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  

Putting patients first is more than just a guiding principle for ASCP—it is the cornerstone of everything we do. Never has that been showcased more clearly than in 2024, as we continued our journey of innovation, collaboration, and dedication to ensuring the medical laboratory holds steadfast as the foundation of patient-centric care.  

We demonstrated our unwavering commitment to one of the most important values in the laboratory: putting patients first. And the incredible progress we have made as a community has improved the lives of countless patients. We continue to underscore that the medical laboratory is not simply a cog in the wheel of healthcare—we are the central hub from which all high-quality care originates. Every test we run, every result we deliver, and every diagnosis we support has the potential to change lives. This responsibility drives us, and we are proud to say that this past year has been one of significant achievements that reinforce our patient-centric mission.

All that we have done would not have been possible without you, our members. In the 2024 Annual Report, we recount the remarkable accomplishments that you have helped us achieve, including: 

• The ASCP Annual Meeting in Chicago brought the pathology and medical laboratory community together for a multi-day event of live educational sessions and insightful keynote addresses from two leading voices for peace, justice, and equity in the U.S. and globally: Martin Luther King III, and Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Senior Bureau Official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy. 
• ASCP remains a distinct voice regarding the FDA’s Proposed Rule on LDTs, which was released in April 2024, noting that the FDA’s changes do not remove the concerns that this rule imposes significant challenges that will adversely impact the ability of clinical laboratories and laboratory professionals to continue to innovate and provide patients with critical testing services. ASCP continues to oppose the rule and is part of
  the amicus brief that was filed in October 2024 to overturn the rule. 
• ASCP continues its dedication to the proposition that equality and equity are bedrock principles that the pathology and laboratory workforce must embrace and strive for without exception. We continue to devote our time and resources to ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven throughout the activities we pursue and resources we provide, to ensure that we are providing high-quality care for all. 

As we move forward into the new year, our mission remains clear: to continue providing top-tier laboratory services that prioritize patient care, safety, and well-being. While 2024 was a remarkable year, our journey is far from over. Together we will continue to set new benchmarks for excellence in healthcare. We will keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible in patient-centered care because when we are STRONGERTOGETHER there is no limit to what we can achieve.

Gregory N. Sossaman, MD, MASCP
2024-2025 ASCP President

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

KNOWLEDGE

At the heart of ASCP’s successes are the pathologists and medical laboratory scientists who continue to elevate the laboratory, raise its visibility, and affirm our vital role in providing high-quality, patient-centric care. In 2024, our commitment to offering outstanding education and resources was strengthened by our drive to empower members to provide exceptional care while also ensuring long-term success in the future. 

KnowledgeLab 2024

KnowledgeLab 2024, held in San Antonio, Texas, April 30-May 1, brought together more than 200 laboratory professionals from around the country seeking to enhance their leadership skills. The two-day event offered 16 educational sessions for both emerging and seasoned leaders, and Dana Powell Baker, EdD, MBA, MS, MLS(ASCP)^CM, offered this year’s opening keynote: Inclusive Laboratory Leadership in a Post-Pandemic Era. The Texas Riverwalk Chapter of ASCP provided a wealth of engagement for the event. This year’s event also featured the inaugural Amazing Laboratory Race Advocacy session during which four teams competed in an Amazing Race-style live event using the ASCP Negotiation and Advocacy Toolbox to tackle real-world scenarios encountered in the clinical laboratory setting. Attendees to the 2024 KnowledgeLab had the opportunity to earn up to 11.5 CMLE credits. 

Educator’s Toolkit Workshop Series

Following the success of its 2023 Educator’s Toolkit webinar, ASCP launched an Educator’s Toolkit Virtual Workshop Series in 2024. This four-part series offers practical tips and information that can be immediately applied to elevate presentations and teaching. Developed by and for pathologists and laboratory professionals, these 60-minute live workshops are available for all experience levels and focus on actionable tools and strategies that are easily integrated into teaching. Topics include the art and science of presentation design in medical education; reframing assessment as a tool for interactive learner engagement; bringing empathy into the teaching space for stronger communication and learning; and creating a brave space to support the learning culture and challenging conversations. 

Journals Move to Online Publication

In January 2024, ASCP moved publication of its journals, American Journal of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine exclusively online. This shift to online only availability offers readers access to papers the day they are published and provides immediate access to the latest groundbreaking research in pathology and laboratory medicine without the months-long delay for print. The move to online-only publications also offers the opportunity for richer, more personalized, and dynamic content, and allows ASCP to disseminate knowledge in a more sustainable fashion. 

