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Laboratory professionals never fail to come up with clever contest entries for ASCP’s annual Lab Week Photo and Video Contest. The winners of this year’s contest, themed the “Mystery Machine of Diagnostics” with a nod toward the cartoon character Scooby Doo, are LabCorp for its video and Magers Health and Wellness Center at Missouri State University for its photo submission. 

“We were inspired by the many ways our laboratory teams have a positive impact on patient care,” says Theresa Chavez, Senior Manager of Business and Product Communication at LabCorp. “From solving medical mysteries for patients to our teams uplifting each other on the most challenging days, we wanted our video to capture sentiments from laboratory leadership across LabCorp about why they are grateful for our incredible talent.” <

LabCorp’s executive leaders were so enthusiastic about supporting their staff during Lab Week that they attended and participated in LabCorp’s Lab Week activities.    

“The contest focused on how teams solve medical mysteries and on providing quality patient care, which aligns well with LabCorp’s mission,” Ms. Chavez says. “Our teams are passionate, dedicated, and hardworking, always putting our customers at the center of everything we do.” 

LabCorp’s Lab Week celebration included an inspirational message to all staff from the CEO, daily intranet articles, interactive Wordle games, and social media posts.   

“All of these activities helped keep Lab Week front and center, creating a buzz and drawing attention to the vital role our laboratories play in patient care,” Ms. Chavez says. 

Meanwhile, the ASCP Lab Week contest generated a lot of buzz at Magers Health and Wellness Center on the Missouri State University Campus.  

“Jinkies, we came in first place!” jokes Lori Haener, MLS(ASCP), imitating a catch phrase used Scooby Doo cartoon character Velma. Ms. Haener, who coordinated the wellness center’s photo entry, adds, “Our laboratory gets so excited for Lab Week and this year’s theme was easy for us. Who hasn’t heard of Scooby Doo?”  

She credits the university staff and entire campus community for helping get out the votes in the ASCP Lab Week contest. “We promoted voting on blogs, we encouraged the fraternities and sororities to get their members to vote, and many students, faculty and staff all helped get the votes out. It was fun! This is actually the second time we won first place in the ASCP contest.” 

The wellness center’s photo shows the University’s medical center in the background, with a “diagnostic mystery machine” bearing the wellness center’s name. Standing nearby, from left, are Teri Rose, PBT(ASCP), posing as the character “Daphne,” Charna Knepper, MLS(ASCP), as “Velma,” then Ms. Haener as the character “Shaggy,” followed by Joy Grace Aberle, MLS(ASCP), and the wellness center’s laboratory director Robert Scott, MD.  

“I have been a medical laboratory scientist for 30 years and have worked in the University’s wellness center for 10 years,” Ms. Haener says. “I am thrilled that ASCP celebrates Lab Week to help bring visibility to all the work we do on behalf of patients!”