Press Release
Labs Are Vital™ Announces Winners of 2009 National Video Contest to Highlight Careers in Lab Sciences
Labs Are Vital, Channel One Network competition reaches 2.2 million high
school students
July 21, 2009
Chicago — Labs
Are Vital™ today announced that a 2009 high school graduate from northern
California, Kelly Peterson, is the grand prize winner of its national video
contest. High school students around the country submitted their views on video
about why careers in the clinical lab sciences are vital.
Labs Are Vital is a global program sponsored by Abbott (NYSE: ABT)
to increase awareness about clinical laboratory sciences and career
opportunities in this important field. In collaboration with Channel One
Network, Michigan State University, Diagnostics Detectives, America's Blood
Centers and My Blood Your Blood Programs, Labs are Vital solicited submissions
for the contest on the ChannelOne.com/LabsAreVital Web page. Content
submissions were judged by an independent panel representing the American
Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), Association of Public Health Laboratories
(APHL), and American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS).
Peterson was awarded $2,500 by ASCP for her first-place video.Her production
aired on the Channel One network, reaching more than 2.2 million students in
high school classrooms around the country with a message about the importance
of laboratories and careers in lab sciences.Labs Are Vital also awarded two
runner-up prizes of $1,000 (funded by APHL and ASCLS) to Megan Dougherty, a
high school freshman from eastern Oklahoma; and to a biology class at East
Oktibbeha County High School in Crawford, Miss.
"The video contest demonstrates that high school science students are
beginning to understand the importance of careers in clinical laboratory
sciences," said Denise Brunner, Abbott's Labs Are Vital program manager.
"We hope many will answer the call and help alleviate the global shortage
of qualified laboratory scientists and technicians."
About Labs Are Vital™
Labs Are Vital is a multi-pronged, multi-year, global education and
awareness initiative designed to highlight the critical role that laboratory
professionals play in health care and to address the issues facing laboratories
today. The program, which includes a public awareness campaign, advocate
development initiatives and a variety of Web-based resources for laboratory
professionals with almost 7,000 registered supporters in the United States,
focuses attention on the life-saving work medical laboratory scientists provide
that aid in diagnosing disease and improving health outcomes.
Labs Are Vital also continued its commitment to help prepare students for
careers in clinical laboratory science by maintaining donated diagnostic
instruments, supplies and service for 50 clinical laboratory education programs
across the United States.
For more information on Labs are Vital, or to view the winning videos, visit
www.labsarevital.com.
About Abbott Diagnostics
Abbott Diagnostics is a global leader in in vitro diagnostics and offers a
broad range of innovative instrument systems and tests for hospitals, reference
labs, blood banks, physician offices and clinics. With more than 69,000
institutional customers in more than 100 countries, Abbott's diagnostic
products offer customers automation, convenience, cost effectiveness and
flexibility. Abbott has helped transform the practice of medical diagnostics
from an art to a science through the company's commitment to improving patient
care and lowering overall costs. The history of Abbott Diagnostics is filled
with examples of first-of-a-kind products and significant technological
advancements, including the development of the very first diagnostic test to
detect HIV.
About Abbott
Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the
discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and
medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company
employs more than 72,000 people and markets its products in more than 130
countries.
Labs Are Vital is a trademark of Abbott Laboratories.
Media Contact:
Ann Fahey-Widman |
(847) 938-6388 |
