On May 7, 2024, representatives from various organizations across the nation met in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida for the second Annual Workforce Action Alliance (WAA) Summit. The WAA is an executive-level group focused on identifying a few key initiatives each year to address the laboratory workforce shortage.
During one of COLA’s Annual Laboratory Enrichment Forums, the Workforce Action Alliance was conceived. COLA’s COO, Ms. Kathy Nucifora, MPH, MLS (ASCP), asked attendees about more measures that could be taken to alleviate the crisis and the strain that laboratory science professionals and employers across the country were under due to the shortage. “Bring us all together” was the resounding reply.
While COLA took the step of “bringing us all together” by catalyzing and hosting the first Workforce Action Alliance Summit, the success is really attributed to WAA Summit Planning Committee members and all the volunteer executives. “The Alliance works because of the dedicated efforts of everyone who participates and the commitment to focus on no more than three initiatives at any one time,” stated Ms. Nancy Stratton, COLA CEO. “The success of the WAA hinges not on any one organization but is the result of many executives working together,” she added.
At this year’s Summit in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, the group reconvened to assess the progress that has been made on the initiatives that were selected the previous year and to determine the objectives that would be pursued over the next twelve months.
During the opening session, key data was presented to better understand the laboratory workforce shortage. While the data analysis is complex, the workgroup reviewed the existing data with fresh eyes, set a plan in motion to gather more data and rather fortuitously found a new data reservoir to help close the gap. The workgroup is hopeful that their efforts will be beneficial to inform policy solutions and professional advocacy in a second year of effort.
The group also reviewed the results of the past year’s efforts to visualize career paths for new and transitioning professionals, reach out to the next generation and the willingness to compromise which became necessary to coalesce around the nomenclature “laboratory science” as an overarching umbrella term, similar to “nursing,” to encompass all aspects of the profession.
“The key measure of success for the Workforce Action Alliance is to identify actionable items and work towards improvement,” stated Ms. Nucifora, Chair of the WAA Summit Planning Committee. “I believe many of us would agree that while there is much work that remains, the WAA Summit did create momentum in tackling the crisis together,” she added.
In the afternoon, the group explored several key trends that will affect the workforce shortage and professional skills of the future, including artificial intelligence, robotics, value-based payment systems and emerging public health threats. “While working on the current crisis, it is important to consider how broader societal, reimbursement and technological trends may affect the future of the laboratory science workforce,” shared Mark Birenbaum, PhD, Administrator, National Independent Laboratory Association & American Association for Bioanalysts.
Following a series of fruitful discussions, the group concluded that they would continue their work on two fronts and add a new initiative for action.
The three priorities for the next 12 months will be:
1. Continuation of the workgroup that is collecting and analyzing data to better understand the laboratory workforce with a focus on translating insights into action
2. Continuation of the “Communicate Carrer Paths for New and Transitioning Professionals” workgroup and its subgroups
3. Understanding Future Trends for Laboratory Professional Skills Development and Reward
COLA and the Planning Committee members will develop and publish a written summary of the Summit Proceedings, which will be made available to the public this fall. The Summit Planning Committee includes representatives from the following organizations:
· American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS)
· American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
· American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
· National Society for Histotechnology (NSH)
· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
· American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB)
· National Independent Laboratory Association (NILA)
· Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB)
· Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)
· COLA
For more information about the working groups of the Workforce Action Alliance Summit, please email WAA@cola.org.
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The WAA Planning Committee would like to thank the American Association of Bioanalysts Board of Registry (ABOR), the National Independent Laboratory Association (NILA) and COLA for their chartable financial contribution to help make the Summit possible.