HAMILTON, ON (December 18, 2009)—Shelby Giesbrecht, president of the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) is pleased to announce that Christine Nielsen has been hired as Executive Director.

Ms. Nielsen is well known and respected within the medical laboratory community. She was the Director of Certification for the CSMLS from 2003 to September of 2009. Most recently, she was Associate Registrar and Member Relations Team Leader at the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO). Prior to joining CSMLS in 2003, she worked at the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences, where she was the preparation team leader and a laboratory instructor.

A graduate of the medical laboratory technology program at the Michener, Ms. Nielsen was certified as a general medical laboratory technologist in 1997. Shortly after obtaining her certification, Ms. Nielsen became involved with CSMLS as a volunteer. She served as the first new graduate appointee on the General Medical Laboratory Technology Examination Panel, facilitated item writing workshops and was involved in the review and revision of national competency profiles.

In 2004, Ms. Nielsen obtained a Bachelor of Health Administration degree, with honours from Ryerson University where she won several academic awards and scholarships including the Extendicare Award, for the highest academic standing in the program and the Degree Program Coordinators’ Award. In 2001, she was inducted into the National Golden Key Honour Society and added to the Dean’s List.

Ms. Nielsen also completed a Certificate of Mastery in Prior Learning Assessment from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning at DePaul University in Chicago, and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE).

The search process for the executive director was coordinated by an external human resource consultant. An advertisement was placed on the CSMLS website and on Workopolis.com. Applications were short listed and successful candidates were interviewed by a panel comprising of an external human resource consultant, the CSMLS President and President-Elect, a former Board member and three members of the executive staff.

“Ms. Nielsen is a dynamic leader whose knowledge, experience and expertise will serve the Society well as we embark on an ambitious strategic plan,” says Ms. Giesbrecht. “We look forward to starting the New Year and a new future with a leader who will bring fresh perspectives and a renewed sense of energy to the CSMLS.”