SEQC Spanish Society of Laboratory Medicine

• The satisfaction survey showed that the objectives were met satisfactorily for the attendees, who valued the micro-workshops and the talks given to give advice on how to get the most out of the residency.
• The workshops offered during the day were interactive, with practical examples of each case. They taught how to write a scientific article correctly or how to choose the best journal to publish in.
• The organization of inter-hospital and resident conferences on an annual basis, as well as participation in the residents' round table at the annual national clinical laboratory congress (Labclin), are among the current lines of work of the SEQC^ML Group of Residents and Young Scientists.

The Spanish Society of Laboratory Medicine (SEQC^ML) has successfully held its Conference for Residents and New Clinical Laboratory Specialists that took place in Madrid on March 4th. Based on the responses obtained in the satisfaction survey, the objectives of the Conference were satisfactorily met. Such as introducing the Society to new laboratory residents to inform them of the possibilities it offers for their professional development in the clinical laboratory field.

At the same time, it sought to publicize the activities of the Group of Residents and Young Scientists of the SEQC^ML and provided information of interest to residents and new clinical laboratory specialists. In addition, a small training workshop was held in the scientific and research field in order to promote relationships between residents and young specialists from different hospitals.

The conference was divided into a series of presentations where different tips were offered to attendees for a good residency and information was provided on national and international external rotation grants. The president of the Group of Residents and Young Scientists of the SEQC^ML and coordinator of the Conference, Julia Maroto García, delved into the professional opportunities of residents and new specialists and post-residency fellowships. According to the coordinator, “it is important to tell them that at this time, they must do a personal reflection exercise, to assess what each one really wants and what they want to achieve in their professional lives. In this way, we will know if we want to focus on a solely healthcare profile, or if our profile is more investigative”.

As she detailed, the purpose of the lecture was to inform about the job opportunities available and where to find information regarding each of them, among others. “We also addressed the possibility of doing the doctoral thesis during or after finishing the residency, and what research grants can be used both within and outside the SEQC^ML, '' adds Julia Maroto García.

Interactive micro-workshops with practical examples

In addition to the presentations, a series of interactive workshops with practical examples in each case were launched during the conference. As the coordinator explains, they "taught how to write a scientific article correctly, how to choose the journal to publish it in, and how to deal with and respond to journal reviews."

According to Julia Maroto García, "the objectives of the Conference were more than met" based on the results obtained in the satisfaction survey. “The attendees established contacts and new inter-hospital relationships, they also valued as very useful both the micro-workshops and the talks given to advise on how to make the most out of the residency” says the coordinator.

Among the main lines of work of the SEQC^ML Residents and Young Scientists group is the organization of inter-hospital and resident conferences on an annual basis. "We also participate in the residents' round table at the annual national clinical laboratory congress (LabClin), we promote the training of residents by organizing different sessions or courses in person or through e-learning platforms", details the Conference coordinator. In addition, every day they collect and disseminate the concerns and needs that laboratory residents send them through their different direct communication channels: Facebook and Instagram.