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#IamASCLS Halcyon St. Hill

By Andrea Hickey posted 04-26-2016 16:05

  
Name and hometown: Halcyon St. Hill, Ed.D., M.S., MLS (ASCP)CM FASAHP

Naples, Florida

How would you describe yourself as a person? Hard working, confident, determined, caring, sometimes funny, and very happy.

What got you into the field of Clinical Laboratory Sciences?  - I was curious about medical sciences and had an interest in doing clinical laboratory tests; therefore, I sought to be a medical technologist (clinical laboratory scientist).

What has been the highlight of your career thus far? Being a founding administrator and professor at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) - this was the opportunity of a lifetime to build a department and also participate in the development of our College of Health Professions at FGCU. When I began, all we had was a University mission and guiding principles that were quite futuristic and some state directives concerning programs. There were no buildings, and of course we were hiring founding faculty and staff. This was quite a challenge, but one that is especially fulfilling, because 20 years later it is amazing to see how well this venture turned out. 

What makes you diverse? I think it is more fitting to say that I represent what one can consider diverse rather than saying I am diverse, because diversity embraces a number of characteristics that allows me to "add to the mix" of human beings. I am unique and I practice inclusiveness.  Diversity is narrowly defined or perceived by some in terms of skin color and race - this is shallow. Yes, for me - I am of mixed races - not 2 but 3. As a result, I enjoy having the experiences of growing up in these different family cultures. I am also from the Caribbean but have lived in the US for most of my life.  My educational background adds to my diverse thinking and applications of what I know and learned in my career, my professional accomplishments and services especially to ASCLS. 

How has ASCLS impacted you? ASCLS has allowed me to grow professionally. I have had many mentors in the field including Elissa Passiment and Karen Karni.  Karen was instrumental in getting me involved at the national level in ASCLS - my first big accomplishment under Karen's reign was writing the Phlebotomy Position Statement.  Lisa (Elissa) really was the one who said to me "you need to join ASCLS and be active in the NJ Society - to quote her she said "Hallie you are plucked - get involved on the FL Society Board" and of course I did. Since then, I have been quite active in the society/ASCLS. My service to my profession is marked in many capacities at the local level including being the state society president first in NJ and then in FL. In FL I serve as the FSCLS Treasurer, Scholarship Chair and Bylaws Chair to name a few. ASCLS allowed me to grow professionally and still provides me with the joy of giving back to my profession. I now take the opportunity to mentor others within the society - it is now my turn to do what Lisa and Karen did for me.


What is your favorite part about the job? Mentoring!

Your biggest achievements or proudest moments, both in your career and normal life: Proudest moment in my career - hmm... that is tough as I had many proud moments - I guess the completion of my dissertation without having to do any rewrites was one. I am also proud of starting and chairing the Generalist and Public Health Scientific Assembly for ASCLS, which we recently renamed the Generalist Scientific Assembly.  I served for about 6 years in that position. The proudest moments in my life are undoubtedly focused on my children and their successes - there are many such moments including each of our (my husband Ken and I) children’s acceptance and graduations from Princeton and University of Pennsylvania. Our three children are quite successful in their professions and happy in their personal lives.  The accolades of my work and the notoriety gained professionally are great, but in the end its family first and foremost. I guess this adds to my diverse perspectives.

In your eyes, why should people join ASCLS? Joining ASCLS is important because it allows one to network and learn from other clinical laboratory scientist. ASCLS is a venue for professional growth. ASCLS allows its members to share professional insights, learn about new technologies, best practices, laws and policies that impact our profession and healthcare. ASCLS brings the many disciplines within our profession together and reminds us that we as Clinical Laboratory Scientist are the epitome of diversity, because we practice in the various areas of our profession although we are educated and trained in all areas. Some of us remain generalist while others specialize. In that same vein, we are also VERY interdisciplinary in our own right. ASCLS breathes diversity in professional practice and therefore can LEAD diversity in practice, thought, actions and INCLUSIVENESS, which is to me the essence of diversity - this can be the spirit of being an ASCLS member. 

Here is a link to my Bio - http://www.fgcu.edu/CHPSW/3563.asp

 

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