Under The Microscope
BC Society of Laboratory Science: April 2021
BCSLS news & updates
Quiz | Featured Column | Volunteer | Jobs | Member Spotlight | Events
The BCSLS Enewsletter will focus on keeping our membership updated, knowledgeable and even entertained.

Message from the BCSLS President, Devena Steinmann, and Executive Director, Sharmen Vigouret Lee.
Med Lab week 2021 is like no other in history. Last month, we commemorated the one-year mark since the WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic. On behalf of the BCSLS Board of Directors, we would like to thank you for your dedication, strength, and commitment to lab services over the last year. We continue to be on the front line of the battle against the pandemic and continue to make our profession proud of the work we do. This year has been a challenge for many of us who have not only lost loved ones but have worked through an ever-changing world both at home and at work. Together we have fought uncertainty, fear, and change, but when called upon, you have effectively responded to the needs of our communities across BC.

The BCSLS Board is and continues to be there for the members of British Columbia as we continue to fight against the pandemic. Without your commitment and determination to our profession what we as Medical Laboratory Professionals have accomplished throughout the pandemic would not have been possible. As we move into the next phase, we look forward with hope, optimism, and a return to our new normal.

 As we celebrate our great profession please take the time to appreciate what we have accomplished and what we will continue to accomplish over the next year.

Stay Safe and Healthy
Special Days / Happy Days
April 15 - June 14
Find and enter into one or all of our Med Lab Week contests! They are posted on our webpage and social media accounts.

  • Show off your favourite Lab Week gear and post a picture of it on
  • Share your favourite case study
  • Everyday: Play one of our daily puzzles
  • All week (April 11-17): BCSLS members can play the BCSLS Med Lab Bingo game. Bingo cards were emailed to BCSLS members last week. 

It's Quiz Time!
Our monthly Quiz with prizes. It's a fun way to test your knowledge and win a little something for doing it.
Deadline: April 30th

Congratulations to Kim Larson, the March quiz winner!
Membership year starts May 1st!

You can easily renew your BCSLS membership today!
Keep your profile/account up-to-date, store your educational and professional documents all in one place.

 Link to the member page: https://members.bcsls.net/
Sign in:
Email: use the one we have in your profile.
Password: use the one you created or press ‘recover password’

APPLY for your membership (right side of page), choose the applicable type, and pay by credit card. SAVE AND SUBMIT
April's FEATURED COLUMNIST:
Craig Ivany, Chief Provincial Diagnostics Officer, Provincial Health Services Authority
Reflecting on a year of extraordinary teamwork and dedication in B.C.’s medical laboratory system
When I tell people I began my role as Chief Provincial Diagnostics Officer at the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) on April 1, 2020, their eyes get wide … but I actually feel very fortunate that I stepped into my role when I did. Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to witness remarkable teamwork, dedication and creativity at every level of B.C.’s public laboratory system. …COVID-19 has shown us how much we can accomplish when we take a provincial approach to laboratory medicine. … This past year has been dark in many ways, but I also feel very hopeful as I think of all the people who’ve stepped up and done amazing work during a time of great stress and uncertainty. I’m looking forward to seeing what else we can achieve together. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
Congratulations to the graduating BC Laboratory classes of March, April & May! Welcome to the laboratory Profession!

  • MLAs from Camosun College, March 15, 2021
  • MLAs from VCC (Vancouver Community College) April 2, 2021
  • MLAs from West Coast College, April 22, 2021
  • MLTs from CNC (College of New Caledonia), May 2021
  • MLTs from BCIT (BC Institute of Technology), May 2021
Happy Retirement!! The best part about being retired is never having to request time off.

If you are planning on retiring soon, let us know! [email protected]
Let's get to know each other a little better professionally and personally. We will profile a member in a light-hearted Q&A format. Be sure to click on the 'read more' link to see the full Q&A.
Eleanor Hooley
We would like to thank Eleanor for her many years of service to the profession and her contributions to BCSLS., and wish her well in her retirement.

  • In 1989 I set up the first MLA Program in BC in consultation with MDS, BCBio and Hospital Labs. Up to this point in time MLA’s were trained on the job.
  • I am also hoping, post-Covid, to look for ways to help in labs in developing countries. Up until Covid-19 came along I was able to send donated lab supplies that couldn’t be used in Canada to organizations that ran lab services in poorer areas of Haiti and Uganda.
  • I was very involved with bringing to life the first BCSLS Phlebotomy Symposium for MLA’s in 2017. The keynote speaker was Dennis Ernst who is considered the world’s leading expert in phlebotomy.
  • READ MORE
We are looking for people to get involved in many different ways. If you would like more information take a look at our Volunteer webpage

  • Communication Liaisons - we want to increase our channels of communication with our members so we can hear more effectively from our members and share information. We are looking for Communication Liaisons from all Health Authorities and private labs across the province to work with us.
  • Presenters and Educators - have an idea for a topic you would like to present to your peers? Contact us and we will be pleased to connect you with our professional development team
  • Projects and initiatives - as we develop and implement new programming, we will be looking for volunteers to assist us as project managers and/or project team members. Contact us if you are interested. This is a great way to apply your skills and knowledge, or to learn and practice new skills.
  • And more ...
Job Postings

Jobs from around BC and Western Canada can be found on the Careers Webpage. Check out the webpage often as it is updated regularly. https://www.bcsls.net/careers-page
Upcoming Events

Congress 2021: October 1-3 in Kelowna, BC. SAVE THE DATE and keep your fingers crossed.

P&P Analytic Symposium: 2021 Cancelled due to Covid regulations. We have our sights set on the 2022 Symposium. We will keep you posted. Probably April 2022 in Surrey.
Planning for Future Services
We have heard from you! Thank you to all who filled in the survey. The Board is reviewing the results and this will set the direction for our planning and implementation of new services .We will keep you posted!
Regulatory College Update
As we continue to wait for regulatory reform to take place in BC, we have news to share from Prince Edward Island. Until this past week, PEI was the one outstanding province that had not designated medical laboratory technologists as regulated health professionals. On April 6, 2021 Council made the Allied Health Professions Regulations that designated the professions of medical laboratory technology, medical radiation technology and respiratory therapy. These three professions will be regulated by the College of Allied Health Professions of Prince Edward Island.