AACC Convention: Day 1

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

Pictured above: Carl Garber, Quest Diagnostics, James O. Westgard, and Caixia (Sasha) Bi, also of Quest Diagnostics.

The crowds are back at the AACC/ASCLS show. We were kept very busy throughout the entire day, and expect to soon run out of giveaways and possibly even order forms. More people than we expected, and certainly more enthusiasm for the new book, Basic QC Practices, 3rd edition.

Pictured above: Gordon Kapke, VP of Covance Central Laboratory Services, wearing an extremely abused "Westgard Rules" collectable cap.The picture doesn't do justice to the wear and tear that the cap has seen - it used to be a black hat. But Gordon claims that this has been an ideal hat to wear during his tromps through the woods around his house, and it is the only cap he'll wear when using his chainsaw. We have given him a replacement, but he would not part with the tattered original.

The award for Most Determined to Get a Picture with "the" Westgard goes to Xuehui Liu, pictured here. While we were trying to set up the picture, Xuehui's husband was ringing repeatedly on her cell phone. She would not be distracted by calls, and insisted on getting the picture. That's dedication to quality!

[Please also note that, as the son of "the" Westgard, I neither encourage, condone, nor quite comprehend the urge to have one's picture taken with my father. Like Westgard Wear, a picture with James Westgard is a kind of "inside baseball" situation that only a few people will really appreciate. Plus, I don't want him thinking he's some kind of celebrity. I still have to work with this guy, and it helps when he remembers his usual midwestern humility.]