Episode 51: "CLS, MLT, MLS, CLT, OMG! The Importance of Professional Identity"- Lindsey Clark, MPH, MLS (ASCP)

 Co-host Tywauna Wilson sat down to talk with Lindsey Clark, MPH, MLS (ASCP) about Laboratory Professional Credentialing & The Importance of Forming a Professional Identity.

Medical laboratory science is often referred to as the hidden profession. Many healthcare professionals working in the same hospital as laboratory professionals do not fully understand what we do, so can we really expect that from patients, the public, the media, and politicians? One major reason for the lack of understanding is the absence of a cohesive professional identity among laboratory professionals. 

Lindsey talks about how there are many credentialing agencies and job titles out there today, and discuss the importance of forming a more unified professional identity. Several national organizations are working towards more standardized certifications and job titles to help decrease confusion within and outside of the field. We ended the interview with detailing those efforts and making suggestions for how laboratory professionals can help promote and advocate for the profession no matter what their role.

Guest Bio:
Lindsey Clark is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Sciences at UAMS in Little Rock, Arkansas. She teaches Current Topics in Medical Laboratory Sciences and Molecular Diagnostics to both traditional MLS and MLT-to-MLS distance students. Lindsey is heavily involved in Interprofessional Education at UAMS, where she advocates for laboratory science students and professionals to play a larger role in interprofessional teams. Her research interests include biological and laboratory safety, virtual reality training, and interprofessional education for lab science students. She also works to promote the profession on social media and you can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook under @LindseyInTheLab.

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