(L-R) Lauren Chesnut,Tammy Urbano and Kim Pierdolla celebrated last year at an Appreciation Reception sponsored by the department of pathology for the laboratory staff.
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More than 265,000 medical lab professionals and 15,000 board-certified pathologists are celebrating National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (NMLPW) since it kicked off April 23. Lab professionals and pathologists at the Health Science Center and University Hospital are no exception. They’ll be celebrating all week with a variety of fun activities.

NMLPW has a unique theme this year: “Laboratory Professionals: Providing Answers. Guiding Cures.” The theme emphasizes the women and men who provide answers and guide cures in health care.

From crazy lab coat day to community service at the pediatric unit at University Hospital, it is lab professionals’ and pathologists’ week to be recognized. Gifts, displays and tours of laboratories will be among the festivities, and sponsors throughout San Antonio donate to the Health Science Center specifically to support NMLPW. Special presentations will take place throughout the week, as well.

“NMLPW is a chance for medical laboratory personnel to celebrate their professionalism and be recognized for their efforts,” said Lauren Chesnut, technical director in the electron microscopy lab and chair of the project planning for NMLPW. “Since lab professionals often work behind the scenes, few people know much about the critical testing they perform everyday.”

After 30 years of being called National Medical Laboratory Week, the named changed to reflect the fact that a lab is more “people” than “place.”