Association of Clinical Scientists

Introduction

The 135^th Meeting of the Association of Clinical Scientists will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 13 to 16, 2015. Dr. Charles D. Hawker, Chair of the Program Committee, cordially invites you to attend this outstanding conference to be hosted by the Department of Pathology of the University of Utah School of Medicine and ARUP Laboratories. The program theme will be Clinical Applications of Next Generation Technologies. Special sessions will be held on Oncology and Genetic Diagnostics and on Mass Spectrometry, in addition to the usual sessions for the Association’s Scientific Sections.

The Claude P. Brown Memorial Lecture will be presented by Mary P. Bronner MD, Director of the Anatomic Pathology and Oncology Divisions of the Department of Pathology and the Carl J. Kjeldsberg Professor of Pathology at the University of Utah. Dr. Bronner’s topic is “Circulating Tumor DNA: Disruptive Technology in Cancer.” The Thursday and Saturday sessions will be held at the Little America Hotel. The Friday morning lectures and tour will be at ARUP Laboratories. The Association’s annual reception and banquet will be held on Friday evening, which will include a lecture by noted author and Western historian, Will Bagley, entitled “Voices from the Dust: How Forensic Pathology and Archeology Help Historians Understand the Past,” and the presentation of the Association’s annual awards. As announced by the Awards Committee during the Annual Business Meeting in Amelia Island, the 2015 awards are:

Dr. Robert Hunter, Houston, TX – Gold Headed Cane Award
Dr. Charles D. Hawker, Salt Lake City, UT – Clinical Scientist of the Year
Dr. Roland Valdes Jr., Louisville, KY – Diploma of Honor
Dr. Trevor Pitcher, Louisville, KY – Young Clinical Scientist

In addition to Thursday’s sessions on using next generation sequencing and other techniques for oncology and genetic diagnostics, a Saturday session on mass spectroscopy is also being planned. The Friday afternoon tour will visit the Natural History Museum of Utah (nhmu.utah.edu), an architectural marvel and a case study in "green" design created by community generosity and housed at the Rio Tinto Center. This world class museum opened in the fall of 2011 to rave reviews. The five levels are arranged in a manner that allows one to start at the top and gradually descend, exploring all that is of particular interest on each level, and ending with a walk over and under massive dinosaur skeletons.

Program Committee
Charles D. Hawker, PhD, MBA, Chair
Allie H. Grossman, MD, PhD
Kamisha L. Johnson-Davis, PhD
Elaine Lyon, PhD
Wade Samowitz, MD
Patricia R. Slev, PhD
Frederick G. Strathmann, PhD
Edward R. Ashwood, MD (ex officio)
Peter Jensen, MD (ex officio)

Program

Preliminary Program (subject to change)

All events are at the Little America Hotel unless otherwise noted

See the Auxiliary heading on the website for the activities of the Auxiliary

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

2:30 pm Meeting registration desk opens (Lobby to right of hotel’s front desk)

3:00 Executive Committee meeting (Casper Room)

5:30-6:30 Welcome Reception open to all registrants (Olympus Room) – complimentary

5:30-6:30 Auxiliary Reception (Grand America Hotel – Garden Room) – complimentary

6:30 Combined Reception (Grand America Hotel – Garden Room) individuals responsible for charges

Thursday, May 14, 2015 – Ballroom A

7:30 am Meeting registration desk opens (Foyer in front of Ballroom A)

Session on Clinical Applications of Next Generation Technologies

7:50 President’s Welcome, Kyle C. Kurek

8:00 Claude P. Brown Memorial Lecture, Circulating Tumor DNA: Disruptive Technology in Cancer, Mary P. Bronner

8:45 Kyle C. Kurek – A Primer on Next Generation Sequencing

9:15 Pinar Bayrak-Toydemir – NGS in Genetics, Exome, and Gene Panels

9:45 Chris Miller – Role of a Genetic Counselor

10:05 Coffee Break

10:20 Elaine Lyon – Getting Genetic and Molecular Tests Coded and Reimbursed

10:50 Wade Samowitz – NGS in Solid Tumors

11:20 Todd Kelley – NGS in Hematological Malignancies

11:50 Rong Mao – NGS Variant Interpretation in Genetics

12:05 pm Allie Grossman – NGS Variant Interpretation in Oncology

12:20 adjourn for luncheon

12:30 Luncheon Seminar (Arizona Room) – Carl Wittwer – The Evolution of Molecular Diagnostics: Past, Present, and Future

Session on Clinical Applications of Next Generation Technologies resumes (Ballroom A)

1:30 Brendan O’Fallon – Informatics and Software Support for NGS Testing

2:00 Attila Kumanovics – NGS Testing in Immunology

2:30 Robert Schlaberg – NGS Testing in Infectious Diseases

3:00 Coffee Break

3:15 Karl Voelkerding – CAP Oversight of NGS Testing

3:45 – 5:00 submitted abstracts, 15 minutes each

7:00 Optional free activity – attend the weekly rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the LDS Church’s Conference Center on North Temple across from Temple Square. Instructions on taking a free TRAX train will be at the Association’s registration desk

7:00 Musicale rehearsal (Olympus Room)

7:00 Awards Committee meeting (Casper Room)

8:00 Nominating Committee meeting (Casper Room)

Friday, May 15, 2015 – ARUP Laboratories

6:55 am Bus loads outside south lobby doors, Little America Hotel

7:10 Bus departs promptly at 7:10 am

7:30 Check in at ARUP Laboratories main lobby (required for HIPAA compliance)

7:40 Continental breakfast

8:00 Introduction, Charles Hawker

8:05 Peter Jensen, The Structure of an Academic Reference Laboratory

8:30 – 9:45 15 minute papers by ARUP fellows and staff

9:45 Charles Hawker, overview and explanation of the tours of ARUP

9:55 Coffee break

10:15 – 11:45 Tour of ARUP automation and selected laboratories

11:50 Reboard the bus for return to Little America Hotel

12:45 pm Reboard the bus for optional afternoon tour of Natural History Museum of Utah

Box lunch provided at bus. Registration fee and ticket required.

