Inside the Lab: Recent Episodes
American Society for Clinical Pathology
In this episode of Inside the Lab, Patricia Delgado and Liz Etkin-Kramer explore the evolving landscape of cervical cancer screening amid recent guideline updates emphasizing primary HPV testing, self-collection, and revised screening exit criteria. The conversation examines the challenges posed by HPV-negative cervical cancers and highlights the importance of close collaboration between pathology and OB-GYN teams when screening results, clinical findings, and patient presentation do not align neatly. Through a detailed case discussion, the guests describe how ongoing communication and iterative review between specialties ultimately leads to improved diagnostic accuracy in difficult cases, underscoring the value of interdisciplinary partnership in complex gynecologic cases.
Key Takeaways
- Recent cervical cancer screening updates are not yet fully harmonized across major professional organizations, creating a transitional landscape that clinicians and laboratories must navigate carefully.
- HPV-negative cervical lesions and cancers can present significant diagnostic challenges, particularly when standard screening results do not match clinical suspicion.
- Strong, iterative collaboration between OB-GYNs and pathologists can be critical for resolving complex cases and achieving accurate diagnoses, as illustrated by the discussion of lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia.
Recorded live at the 2025 ASCP Annual Meeting in Atlanta, this special episode of Inside the Lab brings together a diverse panel—a practicing pathologist, two medical students, and a resident—to explore one of the profession’s most urgent challenges: the pathology workforce shortage. Against the backdrop of ASCP workforce data showing a growing gap between supply and demand, the guests share firsthand perspectives on why students discover pathology late, how misconceptions persist, and what it takes to cultivate interest in a specialty that underpins 70% of medical decision-making. Their discussion spans everything from pipeline barriers and visibility gaps to influential moments of mentorship that sparked their own career trajectories.
The panel also delves into the future—how medical schools might better integrate pathology into mandatory curricula, how social media and community engagement can reshape public perception, and how pathologists can meaningfully mentor the next generation earlier in their training. From high-impact outreach efforts to the energizing role of professional communities, the group highlights actionable strategies for securing the future health of the field. The result is an inspiring, candid conversation about why pathology is a calling, what keeps trainees engaged, and how everyone in the profession can contribute to strengthening the workforce.
In this episode of Inside the Lab, host David Ritter kicks off a new series on corporate responsibility with a timely conversation about Green Labs. Joined by Dr. Ilyssa Gordon and Dr. Moira Larsen, the discussion revisits how far laboratory sustainability has come since Dr. Gordon’s 2021 appearance on the show and examines what has changed over the last four years.
The episode explores what “green labs” really mean in the context of clinical and pathology laboratories, from life-cycle assessments that quantify the carbon footprint of common workflows to system-level strategies that integrate sustainability into corporate responsibility frameworks. Dr. Gordon shares insights from her research on the environmental impact of GI biopsy processing and discusses how data-driven approaches can influence decision-making at the bench. Dr. Larsen outlines how green initiatives must be built into lab’s missions and financials in order to truly take hold, as well as the importance of partnering with aligned partners when sourcing materials.
Throughout the conversation, the guests emphasize practical, achievable actions—both at the institutional and individual levels—while addressing the realities facing today’s lab professionals. The episode concludes on an optimistic note, highlighting what’s currently inspiring leaders in laboratory sustainability and reinforcing the idea that meaningful progress is possible, even in resource-constrained environments.
The current landscape of testing for NSCLC is complex, with many new biomarkers emerging rapidly, more points during which testing is possible, and precision drug treatments available on the basis of findings from biomarker testing. While promising for patients, the result of this rapidly changing landscape is confusion from interdisciplinary care teams as to what testing is necessary and when, who in multidisciplinary care teams should be ordering new tests and when, and what workflows are necessary for labs. Host David Ritter, MA is joined by Dr. Ying-Chun Lo and Dr. Mamatha Chivuluka to discuss what things pathologists and lab professionals need to know about emerging biomarkers for NSCLC.
In this conversation, the panel reflects on how NSCLC biomarker testing has evolved over the past decade, highlighting the shift from limited, sequential testing to guideline-recommended broad molecular profiling. Drs. Lo and Chivuluka explore the clinical relevance of emerging biomarkers such as HER2, TROP2, and HER3, and discuss how new targeted therapies are influencing testing strategies in real-world practice. They also examine practical considerations for laboratories, including platform selection across IHC, PCR, and NGS, approaches to tissue stewardship in small lung biopsies, and the growing leadership role of pathologists in multidisciplinary teams to ensure timely, guideline-concordant, and equitable access to biomarker testing for patients with NSCLC.
Host David Ritter, MA is joined by Lotte Mulder, PhD and Kamran Mirza, MD, PhD, FASCP to discuss their new book, Mia the Marvelous Lab Explorer. The adventure follows Mia, a superhero and scientist, who uses laboratory science to explain why a friend has fallen ill with leukemia. The book targets children ages 5 to 9 years and balances striking entertaining and engaging tone with explaining scientific concepts accurately to a younger audience. Their conversation of the book expands into strategies for fostering engagement in laboratory science across age groups, how children’s literature can highlight the role of the lab to parents as well as younger readers, and how the format of a children's book fits into the undeclared student to laboratory professional pipeline ASCP is working to create.
Additionally, there is currently a fundraiser underway to donate 1,000 copies of the book to pediatricians' offices, libraries, and schools under the hashtag #MissionMarvelous. If you would like to contribute to the fundraiser, you can do so here: miathemarvelous.com. The fundraiser runs through February 16, 2026.
Interim CEO of ASCP and host Dr. Ali Brown sits down with Dr. Eric Konnick and Michelle Campbell, MLS(ASCP) to discuss lessons learned from the latest efforts to place laboratory developed tests under FDA oversight. For listeners unfamiliar with LDTs, they begin by establishing what LDTs are and what their value to the lab and patient safety are before debunking common misunderstandings cited by patient advocacy groups regarding their accuracy, validity, and the transparency with which they’re developed. They go on to define what FDA oversight would mean for laboratories in terms of cost, time, and labor, contextualizing these added costs in ongoing workforce shortages in the lab.
They close their conversation by spotlighting which efforts ASCP and similar organizations made to advocate for the lab were most successful, and describe alternative strategies for updating laboratory regulations, such as modernizing CLIA.
Host Constantine “Aki” Kanakis, MD is joined by Brittany Teeter and Sean to provide lessons learned and real-world takeaways from the world of laboratory management. This episode offers a glimpse into what seasoned lab managers learned across the course of their careers and provides concrete takeaways for lab managers at any stage of their careers on preparing for inspections, creating staff buy in for workflow updates, and relating the success of the lab to a hospital’s financial outcome when interfacing with C-suite executives. Their conversation offers fresh perspective on how to approach meeting regulatory standards as opportunities for improvement rather than mere hurdles to clear.
In this episode, their discussion covers disaster preparedness, addressing both how labs can prepare proactively for the foreseeable and how to reactively respond to the unforeseeable. They provide tips on everything from preparing for novel infectious outbreaks to stocking enough extension cords and flashlights in the event of power outages. They include valuable anecdotes about times thing went wrong in their lab, and what they did to react in a state of crisis.
In this episode of Inside the Lab, host Constantine Kanakis is joined by former ASCP president and Director of Transfusion Medicine at VCU Dr. Kimberly Sanford to discuss topics in transfusion medicine. This one-on-one conversation between two transfusion experts covers a wide variety of contemporary issues in transfusion medicine, including best practices in apheresis, logistical issues associated with pre-hospital transfusion services, and strategies for addressing blood shortages. Their conversation also touches on how to compassionately discuss problems with so-called “vaccine-negative blood” with patients in the context of recent legislation regarding this, and how transfusion experts can best ration limited blood supplies during periods of scarcity.
In this episode of Inside the Lab, ASCP CMO and CEO Dr. Ali Brown is joined by Drs. Nicole Jackson and Greg Davis to discuss current topics in forensic pathology. In their fascinating and wide ranging discussion, they highlight the often overlooked role of forensic pathologists in offering empathy, care, and advice to the grieving relatives of their deceased patients, the need for expanded autopsy requirements in medical school rotations, and the utility of forensic training to anyone who needs to understand anatomy.
Listeners will come away from this episode with an appreciation of the emotional intelligence required to work as a forensic pathologist, as well as the deeply rewarding interpersonal interactions that forensic pathologists can have through autopsy pathology. They will also appreciate the difficulties that workforce shortages pose for the practice of medicine generally. Listeners will also become aware of strategies for attracting the next generation of forensic pathologists in a field critical to medical practice.
Host Kelly Swails interviews Dr. Brad Brimhall and genetic counselor Megan Maxwell from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio to discuss challenges with and strategies for the diagnosis of rare diseases. Their discussion covers topics like the advantages of proactively using genetic testing to identify gene markers at the outset of care, the possibilities of artificial intelligence in identifying markers of rare diseases, and the role of pathologists in a multi-disciplinary care team - as well as the need for adequate communication and a holistic approach within that care team. Collectively, our guests describe how these insights can be used to shorten a patient's "diagnostic odyssey."
In this special episode of Inside the Lab, producer and host David Ritter does a dive into the history of efforts to integrate AI into the practice of healthcare. He’s joined by MD/PhD candidate Rahim Hirani, who discusses the history of efforts to automate diagnostic decision making in healthcare all the way back to the 1950s, and how these efforts were qualitatively different from current tools like large language models. Then, he’s joined by Dr. Melody Nelson from the who discusses contemporary issues with applying modern AI tools in the context of the practice of pathology.
Inside the Lab is joined by experts Drs. Hannah Wang from the Cleveland Clinic and Rodney Rohde from Texas State University to discuss emerging respiratory viruses. Their discussion begins with lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and an overview of what technologies have emerged since. They go on to discuss the virology and surveillance strategies for H5N1 and RSV, as well as vaccine hesitancy and its impact in the treatment of measles.
In this episode of Inside the Lab, Dr. Ali Brown sits down with guests Sean Tucker, MLS(ASCP)CM and Laura Severs, MHA, MLS(ASCP)CM to discuss their predictions for what 2025 holds for laboratory professionals. Topics discussed include:
- How workforce trends will continue in the near future and what strategies may work for addressing them;
- What to expect with automation and what pros and cons automation holds for Labradorians;
- What challenges, risks, and benefits cybersecurity holds for laboratory professionals, particular as digital pathology becomes more prevalent;
- What's coming with AI and what it means for the practice of laboratory medicine.
In this episode of Inside the Lab, guests Jane Dickerson, PhD and Elise Occhipinti, MD join host Kelly Swails to discuss the creation and maintenance of laboratory test stewardship programs. Topics covered include:
- How and why your organization should set up a stewardship program
- Involving stakeholders in the process
- The essential components of a success program
- Metrics and key performance indicators to track
- Resources, guidelines, and toolkits for those looking to create their own program
While the rapid evolution of I-O continues to bring unprecedented change to the way cancer is treated, there are significant gaps impacting the laboratory team regarding the examination of resection specimens following neoadjuvant immunotherapy and staying abreast of advances in I-O biomarker testing.
This episode discusses advances in I-O biomarker testing, advantages and limitations of some key I-O biomarkers, and practical ways that pathologists and laboratory professionals can improve their I-O biomarker testing workflows to optimize patient care.
Topics discussed include:
- Recent advances in immune-oncology (I-O) biomarker testing
- Advantages and limitations of IO biomarkers
- Addressing challenges related to IO biomarkers
- Improving IO biomarker workflows
- Best practices for collaboration with the multidisciplinary cancer care team
The diagnostic paradigm for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has rapidly shifted in the last five years as fluid-based biomarker testing has emerged as a reliable, accurate, and accessible means to detect amyloid pathology when evaluating a patient for cognitive decline. This podcast is designed to help pathologists and laboratory professionals gain an understanding of plasma testing for markers such as Abeta40/42, P-tau181, and P-tau217 which are rapidly appearing in the commercial space and how healthcare providers have begun incorporating these tests into routine neurology practice. This podcast will help participants to understand the advantages and limitations of these assays as well as their potential application when a physician is evaluating a patient for AD.
Communicating imperative diagnoses effectively can often be a daunting challenge. It’s a crucial and delicate step that takes practice and know-how to do well and can be one of the most important actions taken with patients. That’s why a panel of experts have gotten together to discuss the current practices, gaps, and best practices for communication of urgent and significant/unexpected diagnoses in anatomic pathology.
The Promoting Diagnostic Excellence by Improving the Communication of Urgent and Unexpected Diagnoses in Anatomic Pathology podcast is designed to support the collaboration with clinical partners as well as to notice actionable opportunities where the communication of urgent and significant/unexpected diagnoses in anatomic pathology may be improved.
You will learn to:
- Understand current guidelines and practices for communication of urgent and unexpected diagnosis in anatomic pathology.
- Discuss high-priority communication barriers.
- Discuss best practices and recommendations for effective and timely communication of urgent and significant/unexpected diagnoses.
Women make up a majority of the workforce in pathology yet lag behind men in leadership roles. What are the consequences of this for women working in pathology today, and what can be done?
In this episode of Inside the Lab, Drs. Melissa Upton and Kimberly Sanford share a warm conversation in which they reflect on their long and varied careers, describe the unique challenges they faced over their careers, and discuss their accomplishments as trailblazers themselves. Our guests describe the value of finding mentors, They also describe the opportunities for the future of pathology, particularly in the context of working in a multigenerational workforce with evolving expectations of workplace culture.
Although molecular testing offers promising opportunities for diagnosis and targeted treatment of cancers, prostate cancer has lagged behind other types of cancer. Recently, homologous recombination repair testing in prostate cancer has provided a means to achieving targeted treatments for patients as well as opening new avenues of collaboration between pathologists and oncologists.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, hosts Ms. Kelly Swails, MLS(ASCP), and Dr. Ali Brown, MD, FASCP are joined by Heather Cheng, a medical oncologist and associate professor of hematology and oncology at the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, and Colin Pritchard, molecular pathologist and professor of laboratory science and director of the Genetics and Solid Tumors Laboratory at the University of Washington Medical Center.
Our panelists discuss the current treatment landscape for prostate cancer and how HRR testing can improve patient outcomes in this context.
Topics Covered
- An introduction to metastatic prostate cancer testing, and what types of tests are standard of care, and the rationale for targeting prostate cancer using PARP
- Key findings from recent phase III randomized clinical trials
- Standards for optimal testing in prostate cancer, particularly concerning sample sources and the choice between next-generation sequencing (NGS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods
- common pitfalls or challenges in the arena of accurately reporting and interpreting findings from HRR tests
- Practical tips for optimal coordination among a multidisciplinary, cross-departmental team of healthcare providers and laboratory professionals when utilizing HRR testing in prostate cancer management.
