Laboratory Director University

Built by Experts. Backed by Compliance. Designed for You.

Enhance your laboratory's performance and compliance with free, self-paced CLIA training at Laboratory Director University (LDU).

LDU Resources

Who Are the Experts?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality (DCLIQ) has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS) to develop this eLearning curriculum. Laboratory Director University’s CLIA-specific training courses are offered through Laboratory Director University, which focuses on laboratory directors’ qualifications and responsibilities.

Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Centers for Medicaid & Medicaid Services.

Division of Laboratory Systems
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease and Prevention.

Meet the Experts

Laboratory Director University and its learners benefit from the knowledge and guidance of CLIA subject matter experts who help ensure LDU's training content reflects the highest standards in laboratory director qualifications and responsibilities and supports CLIA compliance and excellence in laboratory leadership.

  • Cheryl Dobbe, MLT/MLS (ASCP)

    Technical Advisor

    Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

  • Karen Sutterer, MLS (ASCP)

    Technical Advisor

    Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

  • Heather Stang, MS, MLS

    Director, Office of Laboratory Quality (Acting); Senior Advisor for Clinical Laboratories

    Division of Laboratory Systems, Office of Laboratory Systems and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Cheryl Dobbe, MLT/MLS (ASCP)

Technical Advisor

Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Cheryl Dobbe is a technical advisor in the Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. She has more than 30 years of experience as a clinical laboratory scientist and has been part of the CLIA program since 2012. Cheryl is a dedicated member of the development team for Laboratory Director University.

Karen Sutterer, MLS (ASCP)

Technical Advisor

Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Karen Sutterer is a technical advisor in the Division of Clinical Laboratory Improvement & Quality at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. She has more than 30 years of experience as a clinical laboratory scientist and has been part of the CLIA program since 2015. Karen is a dedicated member of the development team for Laboratory Director University.

Heather Stang, MS, MLS

Director, Office of Laboratory Quality (Acting); Senior Advisor for Clinical Laboratories

Division of Laboratory Systems, Office of Laboratory Systems and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Heather Stang, MS, MLS, is Acting Director of the Office of Laboratory Quality and serves as the Senior Advisor for Clinical Laboratories in the Division of Laboratory Systems in the Office of Laboratory Systems and Response at CDC. She joined CDC in 2006 and progressed through roles supporting CLIA and laboratory practice standards. Heather collaborates with CMS to develop regulatory standards and is a dedicated leader in the development of Laboratory Director University.

Built by Experts. Backed by Compliance. Designed for You.

Is LDU Right for You?

If you're a laboratory director or want to become a laboratory director who manages overall operations and administration in CLIA-certified laboratories, LDU is your one-stop resource for free, self-paced, scenario-based learning. If you are a CLIA surveyor, CLIA-designated personnel, or other laboratory professional (e.g., OneLabTM  member) interested in learning more about CLIA regulations, LDU is here for you, too!

Laboratory Directors

laboratory director.

Laboratory directors are responsible for the overall operation and administration of the laboratory, including the employment of competent qualified personnel.

OneLab™ members

a female laboratory scientist sits at a computer to verify the quality of RNA samples before building libraries for next generation sequencing.

OneLab members are primarily laboratory professionals and testing personnel, including those at drive-through sites, workplaces, schools, and other healthcare facilities.

Laboratory personnel

a female laboratory trainer uses a microscope to examine an environmental sample alongside several other laboratory staff.

Laboratory personnel include those responsible for performing essential tasks such as performing testing, collecting and processing specimen, and reporting test results within a laboratory setting.

LDU Features

Explore LDU’s powerful learning tools and supplemental resources designed to help laboratory directors and other laboratory professionals succeed in complex regulatory compliance environments.

LDU features powerful learning tools.

High-quality, focused training

Designed by subject matter experts to address the real-world responsibilities and regulatory obligations of laboratory directors.


Self-paced learning

Move through modules on your own schedule with full access to recorded content, interactive materials, and supplemental resources.

scalability icon.

Scalability, to expand with learner's needs

LDU offers rich learning pathways and supplemental resources, including the LDU exclusive CDART, our innovative CLIA Deficiency and Resource Tool.

LDU featured anticipated continuing education credits.

Anticipated continuing education credits

Earn CE credits while improving your laboratory management capabilities and meeting professional development requirements. CE details can be found on each LDU course’s main page.

LDU featured CLIA deficiency training resources.

CLIA deficiency training resources

Understand common compliance issues found during CMS surveys and learn how to proactively address them.

LDU featured CLIA deficiency training resources.

Supplemental resources

  • Exclusive! CLIA Deficiency and Resource Tool (CDART) and other interactive resources for laboratory directors, CLIA surveyors, and other laboratory professionals.
  • Videos featuring real-world scenarios
  • Downloadable job aids

CDART

CLIA Deficiency and Resource Tool

This innovative resource lets laboratory directors, CLIA surveyors, and other laboratory professionals search and access training and regulations relevant to common CLIA deficiencies and the specifics of the CLIA standard in 42 CFR Part 493 – Laboratory Requirements.

LDU Frequently Asked Questions

What is LDU?

Laboratory Director University offers free, focused eLearning for laboratory directors who oversee CLIA-certified laboratories.

Who should join LDU?

Laboratory directors, prospective laboratory directors, CLIA-designated personnel, OneLab members, CLIA surveyors, and others interested in gaining knowledge about CLIA regulatory requirements can benefit from joining LDU.

How do I join LDU?

Laboratory directors and other laboratory professionals must have a OneLab REACH™ account and should be signed into that account before registering for the LDU learning pathways. 
 
Click here to sign up for a OneLab REACH™ account. 
Once you’ve done so, click the “Register” button on this page to access the LDU learning pathways.

What is CDART?

The CLIA Deficiency and Resource Tool helps laboratory directors search and download training resources and regulations in 42 CFR Part 493 - Laboratory Requirements that directly relate to the director’s responsibility of addressing CLIA deficiencies.
 
The tool can be accessed here.

How can I suggest topics for future LDU courses, events, or job aids?

We welcome suggestions and feedback on LDU! Please email OneLab@cdc.gov.