Purpose:

The ASCLS Leadership Academy is designed to prepare ASCLS members for current and future leadership roles in the organization by providing a structured program of study of critical leadership topics.

Goals:

1. Identify members with potential to become leaders in ASCLS and invest in their growth and development.
2. Provide these high-potential leaders with skills required to step into leadership positions within ASCLS.
3. Energize and grow ASCLS through strong leadership at all levels of the organization.
4. Increase the future leaders' knowledge of ASCLS.

Benefits to the Participant:

1. Develop skills that can be transferred to the work setting and life in general.
2. Provide opportunities to learn from and dialogue with ASCLS leaders.
3. Provide opportunities to be mentored by ASCLS leaders.
4. Acquire the confidence and self-esteem to step into leadership roles.

Benefits to ASCLS:

1. Strong leaders make strong organizations.
2. Shape the future of the organization and the profession at large.
3. Increase passion for ASCLS locally, regionally, and nationally.
4. Develop and grow members who can work on important identified initiatives for ASCLS.
5. A successful program will be an attractive member benefit and increase membership in ASCLS.

ASCLS Leadership Academy
Curriculum/Schedule

ASCLS Annual Meeting:

Early September: Conference Call: Organization Skills/Time Management

Early December: Conference Call: Mentoring/Coaching

Mid- February: Conference Call: Networking

Legislative Symposium, Washington, DC

Mid-May: Conference Call: Writing Skills

ASCLS Annual Meeting:

Class of 2009:

Lisa is a Senior MT in Special Hematology at the University of North Carolina Hospitals and has been a member of ASCLS since she was a student in 2001. She became more active in 2006 and has been an advocate for the profession and ASCLS since then. She created and distributed a statewide New Professional Survey to determine needs and experiences of New Professionals and has written articles for the NC Newsletter, the Filter Paper and ASCLS Today. She has also been an invited speaker at several state society meetings. "For me, Clinical Laboratory Science is more than just a job; right now I have a strong start to what I believe is a very promising career. The Leadership Academy provides a chance for me to expand my opportunities beyond my workplace and to become more familiar with the history, mission, and structure of ASCLS. It would also provide me with mentors and assistance in honing the leadership skills that I have already had cause to develop."

Michelle is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at Atlantic Armstrong State University in Savannah, GA. A member since 2002, she has been active in planning the ASCLS-GA Annual Meetings and has attended numerous state meetings, Clinical Laboratory Educator Conferences, and ASCLS Legislative Symposia. She has also received many honors, including the Theriot Award for Development of Significant Materials in Media and the Keys to the Future Service Award. "I desire to be a participant in the ASCLS Leadership Academy because it will provide me with the necessary opportunities, skills, and confidence to successfully meet my immediate leadership goals. I believe participation in Leadership Academy will have numerous long-term benefits toward positions of higher responsibility. Since joining ASCLS I have met several significant ASCLS leaders. I hope to follow in their footsteps that will lead me to similar leadership positions within ASCLS. I hope that I have the leadership opportunities to make a difference in our profession and to become a role model for future clinical laboratory professionals."

Zandy joined ASCLS in 2005 and currently works at Loma Linda University Medical Center where he serves as a clinical instructor in Microbiology. He is currently in his second year as a Director for ASCLS-California and is the current Membership Development chair. His first exposure to ASCLS was as the alternate student representative for the 2005 National Convention in Orlando, FL and he plans to re-start the Inland Empire Chapter of ASCLS-California. "I want to participate in the Leadership Academy because I feel that it will aide me in being a more effective leader in ASCLS and other endeavors. The state society wants me to become President but I feel that I am not ready to fill this position due to my lack of experience and exposure to the organization. I feel that the Academy will help ease my fears and firmly secure the ideals of the society. It will also help me build an extended network with other potential leaders."

Katie serves as a Lead MT in clinical microbiology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She has been involved in ASCLS since 1992 as a student in the CLS program at Hahnemann University and has attended every state annual meeting since then. She received the Key to the Future Award at the State and National Levels as well as Pennsylvania's Estolee Gross Award. She has served Pennsylvania as President, Bylaws Committee Chair, two terms as Secretary and as a board member. "I have been involved with ASCLS since I was a student, and I have always admired the dedication and enthusiasm that I have seen in the Leadership of our Society from the Chapter, to the State, Region, and National levels. I am certain that the skills I will learn as a Leadership Academy Participant, will give me the confidence to serve again as State President and look beyond to involvement at the Region and National levels."

Shannon works at the Altru Health Systems in Grand Forks, ND in the microbiology laboratory. She joined ASCLS in 2004 and served as the student representative in 2004-2005. She helped to integrate a First Year Professional (FYP) position into the North Dakota society and served on their Board of Directors. She was a member of the planning committee for the 2005 ASCLS-ND state meeting and volunteered to be the editor of the ND newsletter, The Connection. She is currently serving as ASCLS-ND board member and received the Member of the Year award in 2006. "ASCLS has provided so many opportunities for me to grow as a professional and I want to give back to the society as much as I have been given. I have been nominated to be the ASCLS-ND President-Elect for the past two years, but have turned down the nominations because I felt I wasn't ready and didn't have the necessary leadership skills and knowledge of a successful leader. I believe the academy would help me to become that leader and provide me with the tools to grow as a leader for our society."