ASCP Explores Innovative Cancer Biomarker Testing Navigator Role

Given the evolving landscape of cancer biomarker testing, ASCP examined the feasibility of a new role called the Cancer Biomarker Testing Navigator (BTN). The concept of a BTN is to have dedicated laboratory staff focused on facilitating and coordinating key tasks in the testing process for in-house and/or send-out biomarker testing to ensure optimal and timely results. In 2024, ASCP shared its results from a 2023 study on biomarker triage in the current laboratory landscape. This study was sponsored by AstraZeneca. Led by Lynnette Pineault MBA, SCT(ASCP), the ASCP project team worked in diverse settings such as academic medical centers, community hospitals, and private practices. ASCP also worked with two hospital-based cancer centers to explore the feasibility of having dedicated staff functioning as BTNs focused on cancer biomarker testing processes and tasks. ASCP discovered several key areas to optimize cancer biomarker testing processes and identified potential ways a BTN can address these issues, including: reviewing orders and ensuring appropriateness of testing and facilitating correct order placement with clinicians; triaging samples and streamlining processes to ensure optimal workflows; developing standardized protocols and workflows for reference laboratory send out tests; and more. The BTN role in the laboratory is a novel solution for ensuring the proper collection and triage of pathology samples for biomarker testing.

2024 Live Learning

Live, in-person learning experiences offer attendees valuable opportunities for social interaction, collaboration, and hands-on experiential learning. Over the past year, ASCP offered multiple opportunities for immersive and engaging educational events, fostering deeper connections and skill-building that go beyond what online platforms can offer. In 2024, ASCP hosted the following live educational events:

• Breast Pathology: A 1.5-day education course on April 12-13, 2024, presented by Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, Erinn Downs, DO, and Aysegul A. Sahin, MD
• Pathology Update: A 4.5-day course on June 7-11 providing comprehensive updates in surgical pathology.
• Genitourinary Pathology: A 1.5-day education course on May 16-17, 2024, presented by Sean Williamson, MD, FASCP, and Steven Smith, MD, PhD, FASCP.

ASCP 2024 Annual Meeting

The ASCP 2024 Annual Meeting was held in Chicago, September 3-6, and brought excitement and purpose for the laboratory community. For four knowledge-filled days, attendees took part in collaborative sessions, mingled with fellow colleagues, and were a part of ASCP’s mission to elevate pathology and laboratory medicine to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

On day one of the Annual Meeting, ASCP offered two deep-dive workshops for attendees. The workshop on Artificial Intelligence offered attendees comprehensive insights into the emerging areas of AI and machine learning, and how they may impact the laboratory. The workshop on Leading with Impact gave attendees the opportunity to explore communication techniques, strategies for setting boundaries and navigating negotiations, and more. These workshops were included in the registration fee.

On Wednesday, September 4, ASCP was honored to host Martin Luther King III as the keynote speaker at the Grand Opening Session. Mr. King has been a leading voice for peace, justice, and equity in the U.S. and globally. His work has had a transformative impact, and his keynote address celebrated unity, equity, and inclusion that inspire conversations and actions to bring us a better tomorrow and help shape a more just society for all. 

On Thursday, September 5, longtime ASCP friend and member, Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong presented the Scientific Keynote/Paul Farmer Named Lecture at ASCP 2024. Dr. Nkengasong serves as the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Senior Bureau Official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy. His leadership in overseeing the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has made historic strides in addressing HIV/AIDS, highlights the power of strategic intervention in global public health, and his tenure as the first director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention further underscores his ability to drive transformative change. 

ASCP 2024 also devoted three hours of education to FDA’s LDT Final Rule to help attendees understand how the rule may affect laboratory medicine and patient care. Experts on the subject took part in panel discussions, provided practical instruction for Stage 1 requirements, and offered insight on interpreting the Final Rule. 

This year, education tracks were expanded so that every attendee, from residents and medical students to seasoned pathologists and laboratory professionals, found the topics they needed for their practice, and also saw the return of the popular Rapid Review Series.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY + INCLUSION

Building a laboratory workforce that reflects the diversity of the patient populations it serves is essential to addressing health disparities and improving patient outcomes.  ASCP remains committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce that represents the communities we support.

ASCP Reaffirms its Commitment to DEI 

In May, ASCP issued a statement reaffirming its support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). This statement was in response to efforts by legislators to prohibit medical schools from receiving federal funding, including participation in federal student loan programs, if they engage in any DEI activities and/or provide education on structural or institutional racism.

