ROAD TO THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN

‘You are an important part of the whole’ is a favourite hashtag of my connection and mentor, Lona Gordon Small, MBA, PMP, CPBPM, MT(ASCP) , on LinkedIn and do not believe otherwise. We all have special abilities and skills that make us extraordinary in our own small ways to which can never be underestimated to what we can achieve, especially when we join hands and come together in making a difference. My journey just began! As the fictional character, Optimus Prime, will call all Auto-bots, each coming with special abilities and skills to give hope after all, will be honoured to join all 'extraordinary gentlemen' to give hope to all.

#youareanimportantpartofthewhole #linkedin #teamwork

Began the year rough and on an unfortunate event with a rejection from a health facility in the best top 10 percent (10%) in the world. It is being said if you do not fail, you are not even trying, interestingly, this happened to be my first try internationally. With reasons much known to the recruiting manager, everything was called off at the eleventh hour. Though, a day was proposed for an interview (second to that regards), no interview happened till seeing ‘pursuing other candidates who possess the background and experience that best fits the position’. Felt unhappy for a second but the joy was great as had by then appreciated the essence of a big NO. This was the fifth month after applying and the NO meant a lot – its time to look elsewhere.

#recruitment #recruiting

The journey of trying to positively impact my community which never seems to stop echoing in my head got me engaging several health facilities. With the focus on redesigning healthcare delivery to what it should be through the integration of formalised structures and methodologies for quality and process improvement, proposals were shared to facilities within 10-to-15-kilometre radius. The guidance and motivation from Alice Krumenaker CMQ/OE , an experienced quality and laboratory compliance professional based in the United States cannot be quantified from coming up with a masterpiece of a proposal for executive members of facilities within the community to making sure we had a successful project that will positively impact many lives. We looked at healthcare as whole from the beginning, but as we made progress, a poll was generated and we skewed down to the medical laboratory as participants of our poll felt the medical laboratory needed more formalised structures and methodologies for quality and process improvement measures the most. This did not come as a surprise as the world was just recovering from the combat of a pandemic – COVID-19, which led to much light being thrown to the industry – medical laboratory. Nonetheless, hospitals in general followed closely as the industry that needs quality and process improvement measures with the pharmaceuticals having fewer responses.

There was no record of any hospital nor medical laboratory in the country (Ghana) having a formalised structure and methodology like Lean and Six Sigma and it sounded obvious the integration of Lean and Six Sigma was not only going to help strengthen our healthcare delivery but as well seek to do a lot with patient and staff satisfaction (improving customer experience). ?Less than 1% of health professionals have training and certification in Lean and Six Sigma in the country and this was a major hurdle with the project. Most executives we met felt we were just going to try with them something we have cooked in our backyard as most of them had not heard anything about Lean and Six Sigma, with little interest to change from their traditional ways this sounded like a dead-end. All the facilities were not ready for this integration; thus, a trajectory change was needed. Today, we are working closely with the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) to seeing the positive impact we could have in Medical Laboratories in the country and beyond.

#leadership #healthcare #laboratory #sixsigma #lean #leanmanufacturing #processimprovement #GAMLS #JyotilabsGhana

American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) , the gold standard global credentialing for medical laboratory professionals, was 100 years this year since its inception. As we trailblaze a niche in quality and process improvement in laboratory medicine and healthcare as a whole in Ghana and the African region, this pre-eminent event for the entire laboratory team in a learning-focused setting would always mean a lot attending in-person. Would really say thank you to American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for awarding myself a travel grant for this once in a life-time event, sadly, could not make it due to long waiting time for visa interview.

Attending the in-person #ASCP2022 would not have only added to what I believe and live by as a principle (capacity building) but would have as well be creating an avenue to make memorable traveling experiences with the best sceneries that joining the celebration of American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) at 100 would have brought to the table.

It would always be an honour to meet and connect with well-respected professionals leading and guiding the way to much promising prospects.

#ASCP #ASCP2022 #ASCP100 #capacitybuilding #mentoring #motivation

To get something you never had, you surely would have to do something you never did! From acquiring a CEFR level of C1 in English Language to the numerous programs and webinars joined, with several courses and books read in the year either for professional or educational purposes, I am glad taking the bold first step to delving into data and data analytics. I hope the future presents a better understanding, connection and networking with mentors to grow in this fast-evolving space.

#data #dataanalytics #bigdata

Splitting the DMAIC – Unleashing the Power of Continuous Improvement and Culture is Everything, are two most popular reads of the ASQ - World Headquarters . These are two amazing books would recommend others to get a copy and read as well. I appreciate and glad to have had it for free from ASQ - World Headquarters and topping it up with an amazing Amazon Gift Card as the year unfolded.

#ASQ #quality #qualityimprovement #qualitymanagement #management

To culminate the series of events that happened in the year 2022, would like to say a big thank you to GAMLS for a feature on her social media space. Thank you to all the colleagues, seniors and mentors for the congratulatory messages shared under the feature. Together, we can achieve more!

https://www.facebook.com/953723231306578/posts/pfbid0VQ6iJoGtgfWMuNRo7RZRcoWoUxart9eWVEh7FH485EECtwSWbtxzX68jhyEUBQV4l/?d=n

Thank you all and hope 2023 present with greater prospects, opportunities to grow, as we collaborate and work together to achieve greater heights. May the New Year bring peace, happiness, more grace, good health and success. Together, let’s continue to stay safe!

#gratitude #mentorship #careers