1:00 Bus departs on afternoon tour

4:30 Bus departs Natural History Museum to return to Little America Hotel

6:00 Annual Reception – Savoy Salon, Grand America Hotel

7:00 Awards Banquet and Presentation, Savoy Salon, Grand America Hotel

Saturday, May 16, 2015

7:30 am Meeting registration desk opens (hallway in front of Arizona and Idaho Rooms)

Clinical Pathology Track – Arizona Room

8:00 Alan Rockwood – Overview of Clinical Mass Spectrometry

8:30 Adam Barker – Mass Spectrometry in the Clinical Microbiology Lab

9:00 Marzia Pasquali – Mass Spectrometry in Biochemical Genetics

9:30 Joely Straseski – Mass Spectrometry in Endocrinology

10:00 Coffee break

10:15 Matthew H Slawson – Mass Spectrometry in Clinical Toxicology

10:45 – 12:00 Other presentations on mass spectrometry

12:00 Adjourn for luncheon

Anatomic Pathology Track – Idaho Room

8:00 – 12:00 Presentations by University of Utah faculty and submitted abstracts

12:00 Adjourn for luncheon

12:10 pm Luncheon Seminar (Wyoming Room) Edward Ashwood – The Impact of the FDA’s Initiative to Regulate Laboratory Developed tests

Clinical Science in Practice – Arizona Room

1:15 Philip Bernard – Prosigna test for breast cancer classification

1:45 Jason Kubinak – Inflammatory pathways sculpt microbial communities

2:15 – 3:00 Submitted presentations

3:15 – 4:45 Submitted presentations

5:00 Annual Business Meeting, Kyle C. Kurek, presiding (Arizona Room)

7:30 Musicale and Art Show (Olympus Room)

Abstract Instructions

NOTE: The abstract deadline date has been changed to Friday, February 27.

The Association of Clinical Scientists is excited to announce four new travel grant awards to be selected from submitted abstracts.

Young Investigators

This program is designed to encourage young investigators to consider a career in academic laboratory medicine and offset some of the costs associated with attending our meeting. Residents, fellows, and students in a doctoral program in health sciences, participating in research with a member of ACS, or sponsored by an ACS member are eligible. Students in programs leading to non-doctoral degrees conducting research with an ACS member may be considered upon written request from the ACS sponsor to the chair of the Young Investigator Awards Program. The award winner will be recognized at the meeting, will be given a platform talk of 20 minutes and will receive a $500 award for meeting expenses.

Early Career Professional in Pathology or Clinical Sciences

This program is designed to encourage professionals early in their career to attend our meeting, share their research, and network with our senior membership. Members within the first five years of practice are eligible for this award. The award winner will be recognized at the meeting, will be given a platform talk of 20 minutes and will receive a $500 award for meeting expenses.

The abstract instructions for the 135th Meeting can be found here. (Word doc will download when you click).

CME Accreditation Statements

Information about CME/CE for the 135th Meeting will be posted at a later date.

Registration

Registration for this meeting is being handled by ASCP. When you click the register button below, you will be taken to the ASCP login page. If you have an ASCP username and password, use it to continue the registration process.

REGISTER NOW

Accommodations & Transportation

Hotel Accommodations

The Little America Hotel, (www.saltlake.littleamerica.com), 500 South Main Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, telephone (800 281-7899), is the headquarters hotel for the 135th Meeting. This 3-star/4-diamond facility has been beautifully refurbished and is an ideal venue for our meeting. It is in the downtown area and a short ½ mile walk or TRAX ride to many restaurants and attractions. The conference rate for standard rooms is $139, single or double, plus taxes, which currently total 12.72%.

On-line registration for hotel rooms is now open here.

This wonderful hotel has Salt Lake’s largest indoor/outdoor swimming pool, a large fitness center with sauna and whirlpool, retail shops, a business center, the Wasatch Sports Bar, and two restaurants – the Steakhouse and the Le Petit Café. Among the many services there is complimentary in-room Wi-Fi access. All rooms have coffee makers and most rooms have refrigerators.

Transportation

The hotel does not have a complimentary shuttle. However, the hotel is only 10 minutes from the Salt Lake International Airport. Taxi service from the airport is approximately $20, not including gratuity. For those interested in renting a car, the hotel has valet parking and free self-parking.

In addition, the hotel is located a short ½ block from a TRAX (light rail) stop, and it is possible to take the TRAX from just outside the Salt Lake Airport’s Terminal 1 directly to the hotel with no transfers. The TRAX stop at the hotel is the COURTHOUSE stop, 450 S. Main Street. The hotel is across the street on the right going south (in the direction of the TRAX train on which you were riding). The current TRAX fare is $2.50 one way and there is also a senior fare of $1.25. For the return trip to the Airport, be sure to catch a Green Line TRAX going North. The end of the Green Line is the Airport terminal.

