ASCP has launched an Internship Academy designed to expand young people’s awareness about careers in the clinical laboratory. It enhances the Society’s already significant offerings to cultivate a new generation of laboratory professionals.   

The ASCP Internship Academy will serve as a comprehensive resource for the ASCP community to encourage, educate, and facilitate laboratory professionals to develop and maintain a STEM-based internship program to expose students to careers in the clinical laboratory industry.   

The Internship Academy program is available for purchase in the ASCP Store and provides video teaching sessions on everything from how to start an internship program and how to calculate your own laboratory staff vacancy rate, to how to convince hospital executives to allow the laboratory department to use unspent personnel funds to establish the internship program.     

“The program takes the heavy lifting out of establishing an internship academy on your own,” explains John Baci, MBA, director of the Internship Academy, who played a key role in developing the ASCP program. Mr. Baci is the senior director of the Pathology Foundation Financial Operations and Strategic Planning and chief operating officer of Children’s Hospital Pathology Foundation, Inc., part of Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH), in Boston, MA.  

The Internship Academy is directed toward high school juniors and seniors, students in STEM programs, as well as college students. The inspiration for the academy came, in part, from the career internship program Mr. Baci established in 2010 at Boston Children’s Hospital.   

The impetus for the Boston Children’s internship program came from Mr. Baci’s frustration about the lack of employers in his rural community (a nearly 40-mile commute from Boston) to offer high school students, including his own children, internship or job opportunities. That contrasted with the plethora of opportunities available to students at the many healthcare institutions in Boston.   

One day, he called his daughter’s high school science teacher and asked if he could visit a classroom and talk about careers in the laboratory. The teacher responded enthusiastically. Two weeks later, Mr. Baci arrived at the school to talk about anatomic pathology, autopsies, specimens, and other topics. Students from the entire science division showed up for his presentation in the school auditorium.   

“I was surprised at how engaged the students and teachers were,” he recalls.  

From there, his outreach efforts in his community took off, as did the internship program he created at Boston Children’s Hospital. One person he mentored was Erika Figueroa, a high school friend of his daughter.  

“One time, I was at their house, and he asked me what I was interested in for a career,” she says. “I was a biology major in college, but I did not have a direction. I mentioned something about working in a medical examiner’s office. He told me about his laboratory and the job opportunities there and asked if I wanted to work as an intern in his department that summer.”    

For a month, she shadowed a variety of laboratory staff at Boston Children’s. She was most intrigued by the intricate work of a pathologists’ assistant. That prompted her to change her career focus to train as a pathologists’ assistant. Ms. Figueroa is currently certified as a pathologists’ assistant and works at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. 

“I think of my profession as the middleman between the surgeon and the clinician. With each specimen, I am reminded that it represents a patient,” she says.  

Several years ago, ASCP staff learned about Mr. Baci’s outreach activities and invited him to help with the Society’s recruitment initiatives. Through that invitation Mr. Baci has now become acquainted with other ASCP colleagues involved in workforce development initiatives.   

Mr. Baci also expressed much gratitude to Boston Children’s Hospital Pathology Executive Director Latisha Rider, who has been instrumental in not only providing support to their program but also for modernizing interns’ laboratory experience to include state-of-the-art laboratory operations. Mr. Baci also shared that over the years many BCH administrative and technical staff have served as outstanding mentors to the internship program.    

“ASCP has been delightful to work with, as we create a program that is sustainable and will help us to grow the next generation of laboratory professionals,” he says.    

Learn more about the ASCP Leadership Academy here.  

Almost 10 years ago, Lija Joseph, MD, FASCP, FACP, chief of pathology at Lowell General Hospital in Lowell, MA, read a news story about a lung cancer patient who wanted to see what her cancer looked like under a microscope but didn’t know where to go. Joseph says this patient, who lived in Lowell, turned to social media for recommendations and drove 20 miles away to Newton, MA, to meet with a pathologist. 

“When I read this story, I said, ‘I'm here, patient is here! If the patient needs access to their pathology report or they want to just discuss what pathology is about, they should just come to Lowell. We should provide the care in the community,” Dr. Joseph says. 

Reading about that patient’s journey prompted Dr. Joseph to conceptualize the pathology clinic program in her own organization—a place where patients can come sit at a microscope, visualize their disease, and ask an expert the questions that help them feel more in control of their situation. In 2017, the clinic Dr. Joseph helped launch saw its first patient, and she has seen, firsthand, the powerful role pathologists can play in the treatment of a serious illness. 

