Welcomed all, to my radio podcast “Meet Minerva, the Microbiologist”. My name is Minerva A. Garcia, Associate Director Microbiology at Jacobi Medical Center NYC Health & Hospitals Corp. in NYC. In today’s podcast I’ll be talking about  Difficulties in NYS Certification Clinical Laboratory Professionals in LicensureCovid update As I start an analogy a poem, I experienced hardship, perseverance and lack of support from my co-workers. I believe this poem titled “An American Solider” suited my   character well. I looked back and wondered why I had no role models, and how did I get here today?”  Knowing that, I am not a follower but, a leader, am a striver, which doesn’t like never give up… I am an initiator with a purpose. With this in mind, I like to share one of my poem titled:  An American Soldier Part 1 And it goes like this. An American Soldier Part 1 The land of freedom we stand This soldier of an American soil lands Fighting for peace and for his land Come free this man from pains He will always stand tall looking for someone  To aid and alleviate all their pains Away from home and his patriots too For wants to live not insane but, free from pains If ever, question this man, “Why such deeds my friend?’ He will reply, “Man should never live like this!’ Why explain? I see at times we can be insane, and who are we to blame?                                                                             “Fathers of the heavens, wherever you may be, listen … We all want to breathe a little free Teach us to learn to be like this and be at peace Moreover, would be no need for soldiers to be We tried to reach and seek others some freedom But instead, they slapped me and placed it on their back For they buried peace on their yard For they think never existed and cannot be now … I shall fight until there’ll be peace Because I believe in me and no one Can take that away from me I’ve died for all I died the day you denied a Vet I really would die for any US soil man I die a blank man in blood with my SS ID Oh’ no not I … So, let’s get started! Difficulties in NYS Certification Clinical Laboratory Professionals licensure I saw the problem facing the lab profession: No licensing! The lack of improper education by some staff & incoming staff. The need for administration, health agencies and union to work with me in a collaborated effort to improve this profession. There was no monitoring nor incentive to stay in the field. Staff with College degree were leaving the field for higher paying health professions opportunities. I had to face confrontations heads on without support. It was a struggle to get this profession licensed, the oppositions faced were cruel and unjustifiable, no matter, I continued and triumphed.  I had to gathered petitions from colleagues, and other department in support and presented to our hospital’s CEO, which he disregarded in its importance was not recognized.