Future Meetings

2016

Little Rock, Arkansas, May 5-8, hosted by the Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas School of Medicine, Dr. Joshua A. Bornhorst, Meeting Chairperson.

Archive of Past Meetings

Highlights of 131st Meeting, Louisville, Kentucky May 18-22, 2011

In Memory of F. William Sunderman, Jr., MD, (June 23, 1931 – April 1, 2011)

The 131st meeting of the Association of Clinical Scientists was held in memory of Bill Sunderman, Jr., who served the Association for 42 years as Secretary-Treasurer, as Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science, and in numerous other capacities.

F. William Sunderman Jr. (Bill), who died on April 1, 2011 at the age of seventy-nine was, like his illustrious father of the same name, a physician and scientist, both of whom made many significant contributions to the field of laboratory medicine and especially the sub-specialty of nickel toxicology. Both father and son were devoted servants of the Association of Clinical Scientists as founders, scientific meeting organizers and editors of the Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science. Bill was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 23, 1931. He graduated as valedictorian from Central High School in Philadelphia in 1948 and with a BS degree from Emory University in Atlanta in 1952. He underwent his medical training at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia where he obtained the M.D degree in 1955. From 1955 to 1956 he was an intern at Thomas Jefferson University and from 1956-58 a fellow in metabolic research at the same location. It was at this time that Bill considered specializing in nephrology but the depressing nature of this field before hemodialysis treatment was developed discouraged him and he entered the same field as his father namely clinical pathology. His first foray was as the Chief of the Clinical Chemistry Service at the US Naval Medical School in Bethesda Maryland from 1958-60. At this time He was a lieutenant in the US Navy. It is evident that Bill’s primary interest was in clinical chemistry since his first publications beginning with “The clinical significance of measurements of protein-bound iodine (1954)” could all be classified as belonging to this discipline. Following a spell (1961-64) as Instuctor in Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Bill took on even more onerous service and academic responsibility by moving to the Department of Pathology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida where he was Director of Clinical Laboratories and Associate Professor of Pathology. The Shands Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida opened just six years before Bill’s arrival but already had an excellent tradition in clinical pathology since the first director of laboratories was Dr. John Bernard Henry, a distinguished pathologist who went on to make many significant contributions. Bill fitted well into the clinical laboratory and put together an excellent staff of faculty and technical experts. One change that he did make, however, was brought about when the processing of a seventy-two hour fecal fat specimen which required homogenization on a paint can shaker. The container’s lid came loose during the shaking process resulting in an environmental disaster throughout the clinical laboratory. Thereafter, Bill decreed that the processing should take place in a more remote and contained place. Bill exhibited considerable administrative skills in directing and developing the clinical laboratory services. He initiated the development of one of the first clinical laboratory computer systems complete with cumulative reporting and, for the first time, the application of delta checking of results. He also was interested in developing more sophisticated analytical techniques, something that was part of his legacy for the next four decades. However, it was the creation of a research program in concert with his service and teaching skills that shaped the start of his academic career in a leadership position. Bill was well funded by the American Cancer Society and his laboratory focused on nickel carcinogenesis. He was remarkably creative: he had, as aptly stated by his department chairman Dr. Joshua Edwards, “the ability to shed ideas like water off a duck’s back”. A steady stream of papers came out of his laboratory creating new avenues of research. Bill was also a gifted teacher and his lectures, especially those presented to the medical students were well-organized, well-prepared and well-received by his audience. Throughout his life Bill had little interest in sports but he did attend the University of Florida football games, probably because he lived just across the street from Florida Field, the home of the Fighting Gators. Bill’s wife, Carolyn, came to the University of Florida as a resident in pediatrics and they resided in a lovely comfortable home near the university and it was here that their first child was born. It was also at the University of Florida that Bill was starting to attract students to his laboratory, many from outside the United States. This continued in his later career and many distinguished medical scientists from countries around the world, including Poland, Yugoslavia, Japan and many others spent time in Bill’s laboratory and took their knowledge acquired there to establish their own research programs.

In 1968, after achieving the academic rank of full professor and having established himself as an internationally recognized leader in laboratory medicine, Bill decided to move on to the next step: that of department Chair. He received several offers, some from well-established programs, but eventually decided on a newly established medical school in Farmington, Connecticut as part of the University of Connecticut. His position would be as chairman of the department of laboratory medicine, one of the few departments at that time to be separate from the department of pathology. He also was given a joint appointment as professor of pharmacology. Bill’s rationale reasoned that in becoming head of a new department in a new medical school he could form and shape it according to his own vision; what developed would depend largely on his leadership. He went to Farmington inheriting no “baggage”. He also felt that a smaller hospital, as the Shands Teaching Hospital in Florida was during his tenure there, minimized his time spent on administrative duties providing more time for research and other academic activities. At the time of his arrival exchanging the colder climes of New England from the warmth of Florida, the new hospital and medical school in Farmington was just a large hole in the ground. His clinical and research laboratories were situated at the McCook Hospital in Hartford. Eventually the new facility was complete and Bill spent the next twenty-nine years directing a vibrant and productive program. He was now in his prime. His research developed along new lines of investigation, as is the case with all research programs, but the main focus was on the chemical toxicology and clinical chemistry of metals with nickel, of course, being the primary metal of interest. Bill maintained a high and consistent level of funding from The National Institutes of Health, The American Cancer Society, The United States Department of Energy, The Environmental Protection Agency and others throughout his career during which he published two hundred and fifty-eight articles in refereed journals, eighty-seven articles in monographs, manuals and texts, and eighteen books. As he told his junior faculty and students, “Publications are the best form of insurance for the academician”.

