Sheppard medical laboratory shines in worldwide competition Published May 18, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Adawn Kelsey 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- This year, the 82nd Medical Support Squadron's Clinical Pathology Services group placed as the Second Runner-Up in the Medical Laboratory of the Year competition. Members of the lab were instrumental in creating new programs while several individuals earned awards and the entire lab received distinguishing awards this year at the headquarters and worldwide levels. Lt. Col. Michael Fatone, 82nd MDSS Pathology Services flight commander said one of the awards achieved this year by the entire lab was the Air and Education Training Command Medical Service Lab Category II Team of the Year Award. "This award was really outstanding to me out of the ones that we received last year," the colonel said. "But this competition reaches out much farther than the AETC." The colonel also said being second runner up in this world wide competition was a big achievement. "This competition recognizes the lab community as a whole," the colonel said. "This is much bigger than just the greater lab community here, in the military or in the United States." He said the Medical Laboratory of the Year competition is a worldwide competition and includes more than just the military labs. "It's nice to be acknowledged by labs in and outside of the military," he said. "This was a worldwide competition; the first place lab winner was a lab that is located in Africa. It is nice to show that it's not just for the military and that it's not just about the military way, but about the way we do things here at Sheppard."