The ASCP established the Regional Member Awards in 1993 as a way to recognize laboratory professional members for their commitment to the profession - a commitment demonstrated through their work and their outstanding service in support of ASCP activities on a local level. A maximum of one award is given annually in each of eight US regions. Recipients must be ASCP members and be actively engaged on a local level in one or more of the following activities: laboratory, management, research, or education.

In the past, awards were presented at the recipient's place of employment. This year, for the third time, the awards were presented in conjunction with the ASCP Leadership Exchange. Since 1993, a total of 119 awards have been presented.

The 2009 Regional Member Award Recipients are:

Mid-Atlantic Region
Stephanie M. Boblett, MLT(ASCP)^CM is an outstanding ASCP Local Representative. She is a medical laboratory technician at Monongalia General Hospital, Morgantown, WV, and a program teaching assistant and student research assistant at Pierpont Community and Technical College / Fairmont State University. Boblett is enthusiastic in her recruitment efforts on college campuses and has developed a Facebook page to attract students into laboratory careers. She received her Associate of Applied Science degree in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) in 2005 and in 2007 received her cum laude bachelor of science degree in chemistry. “I plan to use these degrees, as well as my love for the laboratory, in order to further my education by going into an MD/PhD program and specializing in pathology,” she said. Boblett was vice president of Fairmont State University’s American Chemical Society, president of the Forensic Science Club, president of the MLT Student Association and a recipient of the Dade Behring Scholarship, ASCP Scholarship and the Outstanding MLT Student Award. Boblett recently served on the ASCP Student Handbook Committee and is currently on the ASCP Student Council Workgroup.

North Central Region
With more than 20 years laboratory experience, Katherine L. Ryerson, MT(ASCP) is Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iowa City, IA. She is also an Assistant in Instruction at the University of Iowa Clinical Laboratory Science Program and a member of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (ASCLS) and the CLMA. This year, Ryerson is the ASCP representative for the ASCLS Quad State 2009 Spring Meeting in Council Bluffs, IA. For the past two years, she helped recruit speakers for the event, and last year she planned and manned an ASCP booth there. Ryerson also helped to promote the ASCP Scholarships program to MT and MLT programs in her regional area. Former ASCP Board member Patricia K. Knebel, MT(ASCP), said, “Kathy exhibits professionalism and dedication to her chosen career and represents ASCP well in all venues.”

Northeast Region
Steven Marionneaux, MS, MT(ASCP) is the Laboratory Manager of St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY. He has 23 years of experience in the clinical laboratory. As an Instructor of Medicine at New York Medical College, Marionneaux teaches hematology/hemostasis to residents and fellows; as well as senior students in the St. Vincent's School of Medical Laboratory Technology. Marionneaux is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey where he teaches hematology to graduate students in the School of Health Related Professions. His passion for discovery leads him to improve treatment and quality of life for seriously ill patients. Marionneaux’s lab was the first in the US to implement a new method for quantitation of free light chains in multiple myeloma patients and one of the first to utilize a novel platelet aggregation test to detect aspirin resistance in cancer patients. Marionneaux is a regular presenter at scientific meetings. He enthusiastically gets his staff involved in research, writing abstracts/articles and developing poster presentations. “I believe in ASCP 100%,” said Marionneaux, “I tell my staff and students that ASCP is the premiere organization for education and certification and I encourage them to become members.” more...

Northwest Region
Jack A. Hager, MT(ASCP)SBB, is Director of Testing at the American Red Cross, National Testing Laboratory in Portland, OR. There, more than 1 million blood donations are tested for immunohematology and infectious disease per year. An ASCP local representative since 2005, Hager actively recruits people to enter the field of medical technology and mentors fellow professionals to achieve MT certification. Hagar also has acted as an assessor for AABB since 1993. “I’ve always believed medical technology is a great profession and encouraged the best and brightest people that I’ve worked with to pursue it in the course of their education,” said Hager. “It is definitely a career in which you can look back with pride at all the people’s lives you have directly or indirectly touched through your work.”

Southeast Region
Sallie Robinson, CT(ASCP) is the Cytology Section Supervisor at John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville, GA, where she recently received her 20-year service pin. Robinson works to promote the laboratory field as a viable career option by serving as the Healthcare Career Coordinator and as the “unofficial” tour guide for the laboratory. Her talents shine during Lab Week and National Cytology Day. She and her staff arrange for guest speakers, poster presentations and cancer health screenings. Robinson also successfully appealed the MIME Cytology Proficiency grades for a number of cytotechnologists and pathologists within the Archbold Memorial Hospital system when there were noted inconsistencies in grading of test results. Robinson served in the US Peace Corps from 1972 to 1974 as a volunteer classroom teacher in the South Pacific. She taught general science, biology and tropical agriculture to high school students. “My career in cytotechnology supports my efforts to make the world a better place for my patients and I hope I can give back just a small measure of the benefits that I’ve received from working in this field,” she said.

Southwest Region
J. Michele Stuart, PhD, MT(ASCP) is Associate Professor, Academic Advisor and Program Recruiter, Department of Pathology, Medical Laboratory Science, at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT. She has worked nearly 40 years in the laboratory, holding positions related to teaching and recruiting for more than 12 years. She has presented hundreds of lectures on immunology, immunohematology, urban natural hazards and disasters, laboratory science careers, and other topics. She holds several licenses and certifications for emergency management and disaster preparedness. Stuart has demonstrated extensive zeal and support for the profession, particularly during National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, through her many activities with the ASCP, ASCLS, the Utah Society for Clinical Laboratory Science and the Utah Laboratory Workforce Council.

Midwest Region
Nancy E. Ferrence-Ramirez, MS, MT(ASCP)SH, is Program Director, School of Medical Technology and Continuing Education Programs Director, Clinical Pathology at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI. Ferrence-Ramirez is actively involved in promoting the profession at numerous annual career events for middle and high school students and teachers, and through organizations like ASCLS, Hematology Scientific Assembly, MSCLS and MALSE. She encourages new employees at her lab orientations to be active members of ASCP and recruits her students to become student members with ASCP. She has been an ASCP local representative since 2000. Ferrence-Ramirez has presented several continuing education seminars and workshops at the Clinical Lab Educators Conference, ASCLS conferences, Beaumont Hospital and other health agencies. She also is a contributing author for various career recruitment materials, phlebotomy texts, and in-house training modules on specimen collection for nursing staff.