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. ChengDr. Cheng on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. PritchardDr. Pritchard
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. BrownMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Brown on Twitter
ResourcesASCP Membership 2024
Proposed FDA Regulation of Laboratory Developed Tests
Public Comment on the FDA’s Proposed Rule
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
As CRC affects younger and more diverse populations, emerging tests for CRC biomarkers provide enormous utility for diagnosis. However, misdiagnosis of CRC, shifting demographics of those afflicted with CRC, and patient unfamiliarity with symptoms create challenges in identifying CRC. In this episode of Inside the Lab, hosts Dr. Ali Brown and Lotte Mulder are joined by Dr. Melissa Taggart, a board-certified pathologist at MD Cancer Center and Karla Valencia, a laboratory manager at MD Anderson Cancer Center to discuss the utility of biomarker testing for CRC.
The hosts are also joined by Sarah Claeys, who was diagnosed with Stage I CRC in 2020 and is now actively fighting Stage IV recurrence with metastatic disease primarily in the liver, and ASCP Patient Champion Heather Tucker, who suffered from misdiagnosis for years before being diagnosed for CRC. She completed treatment 5 years ago. Sarah and Heather share their experiences with seeking both diagnosis and treatment, and provide insights on what information related to biomarkers were most valuable to them.
Topics Covered in this podcast include:
- How have tests for CRC evolved recently, and which biomarkers they test for;
- How laboratory quality control is used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of colorectal cancer biomarker test results;
- Factors involved with validating and implementing new biomarker assays for CRC in the laboratory;
- Handling pre-analytical variables and potential interferences that may affect the interpretation of biomarker test results for colorectal cancer;
- How pathologists integrate molecular and biomarker findings into pathology reports;
- What information related biomarkers was most valuable from a patients’ perspective was most valuable when seeking treatment for CRC, as well as patient advice for healthcare professionals, including pathologists and laboratory professionals, regarding laboratory testing, including biomarker testing.
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Bartosh, Ms. Courtright & Mr. Bowman
University Health Laboratory Services
Ms. Bartosh on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. Brown
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Resources
CAP Inspection Checklists
ASCP Patient Champions Program
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
The availability of targeted therapies has changed the landscape of cancer treatment in the last few years. And two types of cancer particularly affected by these advances are melanoma and non-small cell lung carcinoma or NSCLC. What role does the laboratory play in the diagnosis and treatment of these cancers? How can pathologists and lab professionals work with oncologists to optimize biomarker testing and improve patient outcomes?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, your hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails, MT(ASCP), and Dr. Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, are joined by Dr. Sanjay Mukhopadhyay, MD, Director of the Lung Pathology Service at the Cleveland Clinic, Ms. Lynnette Pineault, MBA, SCT(ASCP), Operations Manager for Laboratory and Genetic Services for Health Partners, and Mr. Jim Ondick, ASCP Patient Champion and IT Associate at The University of Kansas Health System, to discuss advancements in biomarker testing to improve NSCLC and melanoma cancer care.
Listen in for insight on ensuring equitable patient access to biomarker testing and learn how to register for ASCP’s Immuno-Oncology Microlearning Courses for pathologists and laboratory professionals.
Topics Covered
- How targeted therapies and immunotherapies have improved treatment for melanoma and lung cancer in the past few years
- Mr. Ondick’s success story of being treated with immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma and why he had little interaction with laboratory professionals during his diagnosis and treatment
- How pathologists can work with oncologists and surgeons to improve care for patients with cancer
- The obstacles to providing laboratory services or support for biomarker testing
- Dr. Mukhopadhyay and Ms. Pineault’s advice on designing workflows to optimize biomarker testing and ensuring equitable access for patients
- Mr. Ondick’s take on what cancer patients should know about the laboratory team
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Mukhopadhyay
Dr. Mukhopadhyay at Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Mukhopadhyay on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Pineault
Ms. Pineault on ResearchGate
Ms. Pineault on LinkedIn
Connect with Mr. Ondick
Mr. Ondick on LinkedIn
Mr. Ondick’s Story on ASCP Patient Champions
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. Brown
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Brown on Twitter
Resources
ASCP Patient Champions
ASCP Immuno-Oncology Microlearning Courses
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Sponsor
Bristol Myers Squibb
Recent developments in disease modifying therapies have been proven to slow the progression of cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
And yet, we can only confirm a diagnosis of AD after a patient’s death.
But what if we could use biomarkers to identify preclinical stage Alzheimer’s and step in long before a patient exhibits dementia?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, your host, Ms. Kelly Swails, MT(ASCP) introduces us to Dr. Shih-Hsiu Jerry Wang, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Duke University School of Medicine, and shares his talk on emerging biomarkers for the assessment of Alzheimer’s disease from the ASCP 2023 Annual Meeting.
Dr. Wang explains how we measure AD right now and why there’s discordance between the clinical presentation and pathology of Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Wang walks us through the core biomarkers for identifying AD per the AT(N) framework, describing the pros and cons of current detection methodologies and offering recommendations around when to use blood biomarkers versus PET imaging or CSF.
Listen in for insight into the ongoing search for better AD biomarkers and learn what we are doing to diagnose Alzheimer’s in its early stages and intervene accordingly.
Topics Covered
· The clinical definition of Alzheimer’s disease and how it impacts cognitive function
· How we measure Alzheimer’s in pathology by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles
· Why there’s discordance between the clinical presentation and pathology of AD
· The core biomarkers for identifying Alzheimer’s disease per the AT(N) framework
· Identifying the stages of AD based on amyloid plaque, pathologic tau and neurodegeneration
· Examples of PET imaging for the different stages of AD and how imaging biomarkers predict cognitive decline
· The limitations of fluid biomarkers vs. imaging biomarkers to detect Alzheimer's disease
· Some of the emerging ultrasensitive biomarker detection methods in development for AD
· Using cerebral spinal fluids (CSF) vs. plasma biomarkers to identify Alzheimer's disease
· A comparison of the mass spectrometry vs. SIMOA methods of analyzing p-tau biomarkers
· Why Dr. Wang suggests blood biomarkers for AD screening (with confirmation by PET or CSF)
· Why SNAP-25, NfL and GFAP are not considered core biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease
· The ongoing search for better biomarkers and ultrasensitive detection methods for AD
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. WangDr. Wang at Duke University
Connect with Ms. SwailsMs. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesDr. Wang’s Slides from the ASCP Annual Meeting 2023
‘NIA-AA Research Framework: Toward a Biological Definition of Alzheimer’s Disease’ in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s AssociationInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Tests that are designed in-house to fulfill a clinical need (but aren’t FDA approved) qualify as laboratory developed tests. And these LDTs are currently regulated by CLIA. But the FDA is proposing a new rule that would give them oversight of the design and development of laboratory developed tests. So, what does that mean for us? How would this new legislation impact everyday practice inside the lab?
On this episode of the podcast, your hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails, MLS(ASCP), and Dr. Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, are joined by Dr. Gregory Sossaman, MD, Clinical Pathologist and Service Line Lead for Pathology and Lab Medicine at Ochsner Health, Dr. Jonathan Genzen, MD, Clinical Pathology Professor at the University of Utah and Chief Medical Officer and Senior Director of Government Affairs at ARUP Laboratories, and Mr. Matthew Schulze, Senior Director for the Center for Public Policy at ASCP, to discuss the implications of the proposed FDA regulations for LDTs.
Our panelists share their anxiety around the labor and costs involved in complying with the new rule and describe how lab professionals might be forced into situations where we deny care due to regulations. Listen in to understand why public opinion favors the proposed rule and learn how to share your concerns with the FDA during the public comment period from October 3rd to December 4th, 2023.
Topics Covered
· How tests that are not FDA approved but designed in-house to fulfill a clinical need fall into the category of laboratory developed tests
· Examples of common LDTs used in academic medical centers + large community health systems
· The current regulations re: performance standards for LDTs under CLIA
· Dr. Sossaman, Dr. Genzen & Mr. Schulze’s concerns around the labor and costs involved in complying with the proposed FDA rule
· The lack of clarity re: what modifications to FDA approved tests would be allowed under the proposed regulations
· How direct-to-consumer testing, the pandemic and technological advances influenced the proposed FDA rule and why the general public is in favor of it
· How the proposed FDA regulations would affect our ability to respond in future pandemics
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. SossamanDr. Sossaman on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. GenzenDr. Genzen on LinkedIn
Connect with Mr. SchulzeMr. Schulze on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. BrownMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Brown on Twitter
ResourcesASCP Membership 2024
Proposed FDA Regulation of Laboratory Developed Tests
Public Comment on the FDA’s Proposed Rule
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Working on the bench can feel like being in a black box. And as important as it is to advocate for patients, pathologists and laboratory professionals rarely have direct access to them.
So, what can we do to encourage patient-centered care in the medical laboratory?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, your hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails, MLS(ASCP), and Dr. Lotte Mulder, PhD, are joined by three members of the laboratory staff at University Hospital in San Antonio, Ms. Carrie Bartosh, MLS(ASCP), SV, Laboratory Supervisor in the Microbiology Department, Ms. Claudia Courtright, MLS(ASCP), Technical Supervisor in Microbiology Services, and Mr. Scott Bowman, MLS(ASCP), Bench Technologist, to discuss patient advocacy in the laboratory.
Our panelists describe what laboratories can do to promote a culture of patient-centered care, sharing examples of situations when they advocated for patients from the bench and what they wish people knew about the value of the work done in the medical laboratory.
Listen in for Ms. Bartosh, Ms. Courtright, and Mr. Bowman’s advice for laboratory professionals on avoiding burnout and learn how your laboratory can establish processes that support patient-centered care.
Topics Covered
· How frontline laboratory professionals can advocate for patients from the bench
· Instances of advocating for patients and how working in a culture of safety empowered those situations
· What the University Health laboratory does to continuously evaluate and improve its patient-centered care practices
· What laboratories can do to promote a culture of patient-centered care
· Why a punitive culture in the laboratory is not conducive to patient-centered care
· Examples of processes that support patient-centered care
· Advice to laboratory professionals on how to avoid burnout
· How Ms. Bartosh, Ms. Courtright, and Mr. Bowmanstay motivated to focus on advocacy
· Why laboratory professionals rarely have an opportunity to involve patients in the decision-making process around laboratory testing and results interpretation (and how impactful it is when they do)
· What our panelists wish patients knew about the value of the work we do in the medical laboratory
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Bartosh, Ms. Courtright & Mr. BowmanUniversity Health Laboratory Services
Ms. Bartosh on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. BrownMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
ResourcesCAP Inspection Checklists
ASCP Patient Champions Program
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
We know that diverse teams perform better. In laboratory medicine, diversity, equity, and inclusion in leadership not only inspires young professionals, it also promotes retention in a profession that struggles with staffing shortages.
So, what’s stopping us from increasing representation and equity in laboratory leadership?
What can we do to recruit a more diverse pool of job applicants and then support them in growing into lab leadership and management roles?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, your hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails, MLS(ASCP), and Dr. Lotte Mulder, PhD, are joined by Ms. Lona Gordon Small, MT(ASCP), MBA, Quality Specialist at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Core Lab and coach and Founder of LabOPEX Training and Consulting, Dr. Marissa J. White, MD, FASCP, Surgical Pathologist and Deputy Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Johns Hopkins, and Mr. Mohamed Abdelmonem, MBA-HCM, MSc, CLS(ASCP)SBB, Blood Bank Specialist and Transfusion and Reference Lab Supervisor at STEM Healthcare, to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion strategies for the medical lab.
Our panelists explain the common barriers to expanding representation among laboratory leadership and explore effective strategies for mentoring underrepresented groups in management roles.
Listen in for Ms. Small, Dr. White, and Mr. Abdelmonem’s insight on establishing equity around pay and promotion and learn what educational institutions and professional organizations can do to promote representation at all levels of the laboratory workforce!
Topics Covered
· The crucial need to increase representation in laboratory leadership and management positions
· Common barriers to expanding representation and equity in laboratory leadership
· What educational institutions and professional organizations can do to promote representation and equity in the laboratory workforce
· The benefits of equity around pay and promotion in the medical lab
· Effective strategies for mentoring and supporting underrepresented groups in laboratory leadership roles
· Strategies to identify and recruit a more diverse pool of job applicants for roles in the medical laboratory
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. SmallMs. Small on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. WhiteDr. White at Johns Hopkins
Connect with Mr. AbdelmonemMr. Abdelmonem on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. MulderMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
ResourceseLABorate Topics Podcast
Mass General Brigham’s Mentoring Across Differences
Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine
ASCP Mentorship Program
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Would you benefit from having a mentor to help you grow as a pathologist or laboratory professional? How might you benefit from becoming a mentor yourself?
We get further, faster, with support, and having the right mentor accelerates your personal and professional development.
But how do you find a good mentor? And what can you do to make the mentor-mentee relationship successful?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, your hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails, MT(ASCP), and Dr. Lotte Mulder, PhD, are joined by Dr. Nathan Johnson, PhD, FACHE, MASCP, DLM(ASCP), Chair of Laboratory Sciences at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas,Ms. Tywauna Wilson, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, System Technical Director of Chemistry for CompuNet Clinical Laboratories and President of Trendy Elite Coaching, and Dr. Russell Broaddus, MD, PhD, Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, to discuss mentorship in the laboratory.
Our panelists explore the characteristics of a good mentor, explaining why mentorship is important at ALL levels of your career and where to look for mentorship as a pathologist or laboratory professional.
Listen in for examples of how Dr. Johnson, Ms. Wilson, and Dr. Broaddus have benefitted from serving as mentors and learn how to maximize the benefits of a mentor-mentee relationship in the medical lab.
Topics Covered· What inspired Dr. Johnson, Ms. Wilson, and Dr. Broaddus to become mentors
· Why our panelists look to mentor in the areas of leadership and career development
· How experienced laboratory professionals can learn from their younger colleagues
· The characteristics of a good mentor
· What makes the mentor-mentee relationship work
· What questions you should ask yourself before saying YES to mentoring someone
· Insight on where to look for a mentor
· Common mistakes people make in looking for a mentor
· Why mentorship is important at ALL levels of your laboratory career
· How our panelists have benefited from serving as mentors
· What you can do to maximize your mentor-mentee relationships in the lab
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. JohnsonDr. Johnson at the University of Arkansas
Dr. Johnson on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. WilsonTrendy Elite Coaching
Ms. Wilson on Twitter
Ms. Wilson on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. BroaddusDr. Broaddus at UNC School of Medicine
Dr. Broaddus on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. MulderMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
ResourcesInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
What inspires a doctor to pursue pathology?