In recent years, DEI initiatives have been the subject of much debate. As a medical specialty society, ASCP is dedicated to the proposition that everyone should be treated with respect and fairness. Equality and equity—for all—are bedrock principles that we must embrace and strive for without exception. We expect the same for—and from—the pathology and laboratory workforce, regardless of race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, physical ability, socioeconomic status, etc. ASCP continues to espouse that DEI is a moral imperative as well as an economic, legal, social, and medical imperative. 

ASCP Presents Inaugural DEI Award at 2024 Annual Meeting

In 2024, ASCP presented the inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award at the 2024 Annual Meeting in Chicago. This award was established by the ASCP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Awareness Workgroup and recognizes a member who has made significant strides to promote the ideals of diversity, inclusion, and equity. ASCP honored Ritcha Saxena, MD. Specializing in hematopathology and dermatopathology, Dr. Saxena is renowned for her contributions to medical education and her advocacy for inclusivity in pathology and laboratory medicine. As a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion medical coach, mentor, and an elected member of the DEI Council at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Saxena champions initiatives that promote respect and representation, ensuring every student feels valued. Her contributions extend globally through her involvement in committees of leading pathology societies, where she tirelessly advances DEI initiatives.

GLOBAL COMMUNITY 

ASCP is dedicated to advancing pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide, with a mission to drive impactful changes that make laboratory services accessible to all. In 2024, ASCP’s Center for Global Health pursued innovative approaches and forged collaborative partnerships to provide equipment, training, and mentorship in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These efforts are central to our commitment to enhancing patient care globally.

ASCP Continues Collaboration with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) 

ASCP has continued its close partnership with the UICC, supporting both their Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition and the City Cancer Challenge (C/CAN) Initiative. In September, ASCP leadership and members attended the UICC World Cancer Congress in Geneva. As the lead pathology technical partner to C/CAN, ASCP has continued to support their Multidisciplinary Cancer Management Course (MCMC) educational series, in collaboration with ASCO. The MCMC aims to improve the quality of cancer care by emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in cancer patient care. ASCP member pathologists served as faculty at their December workshop in Nairobi. Additionally, ASCP member volunteers participated in an in-person consultation in November hosted by C/CAN in Geneva to review their pathology-related programs and identify best practices and strategies for the future.

Follow-on Grant Funding for CIRGO 

ASCP, a co-founding partner of the Coalition for Implementation Research in Global Oncology (CIRGO), was able to offer a single $15K follow-on grant opportunity to past CIRGO award recipients to address a pathology-related challenge presented during their award year. Dr. Alex Mremi, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Pathology at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania, and principal investigator for KCMC’s CIRGO-funded program, was selected for this opportunity. ASCP will further support execution of this grant through selecting an ASCP member resident to travel to and remotely support the project through the ASCP Trainee Global Health Fellowship.

Equipment Donations to Pathology Labs in LMICs

Through the generous support of ASCP’s member network and industry partners, ASCP was able to support equipment donations to LMIC pathology laboratories, including an automated tissue processor to the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex in Freetown, Sierra Leone, a manual tissue processor to the National Anatomic Pathology Laboratory at the Mbabane Government Hospital in Mbabane, Eswatini, and a BD flow cytometer to Tikur Anbessa Hospital (Black Lion Hospital) in Addis Ababa. These instruments are all critical to scale up pathology laboratory services. In addition, ASCP led a public donation campaign through the ASCP Foundation to provide support to the Zanmi Lasanti Pathology Laboratory (sister organization to Partners in Health) in Mirebalais, Haiti, for critical reagents and consumables that the laboratory is unable to source due to political and civil unrest. 

ASCP Trainee Global Health Fellowship

In 2024, ASCP awarded the Trainee Global Health Fellowship, which provided $5,000 in travel and stipend support for one resident to travel to the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania, and contribute to Coalition for Implementation Research in Global Oncology (CIRGO) grant research. Many competitive applications were received, and the fellowship opportunity was awarded to Dr. Aisha Mohamed, PGY-2 pathology resident from the University of Minnesota. Under the guidance of Dr. Alex Mremi, MD, PhD, Dr. Mohamed will contribute to the ongoing research project on prostate cancer awareness, barriers to screening and correlations with PSA levels among men in Northern Tanzania. The fellowship includes a one-month in-country stay in Moshi, to take place between January and June 2025, as well as virtual collaboration on the project before and after the visit.

RECOGNITION

ASCP’s contributions to pathology and laboratory medicine are made possible by the invaluable support of our members. In 2024, we proudly celebrated members' unwavering commitment to the profession and worked tirelessly to elevate the importance of their critical role in healthcare, as they continue to shape the future of the field.

