and proactive problem-solving to ensure high-quality care for all patients. This summit provided a critical platform for influential figures and leaders in cancer control, alongside public health representatives from non-government agencies, academia, non-profits, and the private sector, to collaborate and shape essential policies for effective cancer control.

Collaboration

Creating a framework for advancing pathology and laboratory medicine, and enhancing our capability to deliver high-quality patient care, necessitates collaboration. In 2023, ASCP harnessed essential partnerships to enhance the laboratory’s capacity in delivering exceptional patient care.

ASCP Forms Workforce Coalition

ASCP has formed the “Medical and Public Health Laboratory Workforce Coalition”—a collaborative of more than 28 national organizations to promote visibility and work towards building a robust and diverse medical laboratory workforce. This new workforce coalition, along with ASCP’s Workforce Steering Committee, will work to increase visibility of the laboratory occupations, such as by exposing students from elementary school through college levels to the laboratory careers; expand and improve workforce recruitment, development, and retention efforts; and increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the laboratory workforce to improve recruitment and retention in the field. Those interested in learning more can visit www.mphlcoalition.org.

CDC Partnership Data Evaluation

The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS) have partnered on a year-long study of the clinical and public health laboratory workforces to evaluate existing data on the size and composition of the workforces and assess the impact of issues affecting the current and future laboratory workforce. ASCP and the Board of Certification have provided data for this report and have met with NCHWA and CDC to discuss the data and provide context and thoughts on a number of important issues facing the laboratory community.

Additional CDC Laboratory Workforce Grant Awarded

In 2023, ASCP was awarded an additional $631,893 grant as part of a three-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen the laboratory workforce in the United States. This multi-year grant, which began in September 2022, has allowed ASCP to respond to public health emergencies and foster the development of a quality- and patient-centric community of practice.

By harnessing the extensive technical expertise of ASCP members and staff as leading laboratory educators and advocates, this program will embody the mission of the CDC OneLab Initiative, and it will support the development of a sustainable learning community for the laboratory workforce using new and existing resources.

Successful programs that ASCP launched last year as the first part of the OneLab grant include:

• Building Bridges Across the Laboratory Community, a webinar series highlighting the collaborative efforts of a variety of laboratories.
• Micro-learning Series, a new approach to educate time-strapped adult learners by sending them an email every few days with a question pertaining to laboratory issues.
• Negotiation and Advocacy Toolbox, providing practical education and tools to laboratory directors and managers to demonstrate the value of their laboratory to hospital administrators and others who make funding decisions.

Moving into the second year of this three-year grant, ASCP's efforts remain centered around strengthening the laboratory workforce, and maintaining our role as the go-to resource for laboratory advocacy. Efforts will include expanding the Building Bridges series by reaching out to an even broader range of laboratories, including animal health laboratories and public health laboratories, and building out the Negotiation and Advocacy Toolbox, adding additional resources that address its three remaining pillars: Quality, Service and Growth, and Financials. For more information, visit www.supportcdconelab.org.

REPORT OF THE TREASURER

Download the Audited Financial Statements for 2023 (PDF) .