ASCP and CLMA 2021 Partnership
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the Clinical Laboratory Management Association (CLMA) have partnered to bolster empowerment of laboratory professionals to achieve excellence in leadership, help support the integrity of the clinical laboratory and promote the value of the laboratory across our healthcare continuum.
The past year has brought unprecedented challenges to the laboratory, but it has also provided an opportunity for renewed commitment to serving the clinical laboratory and its employees. Through this partnership, ASCP and CLMA can share and expand upon their current and future educational offerings, and share resources that will aid and guide laboratory managers and directors throughout the trajectory of their careers.
“The laboratory managers and directors within our ASCP membership are a critical element to a laboratory’s success,” says ASCP CEO Blair Holladay, PhD, MASCP, SCT(ASCP)CM. “By partnering with CLMA, we are able to broaden the depth of knowledge we can provide them and advance best practices, which ultimately results in better patient care.”
Under terms of the partnership, CLMA members will receive ASCP benefits. Additionally, all CLMA and ASCP members will receive free registration at the virtual KnowledgeLab 2021 event, which CLMA and ASCP will co-host.
“We are thrilled at the prospect of the new opportunities that will come your way as a result of this partnership with ASCP,” says CLMA President Carol Collingsworth, MBA, MT(ASCP)SC. “Our mission is to achieve excellence in leadership through educational, networking, and advocacy opportunities, and partnering with ASCP opens new doors which will help us execute on these goals.”
Though so much uncertainty in healthcare remains, this unique partnership will help create a foundation upon which the clinical laboratory can grow and evolve and become StrongerTogether.
ASCP and CLMA Align to Provide Excellence, Education, and Advocacy for Laboratory Professionals
December 1—Today the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the Clinical Laboratory Management Association (CLMA) announced that CLMA will join the ASCP as a division of ASCP, thus aligning the organizations.
The agreement includes full integration of CLMA’s offerings, governance, and membership into ASCP. Both organizations worked to develop and mutually approve an alignment agreement that preserves CLMA branding, support for CLMA state chapters, and a governance structure to ensure the voice representing Laboratory Directors and Managers is critically supported.
“This agreement provides an unprecedented opportunity to bring the best of CLMA's activities, meetings, its experts, and leadership within ASCP to promulgate excellence in laboratory management and leadership and to further develop and leverage a deep knowledge base that will enrich the development of leaders within the laboratory community," states ASCP CEO Dr. E. Blair Holladay, PhD, MASCP, SCT(ASCP)CM. “Together, we can elevate the visibility of laboratory leadership and support the growing needs of its Directors and Managers, including developing a pipeline to ensure the legacy of laboratory leadership."
"ASCP is committed to the success of this venture and is prepared to expand the offerings necessary to ensure current and next generation laboratory leaders have the resources they need to face challenges and are prepared to position laboratory medicine in the center of health care," states ASCP President Henry Rinder, MD, FASCP.
Following a successful joint membership agreement and KnowledgeLab 2021 collaboration earlier this year, the two organizations engaged in new rounds of strategic thinking to explore further synergies. The CLMA Board of Directors will transition to a newly formed CLMA Advisory Group within a divisional structure of ASCP, with explicitly defined duties and obligations.
“The CLMA Board of Directors has full confidence in ASCP and they have displayed nothing but enthusiasm and trust during our conversations,” said CLMA President Christina P. Nickel, MHA, MLS(ASCP)CM, CPHQ. “Member feedback following the KnowledgeLab collaboration in March gave us confidence that ASCP is fully committed to serving the laboratory management profession.”
The alignment was ratified by a majority vote of the CLMA membership last month and the transition is now in progress. CLMA membership will expire on Dec. 31, 2021 and members will be invited by ASCP to continue their membership, both at the state and national levels.
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About ASCP
Founded in 1922 in Chicago, ASCP is a medical professional society with more than 100,000 member board-certified anatomic and clinical pathologists, pathology residents and fellows, laboratory professionals, and students. ASCP provides excellence in education, certification, and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists, and laboratory professionals. To learn more, visit www.ascp.org. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ascp_chicago and connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ASCP.Chicago
About CLMA
Founded in 1976, the Clinical Laboratory Management Association (CLMA) is an association of 800 clinical laboratory leaders. CLMA empowers laboratory professionals to achieve excellence in leadership through forward-thinking educational, networking, and advocacy opportunities. Through support, resources, and advocacy in the clinical laboratory industry, CLMA educates members and plays a leadership role in enhancing the image and increasing the visibility of the laboratory management profession.
