ADLM's president commends the DCLS Task Force and looks forward to its report

Ms. Kacy Peterson, MBA, MLS (ASCP)^CM, DLM (ASCP)
Chair, DCLS Task Force
Laboratory Service Line Administrator
Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center

Ms. Peterson,

In its strategic plan, ADLM established as a key organizational value that the association enables a diverse, inclusive, and equitable laboratory medicine community and empowers them to improve population health.

Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS) are central to this commitment. They are essential partners in advancing laboratory medicine and in fully realizing the association’s new name which embodies all members of the lab community. Supporting CLS professionals in adapting to today’s complex healthcare challenges—and helping them thrive professionally—is a core part of ADLM’s mission.

Importantly, this includes graduates of Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) programs. These professionals exemplify the highest ideals of laboratory medicine, advancing patient care through expert clinical insights and integration within interdisciplinary healthcare teams. DCLS graduates bring unique expertise and systems-level understanding that strengthen the lab’s contributions to improved health outcomes.

The ADLM Board’s March 2024 decision to establish the DCLS Task Force marked an important first step in gathering comprehensive, up-to-date insights to help the association better support DCLS programs, address professional needs, and align with the broader priorities of the CLS community.

The DCLS Task Force’s goals include:

• Identifying current opportunities to support early career DCLS professionals in achieving professional goals.
• Identifying shared goals and priorities between DCLS training programs and ADLM to develop mutually beneficial programs and initiatives.
• Providing recommendations on how ADLM can advocate for DCLS graduates by broadening awareness and knowledge across the field of laboratory medicine on the unique competencies, skills, and potential roles of DCLS graduates as members of laboratory medicine leadership teams.

On behalf of our members and staff, I applaud the work of the DCLS Task Force to date and look forward to the completion and presentation of its initial work plan this coming July.

In the meantime, exciting work remains. ADLM stands ready to support the DCLS Task Force in advancing its work and ensuring all members of our community can grow and lead. We are one community. By working together, we can ensure the best possible health outcomes for patients and improve the health of people worldwide.

I, along with the Board of Directors and ADLM staff, look forward to discussing the steps necessary to advance the DCLS Task Force’s goals.

Sincerely,

Anthony A. Killeen, MD, MSc, PhD
ADLM president