Jack Levine recognized for his decades-long work to standardize and implement quality methods in clinical laboratories across the world
Jack Levine, Senior Clinical Consultant for Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, has been named the 2012 recipient of the coveted Westgard Quality Award for his decades-long work to standardize and implement quality methods in clinical laboratories across the world. Levine was presented with the honor today during the Quality in the Spotlight international conference in Antwerp, Belgium—an annual European event devoted to the discussion of quality in laboratory medicine.
“Jack’s drive to improve healthcare outcomes through his tireless efforts to harmonize and implement quality standards across the clinical laboratory landscape has had a profound impact on the quality of laboratory testing,” said Dr. James Westgard, founder of the Westgard Quality Control (QC) forum, the ‘Westgard Rules’ and a trendsetter in quality-based models for the clinical laboratory. “The success of Westgard Rules owes much to his efforts to improve quality standards in industry and to lead by example. Many clinical chemists of my generation benefited from Jack’s support and interests in improving the quality of laboratory testing. We are proud to celebrate Jack’s contributions to our industry with the Westgard Quality Award and know that Jack will continue to serve as an inspiration to others who wish to follow in his footsteps.”
The award recognizes Levine’s leadership towards enhancing quality within the laboratory diagnostics field. His accomplishments span 50 years and include, among many, the creation of methods for the AutoAnalyzer (the modular system that brought automation to the clinical laboratory) as well as participation in the development of the SMAC (Sequential Multiple Analysis with Computer) system, which was the first laboratory analyzer to successfully use a computer to process samples and data. More recently, Levine established the Methods Verification Protocol (MVP), a statistical data reduction program that enables Siemens customers to meet the requirements for evaluation of new systems and/or methods before they can be put into routine operation in U.S. laboratories regulated under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Methods.
Aside from Siemens, Levine also remains involved in the development of evaluation protocols with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). He also served for over 15 years as the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Liaison to the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Instrument Resource Committee, and recently completed two years as the Chair of the AACC Industry Division.
Launched in November 2011, Agenda 2013 is a two-year global initiative to further strengthen the innovative power and competitiveness of the Siemens Healthcare Sector. Specific measures will be implemented in four fields of action: Innovation, Competitiveness, Regional Footprint, and People Development.
The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 51,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2011 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 12.5 billion euros and profit of around 1.3 billion euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare.
