Elia M. Mears, MS MT(ASCP)SM is a Laboratory Field Surveyor for the Laboratory Accreditation Program of The Joint Commission since 2012. Prior to her present position, she was Director of Laboratory Services at LSUHSC-Leonard J Chabert Medical Center in Houma, Louisiana. She earned her two undergraduate degrees from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and received her Master of Science degree from the University of St Francis in Joliet, Illinois. She also completed the Notre Dame Executive Management Program. Ms. Mears has been an active member of AACC since 1992. She is a member of the Nutrition Division, having served as Treasurer (1998 and 1999), Chair Elect (2002 and 2003) and (2012 and 2013), Chair (2004 and 2005) and (2014 and 2015) and Secretary (2016 and 2017). She was also a member of the Personalized Medicine Division where she served as Secretary. She is presently on the Critical Point of Care Division and a member of the Southeast Section where she serves as the present Secretary-Treasurer. Ms. Mears has served in different roles in the AACC, having been on the Nominating Committee, on the Editorial Board of Clinical Lab News, on three previous Annual Meeting Organizing Committees, on the AACC Finance Committee and on the Education Core Committee. She was on the 2023 Annual Meeting Organizing Committee, and the Point of Care Certification Board. She is presently on the Clinical Lab News Board of Editors and ADLM CLS Council. Ms. Mears has authored numerous articles in the field of nutrition and has lectured on nutritional aspects of the hospitalized patients both nationally and internationally. She was the recipient of the Nutrition Division 2001 Gary-Labbe Award for outstanding contributions in advancing Nutrition Chemistry. Most recently, she was awarded the ADLM 2023 CLS Achievement Award (formerly AACC).