judy ed msgCLP has always embraced the many specialized areas that comprise the clinical laboratory as well as labs in general.
       “Products” is in the name, and products we’ve delivered. I promise to also bring you more voices from labs themselves, lab professionals talking about products and developments, issues they’re facing head-on. Issues you may be facing now or soon.
       In the past, you picked up the monthly issue of CLP, and that’s how you heard from us. Our print issue is still strong, and now we have a website that serves as a second home for providing information all labs can use, and more frequent, specific information for our special constituencies (microbiology, serology, blood banking …).
       Advances in technology may have created walls between the constituencies, and more new places where only they congregate (listservs, LinkedIn discussion groups, etc). I aim to come to where you are, to learn, and talk. I’m also working on breaking down some walls, and providing more space to congregate in our home, where you’ve always had a place at the table.
       Histotechnology anchors the September issue. Historically, we’ve touched on it once a year. That’s not enough. Change is under way. (More on that in a minute.)
       The cover article is by William DeSalvo, BS HTL(ASCP), a name that’s familiar to most (I think that’s safe to say) in the histotech community.
       DeSalvo is one of those people who seems to have more than 24 hours a day at his disposal. He’s a member of the Digital Pathology Association’s executive board; he serves as chair of the National Society for Histotechnology quality management committee; he is the AP system production manager for Sonora Quest Laboratories, Tempe, Ariz; and he’s the owner/consultant for Collaborative Advantage Consulting, Phoenix.
       He now serves on CLP‘s editorial advisory board, and is a contributing writer for the publication.
DeSalvo is acutely aware of disruptions facing the lab community, and aims to park you beside him to brainstorm solutions. His first article for CLP is titled “Anatomic Pathology Takes a Leap in Quality Process Improvement.” (Found here in the interactive/digital edition (page 8.)
       No doubt some will disagree with the essential elements he proposes to advance quality.
       I’ve placed the article on the Histonet and in LinkedIn discussion groups so you can air your views.       
       For those who wish to engage with DeSalvo in real time, we’ve scheduled a webinar in November that follows from the article. If you’re not able to join us, the webinar will be archived on CLP‘s site.

       We will be providing more web-exclusive coverage for the histotech community and others that you won’t find elsewhere.
       I’m polishing off a two-part, web-exclusive on mass spec (of interest to microbiologists and others), and look forward to sharing it with you soon—and getting your feedback.

Judy O’Rourke
Editor, CLP
[email protected], (619) 659-1065