“For example, some patients want to take a photograph of the biopsy that they can keep next to their medication. When they take their medication, they imagine the tumor melting away. There are many reasons why they come, but the consistent story from every single one of them is that knowledge is power,” Dr. Joseph says. 

A roadmap for pathology clinic expansion 
Now, Dr. Joseph is helping other organizations launch clinics like hers through her work on ASCP’s on-demand, seven-module certificate program that teaches others how to establish and integrate patient-facing clinics. This program, Pathology Clinics: Design, Delivery & Impact, which launched in 2025, provides practical guidance, case examples, and patient testimonials to demonstrate how pathology clinics enhance communication, improve outcomes, and give patients a better understanding of their diagnoses. Participants earn 11 CME credits and a certificate of completion while learning a complete step-by-step process for implementing pathology clinics at their own institutions.  

Dr. Joseph recognizes the prospect of opening a pathology clinic can be daunting, but ASCP’s certificate program provides a roadmap for every step of opening a clinic, from how to greet patients when they walk into a clinic, how to pitch the concept to the C-suite, which CPT and E&M codes to use for billing, and how to have difficult—often emotional—conversations with patients. 

Pathology clinics fulfill clinical, professional, and emotional needs 
While these clinics are undeniably beneficial to the patients they serve, they also help elevate the pathology profession. Dr. Joseph says while pathologists have done “curbside” consultations with patients and family members for years, their work isn’t always visible. What’s more, establishing clinics enables pathologists to engage with patients in meaningful ways. According to Dr. Joseph, research has found that 85 percent of pathologists want more interaction with patients. She’s found that spending time with patients in the clinic setting has an enormous professional and emotional impact on the pathologists she works with. In her practice, 95 percent of a pathologists’ time is spent on typical tasks, while 5 percent of their time is spent consulting with patients who’ve made clinic appointments. 

“But it's a 5 percent of quality time that we wouldn't trade for anything else,” Dr. Joseph says “It helps us find meaning in the work that we do. We directly encounter the people that we are touching every day, and it really prevents burnout.” 

For Jonathan Genzen, MD, PhD, MBA, FASCP, chief medical officer and senior director of government affairs at ARUP Laboratories, the completion of a new Advanced Practice Clinical Laboratory Training Center (APL) with the University of Utah’s Division of Medical Laboratory Sciences was a full-circle career moment. 
 
Dr. Genzen, an ASCP board member, says the project brought together his interest in education, as a faculty member at the University of Utah, his role as a medical director, and his passion for regulatory affairs. The first-of-its-kind advanced practice lab (APL) was built using $3 million in federal funding that was included in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Division of the Consolidated Appropriations Act approved by Congress and signed by President Biden in 2022 with the help of Chris Stewart, a former Utah U.S. Representative. It officially opened on September 30, 2025. 

Dr. Genzen’s clinical, academic, and business background gave him an appreciation for the massive effort required to design, build, staff, and fund such an important project. Beyond the federal funds, the Department of Pathology’s Medical Laboratory Sciences Division provides support for faculty and staff to develop and implement curricula and to provide instruction and assessment. The program has also secured a grant for a laboratory information system to be used in the training center, according to an ARUP Laboratories press release. 

“I don't think most programs have thought about this potential approach for funding. It's a little bit atypical,” says Dr. Genzen, of the process of securing funds appropriated by Congress to build a training facility of this scale. “This seemed like a really novel approach, but it was a long shot. There was absolutely no guarantee we would be successful, but we were pleasantly surprised. People understood at each step along the way what we were trying to do and why we thought it would have a positive impact for our community.” 
 
A model for bridging education and practice 
Dr. Genzen believes the new APL could serve as a potential model for enhancing medical laboratory science (MLS) training across the country. The training center, which sits on the ARUP campus at University of Utah Research Park in Salt Lake City, is essentially a mock hospital lab that has the same set up, equipment, and instrumentation that you would expect to see in a hospital setting.  

Typically, MLS trainee rotations are integrated into the workflow of an operational clinical lab that’s doing patient testing, which can be challenging because staff are already managing clinical work while also trying to contribute to the student educational experience. 

“There are certainly smaller simulated labs in existing training programs, but this is pretty unique in its scale and instrumentation dedicated for educational purposes,” Dr. Genzen says. 

He’s hopeful that the creation of this training facility will help contribute to addressing the longstanding MLS shortage that Utah and the rest of the country are facing. ARUP and university officials say the training center will enable the University of Utah to double the annual number of graduates to 80. 

The opportunity to play a role in addressing the MLS shortage and supporting the University of Utah as an attractive place for MLS students to train is exciting for Dr. Genzen. Pathology and laboratory sciences are under-recognized fields, but they’re incredibly important and rewarding. 

