Celebrating Black Voices in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Developing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive profession starts with a laboratory workforce that is as diverse as the patient population it serves. For Black History Month, ASCP spoke with educational programs that are making a concerted effort to recruit underrepresented minorities and help strengthen the workforce pipeline. Click on the links below to read the full articles! To learn more, check out interviews from our celebration of Black History Month in 2021 and 2022.

Virginia Commonwealth University MLS Program: An Individualized Approach

When Maiya Picott, BS, MS, Laboratory Instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) was recruited from a predominantly white institution to consider a career in laboratory sciences, she had been considering another program and career path altogether. But a pitch to her from Melissa Jamerson, PhD, MLS(ASCP), Associate Professor and Assistant Chair of VCU’s MLS Department sealed the deal. “From the second I met Dr. Jamerson, she was super invested in my journey, and I could feel the genuineness of my interactions with her. I felt like there was nowhere else I would want to go to school because I was so welcomed and invited,” says Ms. Picott.

UAMS MLT to MLS Bridge Program Offers Opportunities to Help Build a Stronger, Diverse Workforce

It’s no secret that recruiting new students into medical laboratory science (MLS) programs has its challenges. For the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) MLT to MLS online bridge program, focusing on their differences compared to other, similar programs has become a calling card, along with its emphasis on recruiting students from underrepresented minorities. Shaneika Chambers, MHA, MLS(ASCP)^CM, an instructor who plays an active role in recruiting students, notes that to start, the program offers alternatives to traditional clinical rotations, making it accessible to students who are already living busy lives, working, and even raising families.

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