Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
August 14, 2012

The Clinical Laboratory Science Student Society at Texas State University-San Marcos was featured at the 80th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) and Clinical Laboratory Exposition in Los Angeles, Calif., July 17-21.

Texas State CLS student and faculty gave a platform presentation titled, “How to Build an Effective CLS Student Society.” The CLS Student Society has become a leader for the state of Texas in the past five years with multiple Texas State students elected to state and national leadership positions. The society was established in 2006.

The presentation was proposed by Associate Professor of CLS and Associate Dean of Research Rodney E. Rohde and alumna Stephanie Snow. Snow is a 2010 alumna, former CLS Society president and student forum chair for the Texas Association of CLS (TACLS). The platform was presented by a panel consisting of David Falleur, associate professor and chair of CLS, Rohde and Snow, along with alumni Stephen Garcia, Maureen Burke and Joanna Ellis.

The Texas State CLS program was recognized for the number of students brought to the meeting and participation at the student and new professional/alumni level. The following awards/elections were recognized:

• Jasmin Davis (2011 alumna and national student forum chair, 2011-12) and Garcia were recognized with the ASCLS “Keys to the Future” award for outstanding national and state service to the profession.
• Falleur was the nominee for Member of the Year from Texas (TACLS)
• Rohde presented an invited round table topic entitled “An Update on Zoonotic Infections and Diagnostics.”
• Rohde serves as vice chair for the ASCLS microbiology scientific assembly for the 2011-2012 terms that will transition to chair in 2012-13. He was reappointed to the continuing education advisory committee for the 2013 ASCLS annual conference. Falleur was appointed to the national ASCLS organizing committee for the 2013 conference in Houston. Both were also awarded the Omicron Sigma Award for their significant service to the profession.
• Rohde was chosen for inclusion in the prestigious Alpha Mu Tau fraternity.
• Several from this group were Texas-appointed delegates to the national meeting (Falleur, Rohde, Snow, Garcia, Ellis, Faubion, and Davis).