Women with health conditions ranging from arthritis to diabetes are significantly more likely to be deficient in all-important vitamin D in the winter than in the summer, suggests research presented at the 2012 American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Annual Meeting in Boston, Oct. 31–Nov. 3. Read more

Scientific whiz kid Jack Andraka believes that through the Internet anything is possible, and that individuals do not have to be professors to develop ideas that matter to people. “The Internet can be used to help change and solve problems in this world,” he said. Already Jack has made a significant difference in people’s lives by discovering an early detection screening method for pancreatic cancer. He will be interviewed about his fantastic discovery from 4 to 4:50 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the 2012 ASCP Annual Meeting in Boston. Read more

Through her involvement with ASCP’s Council of Laboratory Professionals, Barbara S. Caldwell, MS, MT(ASCP)SH, has the incomparable opportunity to meet many colleagues nationwide. “It’s an outstanding volunteer network that has been great for so many wonderful reasons,” she said. “We are part of a larger, more powerful group.” As ASCP’s annual Membership Drive gets under way, Ms. Caldwell reflected on the value of her membership in the Society, and why she plans to renew her membership. Read more

The American Board of Pathology (ABP) is announcing a new Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirement for patient safety to comply with the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) MOC Patient Safety requirement for its member boards. Beginning in 2013, all diplomates enrolled in MOC will be required to complete an ABMS-approved Patient Safety course within their next two, two-year reporting cycles. A Patient Safety Module must be completed at least once during each 10-year cycle. Read more