“If you work in a clinical laboratory, the work you do is providing absolutely critical and essential information for patients, often at a very important time in their healthcare journey,” says Dr. Genzen. “A patient sees their doctor, they see their nurse. They typically don't see laboratory scientists working in the lab, and that's why we're trying to enhance recognition of this important profession.” 

For program director and ASCP board member Cheryl Germain, MHS, MASCP, PA(ASCP)^CM, it’s hard to top the sight of her students at their white coat ceremonies. 

“It’s my favorite event because I can see a visible change in their posture when we put that white coat on them,” Ms. Germain says. “They hold themselves differently, they speak differently. And then in the second year when they come back for their monthly exam when they are in clinical rotations, they have a totally different outlook. They're turning into real professionals. They speak the language of pathology and medicine without realizing it.” 

Although she’s focused on education now, Ms. Germain has worn many hats as a pathologists’ assistant (PA) including working in clinical labs, training residents and PA students, launching new PA programs and curriculums, and mentoring students. She is grateful to be working as an educator because she gets to watch students grow through the program, become confident as professionals and successful in their fields. 
 
Ms. Germain has developed and directed three pathologists’ assistant (PA) programs, including the West Virginia University School of Medicine, the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and the new University of Jamestown-Phoenix programs and has been involved with accreditation activities with NAACLS, the accrediting agency for clinical laboratory science educational programs.  

Guiding the next generation of diagnostic innovators 
At the new University of Jamestown Health Sciences and Graduate Center in Phoenix, where Ms. Germain works currently, multiple niche programs will be opening.  

“Creating new programs brings new workers into the profession,” she says. “There are great opportunities for people in the lab sciences—steady jobs and good income. Recruiting needs to occur at the high school and undergraduate levels, but that takes time and is difficult with a shortage of staff.” 

Ms. Germain finds opening these new programs to be rewarding but acknowledges challenges. Due to lab staffing shortages, it can be hard to find labs willing to take on students for clinical rotations.  

“I can’t tell you how many pathologists I've worked with only reluctantly took on students but now won’t work without them. Hosting students for clinical rotations increases a lab’s pool of potential employees and helps evaluate if a student is a good culture fit and a good work ethic,” Ms. Germain says.  

Ms. Germain is excited about the future laboratory science students have before them.  She says programs and program directors need to keep up with the coming changes and trends, but opportunities for innovation are numerous. She thinks corporate sponsorship as a means of funding may become necessary, and this can help create a pool of well-educated laboratory employees for industry partners.   

Developments in molecular diagnostics, liquid biopsies, cancer biomarkers, pharmacogenetic treatments, and advances in surgery and radiology give pathology professionals an opportunity to be involved with improved diagnosis at earlier stages. With earlier diagnosis comes more effective, less toxic treatments, according to Ms. Germain. Graduates of laboratory science programs will be instrumental in advancing these new diagnostics, and Ms. Germain is hopeful about the difference their efforts will make. 

“Students inspire me constantly,” Ms. Germain says. “They're curious. They want to grow and learn. They want to be good at their jobs, and their trust in me certainly drives me to be better myself. I'm certainly excited about and hopeful for the future.” 

In early November ASCP Director of the Center for Global Health Kenneth Landgraf, MS, traveled to Hammamet, Tunisia, to speak at the 2025 conference of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), a biannual meeting that brings together leaders from across the cancer care continuum. 

ASCP sponsored a session this year focused on pathology to help bring attention to the critical need for improved diagnostic systems in Africa. 

“One takeaway from just about every session I attended is that diagnostic access is a key barrier to improved health outcomes. Regardless of the topic, diagnostics just kept coming up as a critical missing piece that we need to strengthen. Another theme was the importance of implementation research in oncology,” Mr. Landgraf says. 

Like many parts of the world, many African countries are facing a severe shortage of pathologists. This has devastating downstream impacts on treatment and survival rates. According to Mr. Landgraf, the U.S. and UK, for example, have one pathologist per 20,000 people. But many low- and middle-income countries (including countries in Africa) have as few as one pathologist per million people. In addition to fewer pathologists, there are also fewer training programs and hardly any subspecialty training.  

This shortage is emerging as cancer is on the rise across Africa. As people live longer, cancer rates are projected to more than double over the next 15 years. Disparities in diagnosis rates and treatment also lead to poor health outcomes. According to Mr. Landgraf, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa is 40 percent, compared to high-income countries like the U.S. where the five-year survival rate is over 90 percent. 

