News Release

American Society for Microbiology honors Vickie S. Baselski

Grant and Award Announcement

American Society for Microbiology

Washington, DC—May 28, 2008—The 2008 American Society for Microbiology (ASM) TREK Diagnostic ABMM/ABMLI Professional Recognition Award is presented to Vickie S. Baselski, Professor, University of Tennessee, Memphis. This award recognizes a Diplomate of the ABMM or the ABMLI for outstanding contributions to the professional recognition of clinical microbiologists and/or immunologists.

Dr. Baselski is a national leader in the areas of laboratory reimbursement and coding of diagnostic tests. She has consistently reached outside of the ASM to open lines of communication and put the spotlight on clinical microbiologists in venues that had been previously overlooked and acted as an ambassador in the realm of policymaking. Dr. Baselski began her influential work in this area as ASM's representative to the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, which was formed by Congressional order in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. As co-chair of the Infectious Disease Subcommittee, she produced national coverage decisions for urine cultures, HIV diagnosis, and HIV prognosis. For the past five years, Dr. Baselski has represented ASM at the Open Door Forum at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to discuss reimbursement levels for new Current Procedural Technology (CPT) codes. Her outstanding performance secured a place for ASM at subsequent decision-making tables related to reimbursement.

Dr. Baselski received her B.A. and Ph.D., both in Microbiology, from the University of Texas, Austin.

The TREK Diagnostic ABMM/ABMLI Professional Recognition Award is presented during the 108th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), June 1 – June 5, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. ASM is the world's oldest and largest life science organization and has more than 43,000 members worldwide. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences and promote the use of scientific knowledge for improved health and economic and environmental well-being.

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