Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on accredited programs and graduates who sat for the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification examination: graduates' perspective.

Objective: Students in health profession education programs were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic at both didactic and clinical training levels. The purpose for this American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on graduates. This study represents the perspectives of laboratory professional graduates who sat for the BOC certification in their respective professional disciplines.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on accredited programs and graduates who sat for the American Society for Clinical Pathology-Board of Certification Examination: program directors' perspective.

Objective: Health professions education programs were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic at clinical and didactic training levels. The purpose for this American Society for Clinical Pathology-Board of Certification (BOC) study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the graduates who sat for BOC certification in their respective professional disciplines from the perspective of program directors (PDs). A separate article will be published on the graduates' perspective.

Guidelines for Initiating a Research Agenda: Research Design and Dissemination of Results.

Successful research outcomes require selection and implementation of the appropriate research design. A realistic sampling plan appropriate for the design is essential. Qualitative or quantitative methodology may be utilized, depending on the research question and goals.

Guidelines for Initiating a Research Agenda: Topic Selection and Evidence of Impact.

The focus on scholarly productivity as an outcome measure for performance evaluations of personnel and/or units and benchmarking purposes is increasing in both the academic and clinical settings. This article presents avenues for identifying achievable research projects in both the academic and clinical settings. Factors for consideration when selecting a project include its significance or impact on the profession, feasibility for implementing the project, and ethical issues related to human subjects protection.

The Development of the Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science in the U.S.

In the United States, a new post-baccalaureate degree has been introduced in the medical laboratory sciences profession whose hallmark is advanced clinical practice beyond that of the entry level generalist. After more than a decade of exploring the most appropriate level of education and training in laboratory medicine to meet the demands of a changing health care system, the first Doctorate of Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) program is now offered. This article discusses the collaborative effort among professional organizations and stakeholders to develop the framework for the DCLS degree.