3 Questions with Dr. Hassan Aziz, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM

When entering university, Hassan Aziz, PhD, MLS(ASCP)^CM, was also considering careers in dentistry and engineering. He remembers selecting “Medical Technology” as a second option, not knowing what the field entailed. Now, as the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi, Dr. Aziz says he ultimately feels the profession was “chosen” for him, combining his desire to be part of a healthcare team and the ability to apply his technical skills. He spoke with Critical Values as part of our “3 Questions with...” series about his involvement with ASCP, challenges in healthcare, and more.  

What are some of the lessons you've learned through the different volunteer roles you’ve taken on, in or out of ASCP?  

My active participation and vast experiences enhanced my professional development and provided me with countless networking opportunities. Despite my full work schedule and other life commitments, I believe, through volunteering, we can make a noticeable difference in our professional lives. We do it because we care about our profession. We do it hoping someone will carry the torch. Optimism is contagious, just like pessimism. We must remain optimistic about the outcome of our work. The hard work will eventually be recognized. It may take a few months or even years to enjoy the fruits of the hard work. Be patient but be determined and focused. My ultimate rewards were receiving the ASCP Lifetime Achievement Award in September 2019 and serving as President of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) in 2021-2022.  

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the laboratory in healthcare today?  

There are a lot of challenges facing laboratory professionals. The literature cites workforce and staffing shortages, behavioral health and burnout, and stressful workload are a few of the main challenges. Not to undermine those challenges, I believe they are symptoms to a larger problem. In recent years, the laboratory industry has witnessed a profound advancement in organizational and methodological terms. Laboratories and healthcare systems are consolidating and merging on a regular basis. New networks are formed with increased automation and integration of the traditional branches of laboratory medicine. Testing technologies have advanced so rapidly allowing for enormous amounts of data (Big Data). The laboratory plays a critical role in precision medicine, preventive screenings, diagnostics, treatments, and in clinical outcome monitoring. I see a misalignment between the current workforce and the academic programs with the anticipated demands for the future laboratory.  

I would like to see the profession play a more active role in precision medicine. We need to change our paradigm, moving away from simple services to become more efficient reference for the diagnosis and treatment of patients for better clinical outcomes.  

What do you hope to leave as your legacy in the laboratory? 

As a young adult I can remember feeling excited and ambitious to make a difference in the world. I pursued my dream to help people in their time of need. Upon graduation, this dream was realized when I started working in the laboratory. As I gained more experience, I quickly learned my passion was rooted in higher education. The ability to educate the future minds of our profession appealed to me. One thing I often reflect upon is how I will be remembered. I have reached hundreds of lives. Each one will go on to care for thousands more.  What a feeling it is to know you have helped people that you have never even met by facilitating learning being an educator and an ambassador to the profession.  

From a professional perspective, I know that my work as a professor and my contribution to the profession have cemented my legacy. I want to be remembered as a true leader who contributed to the profession, admired, and respected by colleagues.