Rob works at the Medical Laboratory at the US Army Health Clinic in Schofield Barracks, HI. He joined ASCLS in January of 2007 and has attended all board meetings since April, 2007. He has stepped in to serve on the planning committee for the annual conference where he is helping set up the facilities for this meeting, meals, rooms, A/V equipment, and hotel rooms. He served as Hawaii's representative at the legislative symposium in March and at the 2008 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. "I attended my first ASCLS Hawaii board meeting in April of 2007. I've decided that taking an active role in ASCLS means more than attending board meetings and yearly conferences. My goal is to become more informed about ASCLS, to encourage others to become more active, and to eventually take over as Hawaii's president. My plan is to become as active as possible this upcoming year. I believe that the ASCLS Leadership Academy will help give me the confidence and know-how to succeed with my endeavor."

Ashley accepted her first leadership role in ASCLS as Student Forum Representative for Virginia in 2006-2007 and has served as the New Professional Representative for both Virginia and Region II. She has been active in helping the New Professionals at ASCLS become a more cohesive group. Ashley is a microbiologist at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia. "I would love to be a participant in the ASCLS Leadership Academy for all the knowledge, experience, and friendships I will make over the year and years to come. As a student and a young professional I have seen the struggle of recruiting new members and retaining the ones we have, especially with the economic hardships. With the knowledge I gain from the academy, I hope to come up with creative ideas to make my state society more active, with more and new members getting involved. The leadership academy is the next step in my professional life; I look forward to giving all my efforts to grow within my professional society."

Theresa works at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics as a CLS II in the Department of Pathology in Iowa City. She was awarded the Key to the Future Award in 2007 from ASCLS-IA and is very interested and active in informing others of the legislative and regulatory issues that impact the profession. She has also stepped up to introduce Clinical Laboratory Sciences to high school students by giving them some general exposure to Hematology, Chemistry, Blood Banking and Microbiology. "I would like to be chosen to participate in the ASCLS Leadership Academy in order to better develop my leadership skills. I would like to have the opportunity to use the skills I have learned to benefit my state organization as well as those of the other states in my region. There are a growing number of graduates that are not becoming ASCLS members. If through the leadership Academy I can learn how to better recruit and retain members it will not only benefit my state and region, but also the National Organization."

Terri was highly recommended for the Leadership Academy by leaders from her home state of Michigan. Terri is a Generalist and Lead Tech in Serology at Hillsdale Community Health Center in Hillsdale, MI. She has been a member of ASCLS and MSCLS since 2003 and active with the Michigan Board of Directors for 5 years. She was the MSCLS Awards Chair for 4 years and is currently serving as the District 6 Representative. She was elected President Elect for Michigan this spring. "I would like to be a participant in the ASCLS Leadership Academy because I believe this Academy will help me become a better President for MSCLS, as well as prepare me to take on a more active role with ASCLS. I am very proud to be apart of ASCLS and I want to continue to grow and take on more of a leadership role in this organization. I feel this program will help me learn the necessary skills to be a good leader."

Kim joined ASCLS in 2004 and has been active from the beginning. She has received the Key to the Future Award and Member of the Year Award in Iowa and is active on the P.A.C.E. Committee. She has served as the Iowa Society secretary and chaired their 2008 Annual Meeting. Kim is the Client Services Manager of Laboratory Services at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. "A few years after starting my first laboratory job, I recognized that it wasn't a job I was doing, but that I had ventured upon a profession. It was after this recognition that I sought my first involvement in ASCLS. My membership with ASCLS has given me a tremendous group of mentors; mentorship that I know will help me become a more competent leader within and as an ambassador for the laboratory profession. It is this desire to further my leadership skills that I want to participate in the ASCLS Leadership Academy. ASCLS has made it a priority to enhance the leadership skills of those who wish and are willing to become involved and I am one of those members!"

Leadership Academy Task Force

Leadership Academy Faculty/Facilitators

2009 Application

ASCLS Leadership Academy Application Guidelines:

Admission to the ASCLS Leadership Academy will be through a competitive application process. Application forms and additional information will be posted on this website in early 2009 and complete applications will be accepted until March 31, 2009.

Candidates must agree to a commitment of personal time and effort over 12 months in addition to a financial commitment for travel expenses to attend Leadership Academy activities in conjunction with the ASCLS Annual Meeting, the Legislative Symposium and the ASCLS Annual Meeting. It is expected that Leadership Academy participants will also attend each of these meetings in their entirety. We hope to identify funds to supplement other fees and materials costs as well as to defray travel costs, if possible. Candidates selected will be required to certify their intention to commit to attendance at all Leadership Academy activities, the 2009 ASCLS Annual Meeting, the 2010 Legislative Symposium, the 2010 ASCLS Annual Meeting and regular conference calls, in addition to the time necessary for successful completion of the program and projects associated with the Academy.

Eligible Candidates:

Candidates must be CURRENT ASCLS PF1, PF2, or FYP members. Individuals may self-nominate or be nominated by any current ASCLS member.

Application Instructions

The application for the ASCLS Leadership Academy includes completion of an application form, signature of a statement of commitment to the Leadership Academy, and responses to five essay questions. A letter of recommendation and a completed recommendation form from TWO individuals are also required.

In order for your application to be considered, ASCLS must receive all completed materials by the deadline stated on the application form. Electronic submission of all required documents by email is required. Incomplete applications or applications received after this date will not be considered.

Applications will be considered complete once ASCLS has received a signed application form, responses to essay questions, and two (2) completed recommendation forms and letters of recommendation. Recommendation forms will be posted on this website