Almost all energetic, ambitious and successful scientists eventually become involved in national and international scientific organizations. For many years (1972-1988), Bill focused his considerable degree of energy on the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), Clinical Chemistry Division. His efforts were mainly directed towards the Commission on Toxicology and its various subcommittees particularly the Nickel Subcommittee. The international nature of IUPAC provided Bill with the opportunity to travel and to apply his scientific and organizational skills worldwide. The Commission on Toxicology held their first international meeting in Monte Carlo in 1977 with, and under Bill’s leadership, it enjoyed considerable success. Many other meetings followed including several of the Nickel Subcommittee which was well supported by the nickel-producing industry. The well-known problem of nickel carcinogenesis in nickel-producing workers was of concern to the industry and Bill’s efforts added greatly to the understanding and prevention of this devastating problem in these workers. It was at the last IUPAC meeting that Bill helped to organize that his skills and knowledge were so evident. With his usual talent he planned the scientific program putting together a cohesive schedule that would not be instinctive to most people but which was second nature to Bill. The conference was in Vancouver, Canada and when the time came for him to present his own paper he was asked a question during the discussion period as to the pH of some reagent. He immediately gave the correct answer to two decimal places demonstrating his comprehensive knowledge of the experiments that had been carried out in his laboratory. Bill’s involvement in IUPAC inspired many young scientists and allowed him to interact with people who were working in fields different from his own. He was also involved in other international organizations including the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry, International Commission on Occupational Health and others, but none occupied his energies as much as IUPAC. This International involvement allowed Bill to interact with scientists around the world, creating an aura of good fellowship that he cherished.

Bill gave a lifetime of service to the Association of Clinical Scientists which had been founded by his father. He served as president 1964-65 and in 1969 upon the death of Dr. Bob McFate, he took over as secretary-treasurer; Bill held this position until his own death. On top of these burdensome duties, in 1999 he added those of editor-in-chief of the Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science again holding this position until his death. He took over from his father, the first editor who decided to “take a breather” at the age of 101. Bill played a major role in the planning and organization of the Association meetings and always did an on-site visit in order to work with the local committee. He always put together the finishing touches making sure that the meeting rooms were wide and spacious rather than long and narrow, and that the meals and refreshments were appealing but not extravagant. The scientific program was his specialty and, as stated earlier, he had a knack of putting together cohesive sessions and would bracket a speaker “of limited ability” with a couple of excellent presentations. (He learned this trick from his Father of course.) Bill was always kind to speakers especially to young clinical scientists embarking on their careers. He would remark “Wonderful paper and great presentation – your best ever” to inspire confidence in those unsure of their abilities.

Bill always was a key performer in the Musicale, since the early 1970s a feature of the Association meetings. Many of us have fond memories of Bill, his father and a few other highly talented musicians who were Association Members, entertaining us with accomplished performances of chamber music. Bill was a gifted violist having decided early in life not to follow his Father in everything. Bill Senior was a violinist who had the distinction of owning several wonderful instruments including a Stradivarius known as the Irish Strad. Bill Junior eventually inherited this violin, which he sold and used the proceeds to buy a really excellent viola, something he enjoyed immensely. The Arts, especially chamber music, were most important to Bill, and provided a means of bonding with his professional and social friends and family. He will be intensely missed by a remarkable diversity of friends. Many of these friends bonded with Bill and his family through weekly evenings of chamber music. These sessions were typically followed by convivial and uplifting conversation.

Bill achieved many awards throughout his career, the major ones being as follows: The Ames Award for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Chemistry from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (1978); Clinical Scientist of the Year (1976), Recipient of Gold Headed Cane (1998) and Diploma of Honor for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Science (2007) from the Association of Clinical Scientists; Achievement Award for Research on Nickel Toxicology (1992) and Chemistry and Human Health Division Award for Leadership Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology (2010) from IUPAC.

Bill retired from the Chair of Laboratory Medicine at the University of Connecticut in 1997 and he and his wife Carolyn moved to Whiting, Vermont. In his retirement he was a research professor of pathology at the University of Vermont, and a visiting scholar in chemistry and biochemistry at Middlebury College while continuing his extensive duties for the Association of Clinical Scientists.

From the 1970s onwards, Bill and Carolyn always had owned a series of Labrador Retrievers each of which he adored. The first one was acquired at an Association meeting in Washington and came from a noted breeder in Middleburg, Virginia; the contact being made by this writer.

Bill's beloved wife, Carolyn predeceased him in 2002. His brother, Joel Baily Sunderman, and sister, Louise Lehr Sunderman also predeceased him. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Emily L. Sunderman and Michael J. Lee, of Cornwall; daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth R. Sunderman and Robert C. Hauck of Salt Lake City, Utah; son and daughter-in-law, Frederick W. Sunderman III and Kathleen L. Sunderman of Freeland, Michigan; mother-inlaw, Frances L. Reynolds of Chestertown, Maryland; grandson, Carter S. Lee of Cornwall; granddaughters, Hailey L. and Caitlin E. Hauck of Salt Lake City; grandson, F. William Sunderman IV, and granddaughter, Chloe E. Sunderman of Freeland, Michigan.

Dr. F. William Sunderman Jr. was much loved by his family, friends, colleagues and many in the scientific community. He was kind, helpful and full of encouragement and had a broad range of interests and talents. We can hope but not expect to see his like again.