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 2024 honorees, the Top Five honorees were identified based on public voting and committee selection.

To learn more about all the 2024 40 Under Forty honorees, visit www.ascp.org/40UnderForty

Khaleel Al-Obaidy, MBBS, FASCP, D-ABP, is a senior staff pathologist at Henry Ford Health, specializing in genitourinary, head and neck, and molecular pathology. He has made significant strides in research, including the discovery of a unique molecular alteration, KRAS mutations, in a kidney tumor they named "papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity." While he continues to push the boundaries of his research, Dr. Al-Obaidy is also committed to nurturing the next generation of pathologists. He emphasizes the importance of guiding residents and medical students on their journey. 

Brittany J. Bell, MS, MBA, MLS(ASCP)^CM, MB^CM, is Vice President of Commercial Pharma Services at NeoGenomics Laboratories Inc., a clinical diagnostic laboratory company specializing in cancer genetics testing and information services. She holds ASCP certifications in medical laboratory science and molecular biology. Currently, she is strongly focused on support of patient care, and for the early to late phase clinical oncology trials her company supports. She is dedicated to leading and supporting her team, so that they can be as effective as possible in furthering the goal of leveraging a broad portfolio of oncology tests to support drug development.   

Kimberly Fiock, PhD, QBRS^CM, is a staff scientist in the Department of Pathology at the University of Iowa, where she runs the Iowa Neuropathology Resource Laboratory. The laboratory focuses on the study of brain development and the origins of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as provide human brain tissue and histology services to collaborators. Her current research centers on neurodegenerative tauopathies. In addition to research, Dr. Fiock spends an extensive amount of time doing outreach and education geared toward getting kids interested in pathology and laboratory medicine. 

Viharkumar Patel, MD, FASCP, is Assistant Professor, Division of Clinical Pathology, at UC Davis Health Medical Center. He is also Founder of the SABER (Skaters Advancing Brain Education and Research) Foundation. Dr. Patel specializes in surgical pathology and neuropathology. In addition to his research into Alzheimer’s disease and brain tumors from a metabolic perspective, Dr. Patel is also extensively involved in medical education, which he likens to skateboarding. “If you don’t try something, you’ll never know if you can do it,” he says. He plans on using his position in the Top Five as a way to increase awareness of the field of laboratory medicine.

Steven Springer, MS, MLS(ASCP)^CM, PA^CM, MB^CM, is Vice President of Operations at Caris Life Sciences, a molecular profiling technology company geared towards improving outcomes for cancer patients. Mr. Springer’s main focus is to make sure the business is scalable, and to solve problems should they arise. He is also strongly committed to helping his staff grow into leadership roles. In addition to his work at Caris, Mr. Springer was the proprietor of a private autopsy company that provides services for mesothelioma victims and private families seeking answers. His background also includes several leadership roles of increasing responsibilities at Kaiser Permanente, CareDx, and Foundation Medicine.   

ASCP 2024 Award Winners

ASCP honors the remarkable achievements of its members who have advanced both the Society and the profession, as well as patients who have helped increase awareness and understanding of the medical laboratory’s impact. Additionally, a patient advocate is recognized for his or her outstanding efforts to improve patient care. At the ASCP 2024 Annual Meeting in Chicago, these exceptional individuals were celebrated for their unwavering dedication to advancing pathology and laboratory medicine and enhancing patient care. Through these recognitions, ASCP highlights the critical role pathologists and laboratory professionals play in healthcare.

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

ASCP President’s Award

ASCP Delegation to the AMA: Ed Donoghue Jr., MD, MASCP; Jennifer Stall, MD, FASCP; Steve Kroft, MD, MASCP; William Finn, MD, MASCP; Clifford H. Sullivan, MD, FASCP; and Nirali M. Patel, MD, FASCP 

Michelle Campbell, MS, MLS(ASCP)^CM, MB^CM, SC^CM

ASCP Masterships

Henry Rinder, MD, MASCP

Lynnette Chakkaphak, MS, MASCP, MLS(ASCP)

ASCP Member Lifetime Achievement Award

Susan Besaw, MBA, MASCP, SCT(ASCP) 

ASCP Philip Levine Award for Outstanding Research

Gene Siegal, MD, PhD, MASCP  

ASCP Member Excellence in Education Award

Diane Price Banks, PhD, MPH, MLS(ASCP)^CM

ASCP Member Excellence in Management Award

Lynnette Pineault, MBA, SCT(ASCP) 

