Home > About

Mission, Vision, and Value Statements of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences



 

Mission Statement:

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) is committed to being the premier accreditation agency for ensuring the advancement of education in clinical laboratory sciences and related health care disciplines provided by domestic and international programs.

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

             _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





NAACLS 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 Assistant (MLA), 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), Phlebotomist (Phleb). 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. 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.

 

Who We Are

 

About Board of Directors

President

AAPA Representative (2019 - 2023)
Robert Cottrell, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM
Quinnipiac University
Email

President - Elect

ASCP Representative (2020 - 2024)
Karen A. Brown, MS, M(ASCP), MLS(ASCP)CM
Medical Laboratory Sciences,
University of Utah
Email

Secretary

ASCLS Representative (2023 – 2027)
Suzanne Norris Zanto, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, SM
Laboratory Solutions
Email

Treasurer

ASCP Representative (2022 - 2026)
Nathan H. Johnson, PhD, MASCP, MLS(ASCP), SC, SLS, DLM, CC(NRCC)
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Email

Member at Large

Two Year Educator (2021 - 2025)
Elaina Bleifield, Ph.D.
Inver Hills Community College
Email

ASCLS Representative (2021 - 2025)
Maribeth L. Flaws, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, SM(ASCP)SI
Rush University Medical Center
Email

ASCLS Representative (2021 - 2025)
Christie L Massen, PhD, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM
North Dakota Department of Health
Email

ASCP Representative (2024 - 2028)
Kimberly Sanford, M.D. (MASCP), MT(ASCP)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Email

AGT Representitive (2021 - 2025)
Jun Gu, MD, PhD, CG(ASCP)CM
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Email

NSH Representative (2024 - 2028)
Jerry Santiago, PhD, HTL(ASCP)QIHC
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Email

Public Member (2021 - 2025)
Nathan Marik, MBA
Bank of Montreal
Email

Four Year Educator (2023 - 2027)
Abiodun Akinwuntan, PhD, MPH, MBA
University of Kansas Medical Center
Email

About Doctoral Review Committee

Chair

Doctoral Level Clinical Laboratory Educator (2024 - 2026)
Nadine Lerret, Ph.D., MLS(ASCP)CM
Rush University
Email

Vice Chair

Dept. Chair, Vice President/Provost, or Dean (2021 - 2025)
Janelle M. Chiasera, PhD, MLS(ASCP)
Quinnipiac University
Email

MLS Graduate Faculty (2020 - 2025)
S. Renee Hodgkins, PhD, MLS(ASCP)
University of Kansas Medical Center
Email

DCLS Practitioner (2023 - 2027)
Cristian Lozano, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM
Quest Diagnostic
Email

Clinical Laboratory Sciences Industry Executive or Leader (2021 - 2025)
Jennifer Thebo, PhD, MLS(ASCP)
JuST Scientific Solutions, LLC
Email

Board Liaison to DRC
Maribeth L. Flaws, PhD, MLS(ASCP)cm, SM(ASCP)SI
Rush University Medical Center
Email

Member at Large (2023 - 2027)
Christen Diel, M.S. CLS, MLS (ASCP)
Augusta University Medical Center
Email

About NAACLS Staff

Chief Executive Officer
Marisa K. James, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM
(773) 714-8880 ext. 384
Email

Staff

Program Services Assistant
Julie Braglia
(773) 714-8880 ext. 380
Email

Staff

Program Accreditation Coordinator & Quality Assurance Liaison
Russ DeCaluwe
(773) 714-8880 ext. 381
Email

Staff

Meetings & Events Planner
Megan Eggert
(773) 714-8880
Email

Staff

Accreditation Coordinator, Board & Review Committee Liaison
Michele Giannosa
(773) 714-8880 ext. 382
Email

Staff

Program Accreditation Coordinator & Review Liaison
Jessy Jasso
(773) 714-8880 ext. 385
Email

Staff

Accounting Associate
Jennifer Loyo
(773) 714-8880 ext. 383
Email

Staff

IT Manager
Elizabeth Swartz
(773) 714-8880 ext. 389
Email

Staff

Director of Strategic Initiatives & Volunteer Manager
Mark Spence
(773) 714-8880 ext. 388
Email

Staff

Program Services Coordinator
Stefanie Troxell
(773) 714-8880 ext. 399
Email

Accountant


Francine Schwartz

Email

About Programs Accreditation Review Committee

Chair

Medical Laboratory Technician Educator (2024 - 2026)
Phyllis Ingham, EdD MEd MLS (ASCP)CMAHI(AMT)
West Georgia Technical College
Email