Dr. Elvio Silva, MD, was drawn to pathology because it’s the only specialty in medicine where you can SEE the disease. And his patient-centered approach to studying tumors has led to breakthrough research.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, Dr. Silva, Professor in the Department of Pathology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, joins our hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails, MLS(ASCP), and Dr. Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, to discuss his storied career as a gynecologic pathologist.
Dr. Silva explains the two kinds of pathology research, describing what inspired his revolutionary work in grading endocervical adenocarcinomas and why it’s crucial for medical journals to make room for new ideas.
Listen in for insight on deciding between a career in academics versus private practice and find out what Dr. Silva learned from his most challenging cases in the diverse field of gynecologic pathology.
Topics Covered
· Dr. Silva’s accidental journey to becoming a gynecologic pathologist
· How pathology is the only specialty where you can SEE the disease and why Dr. Silva views that as the best part of pathology
· Dr. Silva’s response to people who say pathologists aren’t real doctors
· How Dr. Silva thinks about deciding between academics vs. private practice
· The two kinds of pathology research and what draws people to research that involves understanding a disease
· What Dr. Silva says to people who are intimidated by the diversity in gynecologic pathology
· Why it’s challenging for pathologists to recognize when we’re wrong
· The publications Dr. Silva is most proud of (and why those papers were initially rejected)
· Examples of challenging cases and how they illustrate pitfalls pathologists should avoid
· Why it’s crucial for societies and journals to make room for people with new and unusual ideas
· Concerns around the training of pathology residents
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. SilvaDr. Silva on Twitter
Dr. Silva on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. BrownMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Brown on Twitter
ResourcesDr. Silva on ResearchGate
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Are you dreaming of moving up the ladder and transitioning to a management position in the laboratory? Or maybe even a leadership role outside the lab?
What can you do to learn the leadership skills you need to take that next step in your career?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, your hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails, MLS(ASCP), and Dr. Lotte Mulder, PhD, are joined by Dr. Gary Procop, MD, MS, CEO of the American Board of Pathology, Ms. Anne Walsh-Feeks, MS, PA(ASCP), FACHE, Assistant Dean and COO for Ambulatory Operations at Stony Brook Medicine in Stony Brooke, New York, and Ms. Carol Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ, MASCP, MT(ASCP)HTL, DLM, CEO and COO at Stony Brook University Hospital, to discuss the transition to leadership outside the laboratory.
Our panelists discuss their journeys to leadership roles, sharing the resources they found helpful in making the transition and offering advice for laboratory professionals considering management positions in or outside the lab. Listen in for our panelists' insight on building leadership experience through volunteering and learn to leverage the skills you’re honing in the lab to advance your career!
Topics Covered
· Career advice for laboratory professionals who wish to move into a management position
· Why it is important to maintain your clinical role during the transition to management
· Leadership skills learned from volunteering with professional associations
· How to take advantage of tuition reimbursement programs to further your education
· Skills learned working in the lab that can contribute career progression
· The pivotal events responsible for our panelists' transition to leadership outside the lab
· Advice for clinicians who want to make the leap to leadership roles outside the lab
· Certifications and degrees our panelists found helpful in making the transition to leadership
· What our panelists would do differently in their careers given the opportunity
· What our panelists miss about working in the lab
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. ProcopDr. Procop at the American Board of Pathology
Dr. Procop on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Walsh-FeeksMs. Walsh-Feeks on Twitter
Ms. Walsh-Feeks on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. GomesMs. Gomes at Stony Brook University
Ms. Gomes on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. MulderMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
ResourcesAmerican Association of Pathologists’ Assistants
NYU’s Advanced Management Program for Clinicians
NAHQ’s CPHQ Certification
ACHE’s FACHE Certification
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Do you cut corners when it comes to laboratory safety?
Little things like carrying your cell phone, rolling up the sleeves of your lab coat, or skipping the hurricane drill don’t seem like a big deal in the moment. But when you consider the potential risks to you, your colleagues, your family, and anyone else you might encounter, even small safety violations can have a big impact.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, your hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails, MT(ASCP), and Dr. Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, are joined by Mr. Sean Kaufman, MPH, CPH, IFBA-CP, CEO and Founding Partner of Safer Behaviors, Dr. Jason Nagy, PhD, MLS(ASCP), QLS, Laboratory Safety Support Coordinator for Sentara Healthcare, and Mr. Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, CQA(ASQ), Laboratory Safety Consultant and Laboratory Safety Officer at Sentara Healthcare, to discuss the most common safety issues facing today’s medical labs.
Our panelists explore the risks involved in having our cell phones in the medical laboratory and explain why so many leaders fail to hold their teams accountable for laboratory safety.
Mr. Kaufman, Dr. Nagy, and Mr. Scungio describe why effective education is key in establishing a safety culture in the lab and how some of the things we do for the sake of safety increase our risk.
Listen in for insight on effective emergency management planning and learn how to protect yourself and others from the greatest safety risks we face in the medical lab.
Topics Covered
· The top 10 safety issues facing today’s medical laboratories
· The surprising personal items that have been found in drawers during lab safety audits
· Examples of specimen transport safety issues
· The 3 Cs of transferring specimens—coordination, communication, and common courtesy
· The risks involved in having cell phones in the medical laboratory
· Why effective education is key in establishing a safety culture in the lab (and what that looks like)
· Advice on preparing for emergencies that don’t occur often
· How laboratory leaders fail to hold their teams accountable for lab safety
· How we cut corners around PPE compliance (lab coats, goggles and face shields)
· The challenges around defining clean vs. dirty areas of the laboratory
· Why most laboratories are lacking when it comes to chemical and waste management
· How some of the things we do for the sake of safety increase our risk
· How human risk factors (i.e.: interpersonal conflict, mental and emotional fitness, etc.) are the greatest safety risks we face in the medical laboratory
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter Connect with Mr. KaufmanSafer Behaviors
Mr. Kaufman on LinkedIn Connect with Dr. NagySentara Healthcare
Dr. Nagy on LinkedIn
Connect with Mr. ScungioDan the Lab Safety Man
Mr. Scungio on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. BrownMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Brown on Twitter
ResourcesLablogatory
OSHA
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Are you ready for Medical Laboratory Professionals Week?
Our annual celebration of pathologists and medical laboratory professionals begins April 23, 2023, and this year’s theme is Saved by the Lab, a play on the popular sitcom from the 1990s, Saved by the Bell. In honor of Zack Morris and friends from Bayside High, we’re revisiting the ‘90s to explore what was going on in the world—and the world of laboratory medicine.
On this LIVE episode of Inside the Lab, your host, Ms. Kelly Swails, MLS(ASCP), is joined by Dr. Robert A. Goulart, MD, MASCP, FCAP, Associate Chief of Anatomic Pathology and Director of Quality and Patient Safety at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Health System and President-Elect of ASCP, Mr. Sean McNair, MPH, Cytology Education Coordinator at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Program Director for the Cytology Training Program at Hunter College, Ms. Stephanie Y. Whitehead, MPH, MBA, MLS(ASCP), Executive Director of Pathology and Laboratory Services at University Health System in San Antonio, Texas, and Chair Elect for the Council of Laboratory Professionals, and Dr. Constantine Kanakis, MD, MSc, MLS(ASCP), Resident Physician at Loyola Medicine in Chicago and Member of the ASCP Patient Champions Advisory Board, for a ‘90s trivia showdown.
Our panelists answer questions about ‘90s pop culture, including the highest grossing movies, chart-topping music and hottest toys of the decade.Dr. Goulart, Mr. McNair, Ms. Whitehead and Dr. Kanakis also test their knowledge of noteworthy lab news from the ‘90s. Listen in to find out which of our panelists took home the coveted prize, a tote bag filled with Saved by the Lab gear!
Topics Covered · Popular ‘90s trends such as the Tamagotchi, Tickle Me Elmo, Harry Potter and reality television
· ‘90s pop culture trivia, e.g.: the most-watched episode of TV, highest grossing movie and chart-topping music of the decade
· Lab-specific ‘90s trivia like when ASCP elected a laboratory professional to the Board of Directors for the first time or how many lab professionals were working in the US at that time
· Noteworthy laboratory news from the ‘90s, including Marie Gatscha’s testimony to Congress on behalf of ASCP, the revision of the WHO Blue Book on bone tumors, and trastuzumab’s impact on breast cancer treatment
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. GoulartDr. Goulart on LinkedIn
Connect with Mr. McNairMr. McNair on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. WhiteheadMs. Whitehead on LinkedIn
Ms. Whitehead on Twitter
Ms. Whitehead on Instagram
Connect with Dr. KanakisDr. Kanakis on LinkedIn
Dr. Kanakis on Twitter
Dr. Kanakis at Loyola Pathology
Connect with Ms. SwailsMs. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesASCP Lab Week Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
The medical laboratory is often seen as a black box that generates definitive results with little effort. But it’s not always that simple.
What if you work up a culture and find an unusual bacteria or fungus? What do the technologists in the microbiology laboratory do to investigate these uncommon cases and provide their patients with a proper diagnosis?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails, MLS(ASCP), and Dr. Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, are joined by Dr. Clare McCormick-Baw, MD, FASCP, Medical Director of Infectious Diseases Serology and Molecular Microbiology at Parkland Health in Dallas, Texas, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Andrew Clark, PhD, D(ABMM), Medical Directory of the Microbiology Laboratory at Clements University Hospital and Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and Dr. Laura Filkins, PhD, D(ABMM), Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Director at Children’s Health System of Texas in Dallas, Texas, and Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, to share their most interesting microbiology cases.
Dr. Clark discusses an immunosuppressed 73-year-old man with persistent diarrhea who was diagnosed with invasive GI mucormycosis, and Dr. McCormick-Baw describes the case of the healthy 51-year-old woman whose abdominal fullness was caused by coccidioidomycosis, not cancer. Listen in for Dr. Filkins’ insight on getting the CDC involved when a four-year-old patient contracted Burkholderia pseudomallei and learn how committed clinical laboratory scientists kept digging until they found answers for these three unique patients!
Topics Covered
· Dr. Clark’s case of an immunosuppressed 73-year-old man with persistent diarrhea
· How Dr. Clark’s team found Mucor mold in their patient’s stool culture and diagnosed him with invasive GI mucormycosis
· How rare GI mucormycosis is and why it’s nearly always terminal
· Dr. McCormick-Baw’s case of a healthy 51-year-old woman who presented with abdominal fullness
· How Dr. McCormick-Baw’s team determined that their patient did not have cancer but did have coccidioidomycosis
· Why it took two years after Dr. McCormick-Baw’s patient contracted Coccidioides on a hike for symptoms to present
· Dr. Filkins’ case of a previously healthy four-year-old female (with a colorful animal history) who presented with nausea, vomiting, lethargy and decreased appetite
· How Dr. Filkins’ team cultured their young patient’s tracheal aspirate specimen and found the high-risk pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei· How the local health lab, local epidemiologist and CDC’s joint investigation uncovered four cases of Burkholderia pseudomallei in the U.S. and traced them to aromatherapy bottles manufactured in India
· How the CDC, EPA and Texas public health agencies discovered that Dr. Filkins’ patient’s pet raccoon died of Burkholderia pseudomallei and decontaminated its burial site
Connect with ASCPASCP on Twitter Connect with Dr. McCormick-BawDr. McCormick-Baw at UT Southwestern
Connect with Dr. ClarkDr. Clark at UT Southwestern
Connect with Dr. FilkinsDr. Filkins at UT Southwestern
Resources‘Burkholderia Pseudomalliei Detected in a Raccoon Carcass Linked to a Multistate Aromatherapy-Associated Melioidosis Outbreak’ in Morbidity and Mortality
ASCP is committed to developing policies that improve public health through the practice of laboratory medicine. One of the ways that the Society participates in public policy is through our delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA).
So, what does it mean to be an ASCP delegate to the AMA? How well is pathology represented within the AMA House of Delegates? And why does that representation matter?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, your hosts Dr. Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, and Dr. Lotte Mulder, PhD, are joined by ASCP delegates to the AMA Dr. William Finn, MD, MASCP, Medical Director of the Joint Venture Hospital Laboratories and Past President of ASCP, Dr. Jennifer Stall, MD, Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist at Hospital Pathology Associates in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Dr. H. Cliff Sullivan, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Director of the Cellular Therapy Laboratory at Emory University, to discuss laboratory medicine’s representation within the American Medical Association.
Our panelists discuss the AMA’s function as a professional association and lobbying group for physicians and medical students and share their experiences as delegates to the AMA from ASCP. Dr. Finn, Dr. Stall, and Dr. Sullivan explain the responsibilities as delegates to the AMA and offer examples of how ASCP’s involvement in the AMA serves the interests of ASCP members and our patients. Listen in for insight around the AMA initiatives and programs pathologists should be aware of and learn how you can get involved in amplifying the voice of pathologists in the AMA.
Topics Covered
· How the AMA functions as a professional association and lobbying group for physicians and medical students
· How the AMA fulfills its mission to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health
· Who serves as ASCP’s full delegates to the AMA and who serves as alternate delegates
· How well pathology is represented within the AMA and why that representation matters
· How the pathology voice is received in the egalitarian system of the AMA
· How ASCP’s involvement in the AMA serves the interests of ASCP members and our patients
· How to get involved with the AMA
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. FinnDr. Finn on LinkedIn Connect with Dr.StallDr. Stall on Twitter
Connect with Dr. SullivanDr. Sullivan at Emory University Connect with Dr. Mulder & Dr. BrownDr. Mulder on Twitter
Dr. Brown on Twitter ResourcesAmerican Medical Association
ASCP Resident Council
VALID Act of 2021
CLIA Law & Regulations
ASCP Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
ASCP’s Resident In-Service Exam, better known as RISE, began in 1983, and it was designed as a study tool for board exams.
But RISE has evolved over time in response to feedback from program directors and residents alike, adapting to remain relevant to practice and help students identify their individual strengths and weaknesses.
So, what do you need to know about the Resident In-Service Exam and how it can ensure your success as an emerging pathologist or laboratory professional?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, your hosts Dr. Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, and Ms. Kelly Swails, MT(ASCP), are joined by Mr. Jay Wagner, MBA, MLS(ASCP), Director of Assessment, Measurement, Evaluation, Examinations and Outcomes at ASCP, and Dr. Jonathan Genzen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Utah, CMO at ARUP Laboratories and Chair of the RISE Committee, to discuss the evolution of ASCP’s Resident In-Service Exam.
Mr. Wagner and Dr. Genzen discuss who is responsible for writing questions for RISE, what that process looks like, and why the committee doesn’t repeat questions from year-to-year. The panelists explain how RISE supports you in learning from the questions you miss and why there’s such a significant correlation between RISE scores and ABPath pass rates. Listen in for insight on how to study for RISE and learn how the exam helps gauge residents’ progress in becoming the next generation of pathologists and laboratory professionals!
