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March 26, 2013

MLS student attends legislative symposium in Washington, D.C.

Johntavious Hampton, a senior medical laboratory science student at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, attended the 2013 American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science Legislative Symposium Day in Washington D.C., March 18-19.

Hampton, of Homer, is the student forum chair for the Louisiana Society for Clinical Laboratory Science and represents all medical laboratory science students in the state.

The legislative symposium provides attendees with presentation techniques so they can effectively speak with their congressional representatives about important issues impacting the medical laboratory and patient care.

Attendees return from Washington with first-hand knowledge of the political system.

Hampton expressed his gratitude for the experience in Washington and the opportunity to learn how government impacts health care.

"I was very fortunate for the opportunity to attend this meeting and learn of matters so pertinent to medical laboratory science. I was overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge I gained. I feel privileged to have learned so much more about how much government impacts health care in America. I feel a true responsibility to the medical laboratory science profession to stay involved with my professional organization and to make sure certain issues are brought to light and addressed for the sake of quality patient care," he said.

"Issues addressed at this year's Leg Day included the Workforce Reinvestment Act Reauthorization, Modernizing the Laboratory Fee Schedule, and Oversight of Laboratory Developed Tests."

The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the Clinical Laboratory Management Association, the American Medical Technologists, and the Association of Genetic Technologists, sponsor the symposium day.

Through this ASCLS tradition that originated in 1989, the members of all these organizations meet with their representatives and senators on Capitol Hill as a unified front on behalf of the medical laboratory science profession.

Each year these leading organizations urge their members and leaders to visit Washington and voice the concerns and issues facing the profession.

Debbie Wisenor, ULM Department Head & Program Director of Medical Laboratory Science, said she was proud of Hampton's accomplishments.

"The MLS faculty and students are very proud of Johntavious for representing future laboratory professionals at the legislative symposium. Johntavious was a member of the team of medical laboratory scientists from Louisiana charged with visiting their congressional representative to discuss important issues impacting the medical laboratory and patient care," she said.

"The leadership skills that Johntavious has attained through his service as LSCLS Student Forum chair will be a great asset throughout his career as a medical laboratory scientist and will position him for future professional leadership roles."

To learn more about the MLS degree at ULM, visit ulm.edu/mls

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