Vice Chair

Medical Laboratory Technician Educator (2024 - 2026)
Candice Grayson, MS, MA, MLS (ASCP) CM
Community College of Baltimore County
Email

Phlebotomy Educator (2021- 2025)
Terri McElhattan, MHA, MLS, PBT (ASCP) CPI (ACA)
Geisinger Health System
Email

Medical Laboratory Assistant Educator (2021- 2025)
Rita Miller, Ed.D, MS(CLS), MLS(ASCP)
Minnesota West Community & Technical College
Email

Two Year Educator (2023 - 2027)
Mary L. Mattes, MS, PA(ASCP)cm
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Email

Two Year Educator (2024 - 2028)
Michelle M. Hill, MS, MLS(ASCP)SLS
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Email

Medical Laboratory Technician Educator (2021 - 2025)
Sally Pestana, MLS(ASCP)
Retired Program Director
Email

Medical Laboratory Technician Educator (2023 - 2027)
Maria Torres-Pillot, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM
Retired Program Director
Email

Phlebotomy Educator (2022 - 2026)
Keri Brophy-Martinez, MHA, MLS(ASCP)
Austin Community College
Email

Medical Laboratory Technician Educator (2022 - 2026)
Frankie Harris-Lyne, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM
Northern Virginia Community College
Email

Histotechnologist Educator (HTL) (2022 - 2026)
Dale Telgenhoff, PhD, HTL(ASCP)CM
Oakland University
Email

Histology Educator (2023 - 2027)
Melmar F Ordinario, MSML, HTL (ASCP)
Keiser University - Orlando
Email

Histology Educator (2023 - 2027)
Taiquanda Winbush, HT(ASCP)CM
Albany State University
Email

Medical Laboratory Technician Educator (2023 - 2027)
Rochelle Helminski, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM
Phoenix College
Email

Board Liaison to PARC
Susanne Norris Zanto, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, SM
Laboratory Solutions
Email

Medical Laboratory Technician Educator (2024 - 2028)
Amee M. Rosales, MEd, MT (ASCP)
Pima Community College
Email

Phlebotomy Educator (2024 - 2028)
Ethan Kentzel, MLS, ASCP
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences: MLS Program
Email

About Review Committee for Accredited Programs

Chair

Four Year Educator (2021 - 2025)
Charity E. Accurso, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM
University of Cincinnati
Email

Vice Chair

Medical Laboratory Scientist Educator (2023 - 2027)
Jennifer Knight, MHS, MLS(ASCP)CM
Mississippi Baptist Medical Center
Email

Pathologist's Assistant Practitioner (2024 - 2028)
William F. Ahlfeld, MS, PA(ASCP)

Email

Pathologists’ Assistant Educator (2022 - 2026)
Michelle M Costas, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM
West Virginia University Department of Pathology
Email

Medical Laboratory Scientist Educator (2024 - 2028)
April B. Orange, MM, MLS(ASCP)CM
McLeod Health School of Medical Laboratory Science
Email

Medical Laboratory Scientist Educator (2021 - 2025)
Dawn Tripolino, MBA, MLS(ASCP)
Retired Program Director
Email

Medical Laboratory Scientist Educator (2024 - 2028)
Elizabeth A. Gockel-Blessing, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM
St. Louis University
Email

Medical Laboratory Scientist Educator (2021 - 2025)
Carol Rentas, PhD, MEd, MLS(ASCP)
George Washington University
Biomedical Laboratory Sciences
Email

Medical Laboratory Scientist Educator (2022 - 2026)
James March Mistler, PhD, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
Email

Public Health Microbiologist Educator (2024 - 2028)
Casey Schroeder, PhD, MLS(ASCP), SM, MB, SLS
Texas Department of State Health Services
Email

Diagnostic Molecular Scientist Educator (2022 - 2026)
Amy R Groszbach, M.Ed
Mayo Clinic
Email

Cytogenetic Technology Educator (2021 - 2025)
Jason Yuhas, BS, CG(ASCP)CM
North Shore Health & North Shore Living
Email

Board Liaison to RCAP
Christie L. Massen, PhD, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM
North Dakota Department of Health
Email

Four Year Educator (2023 - 2027)
Brandy Greenhill, DrPH, MLS(ASCP)CM
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Email

Medical Laboratory Scientist Educator (2023 - 2027)
Patricia Boyer, MSHS, MLS(ASCP)CM
Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Email

Medical Laboratory Microbiologist Educator (2023 - 2027)
Janice M. Conway, PhD, MLS(ASCP)SM, FACSc
University M Minnesota Medical Laboratory Science Center for Allied Health Programs
Email

Peer Organizations