ASCP DEI Award

Ritcha Saxena, MD, FASCP

ASCP Mentorship Award

Melissa George, DO, FASCP 

Dana Baker, EdD, MBA, MA, MLS(ASCP)^CM

H.P. Smith Award for Distinguished Pathology Educator

Alexa Siddon, MD, FASCP 

Israel Davidsohn Award for Distinguished Service

Zubair Baloch, MD, PhD, MASCP 

Ward Burdick Award for Distinguished Service to Pathology

Jeffrey Myers, MD, MASCP  

ASCP Medical Student Award — Gold Award

Darby Naheedy, MLS(ASCP)^CM 

ASCP Career Ambassador Award

Kerwin Kolheffer, MS, PA(ASCP)^CM

ASCP Pathology Ambassador Award

Viharkumar Patel, MD, FASCP

Dr. Philip and Sandra Barney Resident Volunteer Service Award 

Lauren Miller, MD, MJ, CMQ, CHC, MLS(ASCP)^CM 

2024 Choosing Wisely Champions Commit to Effective Test Utilization 

The Choosing Wisely Champions program honors those who are driving efforts to reduce overuse and waste in healthcare. It recognizes individuals and teams of pathologists and medical laboratory scientists who deliver appropriate care while inspiring others to do the same. In 2024, ASCP celebrated the achievements of an individual laboratory professional, and a team for their dedication to this important initiative.

Kathryn Golab, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)^CM, SH^CM, led the development of an initiative to reduce over-ordering of heavy metal blood screening panels in collaboration with the enterprise medical toxicology division and performed utilization-based research focused on the ordering and use of peripheral blood flow cytometry.

PLUGS^® (Patient-centered Laboratory Utilization Guidance Services) Informatics Committee is a laboratory stewardship collaborative whose mission is to improve laboratory test access, ordering, retrieval, interpretation, and reimbursement. PLUGS is led by a team of experts within Seattle Children’s Hospital and University of Washington who serve as the leaders for the collaborative. The PLUGS Informatics Committee focused on two important considerations related to practical application of benchmarking: accounting for patient population differences and resource requirements for gathering, collating, and sharing laboratory utilization data across different institutions. 

REACH + INFLUENCE 

Over the past year, ASCP continued to seek out new opportunities to broaden the laboratory’s reach and amplify its impact, highlighting its leading role in the remarkable contributions our members make every day. We’re dedicated to engaging the public, policymakers, and other key groups, and empowering them with the insights needed to fully appreciate the central role the laboratory plays in patient care. 

President’s Cancer Panel Invites ASCP to Workforce Meeting  

ASCP Chief Medical Officer, Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, was invited to a meeting of President Biden’s National Cancer Panel on September 12, 2024, on Developing and Retaining a Robust and Diverse Cancer Workforce. The panel, which is housed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is responsible for overseeing implementation of the National Cancer Plan. The National Cancer Plan—Everyone Has a Role provides a framework for collaboration to guide the nation’s efforts against cancer. It establishes eight goals that we must achieve to prevent cancer, reduce the cancer mortality rate, and maximize the quality of life for people living with cancer.

ASCP was proud to represent the field of pathology and laboratory medicine at this meeting, and to highlight our efforts to help end cancer. These efforts all center around initiatives that support our members in providing high-quality, equitable diagnostic laboratory services to our patients. At the meeting, Dr. Brown emphasized the importance of the pathology and laboratory medicine workforce and highlighted many of the efforts and challenges we face to retain a robust and diverse laboratory medicine workforce that serves our nation’s patients.   

ASCP Local Chapters   

As part of a grassroots effort, ASCP volunteers in multiple states have diligently worked to bring together local chapters for ASCP members. These volunteers have reached out to their peers in their respective regions, and developed an outstanding array of educational sessions, networking activities, mentoring opportunities, and other valuable offerings for local members. We now have more than 22 chapters across the United States, and almost 300 chapter members attended the 2024 Annual Meeting in Chicago. 

ASCP Communities Top 10,000 Members   

Launched in late 2023, ASCP Communities offer an opportunity for pathologists and laboratory professionals around the world to network, contribute ideas, and share knowledge, all in one virtual platform. Since
its launch, the ASCP communities have grown to more than 10,000 member participants engaging on topics of interest and more. 