John Savory,
Charlottesville, Virginia

Claude P. Brown Memorial Lecture

James L. Wittliff, Ph. D., M.D. hc, FACB: Deciphering the genomics and proteomics of human cancer to predict clinical behavior.

Professor Wittliff’s team is internationally regarded for studies of estrogens and their mimics with receptor proteins in human cancer, exploiting proteomics and genomics. His laboratory was among the first to report estrogen receptors in a breast cancer biopsy predicted a patient’s response to hormone therapy. This finding led to collaborations with the NSABP, establishing Tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer and use of receptors as biomarkers of patient prognosis and response. With NEN/DuPont, Dr. Wittliff developed the original FDA-approved kits for assessing estrogen and progestin receptors in biopsies, celebrated as a major contribution to laboratory medicine. His laboratory, designated the National Reference Facility for historical clinical trials in North America, served more than 400 laboratories worldwide. Focusing expertise on molecules exhibiting estrogen mimicry, Dr. Wittliff and IA, Inc. patented receptor-based biosensors detecting endocrine-disrupting compounds in the environment. Awards include Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Chemistry from the AACC, Goldsmith Research Excellence Award from the American Cancer Society and the University of Louisville President's Award for Career Achievements. More than 200 students and research fellows from 45 countries have trained in his laboratory. Currently Dr. Wittliff directs the Institute for Molecular Diversity & Drug Design, which he co-founded.

Clinical Scientist of the Year Award

Presented to Roland Valdes, Jr., PhD by Magali Fontaine, MD, PhD

Dr. Valdes is Professor and Senior Vice-Chairman in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine. He is also Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, serves as Chief of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology and is the founder and director of a Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Clinical Chemistry in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Dr. Valdes is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in advancing the profession of clinical chemistry through his major contributions in promoting clinical chemistry as a discipline via the scholarships of clinical service, research, and teaching. As a result of these activities, Dr. Valdes has played a major role in heading and participating in numerous national committees and in leading several of our key professional organizations. He has served as president of the Clinical Ligand Assay Society (CLAS), president of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB), and is a past-president of the Commission for Accreditation in Clinical Chemistry (ComACC). Dr. Valdes has also served on the Board of Directors of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) and as a director on the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC). Additionally, Dr. Valdes has been engaged in many other national work groups including federal government advisory committees. His scientific interests involve discovery and characterization of the mammalian cardenolides and their pathophysiologic role in cardiovascular disease and, more recently, in cancer therapeutics. For this scientific work, he has been awarded numerous grants from the NIH and other public and private organizations as well as several distinguished scientist awards from professional organizations such as the NACB, the CLAS, and the ACS. Dr. Valdes has authored more than 250 publications. In addition to his other research laboratories, Dr. Valdes is the principle founder and President of the Pharmacogenetics Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Louisville where he is currently working on transitioning the science of pharmacogenetics and proteomics into clinical laboratory practice.

Diploma of Honor

Presented to Charles D. Hawker, PhD, MBA by Robert L. Hunter, Jr., MD, PhD

Dr. Charles Hawker is Scientific Director for Automation and Special Projects at ARUP, where he has been for 19 years. Dr. Hawker is also Professor (Adjunct) of Pathology in the University of Utah, School of Medicine. Previously, over a twenty year period, he held various positions in research and development and management at Laboratory Procedures, Inc. (Upjohn) and SmithKline Beecham Clinical Labs. At ARUP he has installed several major automation and robotic systems that have made ARUP one of the country’s most automated laboratories. He is a past president of the Association of Clinical Scientists, the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB), and the Clinical Ligand Assay Society (CLAS). He has received the John V. Bergen Award of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), the Professor Alvin Dubin Award from the NACB, and the Becton Dickinson Award from the Association for Laboratory Automation.

He has chaired automation committees in both CLSI and Health Level 7 and recently chaired the CLSI Subcommittee on Specimen Labels: Content and Location, Fonts, and Label Orientation. He is a co-author or author of four book chapters on clinical laboratory automation and a frequent lecturer on laboratory automation to national and international audiences. He has three issued patents and has published 40 peer-reviewed papers, 13 book chapters or invited reviews, and 42 abstracts. His most recent research efforts have focused on the use of machine vision systems for automated quality inspection of clinical laboratory specimens, particularly the development of an automated camera system that uses optical character verification (OCV) to identify mislabeled specimens.

Young Clinical Scientist of the Year Award

Presented to Peter C. Hu, PhD by Armand B. Glassman, MD

Dr. Peter Hu is an Associate Professor in the School of Health Professions (SHP) and is Director for the Molecular Genetic Technology Program. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 1990 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. He later received his Master’s degree from Lamar University majoring in Microbiology and subsequently a Doctor of Philosophy from Trident University International (TUI) Healthcare Administration and Molecular Genetics. Dr. Hu also holds 3 specialty clinical certifications in Molecular Biology, Cytogenetics, and Clinical Laboratory Science. He joined MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) in1995 and has worked in both clinical and academic environments.

Dr. Hu was a founding faculty member in the SHP and played an important role in MDACC achieving degree granting status by the Texas Coordinating Board in 2002, the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation in 2005, the addition of the junior year curriculum approval in 2008, and SACS reaffirmation in 2010. He was also instrumental in the approval of the Molecular Genetic Technology program by the Texas Coordinating Board in 2005 and the program’s professional accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) in 2005 and its reaffirmation in 2010.

