This award recognizes a clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) professional who has made significant contributions to the CLS community, their respective institutions, and the laboratory medicine field. In addition, educational achievements including contributing to the CLS profession through mentoring, teaching, and guiding the professional development of early career clinical laboratory scientists will be considered. This award is available for non-PhD and non-MD candidates.
The awardee must be a CLS professional and the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (formerly AACC) member. CLS professionals work as laboratory management and operational staff, including lab supervisors, managers, technologists, and educators in CLS programs.
Congratulations to the 2023 Winner
Elia M. Mears, MS, MT(ASCP)SM
Elia M. Mears, MS MT(ASCP)SM is a Laboratory Field Surveyor for the Laboratory Accreditation Program of The Joint Commission since 2012. Prior to her present position, she was Director of Laboratory Services at LSUHSC-Leonard J Chabert Medical Center in Houma, Louisiana. She earned her two undergraduate degrees from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and received her Master of Science degree from the University of St Francis in Joliet, Illinois. She also completed the Notre Dame Executive Management Program.
Ms. Mears has been an active member of the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (formerly AACC) since 1992. She is a member of the Nutrition Division, having served as Treasurer (1998 and 1999), Chair Elect (2002 and 2003) and (2012 and 2013), Chair (2004 and 2005) and (2014 and 2015) and Secretary (2016 and 2017). She was also a member of the Personalized Medicine Division where she served as Secretary. She is presently on the Critical Point of Care Division and a member of the Southeast Section where she serves as the present Secretary-Treasurer. Ms. Mears has served in different roles in ADLM, having been on the Nominating Committee, on the Editorial Board of Clinical Lab News, on three previous Annual Meeting Organizing Committees, on the ADLM Finance Committee and on the Education Core Committee. She is presently on the 2023 Annual Meeting Organizing Committee, the Clinical Lab News Board of Editors and Point of Care Certification Board.
Ms. Mears has authored numerous articles in the field of nutrition and has lectured on nutritional aspects of the hospitalized patients both nationally and internationally. She was the recipient of the Nutrition Division 2001 Gary-Labbe Award for outstanding contributions in advancing Nutrition Chemistry.
How to Submit a Nomination
To nominate a colleague for this award or ask questions, please submit the following to Jordan Bradford at [email protected]:
- A letter containing an evaluation and appraisal of the nominee’s accomplishments related to the award.
- Two to three letters of support detailing the nominee’s accomplishments related to the award.
- The nominee’s resume/curriculum vitae.
Please note that this award is available for non-PhD and non-MD candidates.
Learn more about submitting a nomination and about other ADLM awards here.
The Award Selection Process
The CLS Council will review all nominees and select the awardee based on the overall achievements of each candidate. Once the awardee is selected, the nomination packet will be sent to the Awards Committee for final approval. This process is recommended so that the nominees are evaluated by their peers and colleagues in the CLS community.
The awardee will then be recognized at the ADLM Annual Meeting and will receive the award from the ADLM president.
Previous Winners
2022 - Peggy Mann, MS, MT(ASCP), CPP