Scaling AI and telepathology to improve diagnosis 
Across the African continent, pathology services in public healthcare systems remain chronically underfunded; however, the practice is evolving rapidly as laboratories and academic centers embrace digital technologies to strengthen diagnostic capacity.  

In his presentation at AORTIC, “Transforming Diagnostics: Digital Pathology and AI Partnerships in Africa,” which Mr. Landgraf co-presented with Dr. Shaheen Sayed, from Aga Khan University in Kenya and Dr. Alex Mremi, from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in Tanzania, he shared lessons learned from establishing and scaling ASCP’s telepathology network across Africa. 

In 2015, ASCP launched the Partners for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Initiative, a program conceived to expand access to cancer diagnostics in low and lower-middle income countries (LMICs). ASCP has worked with laboratories in 28 countries, conducting site assessments, hands-on training for laboratory staff, and virtual training and mentorship programs. Where feasible, ASCP also deployed telepathology platforms (i.e. whole slide imaging systems) to facilitate remote consultation by ASCP member volunteers. 

Now, building upon the digital pathology infrastructure they built, ASCP is working with Massachusetts General Hospital and collaborators across Africa to create a diverse and representative data set of breast cancer cases across eight or nine countries. This dataset will be used to train a deep learning model to accurately predict patient response to ER and HER2-directed therapies based on a standard hematoxylin and eosin slide. The team hypothesizes that the diversity within their training data set will contribute to an algorithm that generalizes better for patients of African descent. 

Mr. Landgraf is optimistic about the potential digital pathology and AI hold to improve diagnosis and treatment in the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and other LMICs. 

“Studies have shown how different AI tools can decrease the amount of time it takes for a pathologist to review a case. However, an algorithm is only as equitable as the data it learns from. Without diverse, representative datasets, AI in pathology will work best for the patients who already have the most access—and that’s exactly what we are trying to change.” Mr. Landgraf says. 

For almost 40 years, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) has used its annual vacancy survey to assess the scope and distribution of workforce shortages in medical laboratories across the United States. The 2024 survey painted a somewhat familiar picture: stubborn staffing shortages, long hiring timelines, and a supply of new professionals that still falls short of demand. But this year’s survey also covered new ground. For the first time, it asked laboratories how artificial intelligence (AI) tools are showing up in their workplaces and what that might mean for staffing. 

AI can complement, not replace laboratory professionals 
ASCP Senior Director of Scientific Engagement and Research, Edna Garcia, MPH, says it was important for ASCP to get a read on the emergence of AI in laboratories currently. “We thought it was especially important to look into the current implementation of AI, plans for implementing AI, challenges implementing AI, attitudes towards AI,” says Ms. Garcia. “Finally, AI is relevant to the vacancy report because it affects staffing recruitment and retention.” 

Only 17.4% of respondents reported using AI in their laboratories, with most adoption clustered in LIS and QA/PI workflows and anatomic pathology. For labs that have explored AI, the most common hurdles were adaptation and training. Respondents cited limited IT resources, lengthy validation timelines, and resistance to change. Despite these challenges, very few labs viewed job loss as a major concern. 

In fact, most laboratories said they had not seen any staffing changes tied to AI. Among the those that had, the most common shifts involved training existing staff and hiring people with some familiarity with AI tools. Even then, nearly three-quarters said they did not expect AI adoption to change qualification requirements for future hires. 

 “There is this perception that AI is going to take away jobs from people,” Ms. Garcia says. “But we’ve been using AI even before the topic became prominent in other industries. I think there will be a greater need for lab professionals who understand AI. But that does not mean the need for laboratory professionals will decrease.” 

Vacancy rates and slow hiring persist 
Core workforce findings remained urgent in 2024. Vacancy rates appear lower than in 2022; Ms. Garcia warned against viewing this as an improvement. “During the pandemic, vacancy rates became higher because of early retirement and people leaving or changing careers. If you look at the vacancy rates from 2018, which is before the pandemic, you can see that the 2024 data is still higher.”  

The gap between supply and demand is clear. More than 24,000 positions are projected to open each year, yet training programs graduate only about 8,800 students, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Respondents noted hiring timelines lag. Many departments need three months to a year to fill staff positions, and even longer to fill supervisory roles. Respondents repeatedly pointed to salary limits, too few training programs, and weak retention pipelines as barriers. 

For Denver Health School of Medical Laboratory Science students, a $2,000 grant from ASCP will help ensure that their training environment more accurately mimics the experience of professional laboratories they’ll encounter when they graduate.  

