New ASCP Workforce Steering Committee to Develop Strategy to Expand Career Pathways in Pathology and Medical Laboratory

Encouraging expansion of pathways into careers in the medical laboratory is the focus of the newly-established ASCP Workforce Steering Committee, which will report to the Society’s Commission on Science, Technology and Public Policy (CSTP). Committee chair is Susan Harrington, PhD, D(ABMM), MASCP, MLS(ASCP)^CM, former Chair of the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) Board of Governors (BOG), a current CSTP member and Medical Director in Microbiology at the Cleveland Clinic.

One of the Workforce Steering Committee’s main tasks is to examine the Blueprint for Action, which was the result of an in-depth medical laboratory workforce study conducted by the University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies and ASCP. The Blueprint for Action identifies 12 potential workforce initiatives ASCP can work on; each falls into one of three areas: building visibility of the medical laboratory profession; retention and recruitment; and diversity, equity, and inclusion. The steering committee will review the Blueprint for Action’s recommendations and, from there, select those that are most urgent. 

In March, during ASCP’s Leadership Forum—a gathering of ASCP’s senior staff and volunteer leaders—one thing became very clear during the workforce discussions. “Laboratory professionals really have to start advocating for the profession,” Dr. Harrington says. “We will need to mobilize many volunteers who can work with their hospitals, local universities, high schools, and colleges to engage both laboratory professionals and the broader community.”

Dr. Harrington spoke about workforce issues in an article, Medical Laboratory Profession Needs All Hands On Deck Approach to Build Future Workforce in the March 2022 issue of Critical Values online. Additionally, Dr. Harrington is presenting on behalf of ASCP on April 20 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Centers for Disease Control’s OneLab Summit. The summit will connect clinical and public health laboratory professionals in real-time to support a unified response to laboratory education and training needs.

Below is the 2022-2023 roster of ASCP Workforce Steering Committee members: 

Susan M. Harrington, PhD, D(ABMM), MLS(ASCP)^CM - Chair, Workforce Steering Committee, ASCP; Past Chair, ASCP-BOC Board of Governors; current CSTP member; Medical Director in microbiology, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio

Iyda Merin Antony, MBA, MS, MLS, CLS, FACHE - System Vice President of Laboratory Services at Legacy Health, Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area

Michelle Campbell, MS, MLS(ASCP)^CMMB^CM - Senior Developer, Translational Research, Innovation, and Test Development Office, Mayo Clinic, MN

Rex Famitangco MS, MASCP, MLS(ASCP)^CMQLC^CM - Laboratory Administrative Director at the Morrill County Community Hospital, NE; ASCP Board of Certification Liaison

Kara L. Hansing, MSEd, SCT(ASCP)^CM - Program Director of Cytotechnology, Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, MN

Travelle Mason, MPH, CPH - Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health Service; Senior Public Health Advisor, Global Health Security Team, Center for Global Health, U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Jesse McCoy, MHS, PA(ASCP) - Faculty, Pathologists' Assistant Program, Hamden, CT, Chief Financial Officer, American Association of Pathologists' Assistants

Kenechukwu Ojukwu, MD, MPP - Surgical Pathology Fellow at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

James Payne - WEMCO Phlebotomy and Laboratory Science Teacher, in MONROE 2 ORLEANS BOCES (WEMOCO), SPENCERPORT, NY

Rodney E. Rohde, PhD, SM(ASCP)^CMSV^CMMB^CM, FACSc - Chair and Professor, CLS Program, Texas State University College of Health Professions; Associate Director, Translational Health Research Center

Jeannette Wallen, MBA, HT(ASCP)QIHC - Histology Technician, MNGI Digestive Health, MN; Chair, Budget and Finance Committee, National Society for Histotechnology

Tywauna Wilson, MBA, MLS(ASCP)^CM - System Technical Chemistry Laboratory; Director, Founder, and CEO, Trendy Elite Coaching

Edna Garcia, MPH - Director, Scientific Engagement and Research, ASCP; ASCP Staff Liaison

Iman Kundu, MPH - Senior Manager, Research and Analytics, ASCP

Jeff Jacobs, MA - Chief Officer, Science, Technology, and Policy, ASCP
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