Dr. Hu has taught over 28 courses within the SHP and has served or is currently serving as Chair or as member on 38 institutional committees. Dr. Hu has published over 100 abstracts, 17 papers, and 1 book chapter. He is on the editorial board for 3 journals and a column editor for another. He has received 41 recognitions and awards including the recent Young Clinical Scientist award from the Association of Clinical Scientists for his presentation on using saliva cells to detect microsatellite instability in hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer patients and their at-risk family members . Professionally, he has served as the President for Texas Association for Clinical Laboratory Science, Education Director and Chair of the Genetics Educators Committee for the Association for Genetic Technologist, Chair of the Molecular Scientific Assembly, Continuing Education Approval Committee, and Awards Subcommittee Chair for the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, a member of the Review Committee for Accredited Programs under NAACLS, and has served as a clinical laboratory science programs inspector for 10 year. Dr. Hu regularly presents at state, national, and international levels on topics dealing with genetics research, clinical laboratory sciences, and education.

Chronology of Previous Association Meetings

1. Sept 8, 1954; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC; US Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD (Workshop on Clinical Hemoglobinometry)

2. Nov 19-20, 1954; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA

3. April 1-2, 1955; Kenmore Hotel; Harvard Medical School; New England Deaconess Hospital; Boston, MA

4. Oct 7-8, 1955; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC: US Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD (Workshop on Blood Glucose)

5. Dec 9-10, 1955; Drake Hotel; University of Chicago, Argonne Cancer Research Hospital; Chicago, IL

6. April 6-7, 1956; Raleigh Hotel; Arlington Hospital; Washington, DC (Adoption of Constitution)

7. Oct 5-6, 1956; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC; US Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD (Workshop on Serum Proteins)

8. Dec 7-8, 1956; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Thomas Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA

9. March 1-2, 1957; Sheraton Hotel; Northwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL

10. July 15, 1957; Royal Army Medical College, London, UK (International Workshop on Hemoglobinometry)

11. Sept 27-28, 1957; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC; US Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD (Workshop on Serum Cations)

12. Dec 13-15, 1957; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Thomas Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA

13. May 9-11, 1958; Sheraton-Lincoln Hotel; Indianapolis General Hospital; Eli Lilly Co; Indianapolis, IN

14. Oct 10-12, 1958; Park-Sheraton Hotel; New York, NY

15. Feb 26-Mar 1, 1959; Holiday Inn; Mobile Infirmary; Mobile, AL

16. Oct 9-11, 1959; Sheraton-Park Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC

17. March 3-5, 1960; DeWitt Clinton Hotel; Wadsworth Laboratory of NY State Health Department; Albany, NY

18. Nov 4-6, 1960; Shoreham Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Exocrine and Endocrine Functions of the Pancreas)

19. April 14-16, 1961; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Thomas Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA

20. Oct 27-29, 1961; Shoreham Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Thyroid and Parathyroid Functions)

21. April 6-8, 1962; Sheraton Hotel; Northwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL

22. Oct 25-28, 1962; Statler-Hilton Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Hemoglobin, its Precursors and Metabolites)

23. April 25-28, 1963; Sheraton Hotel; Louisville Medico-Chirugical Society; Louisville, KY

24. Oct 24-27, 1963; Statler-Hilton Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Serum Proteins and the Dysproteinemias)

25. May 1-3, 1964; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA

26. Nov 13-15, 1964; Statler-Hilton Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Clinical Pathology of the Serum Electrolytes)

27. April 29-May 2, 1965; Statler-Hilton Hotel; St. Albans Naval Hospital; New York, NY

28. Nov 11-14, 1965; Statler-Hilton Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Clinical Pathology of Infancy)

29. April 29-May 1, 1966; Palmer House; Chicago Board of Health Laboratories; Chicago, IL

30. Oct 20-23, 1966; International Inn; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Laboratory Diagnosis of Liver Diseases)

31. May 4-7, 1967; Robert Meyer Hotel, Orlando, FL; Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL; University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL

32. Nov 2-5, 1967; Shoreham Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Laboratory Diagnosis of Kidney Diseases)

33. May 16-19, 1968; Peck Inn; University of Arkansas Medical School; Little Rock, AR

34. Nov 7-10, 1968; Shoreham Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Laboratory Diagnosis of Diseases Caused by Toxic Agents)

35. April 24-27, 1969; Malaga Inn; Mobile Infirmary; Mobile, AL

36. Nov 6-9, 1969; Mayflower Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Laboratory Diagnosis of Endocrine Disorders)

37. April 23-26, 1970; Ponchartrain Hotel; Wayne State University Medical School; Detroit, MI

38. Nov 6-8, 1970; Shoreham Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Chemical Hematology)

39. April 22-25, 1971; Hotel Sonesta; University of Connecticut Medical School; Hartford, CT

40. Nov 11-14, 1971; Hilton Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Clinical Pathology of the Serum Lipids)

41. April 27-30, 1972; Holiday Inn; Notre Dame University; Ames Co; Elkhart, IN

42. Nov 2-5, 1972; Marriott Motor Hotel; Northwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL (Clinical Pathology of Respiratory Diseases)

43. May 3-5, 1973; Hawaiian Village Motel; St Joseph’s Hospital; University of South Florida College of Medicine; Tampa, FL

44. Nov 2-4, 1973; Shoreham Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Laboratory Diagnosis of Cancer)

45. March 7-10, 1974; La Jolla Village Inn; Scripps Foundation; University of California Medical School; La Jolla, CA

46. Nov 8-10, 1974; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Thomas Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA (Laboratory Diagnosis of Skeletal, Muscular, and Neurological Disorders)