Topics Covered
· How ASCP’s Resident In-Service Exam has evolved since its inception
· Who is responsible for writing the questions for RISE and what the process looks like
· How the RISE Committee makes the exam relevant for international participants
· The correlation between Resident In-Service Exam scores and ABPath pass rates
· How RISE is scored and how it helps you learn from the questions you miss
· When RISE is given and how you can take it all four years of your residency
· How the online format gives program directors flexibility in the administration of RISE
· RISE’s purpose in gauging resident progress and identifying strengths and weaknesses
· Using the Resident Question Bank to study for RISE
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Mr. WagnerMr. Wagner on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. GenzenDr. Genzen at the University of Utah
Dr. Genzen on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. BrownMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Brown on Twitter
ResourcesASCP Resident In-Service ExamASCP Resident Question Bank [Promo Code POD50]
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Castleman Disease: Case-based Microlearning Activity Overview
This CME/CMLE-accredited, case-based microlearning activity is designed to help laboratory team members increase their knowledge, skills, and competence in diagnosing multicentric Castleman disease and to be informed of changes in clinical practice guidelines. Through a series of four 15-minute cases developed by a multidisciplinary team, you will gain a greater understanding of multicentric Castleman disease, how to differentiate it from potential mimics, and updated guidelines for diagnosis. The activity offers 1.0 CME/CMLE credit.
Target Audience The target audience for this activity consists of pathologists and laboratory professionals.
Activity Agenda · Introduction to Castleman disease
· Case-based approach to diagnosing Castleman disease, featuring multidisciplinary perspectives
Accreditation Statement
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians.
Credit Designation Statement
The ASCP designates this online microlearning activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. ASCP designates this online microlearning activity for a maximum of 1.0 CMLE credit. This activity meets CMP and state re-licensure requirements for laboratory personnel. For questions regarding CME credit, please contact ASCP Customer Service at 1-800-267-2727, during normal business hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time
Method of Participation To complete the activity and receive credit, the participant must complete all four cases in the microlearning activity. CME certificates will be provided online.
Commercial Support This activity is funded by an independent educational grant from Recordati Rare Diseases Inc..
Faculty
Anamarija Perry, MD
Associate Professor, Hematopathology, Department of Pathology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan
David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Translational Medicine & Human Genetics, University of Pennsylvania
Seth Kligerman, MD
Professor, Division Chief of Cardiothoracic Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego
Data is fundamental to the modern world. From education to healthcare to economic development and public policy, we rely on data to allocate resources and make decisions.
In Caroline Criado Perez’s groundbreaking book, Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, she contends that there’s a gender data gap. And because the bulk of the world’s data is based on male bodies and behaviors, we live in a world that caters to men and disadvantages women. How does this gender data gap impact women in pathology and laboratory medicine? And what can we do to make the profession more inclusive?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, Host Kelly Swails, MT(ASCP), is joined by Dr. Alison Krywanczyk, MD, FASCP, Deputy Medical Examiner at the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Letycia Catalina Nunez-Argote, PhD, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, Assistant Professor of Clinical Laboratory Sciences at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, and Dr. Catherine M. Stefaniuk, DO, MBA, FASCP, Assistant Medical Director of Clinical Pathology at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, for an ASCP Leadership Institute Book Club discussion of Invisible Women.
Dr. Krywanczyk, Dr. Nunez-Argote, and Dr. Stefaniuk discuss the unpaid work many women do and share their experiences with the changing roles of breadwinner and homemaker between the genders. They explore the negative perceptions of women in positions of authority and explain how the myth of meritocracy has impacted their careers in pathology and laboratory medicine. Listen in for insight on designing laboratory spaces for women and learn to leverage your knowledge as a medical professional to advocate for women in the healthcare system.
Topics Covered· How the gender data gap in healthcare caters to men and actively disadvantages women
· The unpaid work most women do and the changing roles of breadwinner and homemaker between the genders
· Why so many women trade flexibility for advancement and how working part-time disadvantages women in terms of healthcare and retirement benefits
· How the gender data gap impacts pathology and laboratory medicine and what we can do to make the laboratory more amenable to women
· The negative perceptions of women in positions of authority and how that impacts the way we work
· Situations where our knowledge as medical professionals can help us advocate for women whose symptoms are not understood or believed
· How insights gained from Invisible Women will influence decision-making moving forward
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. KrywanczykDr. Krywanczyk on Twitter Connect with Dr.Nunez-ArgoteDr. Nunez-Argote on Twitter
Connect with Dr. StefaniukDr. Stefaniuk on LinkedIn
ResourcesASCP Leadership Institute
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
In medicine, we’re taught to recognize hoofbeats as horses rather than zebras. But what happens when a surgical pathology diagnosis really is a zebra?
What is the best way to approach a challenging case? And how do you know when to ask for help?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails, MT(ASCP), and Dr. Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, are joined by Dr. Cesar Moran, MD, Tenured Professor of Pathology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, to share some of the most challenging surgical pathology cases he’s faced.
Dr. Moran describes three different types of difficult cases and discusses what to do when a tumor appears to be a new entity. Listen in for Dr. Moran’s insight on fighting against the bias of your default diagnosis and get his advice on how to know when you don’t know and ask your colleagues for help.
Topics Covered
· Dr. Moran’s take on the 3 different types of challenging surgical pathology cases
· How the expectations for surgical pathologists to provide a diagnosis have risen exponentially
· The volume of tissue issue in thoracic pathology
· Dr. Moran’s approach to a challenging surgical pathology case
· What to do when a tumor appears to be a new entity
· Why pathologists are unlikely to be replaced by technology
· How the diagnostic tools for surgical pathologists have evolved from electron microscopy to immunohistochemistry to molecular studies
· Examples of the most challenging cases Dr. Moran has faced in his career
· Why it’s challenging to consider unusual possibilities when you come in with a default diagnosis
· How to fight against the bias of default diagnosis
· Why Dr. Moran considers benign diagnoses to be the most difficult ones
· Dr. Moran’s advice for practicing pathologists on when to ask colleagues for help
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. MoranDr. Moran at MD Anderson
Dr. Moran on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. Brown Ms. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Brown on Twitter
ResourcesBecome a Member of ASCP
‘Xanthomatous Thymoma: A Clinicopathologic and Immunohistochemical Study of 10 Cases’ in the American Journal of Clinical PathologyInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Medical laboratories, in general, struggle with visibility. And laboratory professionals rarely get the recognition they deserve for the important work that they do. The Leading Laboratories program is on a mission to change that. This partnership between ASCP and The Joint Commission seeks to recognize excellence in laboratory practice, awarding the Leading Laboratories designation to labs with an exemplary focus on impacting quality patient outcomes.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails and Dr. Ali Brown, are joined by Ms. Barbara Caldwell, MS, MASCP, MLS(ASCP)SHCM, Former Administrative Director of Clinical Laboratory Services at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney, Maryland; Ms. Lynnette Chakkaphak, MS, MLS(ASCP), Director of Clinical Operations at Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida; and Ms. Diana Kremitske, MHA, MS, MLS(ASCP), Vice President of the Diagnostic Medicine Institute at Geisinger in Danville, Pennsylvania, to discuss the new Leading Laboratories program.
Ms. Caldwell, Ms. Chakkaphak, and Ms. Kremitske describe their involvement in the development of Leading Laboratories and explain how a laboratory earns the prestigious designation. Listen in to learn how to follow the program’s roadmap for building strong, successful medical laboratories across the country.
Topics Covered
· The goal of the Leading Laboratories program and how a lab earns the prestigious designation
· What differentiates the Leading Laboratories designation from laboratory accreditation
· The four key components of the Leading Laboratories program
· How to compile and submit a portfolio of evidence to the Leading Laboratories program
· How the Leading Laboratories program addresses the workforce recruitment and retention crisis among pathologists and medical laboratory professionals
· How The Joint Commission’s involvement in Leading Laboratories impacts its visibility among executives in hospital C-suites
· How Leading Laboratories provides a roadmap to build stronger, more successful laboratories across the country
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. CaldwellMs. Caldwell on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. ChakkaphakMs. Chakkaphak on Twitter
Ms. Chakkaphak on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. KremitskeMs. Kremitske on Twitter
Ms. Kremitske on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. BrownMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Brown on Twitter
ResourcesLeading Laboratories Program
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
During this recorded 2022 ASCP Annual Meeting session, multidisciplinary faculty will discuss the science and latest evidence on emerging biomarkers, resistance mutations, immuno-oncology (I-O) resistance mechanisms, and I-O treatment options (e.g., combination therapy involving CTLA-4 inhibitors) in metastatic NSCLC. In addition, they will address how to integrate next generation sequencing (NGS) into your biomarker testing workflows and optimize its use for patients. Finally, they will share best practices in biomarker testing, reporting, and communication to help pathologists and laboratory professionals guide medical oncologists and other team members in the appropriate diagnosis, testing, and treatment for patients.
The activity offers 1.0 CME/CMLE credit.
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, you should be able to:
· Describe ongoing investigational efforts regarding emerging biomarkers in metastatic NSCLC
· Utilize NGS to identify current and emerging biomarkers to predict response to personalized therapies for patients with metastatic NSCLC
· Employ strategies for optimizing workflows and turnaround times for NGS
· Discuss the science behind resistance mechanisms in patients with metastatic NSCLC
· Recognize the use of emerging I-O combination therapies and potential biomarkers in patients with metastatic NSCLC
· Develop ways to improve communication among pathologists, oncologists, and other members of the multidisciplinary lung cancer care team
Faculty
Diana N. Ionescu MD, FRCPC, FCAPConsultant Pathologist and Medical Lead Anatomical Pathology
Medical Director BC Cervical Cancer Screening Laboratory
Medical Director Clinical Trials, BC Cancer Laboratories
Clinical Professor of Pathology, University of British Columbia
Doru Paul, MD, PhDAttending Physician, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology
Weill Cornell and New York Presbyterian Hospital
Faculty Disclosures
The following Panel/Faculty members have relevant financial relationships to disclose:
| Faculty Member | Ineligible Company | For what role?
| Diana Ionescu, MD | AstraZeneca, Bayer, BMS, Merck, Pfizer, Roche | Consultant, Consultant, Consultant, Consultant, Consultant, Consultant
Dr. Paul has no relevant financial relationships to disclose
All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated
Commercial SupportFunded by an independent educational grant from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
So, you like your job as a medical laboratory professional, but you’re restless. You have dreams of a bigger life. One that allows you to serve others and satisfy your wanderlust.
You might consider becoming a Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist with the US State Department, a role that requires an affinity for travel, a passion for service, and a well-rounded background on the bench.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our host, Ms. Kelly Swails, is joined byMs. Danielle Forester, MLS(ASCP)CM, former Microbiology Specialist at Quest Diagnostics and current RMLS in Beijing, China, Mr. Dave Keddington, MLS(ASCP)CM, former Technical Supervisor at ARUP Laboratories and current RMLS in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Ms. Stacy Deckard, MLS(ASCP)CM, former Medical Technologist at Carle Foundation Hospital and current RMLS in Jakarta, India, to share their experiences working with the Foreign Service as Regional Medical Laboratory Scientists.
Our panelists discuss the pros and cons of working as an RMLS, describing how they serve the diplomatic community, embassy staff and their local communities. They explore how being a Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist impacts work-life balance and explain how the compensation package compares to working in a lab in the US. Listen in for advice on applying to be a Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and learn how becoming an RMLS gives you the opportunity to experience other cultures firsthand and expand your worldview.
Topics Covered
· How each of our panelists found out about working with the Foreign Service and what prompted them to apply
· How a well-rounded background and experience in training prepares you to work as an RMLS with the Foreign Service
· How RMLSs serve the diplomatic community, embassy staff and their local community
· What Ms. Forester, Mr. Keddington & Ms. Deckard like best about working as a Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist
· The most challenging aspects of working as an RMLS for the US State Department
· How RMLSs and their families benefit from experiencing other cultures firsthand and expanding their worldview
· How being an RMLS impacts your social life, personal travel and work-life balance
· What it’s like for the family members of Regional Medical Laboratory Scientists
· How the compensation package for an RMLS compares to working in a lab in the US
· Advice to anyone applying to be an RMLS in the Foreign Service
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Mr. KeddingtonMr. Keddington on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. DeckardMs. Deckard on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. SwailsMs. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesUSAJOBS
CAP Inspector Tools and Training
Affinity Groups at the US State Department
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
The emergence of HER2-low therapies for metastatic breast cancer is a paradigm shift in the traditional binary classification of a patient’s HER2 status, creating a need for practice changes in pathology necessitated by the expansion in how HER2-low breast cancer needs to be classified and treated. During this recorded 2022 ASCP Annual Meeting session, a moderated expert faculty panel will discuss evolving and emerging trends in breast cancer classification and reporting across the HER2+ spectrum. They will also discuss how pathologists and laboratory professionals can prepare for HER2-low classification, tracking, and reporting. In addition, they will review some of the current challenges in HER2 testing and explore opportunities to prepare for the future landscape of HER classification in breast cancer. The activity offers 1.0 CME/CMLE credit. The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. FacultySwikrity U. Baskota, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, and Cell Biology
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Marilyn Bui, MD, PhD
Senior Member and Professor of Pathology
Scientific Director of Analytic Microscopy Core
Program Director of Cytopathology Fellowship
Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Mamatha Chivukula, MD, FASCP
Director of Breast Pathology Services and IHC Lab
Mills Peninsula Medical Center, Sutter Health Affiliate
Joseph Kim, MD, MBA, MPH
President
Q Synthesis
Credit Designation Statement The ASCP designates this enduring podcast activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. ASCP designates this enduring podcast activity for a maximum of 1.0 CMLE credit. This activity meets CMP and state re-licensure requirements for laboratory personnel. For questions regarding CME credit, please contact ASCP Customer Service at 1-800-267-2727, during normal business hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time
Method of Participation To complete the activity and receive credit, the participant must complete the podcast activity. CME certificates will be provided on-line.
Commercial Support
Funded by independent educational grants from AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
Provided by the American Society for Clinical Pathology in partnership with Q Synthesis.
In the 100 years since its founding in 1922, the American Society for Clinical Pathology has guided the application and evolution of pathology and laboratory medicine.
But how much do you know about the history of ASCP?
On this episode of Inside the Lab recorded live at the ASCP Annual Meeting in Chicago, our hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails and Dr. Lotte Mulder, are joined by Team Total Kuality, Dr. Kamran Mirza, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology at Loyola Medicine, and Dr. Theresa Tellier-Castellone, EdD, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, Program Director for the School of Medical Technology at Our Lady of Fatima and Rhode Island Hospital; Team Buffy Coat, Dr. Kim Sanford, MD, MASCP, MT(ASCP), Past President of ASCP, and Dr. Will Finn, MD, MASCP, Medical Director at Warde Medical Lab and Past President of ASCP; and Team Diplococcus, Ms. Christy Nickel, MHA, MLS(ASCP)CM, CPHQ, ASCP CMLA Chair and Director of the Clinical Laboratory at Bryan Health, and Ms. Jeannie Guglielmo, MS, MAT, MLS(ASCP)CM, Chair of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at Stony Brook University, for an enthusiastic game of ASCP Trivia.
