Dr. Kristen Pesavento '05

Outstanding Young Alumni Award Winner

• Assistant Professor/Graduate Program Director Medical Laboratory Science, Loyola University Chicago; Palos Heights

• Major: Medical Laboratory Sciences/Biological Sciences

Kristen Pesavento has been a staunch advocate in the field of clinical laboratory science. Since graduating from Illinois State with a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science and biological sciences, she has been recognized for her impactful contributions to her field.

Pesavento received multiple Loyalty Leader and Service Value awards from NorthShore University Health System, Evanston Hospital for her contributions in expanding both the awareness of the medical laboratory science profession and the vital role it plays in patient care. While a technical specialist in molecular diagnostics at NorthShore, Pesavento led the optimization and validation of the solid tumor FISH testing and pharmacogenomics platforms used to provide actionable data essential to the practice of personalized medicine to guide treatment options for pain management, prescription medications, and treatment of cancer.

In 2009, Pesavento was pivotal in validating and implementing an Influenza A subtyping RT-PCR assay that identified the first case of Novel H1N1 (commonly known as swine flu) in the Chicagoland area. Her poster and her work earned the Association for Molecular Pathology Technologist Award that same year.

In 2019, Pesavento was recognized by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) as one of the ASCP’s 40 under 40 for her dedication in helping to shape to the field of laboratory medicine. In 2020, she was awarded the ASCP Career Ambassador Award for her effort in volunteer outreach to bring understanding and appreciation to the work medical laboratories and laboratory professionals provide for patient care.

As an active member of laboratory professional organizations, including ASCP, the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS), and the Association for Genetic Technologists (AGT), Pesavento has continued to promote and help cultivate the future of laboratorians. She is currently a member of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) Body of Knowledge Committee, helping to define the identity of clinical laboratory professionals and ensuring improvement in the field and has served as the ASCLS Illinois State co-president since 2022.  For her efforts in revitalizing the ASCLS Illinois Society, she was recognized by ASCLS-IL with the Keys to The Future Award in 2023.  Her passion for laboratory advocacy and education has led to involvement as a representative from Illinois in the national Laboratory Legislative Symposium, where she presented the voice and perspective of laboratorians to members of Congress surrounding key issues affecting the profession. Pesavento has been involved with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and ASCP as subject matter expert in developing trainings to bolster the critically low medical and public health laboratory workforce as part of the CDC OneLab Initiative.