Meet Our Volunteers

Volunteer Spotlight and Member Highlights

Exciting news! AABB’s Professional Engagement Program will be showcasing all of the great work our members do for AABB and the world at large.

Our PEP Volunteer Spotlight will consist of a short Q&A with one of our members published each month in AABB News. Our members play an integral role here at AABB and we want to share their accomplishments.

Member Highlights can be any volunteer accomplishment directly involved with AABB and will change as new highlights are added. These highlights may range from publications, committee work, webinars and everything in between!

We are currently soliciting names of individuals to showcase for the coming year in either our Volunteer Spotlight or a Member Highlight capacities. If you or a fellow AABB member are interested, please email us at PEP@aabb.org.

Professional Engagement Program Volunteer Spotlight on Rebecca Coward

Supervisor, Transfusion Service

How long have you been an AABB member?

13 years

In which AABB volunteer activities are you currently active? In which have you participated?

I have been an assessor since 2016.
I have been part of two mentor/mentee partnerships in the Professional Engagement Program.
I am currently serving on the Social Media Committee as an inaugural member.
My hospital also participated in an AABB Instagram takeover to celebrate Laboratory Professional’s Week 2019.
I also enjoy participating in the Leadership and Administrative Subsection Meeting as time allows which I feel is a “hidden gem” as a resource for leadership development.

What motivates you to volunteer?

There is much to gain from engaging and working alongside others who are passionate about the same things. Volunteering with AABB has introduced me to people who are not only working towards the same goals as me but have also opened my mind to new opportunities to advance my facility’s operations and practice as well as my own skills, education, and leadership competencies.

How has your volunteer work impacted your professional work?

As a technical supervisor of an AABB-accredited Transfusion Service, my facility has benefited greatly from the regulatory expertise I have gained as an assessor. In the role of a mentor, I have learned to connect with an assigned mentee.

Serving as a mentor and connecting with my assigned mentee pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped to hone my skills as a coach.

What have you learned from volunteering with AABB?

The ways I choose to volunteer reflect my passion for education, operations, process improvement and collaboration. I have been very fortunate to have many mentors along the way to foster my career as a laboratory professional and working mother. Volunteering with AABB has been a great way to continue to grow and pay it forward.

And what advice would you give to someone interested in volunteering?

What makes volunteering with AABB such a rewarding experience is that everyone involved has a vast array of experiences and perspectives. I think the most important thing to remember is that there are many ways (big and small) to get involved. You don’t have to have a certain resume or title to start. If you are thinking about volunteering, just go for it!

What is your favorite movie?

Dirty Dancing