Medical Laboratory Sciences program faculty and students win multiple awards at state conference
Medical Laboratory Sciences Assistant Professor Tiffany R. Wafford, MTSM, MLS (ASCP)CMSBBCM, began her two-year term as president of the Texas Association of Clinical Laboratory Science at the organization’s annual meeting on April 11.
Wafford also received the TACLS Member of the Year Award.
"Receiving the TACLS Member of the Year Award is a true honor, and as incoming president, I am excited to lead efforts that will amplify our impact, strengthen our advocacy and energize our community through a dynamic social media presence,” Wafford said.
The Division of Medical Laboratory Sciences was well represented at TACLS by faculty and students.
Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education Cordelia Kudika, MHA, CHS, received both the Omicron Sigma Award for Outstanding Service and the Key to the Future Award. Medical Laboratory Scientist Abigayle Abundes MLS(ASCP)CM also received the Key to the Future Award.
Emily Stevens, a first-year student in the master’s program, received the Graduate MLS Student Scholarship, and students took first and second place in the TACLS student poster presentation competition.
Alessandra Vaccaro, a second-year master’s student, said she was honored to represent her team — and to champion student research initiatives on behalf of the MLS program — as the team lead on the poster presentation that earned the top spot, titled “Retrospective Study Comparing Meningitis Rates Pre and Post Vaccine Mandate in South Central States.” Other student presenters included Julieta Corallo, Fabian Strauss, Starlett Ramon and Sheridan Wilkerson.
“Winning first place in the competition reflected our collective effort and paid homage to the excellent teachings we received from our distinguished faculty," she said.
Vaccaro was a first-time attendee at TACLS and found the experience to be a good opportunity to network with lab professionals and related professionals. “I thought it was a very great experience to have,” she said. “I’m very grateful this opportunity was provided to me by faculty.”
The second place poster presentation, “A Retrospective Study Comparing Operating Room and Inpatient Transfusions in Pediatric Trauma Patients,” was presented by Jenessa Brown, Sadi Alonzo, Amari Borrego, Jacklyn Alameda and Smriti Thapa.
In a TACLS tradition, teams from various university competed in the quiz-style Student Bowl. The team took second place out of nine medical laboratory science/medical laboratory technology teams from across the state. Team members included Jordan Briggs, Nicholas Barnes, Madison Morgan, Alessandra Vaccaro and Anna Lopez-Roca Fernandez.