The following webinars are presented by ASM’s Clinical Microbiology Mentoring Subcommittee. The subcommittee provides career and networking advice for those new to the field of clinical or public health microbiology. Its roster of mentors is available to answer any career advancement questions you have.
The Science of Success: Building a Career in Lab Operations: July 14, 2025
This webinar offers a look into the vital role of lab operations and how they are integrated throughout an institution. Participants will gain insights into the scope and significance of lab operations and will understand their strategic importance in health care settings. The session will also spotlight diverse career paths within lab operations.
Learning Objectives
- Showcase career paths in lab operations.
- Discuss laboratory operations and their importance in the laboratory.
- Cover how lab operations integrate with the hospital system and how laboratory operations are a part of an institution’s initiatives.
Speakers
James LaPan
Director of Laboratory Services—Microbiology
Kaiser Permanente
Dawn Monzel, MLS(ASCP)
Director of Outreach Operations
Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories
Panel
Utsav Pandey, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
Technical Director, Microbiology Services
Kaiser Permanente
Clinical Assistant Professor
Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
Nicki Zinsmaster, MLS(ASCP)
Technical Specialist Coordinator
Instructor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Mayo Clinic
Moderator
Zenda Berrada, Ph.D., PHM, D(ABMM), PHLD(ABB), M(ASCP)CM
Chief of the Microbial Diseases Laboratory Branch
California Department of Public Health
Audience
All attendees who are interested may attend, however, this webinar is targeted toward those who currently work in a microbiology lab.
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Core (Lab) Concepts: Considerations and Lessons for Microbiology Lab Consolidation: Nov. 22, 2024
Laboratory consolidation puts significant stress on laboratory leadership and staff, and there is no standard protocol for developing and implementing a microbiology lab consolidation plan. This webinar will provide suggestions about establishing timelines and workflows, working with clinical and lab stakeholders and managing challenges.
Learning Objectives
- Describe major and minor challenges associated with test workflow changes inherent to microbiology laboratory consolidation.
- Recommend methods of effective communication during planning and implementation phases of microbiology laboratory consolidation.
- Identify specific areas and processes, such as culture setups and laboratory trainee education, that may require atypical or novel solutions due to consolidation.
Speaker
Richard E. Davis, Ph.D., D(ABMM), MLS(ASCP)
Microbiology Director
INWA Region and WA/MT Micro Core Lab
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital
Panel
Kevin Alby, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
Assistant Professor
Associate Director, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory
University of North Carolina
Julie Kennicutt
LIS Technical Specialist Coordinator
Mayo Clinic
Laurianne Mullinax, M.S., MLS(ASCP)CM
Director, Clinical Education
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital
Moderator
Jessica D’Angelo, MLS(ASCP)CM
Microbiology Supervisor
Palomar Health
Audience
All attendees who are interested may attend, however this webinar is targeted toward microbiology lab leadership (senior technologists, leads, specialists, supervisors and lab management).
Translating the Alphabet Soup of Clinical Laboratories: Sept. 21, 2023
The medical laboratory field is riddled with complex processes of regulation governed by the complicated structures of regulatory bodies. Similarly, certification processes and routes for laboratory professionals can be daunting and confusing. This webinar aims to address these terminologies, as well as the certification versus licensure requirements for those individuals who are new or interested in joining the field.
Learning Objectives
The attendee should be able to understand the following:
- Terminology used in the regulated laboratory environment.
- Routes to certification vs. state licensure.
- Regulatory bodies and processes.
Speaker
Nicholas M. Moore, Ph.D., D(ABMM), MLS(ASCP)CM
Associate Professor, Medical Laboratory Science
Associate Director, Division of Clinical Microbiology
Director, BSL-3 Core Laboratory
Rush University Medical Center
Audience
- New graduates and those interested in medical laboratory profession.
- Entry to mid-level medical laboratory scientists and medical laboratory technicians.
Exploring Behind the Curtain of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory: Oct. 12, 2023
This webinar will be broken into 2 sections: a presentation followed by a discussion with a panel of volunteers. The presentation will describe how a high complexity clinical microbiology laboratory functions from a staffing perspective, and the regulatory environment that dictates this structure. We will provide an overview of the various roles that may be found within the laboratory, as well as certification and licensure requirements (as applicable) for these positions. Finally, we’ll describe the different sub-specialty areas that comprise the high complexity microbiology laboratory.
Panel discussion will involve sharing perspective on positions, roles and areas worked within microbiology.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the regulatory environment and staffing structure of a diagnostic clinical microbiology lab.
- Explain the CLIA and accreditation requirements for each role.
- Provide an example career pathway within clinical microbiology.
Speaker
Jeana Houseman, MHSA, DLM(ASCP)CM
Director Quality, Patient Safety, and Accreditation, Laboratory Services
HealthPartners
Panel
Kurt Jude, M(ASCP)CM
Quality Management Coordinator
Mayo Clinic
Samia N. Naccache, Ph.D., M(ASCP)CM, D(ABMM)
Technical Director, Microbiology and Molecular
LabCorp
Audience
- Non-clinical scientists contemplating a career in the diagnostic lab, specifically the clinical microbiology/infectious disease lab.
- New clinical lab scientists.
