Editorial to: German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine – areas of expertise – division reports from the German Congress of Laboratory Medicine 2022 in Mannheim, 13–14 October 2022

During my time as President of the German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DGKL) from 2018 to 2021, one point of the agenda was the reorganization of the internal scientific divisions and working groups [1]. The aim was to facilitate a close and effective collaboration among all members and increase the visibility of each group within the society and beyond.

As a starting point, a two-day workshop was initiated in Berlin, which took place in September 2018. About 20 members presented recent activities of their divisions and working groups within the former structure. These were summarized in a structured report based on the years 2016 and 2017. The presentations were followed by fruitful and lively discussions and most participants were surprised about the numerous activities within the DGKL. On the second day ideas were summoned to improve the internal structure of the DGKL. To discuss ideas further and to finalize the new structure, a second workshop was conducted in November 2018. During this second workshop a new structure was developed and finalized encompassing five areas of expertise (Figure 1):

1. Molecular Diagnostics,

2. Learning & Teaching,

3. Quality & Management,

4. Laboratory & Diagnostics,

5. Biobanks & Informatics.

Figure 1:

Structure of DGKL areas of expertise and divisions.

Within each area of expertise up to five divisions were integrated.

Aims of the new structure were:

1. transparent structures for collaboration and communication within the DGKL,

2. efficient workflows to prepare expert opinions and replies sent out by the DGKL,

3. avoidance of double structures and

4. improvement of visibility of DGKL expertise and presenting it on a new home page.

Naturally, the new structure was reinforced by adapting DGKL regulations accordingly at the next general meeting of the DGKL in 2019 (DGKL. Rules of procedure for the areas of expertise and sections [German]. Unpublished material, internally available for DGKL members, 19 July 2019). Already the next annual conference DKLM in 2020 was primarily prepared by the new divisions. Due to the Corona pandemic the conference had to be cancelled. For compensation, a two-day digital workshop was initiated in summer 2021, which was very fruitful for all participants. After the pandemic, as a result of integrating the new structure into the conception of the annual conference, the involvement of DGKL members was increased allowing for more visibility of all activities driven by DGKL members when the conference took place in 2022. It proofed very fruitful to encourage the members of the different divisions to take responsibility for the scientific program. This gave the opportunity for all visitors of the DKLM 2022 to get in touch with all areas of expertise and their divisions and also allow for an intensive exchange among them.

In January 2023, the Steering Committee of the DGKL invited all spokespersons of the areas of expertise and divisions to a meeting in Kassel, where the decision was made, to prepare a manuscript of the activities presented at the DKLM 2022, which is published in this issue of the Journal of Laboratory Medicine [2].

The introduction of the areas of expertise improved the communication and collaboration within the DGKL and was established in the last years. Of course future enhancements are welcome, for example to found new areas of expertise or divisions or the adaption of existing ones to continuously manage the transformation of the DGKL for future needs.