Program News

This year is the 2nd class under the partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the 1st class to have the summer lab session here on the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics/University of Iowa campus. The instructors for the summer lab of 11 weeks were: Jan Frerichs, Kathy Kelly, Deb Greene, Dan Reifert, Dr. Alan Junkins and Judi Kittleson all from the Department of Pathology, Bonnie Calkins and Dawn Klohs from the Veterns Affairs Medical Center in Iowa City and Jenny Claeys from Mercy Iowa City. The students began their clinical rotations on August 18th and will complete the program in mid-May. They rotate between UIHC, the VA and UHL.

American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science Student of the Year and Jacque Kralik Memorial Award

Jennifer Claeys, was nominated for and received the Student of the Year award at this year’s American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science-Iowa chapter. The Iowa Society for Clinical Laboratory Science presents a student of the year award each year. Selection is based on grade point, nomination by an instructor and a fellow student. Students must be ASCLS-IA members and active in the society. Candidates are then interviewed by a panel of ASCLS-IA members. There is a $100 cash award given as well as a certificate. Jenny served as the student voting member on the Iowa board of directors and is currently our first year professional board member.

Jennifer is also the recipient of the Jacque Kralik Memorial Award. This honorary faculty award is given in memory of Jacque Kralik who graduated from the Clinical Laboratory Science program in October, 1970 and immediately became employed in the clinical hematology laboratory at UIHC. Ms. Kralik was known for her high professional standards and for her love of teaching. Unfortunately, Ms. Kralik succumbed to cancer in 1980.

In 1982 the Jacque Kralik Memorial Award was established to recognize academic excellence in a graduating student.

Minimum requirements for this award include:
• A cumulative GPA of 3.5 for Program courses
• Acceptable, professional conduct throughout the Program year

The award then goes to the graduating student with the highest cumulative Program GPA who also fulfils the minimum requirements.

Katya Noykhovich and Casey Schroeder received the Imogene Fisher award. This award was established by Imogene Fisher and her late husband, Neil. Katya and Casey both received a check for $550. Both recipients expressed interest in global healthcare.

At the 2007 fall Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program (CLSP) Welcome Reception, Judy Levitt, MT(ASCP)SBB, presented the Delores Gail "Lorie" Cordle Scholarship to Nabina Dongol and Anne Louise Davis. The scholarship is a $500 award that is given annually to incoming CLS students showing outstanding promise in the field. A plaque honoring Lorie and the scholarship recipients is displayed in Pathology Administration. Pictured left to right are Nabina Dongol, Judy Levitt, MT(ASCP)SBB, Laboratory Manager of the DeGowin Blood Center, and Anne Louise Davis.

Lorie Cordle was a clinical laboratory scientist who worked in the DeGowin Blood Center at University of Iowa Health Care for 29 years. During this time Lorie worked closely with the Clinical Laboratory Sciences program, first as a teaching technologist for students during their rotations in the blood center, and later as an instructor in the student lab. Upon her death in 1999, a fund was established by the Department of Pathology to assist students entering the field of clinical laboratory sciences.

To be eligible for the Cordle Scholarship, students must have been accepted into the University of Iowa Clinical Laboratory Sciences program. Selection is made by a three-member committee consisting of CLS Program faculty and representatives of the DeGowin Blood Center, and is based on professionalism, professional plans, commitment to the clinical laboratory sciences, laboratory experience, and academic record.