ASCLS Today Volume 33, Number 6

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors a member who has made remarkable contributions to ASCLS and the laboratory field, and who, by outstanding example, has inspired others. Nominees for the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award were: Cheryl Caskey, Louisiana; John Landis, Michigan; Angela Tomei Robinson, New York; Dan Southern, North Carolina; and John Strous, Wisconsin.

The Lifetime Achievement Award winner for 2019 is Cheryl Caskey, who was recognized at the ASCLS Joint Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In her letter of nomination, her nominator wrote, “The impact that Cheryl Caskey has made to the Society and the profession of medical laboratory science is unmeasurable. If I listed every contribution she has made to the Society and the profession, this nomination letter would turn into a novel. Not only has she been active nationally, but has also been active at the regional, state, and local levels. Ms. Caskey has served on the ASCLS Board of Directors, chaired five different committees and task forces, was a member on 14 different committees and task forces, and is currently a member of the Consumer Information Response Team and the Diversity Advocacy Council. Cheryl has represented Louisiana at five CLECs, over 20 Legislative Symposiums, and 42 consecutive ASCLS Annual Meetings. Cheryl has dedicated more than half her life to ASCLS and the medical laboratory profession, remains dedicated to the profession, and promotes the profession with every opportunity that presents itself. I can’t think of a more deserving person to receive the ASCLS Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Congratulations, Cheryl!

It is not too soon to start thinking of nominating a worthy candidate for the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award. It can take time to gather all the information required in the application. Visit the ASCLS Awards and Scholarships webpage for details on this prestigious award.

From left: ASCLS Past President Roslyn McQueen and 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award Nominees Cheryl Caskey, John Landis, Angela Tomei Robinson, and Dan Southern.

Alpha Mu Tau Fraternity provided $45,000 in scholarships to the following students.

Royce Watson Graduate Scholarship: Abbey Hilden
Ruth M. French Scholarship: Joanna Miranda
James Holley Scholarship: Tanya Kranski
Dorothy Morrison Scholarship: Alexandra Mercorelli
Eleanor Parchman Scholarship: Sasha-Gaye Isaacs
Ida & May Reilly Undergraduate Scholarship: Sarah Burns
Martha Winstead Scholarship: Lacie Posterick
Roma E. Brown Memorial and Nellie M. Bering Scholarship: Sarah Bergbower
Unnamed AMTF Scholarships: Emily Adas, Elif Esra Cetin, Morgan Fisher, Alexa Gathman, Julia Hudgens, Ansar Iqbal, Briena Jarvi, Rachel Knutson, Marissa Lutz, and Eleanor Sis

ASCLS Education and Research Fund provided $11,000 in scholarships to the following students.

Edward C. Dolbey Graduate Scholarship: Sharon Ziemba
Edward C. Dolbey Undergraduate Scholarship: Maria Sinoy
“Bunny” Rodak Undergraduate Memorial Scholarship: Erin King
Dan Southern Undergraduate Scholarship: Sarah Ballard
Michelle Kanuth Undergraduate Memorial Scholarship: Olivia Kempes

Joseph J. Kleiner Memorial Award, administered by the E & R Fund, this award is given to the lead author of the best Clinical Laboratory Science article of the year. This year’s recipient is Janelle M. Chiasera for Acute Myocardial Infarction: Definition, Diagnosis, and the Evolution of Cardiac Markers. Honorable Mention was awarded to Nadine M. Lerret for The Role of Hyperglycemia in CD4 T Cell Survival and Differentiation.

The I. Dean Spradling Graduate Research Award was awarded to Leah Ames for Reducing Medical Errors: Perceptions of Collaboration with a Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science.

E & R Member Grant Awards support members of the clinical laboratory profession who are conducting scientific investigation in the field of clinical laboratory science. The 2019 recipients are Tim Randolph for Effect of Exercise on Abnormal Baseline Biomarkers in Sickle Cell Trait and Nadine M. Lerret for Hyperglycemia-induced Inflammation via the CD27/CD70 Pathway.

Once again, Beckman Coulter provided Student Travel Grants to attend and experience the Joint Annual Meeting. In 2019 the following individuals received a grant: Audra Callender, Louisiana; Elif Cetin, Virginia; Steven Fowler, Alaska; Doryan Redding, Texas; and Allison Young, Michigan. This sponsorship is truly an investment in the future of clinical laboratory science.

