Member Spotlight: Rabab Abdel Khalek

What is your name?
Rabab Abdel Khalek

What is your professional title?
Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory Supervisor.

How did you decide to enter the field/What (or who) brought you into the field?
I love biology and I like working in a paramedical field. I have a Bachelor of Science in medical laboratories and a Masters in Biotechnology.

What do you do? How would you describe your role?
When I started my career as a medical lab technologist, I worked in different fields: blood bank, hematology, coagulation, flow cytometry, and then in the molecular diagnostics and HLA laboratories.

As a lab supervisor, I am in charge of supervising 8 technologists. I manage their appraisals and payrolls. I prepare the operational budget and the staffing plan. I am also involved in the validation of new technologies and in the implementation of new testing along with developing and training other technologists.

How does your work help patients? 
Our job is to provide accurate results which help physicians in making a correct diagnosis and therefore giving effective treatment(s). A quick and correct diagnosis may save many lives.

What degree(s) and/or training did you receive to achieve your position?
I have an MSc in biotechnology and I have more than 10 years of experience as a medical laboratory scientist. I have expertise in many different laboratory fields.

What is the greatest challenge you face in your work?
The latest great challenge we faced was the launching of NGS technology in our lab. We are now offering the NGS myeloid panel and in the process of validating a solid tumor panel and HLA typing by NGS.

What is the best part of your work as you see it? (most interesting, fun…)
The best part is when we can save a life by giving a quick diagnosis, or confirming that diagnosis. We feel happy when a molecular testing result is considered as a good prognosis for the patient and we feel sorry when it is not. Another happy part is when we find a sibling having a full histocompatibility profile with a recipient waiting for bone marrow transplantation.

What AMP resources/courses have helped you advance your career?
AMP meetings, expositions and courses allow us to see what is new in this field, including the latest technologies, the latest research and how to apply and to adopt that.

In your opinion, what are the most valuable aspects of AMP membership?
AMP membership is a great way to exchange knowledge and experience, and to share your achievement for the wellbeing of others.