3 Questions with Brandon Nicholson, PBT(ASCP)

In 2023, Brandon Nicholson, PBT(ASCP), attended his first ASCP Annual Meeting, and as he took in the events--breakout lectures, friends and colleagues reconnecting and networking--he felt his own enthusiasm for the laboratory grow. “I knew I needed to find a way to get involved,” Mr. Nicholson says. He submitted an application to be a volunteer and eventually earned a seat on the Council for Laboratory Professionals. The experience has been great so far, he says, and he encourages anyone who is interested in getting involved to volunteer. In his short time as a volunteer, he notes that the passion of the laboratory community for the work that they do and their commitment to improving the profession truly stands out. “It’s really refreshing and inspiring to be at the table with individuals who truly want the best for each other.”

Here, Mr. Nicholson shares how he got into the field of laboratory medicine, lessons he’s learned through volunteering, and more. 

What initially drew you to the field of laboratory medicine and inspired you to pursue it as a career? 

The way I learned about laboratory medicine was completely by accident. After attending a college tour and finding out the program I was interested in was not being offered the next year, I was introduced to a student who was going through the medical technology program. Immediately I was hooked, and I wanted to find a way to get involved as quickly as possible. My entry into laboratory medicine was through phlebotomy, and for me it was all about the impact I could have. I still think the thing that drives me the most in my career today is the opportunity to make a difference, every single day. This career has taken me to different sections of the laboratory, including through the leadership structure. If it wasn’t for that failed tour and that one student who introduced me to the field, things might be very different for me today. Things really do happen for a reason.  

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the laboratory in healthcare today?

One of the biggest challenges I face as a leader in the laboratory is the workforce shortage. Looking at the future data is alarming, and I think there is a lot of work to be done to change those projections. The laboratory is never the first to be recognized as a critical partner in delivering care and we need to continue the fight to change that narrative. I think the ASCP Ambassador program is a great way to get involved and is something I am proud to be a part of. The more outreach we attend the more we can advocate for our profession. 

What do you hope to leave as your legacy in the laboratory? 

Something that was instilled in me very early on in my career is that healthcare is all about the patients we serve. It doesn’t matter what personal issues you have going on, or how busy you are, we serve the patient to the best of our ability. So, for me, the legacy I want to leave is that I made a difference. Whether it was to one patient, one family member, or even one employee, I made a difference.