Our teams answer questions about the ethical issues that concerned ASCP in its early years and the goals of the organization that have remained consistent since its founding in 1922. They buzz in to share their knowledge of how we made history by electing Dr. Emma Sadler Moss as President in 1955. Listen in as the teams compete for bragging rights (and a glow-in-the-dark Erlenmeyer flask).
Topics Covered
· Dr. Emma Sadler Moss’ roles at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and with ASCP in the 1950s
· The ethical issues around the practice of pathology that concerned ASCP in its early years
· Other professional organizations founded at ASCP meetings
· Why ASCP changed its name to the American Society for Clinical Pathology in 2002
· How ASCP’s Center for Global Health is responding to disasters and expanding laboratory services all over the world
· What goals ASCP established when the organization was founded in 1922 (and how those goals have remained consistent in the years since)
· How ASCP made history by electing the first female president of a medical organization in 1955
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter Connect with Team Total KualityDr. Mirza on Twitter
Dr. Tellier-Castellone on Twitter
Connect with Team Buffy CoatDr. Sanford on Twitter
Dr. Finn on Twitter Connect with Team DiplococcusMs. Nickel on LinkedIn
Ms. Guglielmo on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. MulderMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter ResourcesASCP Annual Meeting
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
What are MLS education programs doing to address the workforce shortage in the medical lab and provide opportunities for career advancement?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts, Ms. Patricia Tanabe and Ms. Kelly Swails, are joined by Ms. Patricia Ellinger, MSEd, MLS(ASCP)CMSBBCM, MLS Faculty and Former MLS Program Director at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Ms. Sue Johnson, MSTM, MT(ASCP)CMSBBCM, Director of Clinical Education at Versiti and Director of the Transfusion Medicine Program at Marquette University, Dr. Elizabeth Glockel-Blessing, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, Associate Dean for Students and Academic Affairs in the Doisy College of Health Sciences at Saint Louis University, and Ms. Amanda Reed, MAE, MLS(ASCP)CM, Director of the Medical Laboratory Science Program at Saint Louis University, to discuss current trends in MLS education.
Our panelists describe the MLT to MLS bridge program at St. Cloud State, the blood bank internship program at Versiti, and the hybrid MLS program at Saint Louis University. They explore how hybrid, online and accelerated models open up more seats for students and explain how clinicals work in their respective MLS programs. Learn how MLS programs are evolving to meet the demand for medical laboratory scientists and move the profession forward.
Topics Covered
· The education paradigm our panelists are using in their respective MLS programs
· Ms. Ellinger’s MLT to MLS bridge program and how it’s individualized for each student
· The blood center-based blood bank internship program Ms. Johnson is developing and how participants separate their time as students vs. employees
· How Dr. Glockel-Blessing and Ms. Reed’s hybrid MLS program differs from a traditional MLS program and why it targets students with biology and chemistry degrees
· The 3 categorical programs offered at SLU and which generates the most interest
· How clinicals work in the MLT to MLS bridge, MLS hybrid and BB internship programs
· The advantages and disadvantages of each paradigm
· How hybrid and online programs open up more seats for students in MLS programs
· Our panelist's insight around the future of MLS education
Connect with ASCPASCP
Connect with Ms. Ellinger
Ms. Ellinger on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Johnson
Ms. Johnson on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Glockel-Blessing
Dr. Glockel-Blessing on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Reed
Ms. Reed on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Tanabe & Ms. SwailsMs. Tanabe on LinkedIn
Ms. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesMLT to MLS Program at St. Cloud State University
Transfusion Medicine Blood Banking Fellowships at Versiti
SLU’s Hybrid MLS Degree
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Since its inception in 1922, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) has worked to provide excellence in education, certification, and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists, and laboratory professionals.
And while the implementation of these principles has changed dramatically in the last 100 years, the core values of the organization have not. ASCP maintains its patient focus and ongoing commitment to education and standardization.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails and Mr. David Ritter, LMS Business Analyst for eLearning at ASCP, are joined by Dr. Fred Rodriguez, MD, MASCP, FCAP, Emma Moss Professor of Pathology at the LSU School of Medicine and Former President of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, to discuss the history of ASCP.
Dr. Rodriguez discusses how and why the organization was founded in 1922, describing ASCP’s role at the forefront of developing standards for laboratory practices. He explains how ASCP’s Board of Registry Certification became the global gold standard for excellence in laboratory testing and explores the professional organization’s efforts to standardize Medical Laboratory Science programs in the last 100 years. Listen in to understand the challenges to advocating for our profession and the critical part pathologists and lab professionals play in modern medicine.
Topics Covered
· What the field of pathology was like when ASCP was founded in the early 1920s
· How and why ASCP was founded as a not-for-profit organization
· The 5 objectives articulated in the ASCP constitution (and why they have endured for 100 years)
· ASCP’s role at the forefront of developing standards for laboratory testing
· How ASCP’s Board of Registry Certification became the gold standard for excellence in lab testing worldwide
· ASCP’s efforts to standardize Medical Laboratory Science programs over the last 100 years
· What factors contributed to ASCP’s growth after World War II
· ASCP’s role in supporting pathologists in developing countries
· How COVID serves as an illustration of the importance of laboratory medicine
· Concerns around the proliferation of point-of-care testing and what that means for the laboratory
· Advocating for the profession to emphasize our critical role in modern medicine
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Email podcast@ascp.org
Connect with Dr. RodriguezDr. Rodriguez at LSU Health
Email fred.rodriguez@ascp.org
Connect with Ms. Swails & Mr. RitterMs. Swails on Twitter
Mr. Ritter on LinkedIn
Resources'The American Society for Clinical Pathology: The Pathology Society of Firsts’ in Laboratory MedicineCenter for Global Health
The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
ASCP 2022 Annual Meeting
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Baby boomers are competitive, self-actualizing, and results-oriented, while Gen Xers are pragmatic, independent, and adaptable. Millennials are known for being team-oriented, creative and resilient, and Gen Zers are entrepreneurial, compassionate, and open to change.
But how do the perspectives of different generations play out inside the medical laboratory?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts, Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. James Crawford, MD, PhD, Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra and Senior Vice President of Laboratory Services at Northwell Health, Ms. Rosie Garris, MLS(ASCP)CM, recent graduate of Upstate Medical University and Medical Technician at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, New York, and Ms. Dana Powell Baker, MBA, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, Manager of Academic Partnerships with the Association of Public Health Laboratories and Chair for the ASCP Council of Laboratory Professionals, to share their experiences working with different generations in the lab.
Our panelists discuss the characteristics of the generation they identify with and describe the strengths they bring to the workplace based on their age. They offer examples of the collision of generational perspectives at work, exploring the downside of being a baby boomer, Gen Xer, millennial, or Gen Zer in the lab. Listen in for Dr. Crawford, Ms. Garris, and Ms. Powell Baker's insight on adapting to meet the needs of others and learn how to best collaborate with colleagues of different generations in the medical lab.
Topics Covered
· The benefits of working with different generations in the laboratory
· What strengths Dr. Crawford, Ms. Powell Baker, and Ms. Garris bring to the workplace based on their age
· Examples of collisions of generational perspectives in the lab
· The disadvantages of being a baby boomer, Gen Xer, millennial, or Gen Zer working in the lab
· How our panelists have changed their behavior toward others in relation to the demographics of the workplace
· What advice our panelists would give their younger selves as it relates to working with different generations in the medical laboratory
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. CrawfordDr. Crawford at Northwell Health
Dr. Crawford on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. GarrisMs. Garris on LinkedIn
Ms. Garris on Instagram
Connect with Ms. Powell BakerMs. Powell Baker on Twitter
Ms. Powell Baker on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. SwailsDr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
“It's a magical time in the hospital at night. It's a time that you can learn and a time that you can kind of have some independence ... with a small group of people that you trust, that are very good, just doing your job.” —Dr. Cathy Cooper
Have you ever considered working the night shift in the medical laboratory? As with anything, there are pros and cons to working nights as a laboratory professional. If it’s a good fit for your personality, the night shift affords the opportunity to learn to trust yourself, to think critically, and form strong bonds with your small team.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts, Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Ms. Angela Abbott, MLS(ASCP), Nightshift Supervisor of Laboratory Services at University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Nataliya Sostin, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine and Laboratory Site Director at St. Raphael Hospital, and Dr. Cathy Cooper, MD, Anesthesiologist and Anesthesia Representative to the Blood Utilization Committee at Virginia Commonwealth University, to share their experiences working the night shift in the lab.
Our panelists discuss what a typical night shift in the lab looks like, describing the most challenging night shift experience they’ve faced and how they dealt with the situation. They explore what hospital administration can do to support less experienced third shift bench techs and explain how to recruit and retain lab staff on the night shift. Listen in for insight on making decisions when you feel like you need backup and get advice for laboratory professionals, technicians, and pathologists considering a night shift position.
Topics Covered
· How to navigate handoffs when coming on shift
· The most challenging night shift experience our panelists have faced and how they dealt with the situation
· What hospital administration can do to support less experienced bench techs on the night shift
· What we can do to recruit and retain night shift lab staff
· Being called on to make decisions when you feel like you need backup to do so
· Examples of how to solve systemic problems for night shift staff in the lab
· Building relationships with hospital-wide night staff vs. laboratory colleagues on other shifts
· Advice to laboratory professionals, technicians, and pathologists considering a night shift position
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. AbbottUniversity Health Laboratory Services
Connect with Dr. SostinDr. Sostin at Yale School of Medicine
Connect with Dr. CooperDr. Cooper on LinkedIn
Dr. Cooper at VCU Health
Connect with Dr. Milner & Ms. SwailsMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Milner on Twitter
ResourcesInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
In the introduction to Glennon Doyle’s latest memoir, she asks herself, “Who was I before I became who the world told me to be?”
We’re all affected by social conditioning and make choices based on others’ expectations. And all too often, we make ourselves smaller to fit in the “cage” of what’s socially acceptable. So, what can we do to break free from social conditioning and start accepting our authentic selves?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts, Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Ms. Patty J. Eschliman, MHA, MLS(ASCP), DLM, Director of Laboratory Operations at Western Missouri Medical Center and Former Chair of the DLM Exam Committee for ASCP, Dr. Jennifer Kasten, MD, MSc, FASCP, Pediatric Pathologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Member of the ASCP Pathologist Council, and Dr. Constantine ‘Aki’ Kanakis, MD, MSc, MLS(ASCP), Resident Physician at Loyola Medicine in Chicago and Member of the ASCP Patient Champions Advisory Board, to discuss Glennon Doyle’s bestseller, Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living.
Our panelists explore how much of our decision-making is based on other people’s expectations and what women can do to find freedom from social conditioning. They share some of the things they denied themselves over the years because they didn’t fit with societal expectations and explain what we can do to reconnect with parts of ourselves we’ve neglected. Listen in for insight around the “cages” we impose on ourselves and learn how the principles in Untamed might inform our work in the predominantly female field of laboratory medicine.
Topics Covered
· How the expectations of our families and peer groups inform the “cages” we impose on ourselves
· How much our decision-making is based on expectations of others (and why some expectations are beneficial)
· How to create a balance between forging your own path and asking for advice from others
· What we can do to reconnect with the parts of ourselves we’ve neglected
· How the themes covered in Untamed inform working in the laboratory
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. EschlimanMs. Eschliman on LinkedIn
The Lab Leader Coach
Connect with Dr. KastenDr. Kasten on Twitter
Dr. Kasten at Cincinnati Children’s
Connect with Dr. KanakisDr. Kanakis on Twitter
Dr. Kanakis at Loyola Pathology
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. SwailsMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
ResourcesUntamed by Glennon Doyle
ASCP Leadership Institute
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Most pathologists have limited face-to-face interaction with patients. And yet, many patients would benefit from the opportunity to discuss their lab results with a content expert.
What can pathologists and laboratory professionals do to connect with the people we serve? How do we make ourselves available to patients and engage them as partners on their wellness journey?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts, Dr. Lotte Mulder and Dr. Ali Brown, Chief Officer of Medical Quality at ASCP, are joined by Dr. Lija Joseph, MD, Medical Director for the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Lowell General Hospital, Dr. Jeffrey L. Myers, MD, A. James French Professor of Diagnostic Pathology and Director of Michigan Medicine Laboratories at the University of Michigan, and Ms. Christie Vazquez, MSN, RN, CPN, Pediatric Nurse at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and ASCP Patient Champion, to discuss how patients benefit from talking to pathologists.
Dr. Joseph and Dr. Myers explain what inspired them to create patient-pathologist consultation programs and explore how we might give patients direct access to a pathologist who can interpret their lab results. Listen in to understand how the CURES Act is impacts these programs and learn how to guide patients to trusted online resources when they don’t have immediate access to a laboratory professional.
Topics Covered
· Why it's important for pathologists to talk to and connect with patients
· What inspired Dr. Joseph and Dr. Myers to start patient-pathologist consultation programs at their institutions and the challenges of such a program
· How patients benefit from understanding their lab tests and pathology reports
· Creating pathology reports that are easy for patients to understand
· The stigma of pathologists not being skilled communicators (and what we can do to overcome it)
· Why it’s crucial for pathologists to be clear about their area of expertise and refer questions that are out of their scope of practice back to the referring physician
· How the CURES Act is impacting ’ patient-pathologist consultation programs
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. JosephDr. Joseph on Twitter
Dr. Joseph at Lowell General
Connect with Dr. MyersDr. Myers on Twitter
Dr. Myers at Michigan Medicine
Connect with Ms. VazquezMs. Vazquez on LinkedIn
Ms. Vazquez at ASCP Patient Champions
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Dr. BrownDr. Mulder on Twitter
Dr. Brown on Twitter
ResourcesCURES Act
ASCP Patient Champion Online Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Anatomic pathology has evolved dramatically in the last 100 years, moving from an entirely subjective practice to a standardized, evidence-based discipline.
Who were the pioneers in developing this modern approach? How have testing processes and laboratory technology changed over time? And what can we learn from the last century of anatomic pathology to help us move the profession forward?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Ms. Kelly Swails and Dr. Dan Milner are joined by Dr. Sanjay Mukhopadhyay, MD, Director of Pulmonary Pathology at the Cleveland Clinic and Associate Editor of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology, and Dr. William Schreiber, MD, MASCP, Professor in the Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine at the University of British Columbia and Clinical Director of Chemistry at LifeLabs, to discuss the history of pathology and laboratory medicine.
