Live Program Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Program Number: 26EL-622

Educational Track: Quality Education
Topics: Blood Donation & Collection, Patient Transfusion
Intended Audience: Hospital Blood Banks, Laboratory Staff, Managers/Supervisors, Students (MD, MT, SBB), Technologists, Transfusion Safety Officers

Faculty
(titles and affiliations at the time of the live program)
Director/Moderator: Hind Kurbaj, MS, SBB(ASCP), Program Director-Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Speaker: Rianne Ricarte, MSTM, MLS(ASCP)SBB, Hematology and Coagulation Specialist, Houston Methodist Hospital Willowbrook, Willowbrook, TX

Program Description
This program explores how technology is transforming laboratory training and education. The faculty will review current tools such as SOP management systems, e-learning modules, simulations, and virtual programs, as well as the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also highlight future innovations, including artificial intelligence and virtual/augmented reality, and discuss their potential to enhance competency, efficiency, and regulatory compliance in laboratory practice.

Learning Objectives
After participating in this educational activity, participants should be able to:

Identify technologies and platforms used in laboratory training and education.
Explain how these technologies are applied to enhance competency and regulatory compliance.
Discuss challenges and limitations of technology-assisted training compared to traditional methods.
Examine emerging innovations such as artificial intelligence shaping the future of training.

How to Claim Continuing Education Credit

Single Viewers: if you registered as a single viewer, complete the evaluation found on the "CE Information" tab after watching the video. By submitting the evaluation, you are attesting to watching the presentation in its entirety.

Group Viewers: This is applicable for groups/facilities that purchased Group Viewing access for this program (registration will be verified prior to processing a group viewing attendance log). Group Viewing Coordinators should submit the attendance log to eLearning@aabb.org within 72 hours of the completion/viewing date. Once AABB receives an attendance log, each participant on the attendance log will be granted access as a single viewer to this program and will be required to complete the evaluation in order to claim continuing education credit. Each participant will be required to have an AABB account in order to access this program/platform. If a participant does not have an account, he/she can create one using the same email address provided on the attendance log.

Rianne Ricarte MSTM, MLS(ASCP)SBB

Houston Methodist Hospital Willowbrook

Appearances