Illinois Fall Meeting
As the speakers share them, the HANDOUTS will be available HERE.
Register using the 
button to your left
Preliminary Program Details:
SCACM is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.
7:00 – 8:15 am Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:15 – 8:30 am Welcome
8:30 – 9:30 am 1.0 Contact Hour - Level: Intermediate
"The power and limitations of culture independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs) for infectious diseases"
Kimberly Hanson, MD, MHS Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pathology, University of Utah, Section Chief, Clinical Microbiology, ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT
Objectives: At the conclusion of the lecture, participants will be able to,
- Highlight the current state-of-the art in rapid molecular diagnostics
- Review selected literature in support of clinical utility
- Discuss advantages and limitations of CIDTs
9:30 – 10:30 am 1.0 Contact Hour - Level: Intermediate
"Diagnostic Stewardship Approaches in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory"
Nicholas Moore, PhD, MLS (ASCP) CM Assistant Professor, Medical Laboratory Science & Pathology, Assistant Director, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago IL
Objectives: At the conclusion of the lecture, participants will be able to,
- Define laboratory utilization and diagnostic stewardship.
- Review the importance of diagnostic stewardship in the clinical microbiology laboratory.
- Discuss different approaches to include in diagnostic stewardship programs.
10:30 – 11:30 am 1.0 Contact Hour - Level: Intermediate
"EyeRobot: Advancements in Laboratory Automation and the Use of Digital Image Analysis in Clinical Microbiology"
Matthew Faron, PhD Assistant Professor of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Objectives: At the conclusion of the lecture, participants will be able to,
- Identify advancements in current laboratory automation
- Compare digital image analysis of bacterial culture to manual reading
- Evaluate future potential of the software for laboratory workflow
11:30 am – 1:30 pm LUNCH, Exhibit Booth Visits
1:30 – 2:30 pm 1.0 Contact Hour - Level: Intermediate
"All Shapes and Sizes: Challenging Cases from the Clinical Microbiology Lab"
Amanda Harrington, PhD Associate Professor of Pathology, Medical Director of Microbiology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL
Objectives: At the conclusion of the lecture, participants will be able to,
- Describe clinical correlations from cases with organisms identified in the clinical microbiology lab.
- Describe identification methods for isolation of organisms in the clinical microbiology laboratory
- Describe relevant examples from the literature regarding specific organisms
2:30 – 3:30 pm 1.0 Contact Hour - Level: Intermediate
"Implementing New/Updated Susceptibility Breakpoints into Clinical Practice"
Natasha N. Pettit – PharmD, BCPS (AQ-ID),Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator, Antimicrobial Stewardship/ID, Pharmacy Director, Antimicrobial Stewardship Program; Department of Pharmacy, University of Chicago Medicine
Objectives: At the conclusion of the lecture, participants will be able to,
- Review antimicrobial susceptibility methodology and interpretation using MIC data
- Discuss potential reporting strategies for susceptibility information following availability of new and/or updated MIC breakpoints
- Describe how updated MIC breakpoints for select 'bug-drug' combinations may influence antimicrobial agent choice and/or dosing
3:30 – 4:00 pm Snack Break, Exhibit Booth Visits
4:00 – 5:00 pm 1.0 Contact Hour - Level: Basic
"The Value of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory in Today’s Changing Healthcare"
Karen Kaul MD, PhD, Chair, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, NorthShore University Health System, Clinical Professor of Pathology The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago IL
Objectives: At the conclusion of the lecture, participants will be able to,
- Understand the Laboratory’s role and value in supporting ongoing healthcare transformation, including appropriate lab utilization.
- Envision approaches to increasing efficiency in laboratory workflows.
- Appreciate the needs and new approaches to consultation and communication with clinicians.
5:00 pm Adjournment
Driving Instructions: https://www.cafelacave.net/about
Handouts: Available for download after the meeting
Additional Information: Contact Vera Tesic, MD, MS, D (ABMM)
Office: (773) 702-2677 or vtesic@bsd.uchicago.edu
