March 2024

Every year since 2008, ASHI has been proud to sponsor two symposia at the annual FOCIS meeting in collaboration with other transplant-related associations. The first symposium is a partnership with the American Society for Transplantation (AST) and The Transplantation Society (TTS). The second symposium is a partnership with the Association of Medical Laboratory Immunologists (AMLI). ASHI member, Dr. Elaine Reed, serves as ASHI’s liaison to FOCIS. She collaborates with members of the other societies to create a scientific program for each of the symposia. Click here to view the preliminary program. The ASHI joint symposia are listed on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

Call for ASHI Board Nominations

The ASHI Leadership Development Taskforce encourages all ASHI members to nominate candidates for the available board positions. If there are candidates whom you feel would be an asset to the ASHI Board of Directors, please have the candidate complete and submit this nomination form. All nominations must be accompanied by the signatures of at least 10 full or honorary members in good standing. Emailed endorsements are accepted.

During the week of April 1st, the Leadership Development Taskforce will forward its preliminary slate of candidates to the ASHI membership. This will allow members more time to submit additional nominations by the April 12th deadline.

This Virtual Happy Hour is hosted by the Technologists' Affairs Committee

Speakers

Abeer Madbouly, PhD

Kazutoyo Osoegawa

PhD, CHT(ACHI)

Have you ever thought about submitting an ASHI abstract and presenting a poster at the ASHI Annual Meeting, but were unsure about what to write or how to present?

If the answer is yes, then this Happy Hour is for you!

Last year's ASHI Annual Meeting President Choice Award winner, Dr. Kazutoyo Osoegawa, and Annual Meeting Abstract Committee Co-Chair, Dr. Abeer Madbouly, are here to give you tips and tricks that will help you write a strong abstract and give a memorable poster presentation! Katie Mellon, Co-Chair of the Technologist Affairs Committee will moderating.

Learning Objectives:

• How to write a compelling abstract: Understanding the main components and what to include in an ASHI meeting abstract.
• Learn about the abstract review process, judging rubric, and reviewer expectations for abstract submission.
• Give a strong poster presentation: How to prepare and understanding the main components of creating a research poster.
• Confidently use the tips and tricks learned.

Attendees will earn CECs!

Check out the Committee Corner below for details!

ASHI will hold a webinar on Wednesday, April 17 to discuss both CMS changes in personnel qualifications as well as the new international laboratory director curriculum. This will be the first session to address those changes. Link and invitations for the webinar will be distributed closer to the event. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, you can read the new CLIA regulations here. In anticipation of the webinar, please send any questions you may have to Melissa Weeks at MWeeks@ashi-hla.org. Your questions will be distributed to the appropriate committee chairs who will be able to either address your questions directly or seek further guidance from CMS. Changes in histocompatibility standards are being addressed by QAS and information about upcoming changes to ASHI standards in response to revised CLIA regulations will be distributed/discussed as they become available. 

2024 EMO-1 Survey Shipment – March 5th

The first ASHI PT shipment of 2024 - the EMO-1 survey - will ship on Tuesday, March 5th.

2024 EMO Webinar – March 8th

To provide EMO-1 participants with helpful login and result entry information, the PT Committee is providing a webinar on Friday, March 8. It will include a tutorial on how to enter EMO-1 results in the new PT software and a Q&A session with PT Committee members. Register today!

2023 VXM-2 Analysis

The analysis of the second virtual crossmatch (VXM-2) of 2023 was released in February and is available on the PT page of ASHI's website:

https://www.ashi-hla.org/page/PT.

Coffee & Compatibility

Look how far we've come!

Kicking off a celebration of ASHI's 50th anniversary, the podcast welcomes Dr. Carolyn Hurley for a conversation about the history and future of ASHI.

Click here to listen and receive CECs.

As we plan the 50th ASHIversary, we’re taking a look back in time. Send us your photos from previous ASHI Meetings and we’ll post them on our social media pages as part of our new Throwback Thursday marketing campaign. Send your pictures to info@ashi-hla.org and be sure to include the location and year of the meeting.

Call for ASHI Award Nominations

Each year the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) sponsors several awards to recognize scientific accomplishments and contributions to the fields of histocompatibility and immunogenetics as well as service to the Society. ASHI is currently accepting nominations for the following awards:

• J. Marilyn MacQueen Rising Star Award
• Distinguished Service Award
• Bernard Amos Distinguished Scientist Award
• Rose Payne Award
• Outstanding Technologist Award

Send nominations and supporting information to Katherine Giovetsis. The nomination deadline for all ASHI awards is May 17, 2024. To view former award winners, please click here.

More information to come about three special scientific awards:

• Early Career Investigator Award
• Innovation Scholarship Awards
• Michael Schmiederer Research Science Award

"How do I become a laboratory inspector?"

Click here to view the Accreditation Review Board's response.

ASHI Volunteer Spotlight

"ASHI volunteering offers practical experience, skill expansion, and industry insight through committee involvement, educational initiatives, and inspections."

Check out our featured volunteer spotlight, Dr. Ahmed Mostafa! Read More

ASHI Member Spotlight

"The idea of working in transplant sounded extremely rewarding and the rest just sort of fell into place as I learned all about HLA."

Check out our featured member spotlight, Jessica Brown!

Read More

Would you like to be featured as our next ASHI Member or Volunteer Spotlight? Click the links below to answer a few questions about your member/volunteer experience. For more information, or if you would like to nominate someone to be highlighted as our next spotlight, contact Cathy Landolt at clandolt@ashi-hla.org.