Our panelists explain who and what inspired the marked increase in scientific rigor in our profession and explore how the role of the pathologist has changed over time. They speak to how instrumentation has evolved since 1922, describing the diversity of technology in the lab today and the many iterations of molecular testing in surgical pathology and the clinical lab. Listen in for insight on promoting diversity of thought in pathology and laboratory medicine and get their predictions around the disruptive innovation coming to anatomic pathology in the next 100 years.
Topics Covered
· Pioneers in developing modern anatomic pathology’s standardized, evidence-based approach
· How immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology led to a marked increase in scientific rigor in laboratory medicine
· How the role of the pathologist has changed over time to be directly involved in patient care decisions
· How instrumentation has changed in the clinical lab over the last 100 years
· The diversity of technology in the laboratory today and how automation benefits patients
· The evolution of molecular testing in surgical pathology and laboratory medicine and how it’s impacted microbiology, genetics and cancer diagnoses
· How molecular testing has evolved from conventional cytogenetics to FISH testing to PCR testing (and now to next-generation sequencing)
· Where the laboratory has been ahead of the curve on diversity and where we have room for improvement
· Dr. Mukhopadhyay’s and Dr. Schreiber’s predictions around AI and non-invasive diagnostics in future of pathology and laboratory medicine
· Transformative vs. disruptive innovation and why anatomic pathology is ripe for disruption
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. MukhopadhyayDr. Mukhopadhyay on Twitter
Dr. Mukhopadhyay on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. SchreiberDr. Schreiber at the University of British Columbia
Dr. Schreiber at LifeLabs
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. MilnerMs. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Milner on Twitter
ResourcesInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
In October 2020, the University of Vermont Medical (UVM) Center fell victim to a cyberattack, and the leadership team intentionally shut down their system to prevent patient information from escaping the network.
UVM Health was offline for 25 days.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails and Mr. Mark Moen, are joined by Dr. Toby Cornish, MD, PhD, Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Pathology Informatics at the University of Colorado and Associate Editor for Informatics for AJCP; Dr. Andrew Goodwin, MD, FCAP, Medical Director for the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Laboratory and Vice Chair for Quality and Clinical Affairs; Dr. Christi Wojewoda, MD, FCAP, Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Director and Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; and Dr. Anne Stowman, MD, Dermatopathologist and Director of Surgical Pathology Operations, to discuss the ransomware attack.
Our panelists explain when they realized there was a significant issue with their system and what radical workflow changes they initiated to deal with being offline for 25 days. They describe the challenges particular to different departments at UVM and what their teams did to overcome them. Listen in to learn what YOU can do to prepare for a potential ransomware attack in your lab.
Topics Covered
· When UVM realized there was a significant problem with their system and the leadership team’s initial response
· Why the cyberattack only affected UVM’s primary medical center and not its entire health network
· The radical workflow changes UVM labs instituted during downtime and the support they received from other departments
· What the UVM labs did to reduce the volume of specimens coming into the lab
· The challenge UVM pathologists and laboratory professionals faced in delivering test results manually
· How the experience in the clinical lab differed from that of the anatomic pathology department
· The particular challenges faced in the microbiology and transfusion medicine labs at UVM during downtime
· What alternative technologies the UVM labs leveraged to continue operating during downtime
· Advice to pathologists and lab professionals on preparing for a cyberattack
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Twitter Connect with Dr. CornishDr. Cornish on Twitter
Dr. Cornish on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. GoodwinDr. Goodwin at the University of Vermont
Connect with Dr. WojewodaDr. Wojewoda on Twitter
Dr. Wojewoda on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Stowman
Dr. Stowman on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Mr. MoenMs. Swails on Twitter
Mr. Moen on LinkedIn
ResourcesInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week—often known as Lab Week—is a fun time to be a pathologist or laboratory professional and celebrate our role on the medical team. But Lab Week can be more than just potluck dinners and lab-themed games. It’s an opportunity to learn from our colleagues, lift each other up and let our communities know what we do for patients. So, how has Lab Week changed through the years? And how can we make the most of Lab Week moving forward?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Ms. Stephanie Whitehead, MPH, MBA, CLS(ASCP)CM, Executive Director of Pathology and Laboratory Services at University Health in San Antonio, Texas, and Dr. Rodney Rohde, PhD, SM(ASCP)CM, SVCM, MBCM, Clinical Lab Science Program Chair at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, to discuss the evolution of Lab Week.
Ms. Whitehead and Dr. Rohde explain what Lab Week looked like early on in their careers and how it's celebrated in their respective workplaces today. They describe how they maintained the spirit of Lab Week during the pandemic, sharing some of the virtual activities they designed to adapt to the circumstances and celebrate safely. Listen in for insight on leveraging Lab Week as an opportunity to strengthen relationships among laboratory professionals, engage in continuing education and advocate for the profession in our communities.
Topics Covered
- What Lab Week looked like early on in Ms. Whitehead and Dr. Rohde’s careers and how the celebration has evolved over time
- Ms. Whitehead's efforts to incorporate elements of professional development and make Lab Week more inclusive
- Dr. Rohde's insight on leveraging Lab Week as an opportunity to advocate for the profession
- How Ms. Whitehead and Dr. Rohde’s departments maintained the spirit of Lab Week during the pandemic and what they did to adapt and celebrate safely
- Examples of the innovative activities Ms. Whitehead and Dr. Rohde are doing for Lab Week this year, i.e.: virtual games, 'gross lunch' and Lab Olympics
- Why it's crucial to recognize laboratory professionals during Lab Week and throughout the year
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Whitehead
Ms. Whitehead on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Rohde
Dr. Rohde at Texas State
Dr. Rohde on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Resources
ASCP Photo & Video Contest
ASCP Ambassador Programs
ASCP Workforce Steering Committee
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
One important challenge that ASCP is taking on is the notion of visibility of the laboratory. What do successful clinical pathology lab directors do to bring the laboratory ‘out of the basement’ and advocate for the profession with colleagues, hospital leadership and the public at large? And what skills do they lean on to manage their labs successfully and achieve a healthy work-life balance?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Sarah Riley, PhD, DABCC, FACB, Clinical Chemist, Toxicologist, and Director of the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Dr. Ramy Arnaout, MD, PhD, Clinical Microbiologist, Clinical Informaticist, Computational Immunologist, and Associate Director of Clinical Microbiology Laboratories at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Dr. Nicole Pecora, MD, PhD, Medical Microbiologist and Associate Director of Clinical Microbiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, who share their life hacks for clinical pathology.
Our panelists discuss what we can do to increase the visibility of the CP laboratory. They address the informatics and business skills that aren’t emphasized enough in clinical pathology training and explain how they engage with colleagues to manage their respective labs successfully. Listen in for
insight on setting boundaries based on what’s really important to you to achieve work-life balance.
Topics Covered
· How to increase the visibility of the clinical pathology lab with colleagues, hospital administrators and the general public
· Our panelists’ thoughts on diagnostic management teams and the benefits to the clinical team of going on rounds
· Why networking is essential to becoming a ‘member of the community’ as clinical pathologists
· How forming communities of practice and developing an elevator speech can help us get a ‘seat at the table’
· Why every clinical pathologist needs to be an ambassador for the profession and how to advocate for CP with hospital leadership
· The informatics and business skills that aren’t emphasized enough in clinical pathology training
· Insight on achieving work-life balance by separating your personal and professional life
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. RileyDr. Riley at Saint Louis University
Dr. Riley on Twitter
Connect with Dr. ArnaoutDr. Arnaout at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Dr. Arnaout on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. PecoraDr. Pecora at Brigham and Women's Hospital
Dr. Pecora on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Milner & Ms. SwailsDr. Milner on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
ASCP was the first medical professional organization to elect a woman as president when Dr. Emma Moss earned the title in 1955. And while women continue to make strides in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine, there is still much to be done.
So, what can we do to promote gender equality in the laboratory workforce? How can we create more opportunities for women to ascend from the bench to positions of leadership?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Kimberly Sanford, MD, MASCP, MT(ASCP), Medical Director of Transfusion Medicine and Director of Undergraduate Medical Education in the Department of Pathology at Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr. Nidia Messias, MD, Renal Pathologist and Associate Professor of Pathology and Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and Ms. Tiffany Channer, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, Assistant Administrative Laboratory Director and Quality Manager at a local community hospital in Westchester County, New York, to discuss the contributions of women in pathology and laboratory medicine.
Our panelists describe some of the myths surrounding women in pathology and laboratory medicine and explain how to improve work conditions for women in the lab. They share what inspired them to enter the field and how the landscape of laboratory medicine has changed for women and other minority groups since they entered the workforce. Listen in for advice for women entering the field today and learn about the role mentorship plays in helping women rise through the ranks in pathology and laboratory medicine.
Topics Covered
· Notable contributions women like Dr. Renee Habib, Dr. Sophie Spitz, and Dr. Vivian Pinn have made to the field of pathology and laboratory medicine
· Why women need both mentorship and sponsorship to rise through the ranks of the laboratory
· Myths surrounding women in pathology and laboratory medicine
· How to improve working conditions for women in the laboratory and promote women’s empowerment in field of pathology and lab medicine
· Our panelists’ hopes for the next 100 years in pathology and laboratory medicine
· Advice to women entering the field of pathology and laboratory medicine today
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. SanfordDr. Sanford on Twitter
Dr. Sanford at VCU
Connect with Dr. MessiasDr. Messias on Twitter
Dr. Messias at Washington University
Connect with Ms. ChannerMs. Channer on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. SwailsDr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesDr. Emma Sadler Moss
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
In the 100 years since ASCP was founded, our mission has always centered on taking care of patients. As long as there are disparities in the healthcare system, we cannot fully realize that ambition. So, what is ASCP’s vision around diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I)? What steps can we take to promote DE&I in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Melissa Upton, MD, FASCP, Emeritus Professor of Pathology at the University of Washington in Seattle and Chair of the ASCP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Ms. Tanya Norwood, MBA, MS, Chief Officer for Marketing and Membership and Chief Officer for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at ASCP, and Mr. Mohamed Abdelmonem, MBA-HCM, CLS, H(ASCP)CMBBCM, MLSiCM, SBBiCM, Clinical Laboratory Supervisor of Transfusion Services at Stanford University School of Medicine and member of ASCP’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, to discuss ASCP’s vision around diversity, equity and inclusion.
Our panelists explain why DE&I is so important in pathology and laboratory medicine. They walk us through the four pillars of ASCP’s DE&I strategy and offer examples of the most effective workplace inclusion initiatives at their respective institutions. Listen in for insight on the DE&I tools available to ASCP members and learn how you can promote diversity, equity and inclusion in your laboratory and community.
Topics Covered
· Why diversity, equity, and inclusion are important in pathology and laboratory medicine in general and at ASCP in particular
· ASCP’s strategic vision around diversity, equity, and inclusion
· The four pillars of ASCP’s DE&I strategy (awareness, mentorship, education, and partnerships)
· How ASCP’s internal DE&I strategy for staff involves the discovery of where we are today and the change we want to see tomorrow
· Examples of effective workplace inclusion initiatives
· How to overcome intrinsic bias in the interview process
· Tools available to help ASCP members promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their workplaces and communities
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. UptonDr. Upton at the University of Washington
Dr. Upton on Twitter
Connect with Ms. NorwoodMs. Norwood on LinkedIn
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at ASCP
Connect with Mr. AbdelmonemMr. Abdelmonem on LinkedIn
Mr. Abdelmonem on ResearchGate
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. SwailsDr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesASCP’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
This special episode of Inside the Lab is a recording of the recent ASCP webinar "Ki67 as a Prognostic and Predictive Biomarker in HR-Positive/HER2-Negative Early Breast Cancer" featuring Drs. Sunil Badve MD, FRCPath and Manali Bhave, MD, both from Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
This special episode of Inside the Lab is a recording of the recent ASCP webinar "The Science of HER2-low Breast Cancer and Implications for the Pathology Team." This webinar is presented by Aysegul Sahin, MD, Professor of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, American Society for Clinical Pathology, Chicago, IL, USA; and Erin Downs-Kelly, DO, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
This special episode of Inside the Lab is a recording of the recent ASCP webinar "HER2 Testing in Breast Cancer: Improving IHC Performance" featuring Aysegul Sahin, MD, Professor of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA;
Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, American Society for Clinical Pathology, Chicago, IL, USA; and Erin Downs-Kelly, DO, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA.
Life hacks are tricks or shortcuts that make life easier and more efficient, like storing the roll of garbage bags at the bottom of your trash bin so the next bag is right there when you take out the trash.
In the world of anatomic pathology, tissue and organ samples run through multiple processes to render a diagnosis, it’s especially important that to stay organized and efficient.
So, what life hacks can pathologists and medical laboratory scientists leverage to make our life in the anatomic pathology lab easier? What can be more productive and precise?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Sarah Garner, PhD, MS, PA(ASCP), Director of the Pathologists’ Assistant Program at Tulane University, Ms. Michelle Bell, HT(ASCP)CM, Applications Manager at Milestone Medical and 20-year veteran of laboratory management, and Dr. Jerad Gardner, MD, Dermatopathologist and Bone/Soft Tissue Pathologist at Geisinger Medical Labs, to share their best life hacks for anatomic pathology.
Our panelists discuss their most effective workflow strategies, and describe how they optimize their time at the microscope to produce accurate results. They weigh in on the best ways to manage people and walk us through their top hacks for ensuring positive, active communication with clinical partners and colleagues. Listen in for best time management hacks and learn how they set priorities in their personal and professional lives.
Topics Covered
· Top technical and workflow hacks for anatomic pathology
· Maintaining order in the absence of a barcoding system
· Developing a culture of appreciation in the anatomic pathology lab
· Why time management is a challenge in the anatomic pathology lab
· Strategies for optimizing time at the microscope and producing valuable results
· Best practices for ensuring positive, active communication with clinical partners and colleagues inside and outside your institution
· How our panelists navigate impromptu testing requests from clinicians
· Dr. Garner, Ms. Bell, and Dr. Gardner’s advice on achieving work-life balance
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter Connect with Dr. GarnerDr. Garner on Twitter
Dr. Garner at Tulane
Connect with Ms. BellMilestone Medical
Ms. Bell on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. GardnerDr. Gardner on Twitter
Dr. Gardner at Geisinger
Connect with Dr. Milner & Ms. SwailsDr. Milner on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Resources
Daniel Pink’s WHEN on Inside the Lab S2EP11
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Do you do your best work in the morning? Or does your energy peak at night?
