Get Involved

ADLM relies on the energetic engagement of its members to advance the association’s strategic priorities. There are many opportunities to get involved. Volunteer today to be part of ADLM’s exciting work to help take laboratory medicine into the future. Those listed below are a great place to get started with ADLM.

Volunteer Today

Clinical Laboratory Scientists Council

Purpose: To engage the many members and potential members who are laboratory management and operational staff and in doing so support ADLM’s strategic plan that calls for addressing the needs of the full breadth of its members.

Role

• Identifies issues of importance for the laboratory supervisor, manager, and technologist constituencies
• Recommends strategies to the ADLM Board of Directors for serving the needs of these constituencies within the framework of ADLM’s strategic plan
• Ensures that the unique educational and professional development needs of these constituencies are met by ADLM by recommending programming and activities to be carried out by the relevant ADLM committees
• Provides input into external and internal policy matters that affect these constituencies
• Identifies strategies to attract and retain members from these constituencies

Rationale: As the field of laboratory medicine grows and changes it is essential that ADLM recognize and engage the many members and potential members of this community, including technologists/clinical laboratory scientists and laboratory managers or supervisors. The formation of the Clinical Laboratory Scientists Council provides an ADLM home for these professionals, and a mechanism to identify their needs and develop creative strategies to address those needs.

Education Core Committee

Purpose: To provide oversight and guidance to all ADLM educational programs and activities, ensuring a cohesive and coordinated education program and delivery system.

Role

• Guides the development of a comprehensive, high-quality curriculum that cuts across ADLM
• Takes into account trends in delivery mechanisms and works to ensure that ADLM is in the forefront in its approach to education
• Integrates—when appropriate—and finds effective ways to connect individual education programs to create synergy and complementarity
• Note: the Education Core Committee will not direct Annual Meeting content

Rationale: Education is one of the most important functions of ADLM. Although ADLM has many excellent education programs, this structure will provide more effective communication among them. In addition, with the rise in webinars and virtual programs, there is a growing need for greater planning and coordination across all association educational programs.

Policy and External Affairs Core Committee

Purpose: To set direction for ADLM’s government relations, advocacy, and public relations functions, ensuring that they support the strategic plan and member needs; and to collaborate with other entities in support of ADLM’s goals. Note: The processes and functions of the current Government Relations Committee will be transferred to the Policy and External Affairs Core Committee.

Role

• Guides ADLM’s government relations and advocacy functions
• Guides outward-facing US and international activities, including collaborations and coalitions
• Guides public relations and media relations

Rationale: The changing healthcare environment has significant impacts on laboratory medicine, and it is essential that ADLM be at the forefront of anticipating and speaking for member needs. Whether addressing issues of reimbursement, laboratory standards, or international relations, ADLM needs to be involved. These efforts can be most successful when coordinated with other organizations that share common goals. This might include liaisons with other U.S. based associations, as well as with the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), and other groups as appropriate.

Publications Core Committee

Purpose: To set direction for the ADLM publications program, based on the strategic vision of the Board; and to ensure a coherent publications strategy for the association.

Role

• Sets association-wide publication policies
• Ensures that ADLM publications cover the breadth of the field
• Identifies gaps in coverage and ways to address them
• Note: The Publications Core Committee will not direct journal content

Rationale: ADLM’s many excellent publications will benefit from increased collaboration and communication, allowing them to share expertise and work together to ensure a strategic approach to publications for the association.

Publications are a major strength of ADLM, as well as significant contributors to the overall budget. Changes in the field may create opportunities for new publications, or may lessen the need for others. Advances in technology and the changing needs of younger members will require careful assessment of delivery mechanisms and the best ways to deliver content in the future. Bringing all publications together will provide a forum for in-depth discussions of overall strategy and of ways to best serve ADLM’s diverse membership.

SYCL Core Committee

Purpose: To ensure that ADLM has comprehensive and coordinated programs that help develop and meet the needs of the next generation of leaders in laboratory medicine. Note: as is the case currently, SYCL core committee members must meet SYCL membership criteria at the time of committee appointment.

Role

• Develops, implements, and contributes to comprehensive and coordinated programs that focus on the needs and professional development of young clinical laboratorians
• Provides input to the Board, Nominating Committee, and other core committees on the priorities of its members

Rationale: Creating a SYCL core committee builds on the very successful work of the Society for Young Clinical Laboratorians in engaging and meeting the needs of younger members. This change will serve to connect SYCL directly with the Board and enable involvement in setting the strategic direction for ADLM. As a core committee, the role of SYCL will likely grow. Young professionals will have greater opportunities for overall ADLM involvement, and hopefully an increased tendency to make ADLM their professional home.