ASCP Delegates at the AMA   

ASCP delegates exemplified leadership and the Society’s
“StrongerTogether” mantra while representing the pathologists’ perspective at the American Medical Association (AMA) 2024 Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates (HOD) in June. ASCP delegates Ed Donoghue Jr., MD, MASCP; Jennifer Stall, MD, FASCP; ASCP Past Presidents Steve Kroft, MD, MASCP, and William Finn, MD, MASCP; as well as Clifford H. Sullivan, MD, FASCP; and Nirali M. Patel, MD, FASCP, discussed issues pertinent to pathology with partner organizations and represented pathology on the floor of the House of Medicine. The AMA HOD also adopted a number of policies that aligned with ASCP’s own DEI priorities, including; 

• Policies to protect patient access to healthcare;
• Policies aimed at improving the healthcare of minority communities in rural areas, including several related to tobacco and nicotine;
• Policies intended to improve health outcomes for American Indians and Alaska Natives; and
• Policies aimed at equity in clinical trials and research. Specifically, delegates adopted policy to ensure more women and sexual and gender minority populations are included in clinical trials and medical research.

Visit www.ascp.org/news/effective-test-utilization to learn more about the 2024 recommendations.

ASCP Website Relaunch

Over the past year, ASCP has overhauled its website for an improved visitor experience, and rolled out the first phase of a website redesign that offers streamlined access to the information members need to stay current in practice. The new site offers improved site navigation and access to educational offerings; a membership finder that allows visitors to see what membership options and benefits are available to them and explore ways to get involved; and certification and credential support that helps visitors discover resources to help them prepare for, understand, and maintain certifications and credentials. Visit www.ascp.org to see the changes we’ve made.

COLLABORATION

Building a strong foundation for pathology and laboratory medicine that improves our ability to provide outstanding patient care relies on collaboration. 2024 brought myriad opportunities for ASCP to leverage key partnerships that strengthened laboratory capabilities in delivering exceptional care to patients.

Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition 

In 2024, ASCP and more than 800 organizational members of the Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition worked together to improve workforce development opportunities. One of the Coalition’s initiatives is to enact the bipartisan, bicameral Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. The measure would allow the use of funds in a qualified tuition program (commonly known as a 529 account) to pay for expenses associated with obtaining or maintaining recognized postsecondary credentials, such as professional certification. More than 150 members of Congress have co-sponsored the bill measure, an important indicator of congressional support. ASCP promoted the legislation to our colleague organizations in ASCP’s Medical and Public Health Laboratory Workforce Coalition (MPHLW).

ASCP Collaborates with Direct Relief International 

ASCP, working together with Direct Relief International, delivered an automated tissue processor to the laboratory at the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex (USLTHC). ASCP facilitated the donation of the high-throughput instrument, a Sakura Tissue-Tek VIP 6 Tissue Processor, which came from a laboratory in San Diego owned by Kaiser Permanente. The new tissue processor will significantly accelerate the diagnostic testing process and is unparalleled in West Africa. The instrument will enable Sierra Leone to achieve results comparable to those in the United States, enhancing the quality of medical diagnostics in the country, and is a significant advancement and step forward in improving healthcare services in Sierra Leone.

ASCP and ASCP BOC Repeal CLIA Nursing Degree Proposal 

Late last year, ASCP and ASCP BOC scored a major lobbying victory when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) repealed its policy recognizing nursing degrees for the purposes of performing high complexity testing. The ASCP/ASCP BOC lobbying campaign truly embodied the “StrongerTogether” motto, as we led a coalition of other medical and laboratory associations and mounted a massive grassroots campaign involving tens of thousands of ASCP members, BOC credential holders, and other concerned laboratory professionals who urged CMS to revoke the proposal. In the end, CMS agreed with ASCP that nursing degrees lack the academic science necessary for quality high complexity laboratory testing.

NIJ Grant Helps Address the Forensic Pathology Workforce Shortage

ASCP continued its collaboration with George Mason University and the National Institute of Justice to strengthen the forensic pathology workforce and support the National Center for Forensics. Through this grant, ASCP previously awarded 19 scholarships to residents enabling them to conduct a one-month rotation in a medical examiner’s or coroner’s office. The past awardees have overwhelmingly reported rotations to be well-mentored, transformative experiences that have opened their eyes to the vital and fascinating role forensic pathology plays in modern society. In 2024, with supplemental funding from the NIJ, ASCP expanded eligibility to include medical students and awarded an additional 30 scholarships of $6,000.

ASCP Collaborates to Research Disparities in Cervical Cancer Screening 

In late 2023, the Alliance for Women's Health and Prevention (AWHP) awarded its inaugural grant, in the amount of $730,000, to ASCP to analyze recent trends in cervical cancer screening and detection from a diverse population of women who are currently underrepresented in the data used by the U.S. government to set guidelines for screening. The research undertaken through this partnership will help lay the groundwork for more comprehensive and equitable cervical cancer screening guidelines, and ultimately help save lives.