47. May 2-4, 1975; Governors Inn; University of North Carolina Medical School; Chapel Hill, NC

48. Nov 7-9, 1975; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Thomas Jefferson Medical School; Philadelphia, PA (Laboratory Diagnosis and Monitoring of Disorders Caused by Drugs and Toxic Agents)

49. April 21-25, 1976; Hyatt Hotel; University of Puerto Rico Medical School; San Juan, PR

50. Nov 5-7, 1976; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC (Clinical Enzymology)

51. March 2-5, 1977; Congress Centre, Monte Carlo, Monaco (International Symposium on Clinical Chemistry and Chemical Toxicology of Metals)

52. April 28-May 1, 1977; Christopher Inn; Battelle Columbus Labs; Ohio State University School of Medicine; Columbus, OH

53. Nov 11-13, 1977; Drake Hotel, Northwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL (Proteins and Proteinopathies)

54. May 4-7, 1978; Fairmont Hotel; University of California Medical School; San Francisco, CA

55. May 22-24, 1978; Caledonian Hotel; Falconbridge Nikkelwerk; Kristiansand, Norway (Kristiansand Conference on Nickel Toxicology)

56. Nov 3-5, 1978; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC (Clinical Pathology of Cancer of the Endocrine Glands and Target Organs)

57. May 3-6, 1979; Mills-Hyatt House; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston, SC

58. Oct. 11-14, 1979; Benjamin Franklin Hotel; Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA (Biochemical Hematology)

59. May 8-11, 1980; Colonnade Hotel; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA

60. Sept 3-5, 1980; Dragon Hotel; University College of Swansea; Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom (Swansea Conference on Nickel Toxicology)

61. Oct 31-Nov. 2, 1980; Drake Hotel, Chicago, IL (Laboratory Diagnosis and Monitoring of Disorders of the Kidney)

62. May 7-10, 1981; Bay Harbor Inn; St Joseph’s Hospital; University of South Florida College of Medicine; Tampa, FL

63. Oct 29-Nov 1, 1981; Barclay Hotel, Philadelphia, PA (Diagnosis of Disorders of the Fetus, Newborn, and Infant)

64. May 6-9, 1982; Sheraton-Miramar Hotel; UCLA Medical School; Beckman Instruments, Inc; Santa Monica, CA

65. June 17-20, 1982; Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Munich, Federal Republic of Germany (International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

66. Nov 11-13, 1982; Drake Hotel, Chicago, IL (Laboratory Diagnosis and Monitoring of Cancer)

67. May 12-15, 1983; Boar’s Head Inn; University of Virginia Medical Center; Charlottesville, VA

68. July 19-22, 1983; Sheraton Centre, Montreal, Canada (Second International Conference on Clinical Chemistry and Chemical Toxicology of Metals)

69. Nov 10-13, 1983; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC (Clinical Pathology of Liver and Biliary Tract)

70. Feb 20-22, 1984; Hilton Hotel, Vienna, Austria (Second International Congress on Human Tumor Markers)

71. May 3-6, 1984; Hilton Hotel; University of South Alabama Medical School; Mobile, AL

72. Sept 4-7, 1984; PLM-St Jacques Hotel; Société Le Nickel; Paris, France (Nickel Metabolism and Toxicology)

73. Nov 15-18, 1984; Barclay Hotel, Philadelphia, PA (Clinical Pathology of the Reproductive Systems)

74. May 9-12, 1985; Sheraton-Islander Hotel; Brown University Medical School; Newport, RI

75. Oct 9-13, 1985; Galt House Hotel; Audubon Hospital; Louisville, KY (Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Disorders)

76. April 23-26, 1986; Ischia, Italy (Third International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

77. May 15-18, 1986; Excelsior Hotel; University of Arkansas Medical School; Little Rock, AR

78. July 28-Aug 1, 1986; University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan (Third International Conference on Clinical Chemistry and Chemical Toxicology of Metals)

79. Nov 13-16, 1986; Colony Square Hotel; Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta, GA (Nucleic Acid Probes and Monoclonal Antibodies in Human Disease)

80. May 14-17, 1987; The Charleston Place Hotel; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston, SC

81. Aug 17-21, 1987; Odense University, Denmark (Symposium on Trace Elements in Human Health & Disease)

82. Aug 25-28, 1987; Omni Park Hotel, New York, NY (Fourth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

83. Nov 12-15, 1987; Lincoln Hotel, Tampa, FL (Applied Seminar on Analytical and Clinical Toxicology)

84. May 12-15, 1988; Newporter Resort; UCLA Medical School; Beckman Instruments; Newport Beach, CA

85. May 29-June 3, 1988; Brioni Hotel, Brioni, Yugoslavia (Symposium on Drugs in Competitive Athletics)

86. Sept 5-9, 1988; Hanasaari Centre, Helsinki, Finland (Fourth International Conference on the Metabolism and Toxicology of Nickel)

87. Sept 19-23, 1988; Stockholm, Sweden (Fifth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

88. Nov 10-13, 1988; Parkview-Hilton Hotel, Hartford, CT; University of Connecticut Medical School, Farmington, CT (Applied Seminar on Hematology)

89. May 11-14, 1989; Omni Hotel; University of Virginia Medical School; Charlottesville, VA

90. May 23-26, 1989; Miyako Hotel, Tokyo, Japan (Sixth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

91. November 16-19, 1989; Hershey Hotel, Philadelphia, PA (Applied Seminar on Laboratory Diagnosis of Liver Diseases)

92. May 10-13, 1990; Meridien Hotel; University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine; Vancouver, BC, Canada

