Dr. Kathryn McIver, Chief Operating Officer of Donor Services Laboratory, is an exponential strategist, business leader, and trailblazer with a wealth of expertise and knowledge in Lean Six Sigma program strategy, management, and implementation. With a passion for bridging the gaps in the donation and transplantation industry, she has been leading DSL as COO since April 2023. In academics, Dr. McIver received her Doctor of Business Administration from the prestigious University of Maryland and her Master’s in Business Administration from Syracuse University. From an experienced professional to a strong woman leader, Dr. McIver’s professional journey is a source of inspiration to many. Today, she has carved her name in the corporate realm through her unwavering dedication, passion, and vision.
A Quick Glance at DSL
Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, DSL is a comprehensive, highly recognized clinical reference laboratory that serves the human transplantation and donation industry. Owned by industry veterans, DSL benefits from firsthand knowledge of what the future holds for transplant medicine and extensive insight into the actual demands of the transplant community. With a satellite facility in Tampa, Florida, DSL strives to create a single-source solution for transplant-related testing services. DSL envisions partnering with the clients. Here, partnership entails understanding the demands of the clients and taking action quickly.
Dr. McIver’s Remarkable Journey
Dr. McIver’s professional journey has led her to where she is today. She has catalyzed remarkable transformations across healthcare, education, academia, and consulting, by consistently focusing on mission-driven organizations. Her professional focus is on efficiency and effectiveness, driven by a passion for innovation. This passion for creating something new drew her to entrepreneurship, where the opportunity to solve problems and address needs energizes her. She feels deeply honored to be part of Donor Services Laboratory, a company that shares her passion for fulfilling needs in the donation and transplantation industry.
Tackling Challenges Head-On
As a leader at DSL, Dr. McIver has encountered numerous difficulties over the years. She used to joke about the challenges of start-up life, but she has since realized that start-ups present some of the toughest challenges a team can face. She and her team work from a dream and are responsible for making this dream a reality, by hiring the right team, building proper infrastructure, and navigating the pressure such as burn rate and regulatory environment while creating a culture to sustain something as powerful as better outcomes for organ and tissue recipients.
“It may sound cliche, but the team’s determination and resilience of mind were essential in overcoming these obstacles. We all came together and became high performers to get us to where we are now,” mentions Dr. McIver.
Leadership Perspectives
Every day is a new day, according to Dr. McIver, and she lives by that. With how fast DSL and the industry are growing and evolving, what worked for the team yesterday may not work for them tomorrow. She explains, “This means we have to pay close attention to what type of leadership is effective for the organisation and the tasks in front of us.”
Nurturing a Growth-Oriented and Flexible Culture
DSL has expanded dramatically since its establishment, maintaining a strong focus on employee recognition throughout the organization. They acknowledge significant contributions, regardless of their magnitude. Noteworthy efforts, such as covering for a sick coworker or cleaning up a coworker’s workbench, receive recognition. Inclusion is also an integral part of DSL. With a collaborative approach, Dr. McIver emphasizes fostering a growth mindset within a highly regulated industry, underscoring the importance of a positive culture.
Dr. McIver’s work at DSL is deeply mission-driven, ensuring her team stays motivated and engaged through consistent communication, follow-up, and proactivity. She maintains stand-up meetings as part of the agile approach, which keeps her connected and the team informed about each other’s work. This team-forward approach not only fosters a supportive environment but also enables them to proactively identify areas needing additional support.
Dr. McIver’s Leadership Philosophy
For Dr. McIver, leadership is a deeply personal journey. It entails introspection, prospection, and retrospection. Reflecting on her motives helps Dr. Mclver refine her approach while looking forward and seeing what the team and organization need. Her top priority is the growth and development of her employees. She often jokes that her goal is to make herself redundant, but in reality, she wishes her team to always feel supported in their growth. Being a hands-on leader, she is constantly willing to collaborate with her colleagues.
The Biggest Opportunities and Threats
Dr. McIver strives to support organizations committed to decreasing recipient wait times and improving recipient outcomes. There are limitless opportunities in the industry right now. Every day, there is new research, new products, and new donation opportunities. Dr. McIver says that every time she talks with one of her partners, she learns about something new on the horizon. At the same time, there are threats of major changes in the regulatory environment. The federal government is considering legislation and regulations that may fundamentally change how the industry functions. Coupled with changing testing needs, Dr. McIver is bracing herself to respond very quickly to ensure consistent support for her client partners.
Dr. Mclver’s Approach to Navigating the Regulatory Challenges
When navigating the regulatory environment, Dr. Mclver believes the most important thing to remember is her role is advocacy; she is responsible for advocating for her organization and the community. Regulations are to protect people, and she takes this very seriously. Hence, Dr. Mclver and her team hold themselves to the highest standards set by multiple regulatory agencies. To ensure they are holding themselves to these standards, they constantly evaluate the processes and align with the most rigorous requirements identified throughout the industry. They use these as their internal standards to ensure they serve the clients and recipients in the best way possible.
A Roadmap Towards a Brighter Future
Going ahead, Dr. McIver and her team aspire to be a partner in the donation and transplantation industry’s testing needs. They see themselves as part of a community, and to participate in this community, they have to be engaged and responsive to the partner’s needs. To make this happen, they are fixated on listening to the clients and the industry. “We want to be ahead of the requirements and as adaptable as we can to drive the support our partners need to move the industry forward, concludes Dr. McIver.