CMSS Grant Supports Development of Best Practices for Guidelines in the Communication of New Cancer Diagnoses

In November 2023, ASCP received a $100,000 grant from the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) to fund an initiative titled “Promoting Diagnostic Excellence by Improving the Communication of New Cancer Diagnoses.” Through this grant program, ASCP members and staff will review current guidelines regarding the notification of patients of a cancer diagnosis and develop a set of best practices to make sure these results are communicated in an effective, consistent, and timely manner. This program also supported to development and delivery of an educational webinar and a live session at the 2024 ASCP Annual Meeting. 

ASCP Continues its Work Through CDC OneLab Workforce Grant

ASCP was awarded more than $600,000 for year two of the OneLab Workforce Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 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. ASCP’s involvement in the OneLab initiative is part of the Society’s comprehensive strategies to address the medical laboratory workforce shortage. 

In year two, with support from the ASCP Foundation, ASCP created a new scholarship opportunity, the Dr. Alvin Ring Empowerment Scholarship for Laboratory Professionals, for students from underrepresented groups and/or underserved areas and awarded 14 scholars. 

ASCP also launched three eLearning courses in both staggered microlearning format and on-demand format, with more than 5,000+ enrolled participants, as well as finalized the Negotiation and Advocacy Toolbox with more than 100 tools, presentations, and templates for laboratory team leaders. 

2024 also saw the expansion of the Building Bridges webinar series, with 1,300 registrants, and successful integration of public health laboratory colleagues as both presenting SMEs and audience members. Through the CDC OneLab grant, ASCP also developed the new Aligning Your Lab Team job aid, which has shown to be the most downloaded resource from the grant microsite to date.

VALUE OF CERTIFICATION

Through patient-centric examinations designed and continually refined to integrate the expertise and advancements based on practice analyses, ASCP BOC ensures quality and credibility, underscored by its ANAB accreditation to ISO17024 standards. Guided by a diverse, federated Board of Governors structure, and dedicated to ongoing research, credibility, and advocacy, the ASCP BOC has provided trusted, industry-preferred credentials that bolster professional recognition and reinforce patient trust. This year’s accomplishments underscore the ASCP BOC’s role in shaping workforce sustainability and elevating the profession, highlighting the expanded opportunities that continue to emerge from its commitment to excellence. 

Auto Eligibility 

Beginning February 23, 2023, all paid applications from a student completing an accredited laboratory professional education program were made “auto eligible.” Now, within 24-48 hours of a paid application being submitted, the program director can verify program completion. In the past, BOC evaluators manually reviewed applications before release for the program directors’ electronic eligibility verification (EEV) signifying program completion. As of October 2024, more than 14,000 applicants have benefited from the “auto eligible” status and workflow optimization to be able to schedule a BOC examination for their date, time, and location preferences in approximately 48 hours instead of three to four weeks.  

Engagement For Laboratory Professionals 

ASCP BOC elevated pivotal collaborations with renowned medical laboratory organizations–including Vanderbilt University, Mayo Clinic Arizona, University Health - San Antonio, Sonora Quest, and Mass General Brigham, among others—to strategically recognize the critical role of ASCP BOC credentials in career advancement and workforce stability. These relationships highlight the indispensable value of validated expertise and competency, integrating ASCP BOC credentials into structured career advancement pathways, professional development initiatives, and talent recruitment strategies. These efforts not only bolster individual recognition and operational efficacy but also reinforce the quality of patient care and enhance retention of skilled laboratory professionals.

Professional Partners

ASCP BOC continues to engage professional partners through collaborative listening and learning sessions. High priority topics include accurate, unified nomenclature for enhanced visibility of laboratory professionals and scientists, as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a topic related to keeping the BOC intellectual property secure. In addition, the ASCP BOC Board of Governors (BOG) and Council of Committee Chairs (CCC) have been apprised of the risks and benefits of AI with ASCP BOC policy parameters to advance their understanding. Further meaningful insights have been garnered through the Examination Oversight Committee’s (EOC) review of, and conversation around, a proposed new credential, leading to opportunities to explore ways to enhance clinical access.

