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Mission, Vision, and Value Statements of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Mission Statement:
The National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) is committed to being the premier agency for international accreditation and approval of educational programs in the clinical laboratory sciences and related health care disciplines.
Vision Statement:
Medical laboratories preferentially seek graduates of NAACLS programs to assure quality, value, innovation and safety for healthcare consumers.
Values:
Quality
Education
Innovation
Collaboration
Peer Review
Global Accreditation
A process of external peer review in which NAACLS grants public recognition to education programs that meet established education standards in clinical laboratory science disciplines of Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), Doctoral Clinical Laboratory Scientist (DCLS), Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), Cytogenetic Technologist (CG), Diagnostic Molecular Scientist (DMS), Histotechnician (HT), Histotechnologist (HTL), and Pathologists' Assistant (Path A). All accredited programs are required to submit a self-study and host a site visit in the cyclical review process. Accredited programs are eligible for a maximum award of ten years. These programs must either grant the associate degree or higher or a certificate of completion (if students already hold a degree) upon the successful culmination. The NAACLS Accreditation process is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
International Accreditation Policy
The NAACLS Board of Directors has voted to open the accreditation process to laboratory programs located outside the United States. Such programs are invited to have the chief executive officer submit letters of intent to seek NAACLS accreditation. All materials sent to NAACLS regarding accreditation must be submitted in English.
The steps of the accreditation process for international programs are identical to the steps for United States programs and are found in the Guide to Accreditation and Approval. These include an application for accreditation, attainment of serious applicant status, submission of a self study document, and an on-site evaluation.
The program is expected to meet the Standards as defined by NAACLS. The sponsoring academic institution must be accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency for higher education and must be authorized under applicable law to provide post secondary education and to grant the appropriate degree.
The program is expected to pay the application fee, all costs associated with the on-site visit (including business class air fare), plus an annual fee.
NAACLS Approval:
A process of external peer review in which NAACLS grants public recognition to education programs that meet established education standards in the clinical laboratory science disciplines of Clinical Assistant (CA) and Phlebotomist (Phleb). All approved programs are structured to assure that graduates will possess stated entry-level career competencies. Approved programs must submit a self-study in the cyclical review process with a maximum award length of 5 years. Approved programs must issue a certificate of completion upon the successful culmination of the program. Due to the pre-baccalaureate nature of the Clinical Assistant and Phlebotomist certificate programs, our Approval Process is considered an “Additional Activity” by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Who We Are
About Board of Directors
President
AGT Representative (2016 - 2021)
Peter Hu, PhD, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, CGCM, MBCM
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Email
President Elect
ASCLS Representative (2017 - 2021)
Maribeth L. Flaws, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, SM(ASCP)SI
Rush University Medical Center
Email
Secretary
ASCP Representative (2017 - 2021)
Marisa K. James, MA, MT(ASCP)CM
North Kansas City Hospital
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Treasurer
ASCP Representative (2020 -2024)
Joel M. Shilling, MD(FASCP)
Email
Member at Large
Four Year Educator (2019 - 2023)
Julie O'Sullivan Maillet PhD, RD, FASAHP
Email
AAPA Representative (2019 - 2023)
Robert Cottrell MHS, PA(ASCP)cm
Quinnipiac University
Email
ASCLS Representative
(2017 - 2021)
Marcia A. Armstrong, MS, MLS(ASCP)
Email
ASCLS Representative
(2019 – 2023)
Suzanne Norris Zanto, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, SM
Email
NSH Representative
(2020-2024)
Mark A. Bailey, MA, HTL(ASCP)CM
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
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Public Member
(2017 - 2021)
Elton Richards Jr
Email
ASCP Representative (2020-2024)
Karen A. Brown MS, MASCP, MLS (ASCP)cm
Medical Laboratory Sciences,
University of Utah
Email
About Doctoral Review Committee
Program Director (2019-2023)
Brenda C. Barnes, PhD, MT(ASCP), SBB
Allen College
Email
Vice Chair
MLS Graduate Faculty (2020-2024)
S. Renee Hodgkins, PhD, MLS(ASCP)
University of Kansas Medical Center
Email
