Outgoing Chair of Council for Laboratory Management and Administration Reflects on Past Year’s Achievements

A year ago, ASCP’s Council for Laboratory Management and Administration set a goal to expand its chapters across the country. “I’m proud of what the council has accomplished. They are now focused on next year. They want to have a chapter in every state!” says outgoing Chair Christina Nickel, MHA, MLS(ASCP)^CM, CPHQ.

The Council for Laboratory Management and Administration started as the Clinical Laboratory Management Association and joined with ASCP last year. “As part of that, ASCP brought on our group as a council to represent laboratory administrators internationally,” Ms. Nickel says.

The group includes laboratory professionals who are involved in day-to-day management and administration, and welcomes those who aspire to leadership positions in the future.

“We provide tools that can support laboratory administrators, such as resources needed for their laboratories, education on how to advocate for their staff,” she says.  “Oftentimes, bench techs get thrown in a leadership role when someone leaves. Laboratory management is not typically an area of focus for laboratorians in traditional training. Among the benefits of being involved is the education we provide and networking. Networking with other leaders is huge in that you may not know an answer to a challenge and someone else who lives and works in another part of the state or nation may have an answer to your question.”

A big benefit of being involved in the local chapters is networking and the ability to attend local educational events that address topics that are of regional interest.

“Over the past year, our main focus was to expand our chapters,” Ms. Nickel says. “Our goal is to create chapters in every state.”

The council is also hosting its annual KnowledgeLab from April 30 to May 1 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.

Another goal is to support the Career Ambassadors program and increase the number of mentors who can support laboratory administrators. The Council for Laboratory Management and Administration has worked collaboratively with the Council of Laboratory Professionals to support the Career Ambassadors program.

“I’m proud of what the council has accomplished this year,” Ms. Nickel says. “They are an enthusiastic group and are looking forward to the coming year!”