Well, 2021 is looking similar to 2020, but with some hope. The pandemic is still ongoing, but we have some new tools to fight back – vaccines! Some of the restrictions of last year have been lifted or modified so we can now meet again in person. However, the stresses from continued volume increases, along with our ever-growing staffing shortages continue to plague us in healthcare. Throughout the past year and a half, many of us have navigated through constant changes in PPE, COVID testing, quarantines, low census, high volumes, and surge planning. Now we are looking at the next wave of issues – supply shortages and back orders. If nothing else, we are truly living the phrase “the only constant is change”. We are continually asked to be flexible and adapt to these many challenges. Our roles in healthcare, whether direct or indirect, are so important. We are all working towards the goal of providing the best patient care and that does not go unnoticed. We have seen our profession receive publicity like never before, and I am hopeful that it is being seen by the next generation of laboratorians.
It seems like most of the world is addicted to their phone or computer and are constantly on social media platforms. This is a venue we can utilize as well to showcase our profession. Over the summer, ascls-wi.org got a major facelift! Samantha Salm and Michael Lukowski did an amazing job of rejuvenating the site and making it more modern. It is user-friendly with pictures, information about meetings, scholarships, career opportunities, and names of your ASCLS-WI Board of Directors and how to contact us. There are also links to our Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/ASCLSWI), Twitter ( https://twitter.com/asclswi) and LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-society-for-clinical-laboratory-science-wisconsin) accounts. I believe it is important that we each personally help with the publicity of our profession and sharing information about what we do and the importance of it. If you get a chance, I encourage you to view our new website and follow our social media accounts.
If you have a passion for social media and communications, or have an interest in other areas, there are many positions we have within ASCLS-WI that may be a great fit for you! We would love to have more active committee members. If you have an interest in a specific area, or have an idea for us, let me help you find a place where you can use those skills within ASCLS-WI. My contact information is below, and I would love to hear from you!
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Elizabeth Dahlgren MSLOD, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM
ASCLS- Wisconsin President 2021-2022
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ASCLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM)
Summary of ASCLS-WI Delegate Reports
Leah Narans
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As the 2020-2021 President of ASCLS-WI it was my honor to lead our Delegation to the combined Back-in-Person and Virtual Joint Annual Meeting! This was my first in-person ASCLS Meeting since 1994 and I had forgotten how much I enjoy them! It was so nice to be able to sit down with people from around the country and discuss things in a way that virtual does not allow -- that natural networking, brainstorming, and idea-sharing that just happens with the person next to you before a session would start.
This year’s meeting was hosted jointly by American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS), Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT), and Society of American Federal Medical Laboratory Scientists (SAFMLS). This year the meeting was held June 27-July 1, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky. It was great being able to see people in person again. Sessions were also streamed and recorded if people did not feel like it was safe enough to attend and allowed us to enjoy sessions that occurred during other sessions that we attended. In-person turnout was great. We had a nice sized delegation from Wisconsin including myself (Leah Narans), Elizabeth Dahlgren, Hannah Baker, Cindy Koffman, Ali Nussbaum, and Samantha Salm.
Sunday started with Leadership Symposium. I attended in-person and Elizabeth Dahlgren attended virtually due to a time conflict. During this Leadership Symposium we learned about upcoming events, deadlines for reports and updates about ASCLS. There was a lot of great information for incoming leaders, and I highly recommend anyone that is interested in ASLCS Leadership attend this session in the future.
Monday morning, we attended the ASCLS Society Update and candidate presentations. There was a lot of information given about the organization as well as learning about the candidates running for offices. ASCLS is very lucky to have such qualified people in office!
Monday midday the educational sessions began. Wow, what a great mix of topics! There were several sessions around diversity, leadership, career, as well as specific scientific sessions. There were definitely enough sessions that anyone could find something to interest them.
The Awards Ceremony was very good to Wisconsin! Ali Nussbaum received the Ascending Professional Leadership Award. Mike Lukowski won Member of the Year for Wisconsin. Katie Golab received ASCLS Voices Under 40. Heather Alvarez won First Place in the Graduate Poster Award for “Evaluation of Verigene Enteric Pathogens Test in a Small Volume Laboratory”. Wisconsin received 3rd place for Greatest % Member Retention (over 99%). In the PACtastic Regional Competition, Region V collected over $2000 in 1 day!
The E&R Silent Auction was a large success again this year. It was held virtually which is both good and bad. It makes it easier since we don’t have to carry things to the meeting, however we do have to ship to the winners. This year ASCLS-WI donated some laboratory jewelry, so shipping wasn’t expensive, but I do find that it is a barrier to many people and limits what people can donate.
House of Delegates – At the House of Delegates we inducted our new President, Dr. Hassan Aziz and our President Elect, Kim Von Ahsen. Several Regional Directors were elected including our own Jean Bauer. The budget was discussed and accepted.
Unfortunately, none of the Scientific Assemblies, Caucuses, and Committee Meetings occurred at the actual meeting and some have, to my knowledge, not yet occurred. This is a kink that needs to be worked out. I have been able to attend a few, but they are often at times when I have conflicts. If the organization continues to hold combined virtual and in-person meetings, I think that there are advantages, and more people can participate. Time will tell how this evolves.
