Shannon Billings MS, MLS, (ASCP),

Shannon Billings decided to go back to school in her early 30’s and reinvent herself, to find her true passion. She found it in the UAA Medical Laboratory Science program. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Medical Technology in 2010. She immediately accepted a job for the Providence Alaska Medical Center blood bank department, and spent the next few years working there, loving every minute of it. She served as the state president for Clinical Laboratory Scientists of Alaska (CLSA), a constituent society for the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) from 2011-2012. In 2013 and 2014 she served as the conference chair for the state conference of CLSA, which brings networking and continuing education to laboratory personnel from across the state. In 2014, she ran for an office on the National Board of Directors for ASCLS, and served as the Region IX director for 3 years, representing the interests of laboratory professionals from Alaska, Oregon, and Washington to the National Board. Also in 2014, she was awarded “National New Professional of the Year,” from ASCLS, their highest honor awarded to laboratory professionals in their first five years of practice, honoring service excellence. She graduated from Rush University in early 2015 with a Master’s of Science in Medical Laboratory Management. Shortly after that, she accepted a position at Alaska Regional Hospital, serving in lab management there, overseeing preanalytical and postanalytical work flows, quality assurance, and other areas. In June of 2017 she accepted a job as the laboratory manager for Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her hospital became one of the major hospitals impacted by the mass shooting on October 1st. She says of her staff that night, “They humbled me and amazed me. They are all heroes to me.”