In July 2023, we changed our name from AACC (short for the American Association for Clinical Chemistry) to the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM). The National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) and AACC Academy were also both rebranded to the Academy of Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine. The following page was written prior to this rebranding and contains mentions of the association’s old name, the Academy’s old name, NACB, and/or FACB (one of the old designations for members of the Academy). It may contain other out-of-date information as well.
2000 Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Chemistry
Nathan Gochman, PhD, FACB, received the 49th annual award, sponsored by Bayer Diagnostics. Dr. Gochman is Director of Worldwide Diagnostics Professional Relations for Beckman Coulter, Inc. in Brea, California. He received his PhD in Biochemistry from Northwestern University, Chicago in 1958, and joined G. D. Searle & Co. in Skokie, Illinois where he was engaged in pharmaceutical research and bioanalytical studies. In 1962, Dr. Gochman moved to the Technicon Corp., Ardsley, New York where he played an important role in the development of automated clinical laboratory instrumentation. He joined the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland in 1968, and served as assistant chief of the clinical chemistry service at the clinical center. He continued his research on new automated methods for various clinical constituents while participating in the operation and supervision of the laboratory.
Dr. Gochman began participating in the activities of the Capital Section of AACC and was elected Chairman for the 1971–1972 term. It was at this time that he also became involved in the NCCLS and its standardization activities, and was elected President for the 1974–1976 term. In 1972, he moved to San Diego to join the University of California School of Medicine and the VA Medical Center in La Jolla. Dr. Gochman held several faculty positions, including adjunct professor of pathology, while serving as chief of the clinical chemistry laboratory at the hospital. In addition to his ongoing research, teaching, and service activities, he also conducted a postdoctoral training program in clinical chemistry. Among his trainees was Dr. Lemuel Bowie, who later was to serve as the AACC President.
Dr. Gochman continued to participate in various AACC activities, including the Standards Committee and efforts to develop reference methods for uric acid and glucose. He was a Councilor for the Southern California Section of the AACC, Symposium Chairman for the 1974 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, and served on the Editorial Board of Clinical Chemistry from 1974 to 1979. His relationship with colleagues from the NIH continued with participation on advisory groups for the Lipid Research Clinics Program and the National Cooperative Gallstone Study. Dr. Gochman was elected to serve as AACC President in 1978, a time when the Association was growing rapidly and hospital-based clinical chemists made up one-half of the membership.
In 1982, Dr. Gochman joined Beckman Instruments (now Beckman Coulter) to resume a career in science and business closely connected to his interests in clinical chemistry instrumentation. He has had management roles in research and development, applications, technical support, and professional relations. He continues to be involved in professional organization activities and serves as company delegate to the NCCLS and the IFCC. He participated in the AACC Task Force on the Changing Practice Environment and the Delta Group (1995–1996), and presently is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Van Slyke Society. He was the AACC Liaison to the CAP Instrumentation Resource Committee through 1989 and has since been a Consultant Member. Dr. Gochman has published extensively on clinical chemistry methodology and automation, and is an internationally recognized speaker on these topics
1978 AACC Past President’s Award