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We are looking for Leaders! Have you ever wanted to find a way to have a voice in our State Business? Curious how ASCLS-WI runs? ASCLS-WI has several open positions for 2022-2023 Offices:
President-Elect: Serves as President Elect 2022-2023, President 2023-2024, and Past-President 2024-2025
Secretary: 2-year term, 2022-2024
At Large Board of Directors member – 2 positions: 2-year term 2022-2024
Nominations Committee – 1 position: 2-year term, 2022-2024
Developing Professional Chair – to be elected by student membership
Duties and responsibilities for these positions can be found in the bylaws located at
If you have any questions or would like more information please contact the Chair of the Nominations Committee -Leah Narans at narans@madisoncollege.edu
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Wisconsin Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
SCHOLARSHIP FUND, Inc.
Deadline Approaching
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Post-Grad Scholarship: Are you an ASCLS-WI member who attends graduate school in a field directly related to MLS? This includes those of you working on degrees in Management, Education, Computer Science or other specialty areas relevant to laboratory medicine. Consider applying for the Weisberg Post-Graduate Scholarship. For further information, contact John Strous at strous@uwosh.edu or the Scholarships page of www.ascls-wi.org. Applications are due December 1st.
Congratulations to the following senior MLS students who were granted Clinical Year Scholarships this past summer:
Samuel Marley, UW Stevens Point
Salina Vang, Marquette University
Pat Jakus Scholarship: Kelli McCorkle, UW Oshkosh
Mary Muckerheide Scholarship: Lilly Nelson, UW LaCrosse
Ron Laessig Scholarship: Lexi Psenika, UW Oshkosh
Donations Appreciated: All money for scholarships comes from member donations or proceeds from the Silent Auction held at our annual state meeting. With the 2020 & 2021 in-person meetings cancelled, the auctions were also cancelled. Thus, monetary donations would be particularly appreciated this year. Checks can be made out to WISCLS Scholarship Fund, Inc. and sent to Treasurer Barb Hill, 876 Jean Circle, Oregon, WI 53575. Feel free to contact Linda Laatsch, WISCLS Scholarship Fund Chair, at linda.laatsch@sbcglobal.net if you have questions.
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Are you interested in getting more involved in ASCLS-WI? Interested in learning more about what ASCLS is doing for laboratory professionals? We have 2 opportunities that we are hoping will happen in 2022. We are looking for volunteers to attend the ASCLS Joint Annual Meeting and the Legislative Symposium.
Joint Annual Meeting (JAM): June 26 – June 30, 2022 in Grand Rapids, MI.
This meeting has adapted to be a hybrid in-person, virtual-live, and on-demand access meeting. This conference offers continuing education with the added value of being able to see the speaker in person or virtual-live, to ask your questions, and to hear the questions and answers of other participants. The conference format also provides opportunities for networking with your professional colleagues from across the nation. For more information click on the following link: https://ascls.org/annual-meeting/
Legislative Symposium: Dates to be determined, but expected October, 2022 at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria, VA. Through this ASCLS tradition that originated in 1989, members of laboratory organizations meet with their representatives and senators on Capitol Hill as a unified front on behalf of our profession. Each year these leading organizations urge their members and leaders to come to Washington to provide a visible and informed voice, and make our concerns known inside Congress. This event has become a hybrid in-person and virtual-live meeting. There are also some organized meetings with representatives on Capitol Hill that are allowing a virtual option. For more information click on the following link: https://www.ascls.org/advocacy-issues/legislativesymposium
If being a delegate for either of these opportunities intrigues you, please reach out!
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ASCLS Annual Meeting Member Awards |
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The following ASCLS-WI members were honored with National Awards this summer at the ASCLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM):
Member of the Year – Wisconsin: Michael Lukowski
ASCLS Voices Under 40: Katie Golab
National Ascending Professional Leadership Award: Ali Nussbaum
% Member Retention: Wisconsin, 3rd Place at over 99%
PACtastic Regional Competition: Region V won for the 3rd consecutive year by raising over $2000 in just 1 day!
Heather Alvarez won First Place in the Graduate Poster Award for “Evaluation of Verigene Enteric Pathogens Test in a Small Volume Laboratory”.
Congratulations to All and Thanks for Making Wisconsin Proud!!!!
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American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science Wisconsin | ascls-wi.org
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BadgerLab Times
Editor: Linda Laatsch Mailing Address: ASCLS-WI, 4852 N. Sheffield Ave., Whitefish Bay, WI 53217
Digital Editor: Samantha Salm
Article Submission: Articles for BadgerLab Times should be submitted in Microsoft Word format and sent electronically to: linda.laatsch@sbcglobal.net. The deadline for the spring/summer issue is May 15th, while the deadline for the fall/winter issue is October 15th.
A ll articles published represent the opinions of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of ASCLS-WI or the authors’ institutions unless specified. Microsoft ® Word is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. BadgerLab Times © is copyrighted by ASCLS-WI.
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