ASCPⁱ Travels, Presence

At Medlab Middle East 2024 in Dubai, ASCP BOC representatives met with the ASCP BOC UAE Advisory Board, presented on the value of ASCP BOC credentials to University of Sharjah students, and engaged with the UAE and Saudi Ministries of Health on credential value and visibility. Additionally, market assessments for 14 nations have been developed to guide strategic partnerships based on key indicators such as advisory board presence and professional development regulations. The ASCP BOC international team is refining unified nomenclature for ASCPⁱ credentials to enhance clarity for applicants to ensure better-informed credentialing decisions. In addition, the newly established Caribbean Advisory Board is finalizing an effective regional strategy. In May 2024, ASCP BOC Executive Director, Amy Spiczka, DHSc, MS, HTL(ASCP)^CMSCT,MB^CM, CPHQ, and the ASCP BOC Japanese Advisory Board, presented on the value of ASCP BOC credentials at the JAMT Congress in Kanazawa, Japan. Finally, at the Global Café, hosted during the ASCP Annual Meeting, ASCP and ASCPⁱ credential holders celebrated the BOC’s ongoing commitment to strengthening patient care worldwide through effective laboratory professional credentialing.

Advocacy Wins with Trusted Organizations

The ASCP BOC Nomenclature Taskforce has made significant progress in standardizing the Medical Laboratory Scientist title, aided by a campaign featuring "I am MLS" materials and job descriptions. In addition, a webinar and guide exemplifying best practices to change to “MLS” program nomenclature has been developed. Another key achievement included the CDC and CMS recognition of the Specialist in Cytology, SCT(ASCP), certification examination and credential for the CLIA personnel qualification 42CFR493.1483. With this approval, all CT(ASCP) and SCT(ASCP) credential holders are recognized in the CLIA personnel qualifications. Ongoing efforts include collaborative studies focused on phlebotomy technician competencies with the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and advocating for updates to federal occupational codes to reflect unified laboratory professional titles.

BOC Data, Insights, and Analytics 

ASCP BOC’s Data Governance initiative is advancing strategic goals by enhancing data quality and trust, visualizing key metrics through Tableau, while prioritizing regulatory readiness and continuous quality improvement. Additionally, a refreshed ASCP BOC website, focused on patient-centric value propositions, is under development with plans for a spring 2025 launch. Further evidence of the BOC value will be promoted with data, engaging social media, website, and publications more fully throughout 2025 and beyond. 

ASCP FOUNDATION

The ASCP Foundation’s mission is to champion excellence in laboratory medicine for the benefit of patients, pathologists, and laboratory professionals worldwide. Serving as ASCP’s philanthropic arm, the Foundation drives impactful initiatives in support of this goal.

Dr. Alvin Ring Empowerment Scholarship and Fund for Laboratory Professionals

In August 2023, Dr. Alvin Ring gave a $100,000 endowed donation to the ASCP Foundation to help support the recruitment and retention of a diverse laboratory workforce. The ASCP Foundation partnered with the ASCP Workforce Team to launch the application in March 2024. Scholarships range from $1,000-$5,000 and can be used toward certification fees, academic tuition, or needs-based expenses. In 2024, 135 submissions for the scholarship were received, and 14 recipients were named. In September 2024, the Dr. Alvin Ring Empowerment Fund launched to solicit donations that will contribute annually to the Dr. Alvin Ring Empowerment Scholarship for Laboratory Professionals. The 2025 application scholarship cycle is set to open in March 2025.

2024 Philip Barney Award  

With a donation from Dr. Philip and Mrs. Sandra Barney, the Dr. Philip and Sandra Barney Resident Volunteer Service Award launched in 2023. The annual recipient of this award is a resident with outstanding ASCP volunteer service. In 2024 the award was given to Lauren J. Miller, MD, MJ, CMQ, CHC, MLS(ASCP)^CM.

Emergency Relief 

In 2024, the ASCP Foundation helped raise funds to support and provide relief for laboratories in Haiti that are being affected by political and civil unrest, and which limited patient access to food, medicine, and shelter. Delays in supplies, shortages of both equipment and staff, and lack of resources have severely affected patient care. The Foundation raised $4,700 to help these laboratories in need. 

The ASCP Foundation continues to also support members who have been impacted in the United States by natural disasters through its Emergency Relief Fund, including a campaign this fall to support members who have been affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in the southeastern United States.

ASCP Foundation at the 2024 Annual Meeting 

Between donations given through the ASCP 5K Run/Walk and the ASCP Foundation Booth raffle at the 2024 ASCP Annual Meeting in Chicago, the ASCP Foundation raised more than $12,000 on location. 

Report of the Treasurer

Download the ASCP Audited Financial Statements for 2024 (PDF).