Alexis C. Cunningham

Clinical Laboratory Associate 2 (Lead) @Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, TN, US

As Team Lead in the Specimen Receiving department, I oversee the accessioning and triaging of patient specimens and tissue materials for laboratory testing, ensuring accuracy, timely preparation, and efficient shipment to referring laboratories. I collaborate closely with laboratory staff, medical professionals, and external clients to streamline operations, uphold quality standards, and maintain seamless communication across departments. In my leadership role, I serve as the first point of contact for escalated calls and urgent concerns, effectively managing inquiries and coordinating with section management, residents, or medical directors when necessary. I am responsible for handling staffing adjustments, including responding to call-outs, identifying coverage solutions, and documenting updates in duty rosters and on-call schedules. I proactively address issues that may impact test turnaround times or patient care by taking immediate action, documenting concerns for management follow-up, and ensuring resolution with minimal disruption. I also lead daily huddles, delegate workflow, train new team members and Clinical Laboratory Assistant (CLA) students, and review the problem log regularly to support continuous improvement. Additionally, I contribute to quality assurance initiatives by evaluating workflows and identifying opportunities for increased efficiency, while consistently delivering high-level customer service with professionalism and care.