Bailey Hicks, MEd, MLS(ASCP)^CM, program director for the Schools of Medical Laboratory Science and Phlebotomy, who stepped into her role nearly a year ago, inherited both the programs and the grant application from her predecessor.  

Prior to obtaining the grant, her lab was relying on two 12+ year-old residential-grade refrigerators that fluctuated in temperature throughout the day. According to Ms. Hicks, that problem was more than an inconvenience. It directly affected the quality of the lab’s reagents and specimens. 

“With residential fridges, you get normal temperature swings as they cycle,” Ms. Hicks says. “When refrigerators fluctuate in temperature, reagents and specimens that are sensitive can degrade, leading to inconsistent or unexplainable lab results. This makes it difficult for us to know whether errors are due to student technique or simply improper storage conditions.” 

That uncertainty made it harder for instructors to teach and harder for students to learn. In some cases, it even risked the integrity of expensive reagents, stock organisms, and preserved specimens used in the program’s student labs.  
 
“Any day one of those old fridges could have gone down. If that happened overnight, we could have lost a lot of money,” Ms. Hicks says. 

The commercial refrigerator Denver Health purchased with ASCP’s support cost about $4,500, so the program contributed additional funds to complete the purchase. The new unit is taller than a standard residential refrigerator, holds more supplies, and keeps a steady, precise temperature throughout the day. That stability will help instructors pinpoint true technique errors and help students build confidence before entering clinical rotations. 

“We’re hopeful we’ll see a lot less variability in results,” Ms. Hicks says. “It gives students a more realistic and controlled experience that mirrors what they’ll see in an actual clinical laboratory.” 

For Ms. Hicks, the upgrade provides peace of mind on both the scientific and operational sides of the program. “This really helps us maintain the level of quality we expect from our students. Getting this grant from ASCP has given us the opportunity to enhance what we’re doing and better prepare students before they step foot in the clinical lab.” 

ASCP Supports Comprehensive Care for Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease  

ASCP joined ASH and over 70 organizations in urging Congress to advance the bipartisan Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act (S. 721 / H.R. 5178), which would improve access to comprehensive outpatient care for individuals with sickle cell disease through state Medicaid Health Home programs. ASCP remains committed to supporting this legislation and will keep members informed of future progress. Read more.  

ASHI Tech Affairs Happy Hour: Sharing ASCP Workforce Insights 

ASCP joined ASHI for a webinar to present preliminary results from its 2024 Wage Survey, Laboratory Education Financing study, and national workforce reports. The discussion focused on wage trends, staffing shortages, and barriers to education and career advancement within the medical laboratory field. Through research and collaboration, ASCP aims to strengthen workforce equity, resilience, and support across the laboratory community. Read more.  

Gregory G. Davis, MD, MSPH, was installed as the 2025-2026 President of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) during the Society’s Annual Meeting, November 17-20, in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Davis, a nationally recognized leader in forensic pathology, has dedicated his career to advancing medical science, public health, and the mission of ASCP. 

Dr. Davis graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and completed his pathology residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. He pursued a fellowship in forensic pathology at the San Diego County Medical Examiner Office in San Diego, CA, before joining the faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). At UAB, he currently serves as Professor and Director of the Forensic Division in the Department of Pathology. He is also the Chief Coroner/Medical Examiner for Jefferson County, Alabama. 

In addition to his clinical and academic leadership, Dr. Davis earned a Master of Science in Public Health from the UAB School of Public Health. His research focuses on applying epidemiology to forensic pathology, particularly in the area of drug abuse. He has authored 80 peer-reviewed publications, including serving as lead author on the 2013 opioid position paper of the National Association of Medical Examiners and the 2020 revision. He also serves on the editorial board of Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology. 

“Dr. Davis brings a remarkable combination of not just expertise, but also dedication, authenticity and compassion to the role of ASCP President,” says Alexandra Brown, MD, FASCP, Interim Chief Executive Officer of ASCP. “His leadership will strengthen ASCP’s ability to advance pathology and laboratory medicine while addressing critical challenges in public health. We are proud to welcome him as our president.” 

Dr. Davis is a past president of the National Association of Medical Examiners and has served on the ASCP Board of Directors since 2018. His leadership within ASCP includes serving as Chair of the Commission on Science, Technology & Policy, Chair of ASCP Case Reports, and member of the Bylaws Committee. He began his volunteer service with ASCP in 2005 as co-editor of the forensic pathology section of ASCP Case Reports (then known as Check Sample), later serving as chief editor of ASCP Case Reports from 2011–2017. 