In addition, fundraising allowed travel grants to be awarded to support developing or ascending professionals to attend the 2019 Joint Annual Meeting.

ASCLS Developing Professionals Forum Travel Grants: Leah Ade, Kansas; Madalyn Davis, Ohio; James Hollowell, Mississippi; and Monika Paneru, Louisiana.

ASCLS Ascending Professionals Forum Travel Grants: Kate DeAngelo, Idaho; Elizabeth LeFors, Mississippi; Biwedeou Magnan, New York; Kyle McCafferty, Michigan; Edward (Ellis) McVoy, Arkansas; and Amanda Sanchez, Texas.

Diversity Advocacy Council Travel Grant: Meera Patel, Kentucky.

Check out the ASCLS Awards and Scholarships webpage for information on applying for these grants and scholarships in 2020.

The Developing Professionals Leadership Award recognizes a student member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and who has contributed to the growth and development of the Developing Professionals Forum. Nominees for the Developing Professionals Forum Leadership Award were Alex Boryszczuk, Illinois; Eykka Gundlach, Minnesota; Charmaine Devera Keuhne, Hawaii; and Christal Lane, Tennessee.

The 2019 Developing Professionals Forum Leadership Award winner is Christal Lane.

This excerpt is from Christal’s nomination letter: “After a year without a student delegate, Christal blew in like a breath of fresh air. She has been spunky and enthusiastic, bringing countless ideas and opportunities to the board when the role was accepted. Ms. Lane’s passion for both the field of laboratory science and for ASCLS has been noted by others. Our state society is very proud of Christal and all of her successes, and we look forward to her bright future in ASCLS.”

The Ascending Professionals Leadership Award recognizes a member of ASCLS who has contributed significantly to the field of clinical laboratory science and the Society within the first five years in the profession and who has made a significant contribution and shown a talent for leadership. Nominees for the Ascending Professional Leadership Award were Ryan Barry, New York; Joshua Cannon, Pennsylvania; Sophia Chandrasekar, North Carolina; Stephanie Garcia, Arizona; Crystal Paul, Minnesota; and Samantha Treutel, Wisconsin.

The 2019 Ascending Professionals Forum Leadership Award winner is Joshua J. Cannon.

This excerpt is from Joshua’s nomination letter: “I can think of no one more deserving of this award. In fact, Joshua is one of the reasons that our Society has acquired several very active, younger members on our board and in leadership. He has been active on all levels of our organization, taking on several large state projects, graduating from our regional leadership academy, serving as the regional ascending professional representative, and currently serving as vice chair of a national scientific assembly. I see great things as Joshua continues in ASCLS activities.”

Congratulations to Christal and Joshua for their leadership, their support for the clinical laboratory profession, and their passion for ASCLS.

Do you know someone who would be a good candidate for one of these awards? The Awards Committee has already started processes for the 2020 awards, so be thinking of your nominees. Details about the awards can be found on the ASCLS Awards and Scholarships webpage.

Each year, the ASCLS Board of Directors honors those individuals who have made a significant contribution to ASCLS this past year. The following members were recognized with plaques:

Candice Grayson, 2019 Chair for CLEC in Baltimore
Jillene Collins, 2019 Chair for the Joint Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina
Nattasha Counta, 2019 Host Liaison for the Joint Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina
Becky Sanders, 2019 Charlotte Society Liaison for the Joint Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina
Bill Hunt, Completion of two terms on the Board of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)
Kathy Doig, Co-chair of the Leadership Academy Task Force
Alice Hawley, Co-chair of the Leadership Academy Task Force

ROBIN H. MENDELSON AWARDS
The Robin H. Mendelson Award, the highest honor awarded in ASCLS, is given to recognize outstanding service and contributions to ASCLS and to the clinical laboratory science profession. This year awards were presented to:

Karrie Hovis, Past ASCLS Director of Professional Development and Project Management
Lezlee Koch, for her dedicated work for the Patient Safety Committee
Roslyn McQueen, 2018-19 ASCLS President

Congratulations to all of these worthy recipients.

Roslyn McQueen and Nattasha Counta	Roslyn McQueen and Bill Hunt
Roslyn McQueen and Kathy Doig	Roslyn McQueen and Cindy Johnson