When the Clinical Laboratory Management Association (CLMA) aligned with ASCP late last year, it brought with it a rich history of educating future leaders in laboratory medicine. It also brought an expansive network of local chapters across the country that are open to all ASCP members. A handful of local chapters have a nominal fee, although most offer free membership
“The local chapters offer education, networking, leadership development, and other opportunities that are close to home for members,” says Sean Tucker, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, a member of the CLMA Advisory Board, which serves as a liaison to the ASCP Board of Directors.
The local chapters hold continuing education events and often co-host joint educational meetings with other medical laboratory associations. Networking is a key part of a chapter that provides an advantage to rising leaders in their own areas as they can learn new skill sets and connect with area employers.
For DeeAnn M.Lovett, BS, MT(ASCP), a medical technologist and chair of the Siouxland Chapter in South Dakota, networking has been an importance resource for her. “You might have issues that arise in your laboratory or your area, and when you go to meetings and talk with others, you may discover your colleagues are facing similar problems. You learn how they are addressing those situations, rather than having to reinvent the wheel.
“Networking has certainly benefited me,” adds Mr. Tucker, Director of Laboratory Services at North Kansas City Hospital in Kansas City, MO.
After he received his ASCP certification as a medical laboratory scientist, Mr. Tucker attended a lunchtime meeting of the local chapter in Kansas City and met some of the chapter’s board members. They encouraged him to apply for the chapter’s scholarship to attend their annual conference. After the conference, Mr. Tucker was invited to present what he’d learned at a subsequent chapter meeting.
“At that meeting, my future boss was one of the audience members,” he recalls. “She reached out to me and said she was impressed, and told me about a leadership job at her health system. So the local chapter was where I received leadership education and networking opportunities that led to my career advancement.”
Meanwhile, local chapters also offer members and opportunity to become involved in advocating for the profession at the state level. “An important topic to everyone is the medical laboratory workforce and ensuring we have an adequate and well-prepared workforce,” Mr. Tucker says. “State universities, in general, are providing fewer resources to support certified programs for laboratory professionals. Our local chapters are an excellent resource through which we can make our voices heard on this matter.”
Learn more about your ASCP local chapter by calling ASCP Customer Service at (800) 267-2727 or emailing info@ascp.org. In August, ASCP members will be able to join their local chapter when they renew their ASCP membership for 2023. You can also visit
ASCP Local Chapters.
