Congratulations to MLO "55 Under 55" Honorees
Dr. Kelly Winter
Dr. Alicia BranchCheck Out Our First OneLab “Mini Lesson”
The 20-minute OneLab “Public Health Laboratories (PHL) 101” course explains how PHLs focus on diseases and the health status of population groups. After taking this course, learners should be able to identify core functions of laboratories, explain how the public health laboratory interacts with partners, customers, other laboratories, and more.
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Fundamentals of Quality Management Systems
This basic-level course provides information on the key elements of laboratory quality management systems for external clinical and public health laboratory professionals. Participants can earn P.A.C.E.® credit.
Expand Your Training Options in OneLab VR
Check out OneLab VR, a brand-new, 50,000 square foot virtual reality (VR) training environment. OneLab VR is a cost-effective solution that delivers hands-on training in real time, without the risk.
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OneLab Member Spotlight
We’re excited to introduce you to Darhlene E. Banks, MS, who joined OneLab two years ago when she was promoted to laboratory supervisor in the molecular infectious disease department at Quest Diagnostics in Northern Virginia. Her desire to work in laboratories, including public health and clinical laboratories, stems from her desire to serve others. You can read more about her experience and service below in the Q&A.
What inspired you to work in a laboratory?
I chose to work in a laboratory to serve others. I've always worked in the laboratory but more on the research end of things, early on. I worked in clinical research as a biologist at the National Institutes of Health, and I was a medical lab technician initially when I started at Quest Diagnostics in 2007. I left the laboratory when I became a parent and transitioned into teaching because I still wanted to give back to the community. I did that for about 12 years. I returned to Quest in 2020, at the height of COVID, when everything was shut down and we were on the front line of a global pandemic.
You returned to the laboratory at the scariest time – early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Why?
I came back to contribute to taking care of those who were in need. The COVID-19 pandemic was a traumatic time for everyone—and it was a hectic time at Quest Diagnostics, and I'm sure it was for other laboratories as well. Laboratorians are the unsung heroes of healthcare because we’re not seen by the patients.
Why is working in the laboratory so important to you?
Laboratory testing is an important part of healthcare, and I like being a part of that team, ensuring that quality results are rendered. If we do not render quality results, it can throw off a patient’s health assessment.
What does a typical day look like for you now?
The team I manage just got larger, so I’ve been focusing on training our new personnel. It’s my job to keep staff up to date on their competencies and make sure they acquire the education they need to employ various tasks and the instruments that we use. I’m also taking over Viral Load assays, Gastric-Enteric pathogens, and Respiratory panels, and ensuring that our equipment is operating at optimal levels.
How has OneLab helped you in your work?
As a former teacher, I know how important it is to be able to capture attention and convey necessary information in a way that's engaging to our staff. The OneLab “Training of Trainers” course I took was really helpful in terms of reinforcing how to prepare a presentation for adults. I learned that 15 minutes of talking followed by engaging the staff with some interactive activity is all it takes to successfully hold their attention and convey the information. Taking that CDC course was really helpful in terms of reinforcing how to prepare a presentation for adults.
How was your experience attending the OneLab Summit in April? Was it helpful?
I was able to participate in a few of the OneLab Summit sessions, and I’m looking forward to reviewing some of the other presentations when the recordings are available on the OneLab website. One session I was looking forward to, but couldn’t attend, was presentation of the OneLab virtual reality (VR) trainings. As a trainer and a teacher, I think VR could be a fascinating way to have our laboratory staff maintain and improve their skills.
How else might OneLab help you and your staff in the laboratory?
Right now, I’m encouraging my colleagues to use OneLab to acquire Continuing Education Credits (CEs). I’ve shared the link to the OneLab website with them so they can sign up and take OneLab courses to gain more CEs because that's a requirement for us.
What are some of the issues that you deal with as a laboratory supervisor?
Having skilled personnel who understand what it takes to perform the laboratory testing. We work diligently to make sure that everyone is up to par because we have people come in from specimen management, even from the office administrator setting, that want to go into the laboratory. At the same time, there’s also a constant transition. As we develop laboratorians, there are others who want to move out of the lab and on to administrative or quality side positions. I think to fix that flow out of the lab is to put more emphasis on educating people on the role of laboratorians and the work that we do. I don’t think that gets shared a lot because people focus on nursing and being a physician—but their work isn’t complete—healthcare isn’t complete without the laboratorians.
How can we work to alleviate staffing challenges/get young people interested in working in a laboratory?
Georgia’s Senator Raphael Warnock talks about the importance of seeing people in different occupations and being visible in different fields, and how that helps heighten a person’s knowledge about the specific job areas. I think developing a relationship with and outreach in schools is vital, so that when students are introduced to vocations like carpentry, electrical, plumbing, schools are also introducing young people to working in the area of clinical laboratory science. There are people who go to medical school to become doctors not knowing that they have another area in the healthcare field where they can make a huge contribution.
What advice do you have for young people?
I want young people to consider a laboratory career. Laboratorians do critical work and assist physicians in drawing conclusions about patients’ well being. I would also encourage young people to be open to the opportunities that may be presented, and always be curious to learn.