93. June 5-8, 1990; Hanasaari Centre, Espoo, Helsinki, Finland (Fourth International Symposium on Trace Elements in Health and Disease)

94. September 10-14, 1990; Hotel Rus, Kiev, Russia (Seventh International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

95. November 7-11, 1990; Clarion Hotel; University of Cincinnati Medical School; Cincinnati, OH (The Laboratory Diagnosis of Disorders of the Fetus, Newborn, and Early Childhood)

96. May 8-12, 1991; Red Lion Hotel; University of Utah Medical School; Salt Lake City, UT

97. September 9-12,1991; Triaena Congress Centre, Athens, Greece (International Congress on Immunoenzymatic Techniques)

98. November 14-17, 1991; Omni Hotel, Jacksonville, FL (Six Major Advances in Laboratory Diagnosis and Clinical Applications)

99. May 13-17, 1992; Sheraton University Inn; Medical School of the State University of New York; Syracuse, NY

100. Sept 6-10, 1992; Vienna, Austria (Ninth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

101. Nov 11-15, 1992; Red Lion Resort; Sansum Medical Foundation; Santa Barbara, CA (Laboratory Diagnosis of Metabolic Disorders, Emphasizing Diabetes Mellitus)

102. May 12-16, 1993; Newport Islander Doubletree Hotel; Brown University Medical School; Newport, RI

103. Sept 6-10, 1993; Bonn, Germany (Tenth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

104. Nov 3-7, 1993; Hilton Hotel; Medical College of Ohio; Toledo, OH (Advances in the Laboratory Diagnosis of Cancer)

105. May 11-15, 1994; Lodge Alley Inn; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston, SC

106. Nov 16-20, 1994; Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza; University of South Florida College of Medicine; Tampa, FL (Clinical Science of Ageing)

107. May 10-14, 1995; Houston Plaza Hilton Hotel; MD Anderson Cancer Center; University of Texas School of Medicine; Houston, TX

108. June 11-14, 1995; New York Hilton, New York, NY (Twelfth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

109. July 10-13, 1995; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (Fifth International Symposium on Toxicology & Clinical Chemistry of Metals)

110. Oct 25-29 1996; Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Redondo Beach, CA (Immunologic Techniques for Diagnosis, Transplantation, and Therapy)

111. May 1-5, 1996; Carolina Inn; University of North Carolina Medical School; Chapel Hill, NC

112. June 16-19, 1996; Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore (Thirteenth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

113. Oct 30 - Nov 3 1996; Seelbach Hotel; University of Louisville Medical School; Louisville, KY (Neurologic and Psychiatric Diseases: Molecular Basis and Diagnostic Approaches)

114. May 7-11, 1997; University Park Hotel; University of Utah School of Medicine; ARUP Laboratories; Salt Lake City, UT

115. November 5-9, 1997; Emory Conference Hotel; Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta, GA (Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases)

116. April 29 - May 3, 1998; Biltmore Hotel; Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI

117. October 21-23, 1998; Doubletree Hotel; Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA (Clinical Science in the New Millennium)

118. October 5-9, 1999; Fawcett Center Hotel; Ohio State University Medical School; Columbus, OH

119. Nov 3-7, 1999; Radisson Hotel La Jolla; University of California at San Diego; Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, CA (Molecular and Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology)

120. May 17-20, 2000; Partridge Inn; Medical College of Georgia; Augusta, GA Hemoglobinopathies)

121. May 9-12, 2001; The Carolina Inn; The University of North Carolina School of Medicine; Chapel Hill, NC (Applications of Molecular Biology in Laboratory Diagnosis)

122. May 8-11, 2002; Hotel Monaco; The University of Utah School of Medicine; ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Medicine, Fitness Training, and Related Topics)

123. May 7-11, 2003; TradeWinds Resort, University of South Florida College of Medicine; University of Tampa, St Petersburg, FL (Metabolic Diseases)

124. May 12-16, 2004; Warwick Hotel; University of Texas College of Medicine; The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Houston, TX (Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Pathology; Informatics in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)

125. May 11-15, 2005; Somerset Inn; William Beaumont Hospital, Troy and Royal Oak, MI (Diagnostic Applications of Molecular Biology)

126. May 17-21, 2006; Amelia Island Plantation Resort and University of Florida Medical School, Amelia Island (Diseases of the Reproductive Organs; Prevention of Medical Errors)

127. May 16-20, 2007; Hershey Lodge Conference Center, Penn State University Medical School, Geisinger Medical Center, Hershey and Danville, PA (Workshop on Proteomics in Cancer Therapy)

128. May 14-18, 2008; Marina del Mar Hotel and UCLA Medical School, Los Angeles, CA (Symposium on Solid Organ Transplantation)

129. May 13-17 2009; Embassy Suites Hotel; University of South Florida College of Medicine and the University of Tampa, Tampa, FL

130. May 12-16, 2010; St Anthony Hotel; University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX (Transfusion Medicine)

131. May 18-22, 2011; Seelbach Hilton Hotel; University of Louisville School of Medicine; Louisville KY (Personalized Medicine and Genomics)

132. May 23-27, 2012; Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel; University of South Alabama School of Medicine; Mobile, AL (Advances in Pathology for Personalized Medicine)

133. May 22-25, 2013; Omni Parker House Hotel; Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates; Boston, MA (Advances in Molecular / Genetic Diagnostics and Pediatric Pathology)

134. May 28-31, 2014; Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort; the Blood Alliance and University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL (Frontiers in Transfusion Medicine)