“I am honored to assume the presidency of ASCP, and I am eager to continue working with my colleagues to promote outstanding laboratory care for our patients,” says Dr. Davis. “My forensic experience has taught me not only the importance of engaging with others for a worthy cause, but also the deep satisfaction that comes from that engagement as we work together to improve public health.” 

As ASCP President, Dr. Davis will lead the organization in its mission to empower laboratory professionals, pathologists, and patients by advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and advocating for the critical role of diagnostic medicine in healthcare. 

• ASCP joins ASHI webinar to highlight key workforce research findings   

On November 5, 2025, ASCP joined the American Society for Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (ASHI) for their Tech Affairs Happy Hour webinar to share the latest findings from its workforce research initiatives. During this event, ASCP provided preliminary findings from the 2024 Wage Survey focusing on histocompatibility professionals alongside early insights from the Laboratory Education Financing study. The session also highlighted national trends from the  2024 ASCP Vacancy survey and key findings from the MPHLW Coalition Report.  

As part of its ongoing mission to advocate for the medical laboratory workforce, ASCP continues to investigate how wage trends, staffing shortages and education and career barriers impact the profession. With limited national research on how education financing impacts entry into laboratory careers, ASCP’s work fills a critical gap in understanding workforce access and equity. Events like the ASHI Tech Affairs Happy Hour offer valuable opportunities to discuss and align strategies across the medical laboratory community. These efforts support ASCP’s broader goal of building a resilient, well-supported and inclusive laboratory workforce for the future.  

• ASCP supports bipartisan legislation that would provide comprehensive care for individuals with SCD 

ASCP recently supported our partners at the American Society of Hematology (ASH), and more than 70 other groups in urging the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health to include the Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act (S. 721 / H.R. 5178) in an upcoming markup or hearing. 

ASCP is proud to collaborate with members of the Sickle Cell Disease Coalition to support this bipartisan legislation as it aims to ensure that individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) have better access to comprehensive, high-quality outpatient care, including recommended clinical, mental health, ancillary, and support services by allowing states to establish Medicaid Health Home programs with SCD as the single qualifying condition for eligibility.  

ASCP will continue to urge passage of this important legislation and update the membership on any developments as they arise. 

• CY 2026 Medicare PFS Final Rule increases pathologist reimbursement 0.5 percent for 2026 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published its CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule on October 31. Despite ASCP, the American Medical Association, and other medical societies strongly opposing several controversial new proposals that will negatively impact pathologists and other specialists, CMS is adopting these proposals in its final rule.  Fortunately, Congress increased spending for the PFS by 2.5 percent during the summer, thus mitigating some of the impact of CMS’s new policies. 

These new policies include the efficiency adjustment and site of service differential payment rate and others.   

Efficiency Adjustment: CMS adopted its efficiency adjustment because it believes efficiencies are gained through practitioner experience, technological advances, and other operational improvements. ASCP pushed back on this proposal in its comments, citing several studies that found no such efficiencies. CMS also declined ASCP’s recommendation to exempt several pathology services (CPT codes 80503, 80504, 80505, and 80506) that ASCP argued were incorrectly included in CMS’s proposal. 

Site of service differential: CMS also finalized its site of service differential proposal, another proposal ASCP opposed. The new policy means that CMS will increase indirect costs for practitioners in office-based settings at the expense of providers working in facility settings.   

In addition, CMS has maintained the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance threshold (to avoid a penalty) at 75 points for 2026, as requested by ASCP. CMS also adopted its proposed pathologist MIPS Value Pathway (MVP). Though the new MVP includes several elements that do not apply to pathology, ASCP is hopeful that CMS will consider changes that could make the MVP more applicable to pathologists. 

• 23 Organizations asked Homeland Security to exempt pathologists and laboratory professionals from President Trump’s $100,000 H-1B fee 

The American Society for Clincal Pathology (ASCP), ASCP Board of Certification (BOC), and  and 21 other organizations urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide a National Interest Exception from the $100,000 H-1B fee for pathologists and laboratory professionals. Many of the organizations joining the letter are members of the Medical and Public Health Laboratory Workforce Coalition (MPHLWC). 

In the letter, the signers wrote: “the United States is not training enough pathologists and laboratory professionals to meet demand…” and that “The H-1B visa is essential to addressing these shortages, especially in the rural and underserved areas in which these visa holders tend to work.”   

• ASCP comment letter reiterates need for evidence-based cervical cancer screening recommendations 

• ASCP urges access to all cervical cancer screening modalities to promote choice and provider-patient decision-making.  

