Activity update ifcc cpd committee on public relations

   Activity Update: IFCC-CPD Committee on Public Relations


Contributed by Dr. Khosrow Adeli, Chair of the Public relations Committee, Vice-Chair of the Communication and Publicatio Division

Dr Khosrow AdeliC-PR is a committee of the Communications and Publication division of the IFCC.  The committee was formed in Fall 2007 to assist the IFCC in promotion of both the organization and the discipline of clinical chemistry internationally and to coordinate PR activities of the various IFCC units. The committee is composed of members from IFCC member countries throughout the world. Current membership includes:

Committee Members:
Dr. Susan Matthews (Australia),
Dr. Magdalena Krintus (Poland),
Dr. Monica Spalvieri (Argentina),
Dr. Loralie Langman, (USA)
Dr. Khosrow Adeli (Canada; Chair)

Regional Federation Advisors:
Dr. Endang Hoyaranda – representing APFCB
Dr. Fouad Harb – representing the Arab Federation
Dr. Ana Leticia de Maselli – representing COLABIOCLI
To be Appointed – EFCC

Other Advisors:
Dr. Ozcan Erel – Turkey
Dr. David Holt – UK
Dr. Abdolamir Allameh – Iran
Dr. Chris Lam – Hong Kong

The terms of reference for the C-PR include:

  1. Acting as IFCC ambassadors promoting IFCC and the field of clinical chemistry in their country of residence, national society, and region.
  2. Identifying key PR tools and make recommendations to the CPD, other divisions and/or EB
  3. Developing and updating promotional materials, through the CPD, on the IFCC organization and activities, as well as the discipline of clinical chemistry for distribution worldwide.
  4. Acting as a link for distribution of IFCC brochures and other promotion materials to other laboratory professionals in their country of residence, national society, and region
  5. Assisting IFCC in improving its visibility in their country of residence, national society, region, as well as internationally
  6. Participating in as IFCC ambassadors while attending regional, national, and international conferences
  7. Attending occasional conference calls or face-face meetings to discuss the activities of the PR Committee

Recent Activities of the C-PR:
An IFCC promotional brochure was developed and to date has been published in English, Chinese, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish.  It is currently being translated into Arabic, French and German.  The IFCC Milestones brochure was updated in late 2007 and distributed at the IFCC-FESCC EuroMedlab Congress in Amsterdam.  New posters for the IFCC booth, based on the Milestones Brochure content, were prepared and used for the first time in Amsterdam. 
In consultation with the EMD and SD, an IFCC Speakers Bureau has been put together. This includes speakers currently in the Visiting Lecturer Program as well as several new speakers.  Other additions have also been made based on specific recommendations received from IFCC members.

An important activity of the C-PR has been the joint IFCC-“Labs are Vital” PR Initiative. Labs are Vital is a “Laboratory Survival Program”, sponsored by Abbott Diagnostics but at arms-length.  The main goal is the promotion of the laboratory profession.  The IFCC was invited to become a partner in this venture.  The recommendations for an IFCC and Global “Labs are VitalTM” program include:

  1. Reinforcing the importance of IFCC to international members.
  2. Developing a Global Website presence.
  3. Global Media monitoring and rapid response.
  4. Global Lab week initiatives (to promote Labs in many countries – brochures and leaflets).
There were discussions to determine future areas of cooperation and joint activities between the Working Group and this campaign.  The “Labs are Vital” campaign is developing several tools including posters, an interactive website, videos, and other promotional materials and the PR WG and the IFCC was invited to provide advice and suggestions to “Labs are Vital” for preparation of future promotional materials.

Other related activities include:

  • The “Labs are Vital” program has been launched in several countries in South America as well as in Australia with the help of PR committee members
  • Dr. Susan Matthews helped with the official launch of Labs are Vital™ in Australia at the 2008 Annual Scientific Conference of the AACB in Adelaide on September 15th.
  • A Labs are Vital presentation was prepared and given by the C-PR committee chair to the attendees of the IFCC-WorldLab conference in Fortaleza
  • During the Fortaleza conference, the committee chair also attended the launch of Labs are Vital in Brazil and made a short presentation to the South American attendees

Current and Future Plans of the C-PR:

  • PR brochure translations: new translations including German, French, Arabic and Japanese.
  • A new PR brochure targeted to the general public, governments, industry, etc. The new IFCC-Public brochure will be developed for review at the June 2009 meeting.
  • Establish a communication process among PR committee members and regional federation representative so the joint team can most effectively update and work on agreed upon activities and initiatives.
  • Prepare and make formal presentations at local and regional conferences (a slide presentation has already been developed for this purpose)
  • The PR committee will develop formal recommendations to the EB on the development of practice guidelines on various aspects of laboratory medicine. These practice guidelines will be very useful and important PR tools that will increase IFCC visibility in the health care community worldwide.

Stay tuned for future news from the C-PR and its members!
Shown is a photo from the last meeting of the C-PR during the IFCC General Conference in Antalya, Turkey, April 2008.