National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week—often known as Lab Week—is a fun time to be a pathologist or laboratory professional and celebrate our role on the medical team. But Lab Week can be more than just potluck dinners and lab-themed games. It’s an opportunity to learn from our colleagues, lift each other up and let our communities know what we do for patients.  So, how has Lab Week changed through the years? And how can we make the most of Lab Week moving forward?  

On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Ms. Stephanie Whitehead, MPH, MBA, CLS(ASCP)CM, Executive Director of Pathology and Laboratory Services at University Health in San Antonio, Texas, and Dr. Rodney Rohde, PhD, SM(ASCP)CM, SVCM, MBCM, Clinical Lab Science Program Chair at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, to discuss the evolution of Lab Week.   

Ms. Whitehead and Dr. Rohde explain what Lab Week looked like early on in their careers and how it's celebrated in their respective workplaces today. They describe how they maintained the spirit of Lab Week during the pandemic, sharing some of the virtual activities they designed to adapt to the circumstances and celebrate safely. Listen in for insight on leveraging Lab Week as an opportunity to strengthen relationships among laboratory professionals, engage in continuing education and advocate for the profession in our communities.  

Topics Covered  

• What Lab Week looked like early on in Ms. Whitehead and Dr. Rohde’s careers and how the celebration has evolved over time 
• Ms. Whitehead's efforts to incorporate elements of professional development and make Lab Week more inclusive 
• Dr. Rohde's insight on leveraging Lab Week as an opportunity to advocate for the profession 
• How Ms. Whitehead and Dr. Rohde’s departments maintained the spirit of Lab Week during the pandemic and what they did to adapt and celebrate safely 
• Examples of the innovative activities Ms. Whitehead and Dr. Rohde are doing for Lab Week this year, i.e.: virtual games, 'gross lunch' and Lab Olympics 
• Why it's crucial to recognize laboratory professionals during Lab Week and throughout the year  

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