Dr. LaShanta Brice: Breaking Barriers in Pathology

LaShanta Brice, DCLS, was drawn to the field of medicine at a young age, though she wasn’t quite sure where she’d land. As a deeply empathetic person, she settled on the idea of becoming a pediatrician briefly but then realized through her studies that “my personality would absolutely not fit into being a physician.” What Dr. Brice knew for sure was that she wanted to help take care of people. 

When she enrolled in the Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) program at Virginia Commonwealth University, she realized she’d found her niche. But there was always a nagging feeling, as someone who comes from a “very heavy military background”—her aunt was the first Black woman to graduate from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy—that she “owed some service back to the military,” Dr. Brice says. Instead of joining one of the armed forces, she did her “service” as a civil servant, combining her love of the laboratory and her dedication to service while working as a laboratory scientist within the Department of Defense (DoD).  

Building a reputation 

Dr. Brice spent 15 years in the DoD, first with the U.S. Air Force and later with the Army, specializing in hematology, where she quickly gained recognition for her skill level. “Eventually I made my way from being a dual educator and bench laboratory scientists all the way up to a lead,” she says.  

However, when she expressed her intent to pursue a Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS), “then the chaos started,” she explains, saying that this decision wasn’t met with full support from laboratory leadership. She found herself “with a very scary decision to make”—to leave a job she was good at.  

Fortunately, her reputation and skill level soon caught the attention of a company that specializes in hemostasis diagnostics. Initially the company wanted Dr. Brice to move, causing her to refuse an initial job offer. However, approximately six months later her unique set of experience, credentials, and talent were recognized as rare and outstanding, landing her a remote position offer. Today she holds the role of scientific engagement and clinical education scientist for Diagnostica Stago. 

Breaking barriers 

That year was a big one for Dr. Brice in other ways, too. In 2021, she became the first Black woman to graduate with a DCLS. Upon seeing the photo of herself, she says, “I burst into tears.” It moved her to think that other Black professionals “can see that you can hop over hurdles and still get to the end,” she says. 

Dr. Brice has always fought for representation both for her degree field and as a woman of color. “We deserve to be here and in the laboratory space as much as any other clinical doctorate. And I will always stand and fight for us as a profession. I think it's important that we see representation not only as a DCLS, but as a person of color,” she says. 

Naturally, Dr. Brice has remained a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in clinical laboratory science. As the Membership Chair of the Society of Black Pathology, she works to create more opportunities for underrepresented groups in the field. She is keenly aware that it is often people of color and other marginalized groups who are doing the heavy lifting of this work, which she says can be “emotionally heavy” but necessary to ensure better working environment for medical laboratory scientists and health equity for patients. 

She also played a pivotal role in ensuring DEI became a strategic pillar within the Association for Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine (ADLM). "I stood up and I said that DEI should be an actual pillar and not a piece of paper that we sign and agree to," she says. She’s seen firsthand how much better a workplace can be when everyone is working toward inclusivity. 

Her presence in the field continues to draw positive attention. At the 2024 ADLM conference in Chicago, Dr. Brice was featured prominently in the organization’s ads, marking a significant moment for representation in laboratory medicine. "That was the first time that ADLM featured a DCLS in print advertisement and as a giant picture," she says. While it was an exciting milestone, it also sparked discussions about inclusion and the visibility of professionals of color in the field. 

The necessity of diversity in the laboratory 

In a time when DEI policies are being overturned, Dr. Brice believes that diversity in leadership is more important than ever to ensure equitable healthcare outcomes for all patients. "It is vitally important that we start taking chairs at the seat of committees as soon as possible, if not right now," she urges. 

It is also high time, she feels, for laboratory professionals to own their power as a key part of healthcare. "You have knowledge that other healthcare providers vastly need to be able to take care of patients safely," she stated.  

Dr. Brice will not stop pushing for progress, so that future generations of laboratory professionals—regardless of background—will have the opportunities, representation, and support they deserve.