What if you could schedule your day around your circadian rhythms so the task type and timing align? How might laboratory professionals leverage these hidden patterns of the day to maximize efficiency and make better decisions?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Dr. Dan Milner are joined by Dr. Rina Kansal, MD, former Medical Director of Diagnostic Molecular Pathology at Penn State Health and Associate Medical Director at the Blood Center of Wisconsin, Ms. Jeannie Guglielmo, MS, MAT, MLS(ASCP)CM, Chair of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Health Professions at Stony Brook University, and Ms. Stacey Robinson, MS. MLS(ASCP)SH, SCYM, who serves as the supervisor of the Clinical Microscopy section in her medical center's laboratory to discuss Daniel Pink’s book,WHEN: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing.
Our panelists share what surprised them about the invisible power of timing and offer insight into what larks, owls, and third birds can do to perform through their trough periods. They review Pink’s five principles of breaks, exploring how microbreaks make our work more productive. Listen in for insight on using biorhythms to assign shifts in the lab and get their advice on making good decisions when the timing is not optimal.
Topics Covered
· Maximizing efficiency by understanding our circadian rhythms
· What surprised our panelists regarding the invisible power of timing and how much language shapes our behavior
· The five guiding principles of breaks
· What larks, owls, and third birds can do to perform through their tough periods
· The potential connection between introversion vs. extroversion and larks vs. owls
· How our panelists’ experiences align with Pink’s workflow model for group projects
· How our panelists use their team’s biorhythms to schedule projects and assign shifts in the lab
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. KansalDr. Kansal on ResearchGate
Connect with Ms. GuglielmoMs. Guglielmo on LinkedIn
Ms. Guglielmo at Stony Brook
Connect with Ms. RobinsonMs. Robinson on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Dr. MilnerDr. Mulder on Twitter
Dr. Milner on Twitter
ResourcesWHEN: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink
ASCP Leadership Institute
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Organizational wellness is getting more attention , due in no small part to the increased stress brought on by a global pandemic.
But why do we only seem to think about wellness when we feel unwell? What does wellness look like for pathologists and laboratory professionals? And what responsibility do institutions and individuals have in making wellness a priority?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Alae Kawam, MD, Pathology Resident and soon-to-be Surgical Pathology Fellow at Northwell University, Dr. Katrina Krogh, MD, Surgical Pathologist specializing in Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology in private practice in Los Angeles, and Dr. Farres Obeidin, MD, Assistant Professor and Clinical Attending at Northwestern University and Bone and Soft Tissue Pathologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, to discuss organizational wellness.
Our panelists describe the physical, spiritual, social, and emotional aspects of wellness, exploring how the term means different things to different people. They explain what initiatives institutions are using to combat rising rates of physician burnout and why they’ve fallen short, reflecting on how wellness policy informs institutional culture and vice versa. Listen in for insight on how wellness impacts the quality of work we do in the lab and learn how to advocate for your individual wellness at work.
Topics Covered
· Defining ‘wellness’ in general and what it means to the laboratory workforce
· The physical, spiritual, social, and emotional aspects of wellness
· How wellness policy informs institutional culture and vice versa
· Sources of burnout in the laboratory and what institutions might do to help mitigate the stress that cause them
· The initiatives institutions are using to combat rising rates of physician burnout (and why they’ve fallen short)
· Why it’s crucial for leaders to support laboratory and other medical professionals when we reach our limits
· How our wellness impacts the quality of work we do in the lab
· How pathologists and lab professionals can advocate for our wellness in the workplace when it’s so individualized
· How diversity, equity, and inclusion influences wellness at work
· Our panelists’ insight on the benefit of a four-day workweek and other alternate scheduling models
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. KawamDr. Kawam on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. KroghDr. Krogh on Twitter
Dr. Krogh on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. ObeidinDr. Obeidin on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. SwailsDr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesBurnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski, PhD, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
What would ASCP members like to see happen in the next five to ten years that would most impact our lives and work as laboratory professionals?
And what can ASCP do as an organization to elevate laboratory medicine as a profession and address the greatest challenges we face?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, Dr. Dan Milner sits down with attendees of the ASCP 2021 Annual Meeting to explore what ASCP can do to advocate for higher wages and increase the visibility of medical lab professionals.
They share what they love about working in the medical laboratory, describing the vital role we play in delivering patient care.
Listen in for ASCP member insight on burnout among lab professionals during the pandemic and learn what we can do to stay healthy, positive and empowered to pursue a balanced life.
Topics Covered
- What ASCP members would like to see happen in the next 5 to 10 years that would most impact the lives and work of laboratory professionals
- What ASCP can do to foster interprofessional relationships and communication among laboratory professionals
- ASCP’s advocacy programs and initiatives to address issues of workforce vacancies and wages
- How ASCP might increase the visibility of medical laboratory professionals
- What ASCP members love about working in the medical laboratory
- How more than 70% of medical decisions are based on data generated by lab professionals
- How the pandemic exacerbated challenges around burnout and personal wellness among laboratory professionals
- What lab professionals can do to stay healthy, positive and in control of a balanced life
- What more ASCP could do to combat disinformation regarding COVID-19
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Milner
Dr. Milner on Twitter
Resources
ASCP’s Wage and Vacancy Survey
ASCP Career and Pathology Ambassadors
Society of Black Pathologists
ASCP Advocacy Center
ASCP ePolicy News
ASCP Foundation
ASCP COVID-19 Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Wellness is multidimensional. In addition to our physical health, wellness encompasses our mental, social, emotional and even financial wellbeing. It’s no surprise that there’s a connection between the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in an organization and the wellbeing of the laboratory professionals who work or train there. Programs that address the unique needs of every employee are integral in creating an equitable, inclusive workplace.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Mrs. Dana Baker, MBA, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences at the University of Kansas Medical Center and advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in healthcare and medical education, Dr. Melissa Upton, MD, FASCP, Emeritus Professor of Pathology at the University of Washington and Chair of the ASCP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and Dr. Darryl Elzie, PsyD, MHA, MT(ASCP), CQA(ASQ), Laboratory Quality Coordinator at Sentara Healthcare and Founding Member of the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Executive DEI Council, to discuss the relationship between wellness and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within an organization.
Our panelists explain why wellness is an essential part of any program intended to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion and how lack of access to wellness services impacts marginalized communities. They explore how the definition of wellness varies by culture and community and share best practices for developing wellness programs that address these issues. Listen in for insight on leveraging data to sell DEI to the C-suite and learn what training programs and workplaces can do to encourage and support wellness and equity in the lab.
Topics Covered
· Why wellness is an essential part of any program intended to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion
· How healthcare disparities and lack of access to wellness services impact marginalized communities
· Best practices for developing wellness programs in our workplaces and communities
· How to create safe spaces dedicated to addressing issues of personal wellness, diversity, equity, and inclusion in laboratory medicine
· How we might leverage data to sell diversity, equity, and inclusion to the C-suite
· What professional societies like ASCP can do to help members build healthy working lives
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Mrs. BakerMrs. Baker on Twitter
Connect with Dr. UptonDr. Upton on Twitter
Connect with Dr. ElzieDr. Elzie on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. SwailsDr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesASCP 2021 Annual Meeting
ASCP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Opportunities
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Every human has bias, as do the organizations we build. Despite commitments to diversity and inclusion, institutional bias lives on in every industry. How does institutional bias show up in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine? And what can we do to affect change?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Ms. Tywauna Wilson, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, System Technical Director of Chemistry for CompuNet Clinical Laboratories and Founder of Trendy Elite Coaching and Consulting, Dr. Von Samedi, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and Dr. Mohamed Abdelmonem, DHA, MBA-HCM, MS, CLS, MLS(ASCP)SBB, Blood Bank and Transfusion Service Supervisor at Stanford Health Care, to discuss the book Erasing Institutional Bias: How to Create Systemic Change for Organizational Inclusion by Tiffany Jana and Ashley Diaz Mejias.
Our panelists share what they realized about recruiting, hiring, and advancement bias in their organizations (and the role they play in sustaining it) from reading the book. They explore how occupational bias presents in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine and what we can do to advocate for ourselves. Listen in for insight on recruiting allies without being perceived as a troublemaker and find out how you can take steps to erase institutional bias—whether or not you’re in a leadership role.
Topics Covered
· An overview of the themes in Erasing Institutional Bias around how bias gets embedded in workplace cultures and what we can do to eliminate it
· What our panelists realized about recruiting, hiring and advancement bias in their organizations from reading the book (and the role they play in sustaining it)
· How occupational bias shows up in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine
· How laboratory professionals and pathologists can work toward erasing institutional bias in our organizations
· Conducting a holistic review of residency applications and adopting a blind hiring process
· How realistic it is for us to succeed in erasing institutional bias without being in a leadership role
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. WilsonMs. Wilson on Twitter
Ms. Wilson on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. SamediDr. Samedi on Twitter
Dr. Samedi on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. AbdelmonemDr. Abdelmonem on ResearchGate
Connect with Dr. Milner & Ms. Swails
Dr. Milner on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesErasing Institutional Bias: How to Create Systemic Change for Organizational Inclusion
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
The World Health Organization cites antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 2.8 million people in the U.S. contract an antibiotic-resistant infection every year—and more than 35,000 die. What do laboratory professionals need to know about the emerging data around antimicrobial resistance? And what can we do in the lab to support infection prevention and control?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Patricia Simner, PhD, D(ABMM), Associate Professor of Pathology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Director of the Medical Bacteriology and Infectious Disease Sequencing Laboratories at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Romney Humphries, PhD, D(ABMM), M(ASCP), Medical Director of Microbiology and Director of Infectious Disease Laboratories at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Dr. Lynn Bry, MD, PhD, Medical Director of Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Director of the Massachusetts Host-Microbiome Center at Harvard Medical School, to discuss antimicrobial resistance.
Our panelists discuss the current fears surrounding emerging antibiotic resistance in the U.S. and explain how AMR is changing the way we practice medicine. They explore what lab professionals can do to navigate the workflow challenges in microbiology caused by antimicrobial resistance and describe the most worrisome resistance signatures in the emerging data. Listen in for insight on how to participate in efforts to combat emerging resistance and prepare your lab for an encounter with multidrug-resistant organisms.
Topics Covered
· The biggest challenges around antimicrobial resistance facing the human population today
· Current fears surrounding emerging antimicrobial resistance in the U.S.
· What laboratory professionals can do to navigate the workflow challenges in microbiology caused by AMR
· How labs can participate in regional, national, and global efforts to combat emerging resistance
· Hope for combating antimicrobial resistance
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. SimnerDr. Simner on Twitter
Dr. Simner at Johns Hopkins
Connect with Dr. HumphiesDr. Humphries on Twitter
Dr. Humphries at Vanderbilt
Connect with Dr. Bry Dr. Bry on Twitter
Dr. Bry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. SwailsDr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesCDC Info on Antibiotic Resistance
WHO Fact Sheet on Antimicrobial Resistance
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
In general, consolidating several microbiology labs into one and automating our processes facilitates innovation and efficiency and creates a safer patient environment. But consolidation and total laboratory automation (TLA) also come with challenges. So, what do pathologists and laboratory professionals need to think about as we transition to centralized labs and implement TLA systems?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Sarah Buss, PhD, D(ABMM), Microbiology Director for Northern Light Laboratory and Instructor for the Medical Laboratory Science Program at the University of Maine, Dr. Karissa Culbreath, PhD, Medical Director of Infectious Diseases at Tricore Reference Laboratories and Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Dr. Mark Fisher, PhD, Medical Director of the Bacteriology, Antimicrobials, Parasitology and Infectious Disease Rapid Testing Laboratories at ARUP and Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, and Dr. Erin McElvania, PhD, Director of Clinical Microbiology at NorthShore University Health System and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, to discuss consolidation and total laboratory automation in the microbiology lab.
Our panelists share the pros and cons of consolidation efforts in terms of patient safety and laboratory quality, explaining what they do to promote clinician interaction when the microbiology lab is centralized. They describe three popular TLA systems and weigh in on the personnel changes and contingency planning required when bringing automation to the microbiology lab. Listen in for insight on the benefits of decentralizing technology in consolidated systems and learn what innovative features are likely to be added to TLA platforms moving forward.
Topics Covered
· What the term consolidation refers to in the laboratory and some examples of how multiple hospitals or health systems can be served by a single lab
· The pros and cons of consolidation efforts in microbiology in terms of patient safety and laboratory quality
· The factors that determine what tests remain at smaller community hospital labs
· How potential cost savings inform the decision to execute on consolidation
· The importance of contingency planning in automated labs
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. BussDr. Buss at Northern Light Health
Dr. Buss on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. CulbreathDr. Culbreath on Twitter
Connect with Dr. FisherDr. Fisher at ARUP
Connect with Dr. McElvaniaDr. McElvania on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Milner & Ms. SwailsDr. Milner on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
The principal tenet of medicine is to “first, do no harm.” And yet, the U.S. healthcare sector is responsible for 8.5% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. What can we do in the clinical laboratory to deliver care with a smaller carbon footprint?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Ilyssa Gordon, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology and Medical Director for Sustainability at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Cassandra Thiel, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Population Health and Ophthalmology at NYU Langone Health, and Mr. James Connelly, CEO of My Green Lab, to discuss the carbon footprint of laboratories.
Our panelists describe the healthcare sector’s impact on climate, and share what goes into conducting a life-cycle assessment and what it tells us about the environmental impact of a product or service. They explain how we can leverage the ACT label to promote sustainability in lab product manufacturing and explore how a shift in the supply chain compares to reducing consumption in an individual lab. Listen in for insight on applying the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle to the clinical lab and find out how you can help minimize the carbon footprint of your lab.
Topics Covered
· How the healthcare sector is responsible for as much as 10% of carbon emissions
· What inspired a study around the carbon footprint of GI biopsies and the response they’ve gotten to their work
· What goes into performing a life-cycle assessment and what it tells us about the environmental impact of a product or service
· Leveraging the ACT label to choose sustainable products and ultimately influence lab product markets
· Applying the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle to the clinical lab
· Why focusing on a shift in the supply chain makes a bigger impact than reducing consumption in an individual lab
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. GordonDr. Gordon on LinkedIn
Dr. Gordon at the Cleveland Clinic
Connect with Dr. ThielDr. Thiel on Twitter
Dr. Thiel at NYU
Connect with Mr. ConnellyMr. Connelly on LinkedIn
My Green Lab
Connect with Dr. Milner & Ms. SwailsDr. Milner on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Resources‘Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Gastrointestinal Biopsies in a Surgical Pathology Laboratory’ in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology‘A Different Kind of Laboratory Stewardship’ in the American Journal of Clinical PathologyInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
The clinical laboratory workforce is crucial to the U.S. healthcare system, providing critical information in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease. And yet, the number of laboratory professionals continues to shrink. What can we do to reverse this trend?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, Dr. Lotte Mulder and guest host Ms. Edna Garcia, Director of Scientific Engagement and Research at ASCP’s Institute for Science, Technology and Policy in Washington, DC, are joined by Ms. Susan Skillman, MS, Senior Deputy Director of the University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies, and Ms. Allyson Flores, MLS(ASCP)CM, Manager of Flow Cytometry and Hematopathology at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, to discuss workforce policy.
