Marisa James

About Marisa James

The greatest challenge facing both accreditation and the laboratory profession today is the ongoing workforce shortage. As Chief Executive Officer of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) – the leading accreditor of educational programs in clinical laboratory sciences and related healthcare disciplines – I am honored to represent and advocate for an organization that is actively addressing this critical issue and supporting the future of laboratory medicine.

NAACLS is a community of 11 dedicated staff members, more than 600 program directors, and nearly 300 volunteers. While I may serve as the figurehead, our success is built on collective effort. My leadership reflects a deep appreciation for those working behind the scenes in healthcare and a strong commitment to mentorship, inclusiveness, and a growth mindset.

Together, we take pride in providing personalized service to program directors, working to make accreditation seamless and constructive. Thanks to the commitment of our volunteers, we strive to be an approachable, collaborative accreditor – partnering with programs to achieve and sustain excellence. Our non-prescriptive standards encourage continuous learning and innovation while recognizing the unique strengths of each program.

Today, many long-standing programs face serious challenges in recruiting qualified directors and faculty. Without them, programs risk closure – threatening the future laboratory workforce and, ultimately, patient care. Clinical sites, already short-staffed, often struggle to accommodate student rotations. Program directors are pulled away from education to fill shifts at the bench. Asking them to do more with fewer resources is unsustainable.

As a former Medical Laboratory Science Program Director, ASCP Career Ambassador, and NAACLS volunteer, I understand these challenges firsthand. My passion for the profession – and for supporting those who educate the next generation – now fuels my work at NAACLS. I focus on empowering program directors, strengthening existing programs, and supporting the development of new ones.

Under my leadership, we have:

• Added targeted questions to the Annual Survey of NAACLS Programs to help institutions identify trends and advocate for support.

• Launched an advocacy article series, culminating in a CLEC presentation with our Board President, Robert Cottrell.

• Redesigned the NAACLS website to include practical tools such as customizable advocacy letters, a step-by-step Start a Program guide, and expanded student-facing content on accredited career pathways.

As CEO, I am proud to champion accreditation practices that are innovative, adaptable, and collaborative. Our mission is to support educators, strengthen the workforce pipeline, and help secure a strong future for laboratory medicine.