Doctoral Level Clinical Laboratory Educator
Member at Large (2020-2024)
Nadine Lerret Ph.D., MLS(ASCP)CM
Rush University
Email
DCLS Practitioner
(2019-2023)
Brandy D Gunsolus, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM
Email
Dept. Chair, Vice President/Provost, or Dean (2021)
Herbert J. Miller, PhD, MLS(ASCP)
Email
Board Liaison to DRC
Julie O'Sullivan Maillet, PhD, RD, FASAHP
Email
Chair
Clinical Laboratory Sciences Industry Executive or Leader (2017-2021)
Randall S. Lambrecht, PhD
Email
About NAACLS Staff
CEO
Chief Executive Officer
Dianne Cearlock, PhD
(773) 714-8880
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Staff
Program Accreditation Coordinator
Russ DeCaluwe
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Staff
Meetings and Events Planner
Megan Hennessy Eggert
(773) 714-8880
Email
Staff
Accountant
Francine Schwartz
Email
Staff
IT Manager
Elizabeth Swartz
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Staff
Program Approval Coordinator & Volunteer Services Manager
Mark Spence
Email
Staff
Program Accreditation Coordinator and Board Liaison
Michele Stevenson
Email
Staff
Accounting Assistant
Jennifer Loyo
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Staff
Program Accreditation Coordinator and Review Liaison
Jessy Jasso
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About Programs Approval Review Committee
Chair
Phlebotomy Educator (2017- 2021)
Laura Ahonen, MS, MT(ASCP)
Northcentral Technical College
Email
Vice Chair
Phlebotomy Educator (2018 - 2022)
Keri Brophy- Martinez, MHA, MT(ASCP)
Austin Community College
Email
Vice Chair
Phlebotomy Educator (2017- 2021)
Dawn Tripolino, MBA, MT(ASCP)
Bayfront Medical Center
Email
Member
Phlebotomy Practitioner (2020-2024)
Marilyn S. McCain, MBA, H(ASCP)
Grady Health System
Email
Phlebotomy Educator (2017 - 2021)
Laura Muldowney, MS, BS, PBT(ASCP)
Cape Fear Community College
Email
Phlebotomy Educator
(2019-2023)
Carlo Ledesma, MS, SH(ASCP)CM, MT(ASCP), MT(AMT)
Rose State College
Email
Clinical Assistant Educator (2017- 2021)
Rita Miller, EdD, MLS(ASCP)
Minnesota West Community & Technical College
Email
Phlebotomy Educator
(2019 - 2023)
Tywan G. Banks, M.Ed., PBT (ASCP)
Columbus State Community College
Email
Clinical Assistant Educator
(2020 - 2023)
Andrea Stone, MPA, MT(ASCP)
Moraine Valley Community College
Email
Phlebotomy Educator (2024)
Michelle M. Hill, MS, MT(ASCP)SLS
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Email
About Review Committee for Accredited Programs
Chair
MLT Educator (2019-2023)
Candy Hill, MAEd, MT(ASCP)
Jefferson State Community College
Email
Vice Chair
MLT Educator (2020 - 2024)
Andrea Gordon, MEd, MT(ASCP)SH
Email
Pathologist's Assistant Practitioner (2020 - 2024)
William F. Ahlfeld MS, PA(ASCP)
Email
Pathologists’ Assistant Educator (2018 - 2022)
Michelle M Costas, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM
West Virginia University Department of Pathology
Email
MLS Educator (2020 - 2024)
Ramona Fox, MS, MT(ASCP)
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
Email
MLS Educator (2016 - 2024)
Jeanne Isabel EdD, MLS, SH(ASCP)
Northern Illinois University
Email
MLS Educator (2017 - 2021)
Janna Schill, PhD, MS, MT(ASCP)
University of North Dakota
Email
MLS Educator (2017 - 2021)
Karen M. Escolas, EdD, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM
Farmingdale State College
Email
MLS Educator (2018 - 2022)
Edwin M. Beitz, MHA, MLS(ASCP)cm
York Hospital
Email
MLS Educator (2017 - 2023)
Jennifer Knight, MLS(ASCP)CM
Mississippi Baptist Medical Center
Email
MLS Educator (2020 - 2024)
Elizabeth A. Gockel-Blessing PhD, MLS(ASCP)cm
St. Louis University
Email
MLT Educator (2017 - 2021)
Sally Pestana, MT(ASCP)
University of Hawaii - Kapiolani
Email
MLT Educator (2019 - 2023)
Maria Torres-Pillot, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM
Northern Virginia Community College
Email
MLT Educator (2020 - 2024)
Candice Grayson, MS, MA, MT(ASCP)
Community College of Baltimore County
Email
MLT Educator (2017 - 2022)
Frankie Harris-Lyne, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM
Northern Virginia Community College
Email
Histology Educator (2019 - 2023)
Michelle Nelsen, MS, HTL(ASCP)CM
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Email
HT Educator (2018 - 2022)
Dale Telgenhoff, PhD, HTL(ASCP)CM
Oakland University
Email
DMS Educator (2020 - 2024)
Eric Elsinghorst, PhD, MPH, MB(ASCP), MLS(ASCP)
University of Kansas Medical Center
Email
DMS Educator (2020 - 2022)
Julie Zemplinski, MSH, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM
Florida Gulf Coast University
Email
Cytogenetic Educator (2017 - 2021)
Xueya Hauge, Ph.D.
Kennesaw State University - Department of Biology and Physics
Email
CG Educator (2020 - 2024)
Jun Gu, MD, PhD, CG(ASCP)CM
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Email
Four Year Educator (2017 - 2021)
Charity E. Accurso, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM
University of Cincinnati
Email
Two Year Educator (2020 - 2024)
MaryEllen Tancred PhD, MBA, MT(ASCP)SH
Columbus State Community College
Email
Board Liaison
Board Liaison/RCAP
Marcia A. Armstrong, MS, MT(ASCP)
Email
Peer Organizations