Gerald A. Hoeltge, MD Assumes Role as CLSI President Elect.

WAYNE, Pa. -- Gerald A. Hoeltge, MD was installed for a two-year term as President-Elect, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, formerly NCCLS), at the organization's annual Leadership Conference held 26 to 29 April 2006. In addition, Dr. Hoeltge will head the Chairholders Council for the global standards organization.

Dr. Hoeltge has participated in CLSI activities for more than 20 years, including the development of consensus documents as a committee chairholder and as a member of the CLSI Board of Directors. Previous CLSI positions included: Treasurer; Member, Executive Committee; Chairholder for the following committees: Finance, Ad Hoc Task Group on Alternative Business Models, and General Laboratory Practices; as well as participating as a member of the Program, Strategic Planning, and Volunteer Resources committees. He also serves as the CLSI delegate from the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

CLSI will continue to benefit from Dr. Hoeltge's extensive experience in quality management as well as his years of experience in laboratory medicine. Hoeltge is currently Head, Section of Transfusion Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where he has worked for more than 30 years. He is board certified by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic and clinical pathology; hematology; and blood banking. In addition, he is actively involved with many organizations, including management positions with the College of American Pathologists, and has served in a variety of roles with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, American Board of Pathology, and American Red Cross. He has contributed his expertise, acting as an advisor to leading medical journals, and is extensively published on his own behalf. He has spoken and participated as a panelist at leading healthcare association conferences. Hoeltge received his BA degree from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and his MD from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

CLSI is grateful for Dr. Hoeltge's continuing leadership and many contributions to the development of healthcare standards, and wishes him well in his role of providing organizational direction over the next two years. In 2008, Dr. Hoeltge will assume the role of President of CLSI.

For additional information on CLSI or for further information regarding this release, visit our website at http://www.clsi.org or call 610.688.0100.

CLSI is a global, nonprofit, membership-based organization dedicated to developing standards and guidelines for the healthcare and medical testing community. CLSI's unique consensus process facilitates the creation of standards and guidelines that are reliable, practical, and achievable for an effective quality system.