In a recent comment letter to the Heath Resources and Services Administration, ASCP expressed concerns with the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative’s (WPSI) draft cervical cancer screening recommendations. As a patient-centric organization, ASCP voiced concern regarding the emphasis placed on primary HPV testing as the “preferred” method for cervical cancer screening. This emphasis does not reflect the realities faced by many U.S. laboratories, where the use of primary HPV testing platforms remains limited. Additionally, co-testing (HPV + cytology) continues to be a widely supported approach among providers. Unlike the USPSTF cervical cancer screening recommendations — which were developed over years of expert review and assign equal (“Grade A”) status to three screening modalities (cervical cytology alone, primary HPV testing, and co-testing) — the WPSI recommendations lack robust scientific evidence to support their prioritization of primary HPV testing. 

ASCP raised concern that the WPSI recommendations suggest that patient- or self-collected specimens may be equivalent or superior to clinician-collected samples. However, current research does not reflect this claim. While ASCP agrees that HPV self-collection may offer future benefits for some populations, the data is not yet strong enough to confirm substantial value. Moreover, in comments, ASCP cautioned that promoting self-collection over clinician-collected specimens could potentially reduce access to preventive healthcare, particularly for underserved communities. 

ASCP urged that cervical cancer screening recommendations remain grounded in evidence-based practice — similar to the USPSTF recommendations — and reflect the realities of the laboratory and, most importantly, maintain the highest standards of patient care. 

• ASCP is asking everyone to contact their congressional representatives and urge them to enact the RESULTs Act

• Congressional deal to reopen the federal government postpones 2026 CLFS cuts 30 days

Calling all ASCP members and their colleagues! We need your help to get Congress to pass the RESULTS Act (The Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services Act [S. 2761 / H.R. 5269]). We are also requesting that laboratory directors ask their employer’s government relations team to provide support for this legislation. 

Why support the RESULTS Act? 

When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revised payment rates per the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) in 2018, it caused a wave of massive cuts, totaling more than $4 billion in Medicare payments alone. In addition, insurers used CMS’s new rates to impose additional cuts in laboratory reimbursement. The result caused significant economic hardship for laboratories and laboratory staff. 

The RESULTS Act would reform PAMA using paid claims from a comprehensive commercial payor database. This would generally eliminate the need for laboratories to report data, and it would also provide CMS with more robust, reliable data for setting new payment rates. The RESULTS Act would also block further payment cuts until new rates can be set. CMS is currently preparing to cut payment for about 800 tests (about one third of all tests on the clinical laboratory fee schedule) by as much as 15 percent. These cuts would now go into effect on January 31, 2026, per the pending legislation to reopen the Federal government, providing more time to advocate for the RESULTS Act.

Endorsed by more than 30 organizations, ASCP and others anticipate that if the RESULTS Act becomes law, many payment rates would increase, and future cuts would be significantly lessened (maximum 5 percent cut allowed per year). This should help improve Medicare payment and help laboratories negotiate better rates with insurers. 

What can YOU do? 

ASCP is asking YOU to send a message to your representatives in Congress. Using the pre-drafted message on the STOP LAB CUTS Website, this should only take a few minutes. Click here to TAKE ACTION. In addition, we are asking each laboratory’s leadership to reach out their employer’s government relations team to snowball support for this legislation. ASCP is providing a draft letter to facilitate this request. 

An education grant that ASCP provided to Joint Venture Hospital Laboratories (JVHL) is making a significant impact on JVHL’s efforts to promote laboratory careers and education programs in Michigan.  

JVHL used the Program Director Educational Grant to finance student recruitment and outreach efforts in support of the NAACLS-accredited laboratory education programs within Michigan. It bought three Meta Quest 3S Virtual Reality headsets, supporting devices, and supplies for use in large career event exhibits and classroom presentations, according to JVHL’s Dawn Taylor, MA, MLS(ASCP)^CM in JVHL’s September 2025 report on its use of the grant. The headsets allow students to explore the laboratory environment virtually via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s OneLab virtual reality (VR) program.  

One of the key benefits of attending the ASCP 2025 Annual Meeting in person — besides the great education opportunities! — is the chance to interact with colleagues who have similar jobs and to build relationships. Below is a preview of several networking and socializing events to meet your peers.  

Society of Black Pathology Day of Culture 

Monday, November 17, 1 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  

Join ASCP and the Society of Black Pathology (SBP) for a dynamic professional event that elevates voices from across the global laboratory medicine community. The afternoon will kick off with a Keynote Address, “Resilience Over Resources: Thriving Beyond Challenges,” by Kisha Mitchell Richards, MD, a founding member of the SBP and director of the Pathology and Clinical Laboratory at Yale New Haven Health Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich, CT. That will be followed by “Oral Presentations: Reports from Across the Diaspora,” led by trailblazers who are making real progress in addressing disparities in pathology and laboratory medicine. These oral spotlights will showcase research, strategic projects, and positive achievements happening across multiple sectors of the diaspora.  

