Laboratory professionals from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-Georgia and the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) celebrated Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (MLPW), 19-23 April 2021. Since the development of profession in the 1920s, the laboratory science professional has played a vital role in diagnosing and preventing disease. MLPW is an opportunity to recognize the broad spectrum of laboratory professionals including scientists, technicians, laboratory officers, pathologists for their contributions to research and clinical practice. Laboratory professionals are a critical pillar within the healthcare community and MLPW is an important platform to educate the public about the role this community plays in patient diagnosis and research. This year, WRAIR kicked off MLPW with a cake-cutting ceremony, followed by a fiercely competitive and mind-boggling game of laboratory Jeopardy. WRAIR and NCDC staff also participated in various educational laboratory games, activities, and a virtual educational outreach event with students attending QSI-Tbilisi. The team closed out MLPW with a socially distanced appreciation luncheon served by Lt. Col. Scherer, Cpt. Gonzales, and Sgt. First Class Jones.
This article was originally posted by the United States Embassy in Georgia.