Measuring what matters: advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in lab medicine

But lab professionals can only provide equitable care if they understand how care varies across different demographics. Laboratories are best positioned to meet this need when they foster diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) among both their workforce and the patients they serve. In short, a laboratory workforce that is representative of the patient population it serves translates to better care.

At ADLM 2026, Jaime Noguez, PhD, DABCC, will moderate a scientific session on July 27 that explores how labs can meaningfully advance DEI efforts. Noguez, who is director of clinical chemistry and toxicology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and associate professor of pathology at Case Western Reserve University, said that achieving these goals requires far more than simply recognizing their importance.

“Laboratorians are often told why DEI matters, but rarely are we given guidance on how to operationalize those concepts in the laboratory environment,” said Noguez. “Our goal is to help laboratories move from simply having good intentions for DEI to actually having measurable action.”

The session, titled “Measuring what matters: a practical framework for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in lab medicine,” also features speakers Zahra Shajani-Yi, PhD, DABCC, FADLM, NRCC, voluntary associate clinical professor in the department of pathology at the University of California, San Diego, and Sean Campbell, PhD, DABCC, FADLM, adjunct associate professor in the department of pathology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and clinical biochemist at Sinai Health System.

Noguez, Shajani-Yi, and Campbell all serve on ADLM’s DEI Steering Committee. Together, they will present practical, evidence-based strategies for assessing and strengthening DEI efforts in clinical laboratory settings. Attendees will explore common barriers to achieving DEI, review real-world examples of successful initiatives, and learn how to apply a customizable scorecard to evaluate their own organizations and foster a community of inclusion and belonging.

The session will focus on three key areas. First, the speakers will introduce meaningful DEI metrics that clinical laboratories can use to guide decision-making and track progress. The name of the session is intentional in that way. “When we chose the phrase [“Measuring what matters”] for our title, in this context it means looking at meaningful indicators rather than simply counting DEI-related activities,” Noguez said. 

Next, the presenters will address DEI among clinical laboratory workers. “We face significant workforce shortages and are trying to attract more individuals to a career in laboratory medicine. Creating an inclusive environment is essential not only for recruitment but also for long-term retention,” Noguez said.

Finally, the speakers will talk about DEI-related patient care gaps and share examples of successful efforts to fill them. 

Designed as an interactive experience rather than a traditional lecture, this session will integrate audience polling and scenario-based discussions that panelists and attendees will participate in together. “We’re allowing participants to apply concepts we’re talking about in real time and learn from peers facing similar challenges,” said Noguez. 

The session is for people in various roles across the clinical laboratory, including leaders, pathologists, and front-line laboratorians. “It is intended for anyone who wants to strengthen organizational culture while also improving patient care,” Noguez said.

Overall, instead of just talking about DEI as an abstract concept, the speakers aim to inspire action. “We want to help clinical laboratorians understand how DEI efforts tie directly to metrics and connect metrics to tangible improvements in patient care,” Noguez said.