Wind down the Day of Culture with a reception from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Meet colleagues, network informally, and celebrate culture and connection within our professional community. Registration for the education session and reception are required. 

Wine Tasting Mixer: On Diagnosing Cabernet Sauvignon. . . . and Others 

Monday, November 17, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.  

Join pathologist and “resident wine expert” Bruce Smoller, MD, FASCP, for this one-of-a-kind wine tasting event to kick off Day One of the ASCP 2025 Annual Meeting! Enjoy a guided tasting with discussion on how to evaluate, experience, and select wine. 

Tasting wines and identifying them has many parallels to making diagnoses in pathology. Learning to separate and assess the various components of a sip of wine helps to distinguish what one likes or dislikes about a glass of wine. This can lead to better choices when confronted with a wine menu at a restaurant or when surveying the choices in a wine store. You will taste and assess two white and two red wines during this session. Dr. Smoller will guide participants through the various components present in wine, teach them to individually evaluate them, and show how these observations point to a correct diagnosis! An additional registration fee of $39 is required. 

3rd Annual Petri Dash Fun Run 

Tuesday, November 18, 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.  

Race around the iconic Centennial Olympic Park in the 3rd annual Petri Dash Fun Run/Walk! Choose your pace and distance, up to three laps totaling 5k. See many of Atlanta’s famed sites, including the Olympic Rings, World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, and College Football Hall of Fame. Proceeds go to the ASCP Foundation. 

ASCP Ambassador Mixer 

Tuesday, November 18, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m., Grand Hall 
Connect with fellow ASCP Ambassadors and share tips on engaging students in medical laboratory careers through interactive presentations, hands-on activities, and relatable storytelling. Find out what works from your peers in a relaxed, fun setting after education sessions for the day have ended.   

Hot Topics Round Tables 

Wednesday, November 19, 5:10 p.m. – 5:40 p.m., Hanover E 

Head over to room Hanover E (Rm LL2, opposite the Exhibit Hall) after your last session of the day for this fun, quick opportunity to connect with peers and discuss hot topics affecting your field. There will be 10 tables, each designated for a specific group (laboratory professionals, laboratory directors, pathologists, residents and fellows, or medical students). Subject matter experts will facilitate discussions at each table. 

Participants will join in peer-to-peer conversations about topics that arose during the ASCP Hot Topics survey last summer to discuss how they are tackling common issues. For example, residents will discuss delivering effective presentations and developing public speaking skills, whereas laboratory managers will talk about how they are addressing staffing issues. The table for medical students will be facilitated by a pathologist or a pathology resident to talk about how to choose residencies, prepare their applications, etcetera.  

There will also be a table focused on biomarker testing navigation (BTN) which is part of the roll out of ASCP’s new BTN certificate. Stephanie Whitehead and Lynnette Pineault will lead the discussion which will be an open forum for those who are either interested in pursuing the BTN certificate or introducing a BTN program at their health institution.   

Join or Start an ASCP Chapter! 

Interested in joining an ASCP Chapter or starting one in your area? Head over to the ASCP Booth in the Exhibit Hall during lunch on November 18 to chat with others and learn how to get started!  

Need more information? Go to ascp.org/2025. 

ASCP Endorses RESULTS Act 

ASCP has joined 13 other pathology and laboratory medicine organizations in supporting the bipartisan RESULTS Act, which aims to reform the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and correct flaws in the 2014 PAMA law that led to nearly $4 billion in payment cuts. The legislation would improve data accuracy, reduce reporting burdens, stabilize Medicare rates, and prevent further cuts, with ASCP planning an upcoming Action Alert to advance its passage. Read more. 

CMS Memo Revokes Remote Review of Cytology Digital Images 

CMS issued a memorandum rescinding permission for remote review of digital cytology images without a CLIA certificate, citing a lack of statutory authority to make COVID-era flexibility permanent. While remote digital reviews remain for other pathology specialties, cytology labs will need a separate CLIA certificate for remote review within six months, and ASCP is developing an action plan in response to the policy change. Read more. 

ASCP 2025 Advocacy Sessions Empower Members to Champion Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 

ASCP’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Nov. 17–20, will highlight the Society’s advocacy efforts, offering sessions that equip members to engage in policy issues and demonstrate the laboratory’s vital role in patient care. Find out more about the advocacy-related sessions that can impact your practice. Read more.