Our panelists describe ASCP’s ongoing research around wage and vacancy, including the most recent Clinical Laboratory Workforce report produced in conjunction with the University of Washington’s Center for Health Workforce Studies. They explain the most critical challenges facing our workforce today, exploring how to increase the visibility of careers in the lab, improve recruitment and retention, and promote diversity and inclusion in the field of laboratory medicine. Listen in for insight on how the pandemic is likely to shape the future of the profession and learn how you can help implement the innovative strategies proposed in the ASCP-UW CHWS report.
Topics Covered
· ASCP’s ongoing research around wage and vacancy in the clinical laboratory profession
· ASCP’s partnership with the UW Center for Health Workforce Studies on the most recent Clinical Laboratory Workforce Report
· Critical challenges currently facing the clinical laboratory workforce
· Why diversity is essential to the future of the profession and what we can do to recruit a more diverse clinical laboratory workforce
· What attracted our panelists to laboratory medicine and how we might leverage those aspects of the career to address recruitment
· Opportunities for institutions to communicate with local medical laboratory science programs around what trainees need to know
· What the report teaches us about professional development opportunities and wage progression that might inform our practices moving forward
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Skillman
Ms. Skillman on Twitter
Ms. Skillman at UW CHWS
Connect with Ms. Flores
Ms. Flores on Twitter
Ms. Flores on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Garcia
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Garcia on LinkedIn
Resources
ASCP’s Clinical Laboratory Workforce Report
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Although the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, it’s never too early to start planning for the next global health crisis. What have we learned as pathologists and laboratory professionals over the last 18 months? And how can we apply these key learnings to prepare for the next pandemic?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Omai Garner, PhD, Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Clinical Microbiology in the UCLA Health System, Dr. Karen Kaul, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at North Shore Research Institute and Clinical Professor of Pathology at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, and Dr. Keith Jerome, MD, PhD, Head of the University of Washington Virology Laboratory and Professor at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Resource Center, to discuss the next pandemic.
Our panelists share the lessons they’ve learned through the COVID-19 pandemic, describing the characteristics of their labs that proved beneficial and how the visibility of laboratory medicine shifted since the onset of the pandemic. They explore what tests or assays they might need to prepare for the next pandemic and offer insight on what we can do to ensure that labs have access to those resources. Listen in for Dr. Garner, Dr. Kaul, and Dr. Jerome’s take on what aspects of medical care improved as a result of the COVID response and learn why it’s crucial to remember that we’re still in the midst of the current crisis.
Topics Covered
· The biggest lessons learned throughout the COVID pandemic
· What the panelists would do differently in their own labs if they could do it over again
· How public health officials and private health systems can work together to provide rapid and seamless lab testing in the future
· What we can do to ensure that labs have access to the resources they need for the next pandemic
· The increased understanding of the value of pathology and laboratory medicine in institutions and among the general public through COVID
· What aspects of medical care improved as a result of the COVID response
· The role the lab plays in the dissemination of reliable information and what we can do to improve
· Why it’s crucial to remember that we’re still in the midst of the current pandemic
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. GarnerDr. Garner at Twitter
Dr. Garner at UCLA Health
Connect with Dr. KaulDr. Kaul on Twitter
Dr. Kaul at North Shore
Connect with Dr. JeromeDr. Jerome on LinkedIn
Dr. Jerome at the University of Washington
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. SwailsDr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Pathology administrators are tasked with the recruitment, retention, and management of laboratory staff. But how do you attract personnel for hard-to-fill positions? And how do you help young pathologists and laboratory professionals advance their careers and become the next generation of leaders?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Ms. Kelley Suskie, MHSA, FACMPE, Administrator for the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Mr. John Baci, MBA, C-PM, Executive Director of Anatomic Pathology at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Mr. Martin Lawlor, Director of Finance and Administration for the Department of Pathology at Michigan Medicine, to discuss personnel management.
Our panelists explain what administrators can do to prepare for the retirement cliff facing pathology, challenging laboratory professionals to mentor the next generation of leaders. They explore how personnel management differs in an academic versus clinical setting and offer strategies for networking in the pathology administration community. Listen in as our panelists share their most challenging personnel management experiences and get their advice on confronting bad behavior early on and holding people accountable for their actions as pathology administrators.
Topics Covered
· Suggestions for recruiting and retaining personnel for hard-to-fill positions
· Creating succession plans for the laboratory professionals
· Preparing for the retirement cliff the pathology field is facing and developing the next generation of leaders
· Why it’s better to help top performers advance and move on rather than hold them back
· How to reconcile making yourself invaluable in the lab with empowering your team
· How personnel management differs in an academic vs. clinical setting
· Strategies for connecting with others in the community of academic pathology administration
· The importance of both internal and external networking in the personnel management space
· Challenging personnel management experiences
· Developing the courage to confront bad behavior early on and hold people accountable for their actions
· Our panelists’ advice around mentoring aspiring pathology administrators
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Suskie
Ms. Suskie on LinkedIn
Ms. Suskie on Twitter
Connect with Mr. Baci
Mr. Baci at Boston Children’s Hospital
Mr. Baci on LinkedIn
Connect with Mr. Lawlor
Mr. Lawlor at Michigan Medicine
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Digital pathology refers to everything from a static image of a slide to a real-time broadcast image. So, what do laboratory professionals mean when we talk about using digital pathology? What infrastructure is necessary beyond the scanners themselves? And what is driving the adoption of digital pathology tools?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, Dr. Dan Milner and guest host Dr. Joe Sirintrapun, MD, Director of Pathology Informatics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, are joined by Dr. Orly Ardon, PhD, MBA, Science Manager for Digital Pathology Diagnostics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Pathology Department, Dr. Matthew Hanna, MD, Director of Digital Pathology Informatics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Dr. Jochen Lennerz, MD, Associate Chief of Pathology and Medical Director of the Center for Integrated Diagnostics at Massachusetts General Hospital, to discuss digital pathology.
Our panelists explore the barriers to widespread implementation of whole slide imaging, and discuss factors a laboratory should consider before investing in a particular digital pathology system. They explain how digital pathology can benefit laboratory professionals in microbiology, cytology, and hematopathology and describe how the pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital tools. Listen in for insights on incentivizing vendors to facilitate interoperability and learn how AI technology is driving the use of digital pathology.
Topics Covered· What pathologists and laboratory professionals mean by the phrase "digital pathology"
· Barriers to widespread adoption of whole slide imaging systems
· Important factors a laboratory should consider before investing in a particular digital pathology system
· How digital pathology can benefit laboratory professionals in areas like microbiology, cytology, and hematopathology
· Why decentralized, rural laboratories should consider using digital pathology
· How commercially available artificial intelligence drives the adoption of digital pathology
· Lessons learned around the adoption of a digital pathology platform for clinical use
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. ArdonDr. Ardon on LinkedIn
Dr. Ardon on Google Scholar
Connect with Dr. HannaDr. Hanna at Memorial Sloan Kettering
Dr. Hanna on Twitter
Dr. Hanna on PubMed
Connect with Dr. LennerzDr. Lennerz at Massachusetts General
Dr. Lennerz on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Milner & Dr. SirintrapunDr. Milner on Twitter
Dr. Sirintrapun on Twitter
ResourcesInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
In medical circles, we say, “When you hear hoofbeats, look for horses, not zebras,” as a reminder that when people present with a given set of symptoms, the diagnosis is generally something common. But sometimes it IS a zebra, and patients sometimes DO have a rare condition like the one we’re exploring in this episode—breast implant associated lymphoma or BIA-ALCL.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Kirill Lyapichev, MD, Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, and soon-to-be Hematopathology Director at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and Dr. Deniz Peker, MD, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, to discuss breast implant associated ALCL.
Dr. Lyapichev shares the history of breast implants in general and BIA-ALCL specifically, walking us through two case studies of the entity with very different outcomes. Dr. Peker describes her approach to diagnosing breast implant associated ALCL, and our panelists explain the clinical signs associated with the rare condition. Listen in for insight on the treatment options available to patients and learn what pathologists need to know about the epidemiology of BIA-ALCL.
Topics Covered
· Two contrasting case studies of patients with breast implant associated ALCL
· What we know about the epidemiology of BIA-ALCL and its relationship with chronic inflammation
· Why BIA-ALCL is considered a very rare entity
· Diagnosing BIA-ALCL and hesitations around making a diagnosis based on cytology alone
· The role molecular clonality test plays in diagnosing BIA-ALCL and how common clonality is in published cases of the entity
· How to recognize the clinical signs of breast implant associated ALCL
· Insight on the history of breast implants in general and BIA-ALCL specifically
· The excellent prognosis for patients diagnosed with BIA-ALCL in its early stages (and why reconstructive surgery patients with the condition are caught earlier than cosmetic cases)
· What treatment options are available for patients with breast implant associated ALCL
· The latest developments in BIA-ALCL and why pathologists need to be familiar with it
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. LyapichevDr. Lyapichev on Twitter
Dr. Lyapichev on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. PekerDr. Peker on Twitter
Dr. Peker at Emory Winship Cancer Institute
Connect with Dr. Milner & Ms. SwailsDr. Milner on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
ResourcesThomas Cronin & Frank Gerow
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
The ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) is the gold standard of certification for pathologists and laboratory professionals. And while the committees who put together these exams don’t want candidates to fail, they DO want to ensure that the right people are caring for patients. With that standard in mind, how is a BOC exam put together?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Pat Tanabe are joined by Ms. Kathleen Finnegan, MS, MT(ASCP)SHCM, retired Clinical Associate Professor and Program Director at the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences at Stony Brook University of New York and Member of the ASCP BOC Phlebotomy and MLA Committees, Ms. Karen A. Brown, MS, MASCP, MLS(ASCP)CM, Adjunct Professor at the University of Utah’s Department of Pathology, Medical Laboratory Sciences Division and Member of the ASCP BOC Research & Development Committee, and Mr. Walter Oliveira, MASCP, MLS(ASCP)CMSI, Medical Laboratory Manager at the University of Virginia Health System, Chair of the ASCP BOC MLA Certification Committee and Member of the BOC Flow Cytometry Specialty Exam Committee, to discuss the making of a BOC exam.
Our panelists describe the duties and functions of each exam committee, walk us through the anatomy of an exam question, and weigh in on how questions are developed and maintained. Listen in for insight on the benefits of computer adaptive testing and how the practice analysis helps the BOC keep their certification exams fair and current.
Topics Covered· The importance of earning an ASCP BOC certification and its benefits in terms of job prospects and professional success
· The group within ASCP’s BOC that oversees exam preparation and how that group is organized
· The anatomy of an exam question and why the BOC prefers comprehension, application and analysis questions over recall questions
· How computer adaptive testing (CAT) works and its advantages
· How the practice analysis ensures that BOC exams are fair, valid and legally defensible and how the data collected from practice analysis surveys informs the examinations
· The exhaustive standard-setting process the BOC uses to determine an exam’s pass-fail line
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. FinneganMs. Finnegan at Stony Brook
Ms. Finnegan on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. BrownMs. Brown at the University of Utah
Ms. Brown on LinkedIn
Connect with Mr. OliveiraMr. Oliveira on Twitter
Mr. Oliveira on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. TanabeDr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Tanabe on LinkedIn
ResourcesASCP Board of Certification
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Multiple companies are in the process of launching universal cancer screening (UCS) technologies. And while the ability to identify tumors earlier will be revolutionary, especially for for patients with less common cancers, there are still a lot of questions around how to read the reports and apply the results. So, what do pathologists and laboratory professionals need to know about these multicancer screenings and how such tests might affect our daily practice in the immediate future?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Dr. Lotte Mulder are joined by Dr. Alarice Cheng-Yi Lowe, MD, FASCP, Cytopathologist, Surgical Pathologist, and Director of the Circulating Tumor Cell Lab at Stanford University, Dr. Jeff Gagan, MD, PhD, Molecular Genetic Pathologist, Assistant Professor of Pathology, and Medical Director of the Clinical Next Generation Sequencing Lab at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and Dr. Maria Arcila, MD, Molecular Genetic Pathologist, Hematopathologist, and Director of the Diagnostic Molecular Pathology Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, to discuss universal cancer screening.
Our panelists explain why UCS isn’t a part of our current toolbox and what data we need before it can be integrated into standard cancer care. They weigh in on why it’s so difficult to confirm a positive UCS result and walk us through the challenges associated with interpreting multicancer screening reports. Listen in for insight on why pathologists need to be aware of USC technology, its capabilities, and limitations and why it's likely to shift the role laboratory professionals play on the clinical team moving forward.
Topics Covered
· The rapidly evolving technology that allows us to evaluate a patient for many cancers in a single assay
· Why USC isn’t part of the current toolbox now and the data needed to integrate it into standard cancer care
· Challenges to confirm a positive UCS result and how such screenings might force patients into a stressful watch and wait process
· Challenges associated with interpreting multicancer early detection reports and why getting comfortable with understanding molecular data is critical
· Concerns around direct-to-consumer testing
· How the rise of UCS is likely to shift the role laboratory pros play on the clinical team
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. LoweDr. Lowe at Stanford University
Connect with Dr. GaganDr. Gagan at UT Southwestern
Dr. Gagan on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. ArcilaDr. Arcila at Memorial Sloan Kettering
Dr. Arcila on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Milner & Dr. MulderDr. Milner on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
ResourcesInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Mayo Clinic Summit&
It is our duty as medical professionals to provide the safest blood possible for patients undergoing a transfusion. Hemovigilance is crucial in ensuring that the blood products we use are of the highest quality. So, how does the data collection and reporting process work?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Chester Andrzejewski, MD, Medical Director of System Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine Services at Baystate Health in Springfield, Massachusetts, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Ms. Lynne O’Hearn, MT(ASCP), Transfusion Safety Officer at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, and Mr. Karl G. Stein, BB(ASCP)CM, Lead Medical Technologist for OneBlood, Inc., and Manager of the Infusion Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida, to discuss hemovigilance and how it fits into the larger culture of safety in medicine.
Our panelists describe the complexity of data collection and how they streamline the reporting process. They weigh in on why transfusion services at every hospital should participate in hemovigilance regardless of size, discussing the benefit of being able to compare your data with that of other facilities. Listen in for insight on how hemovigilance data has inspired changes in policy and learn where you can find resources around initiating data collection systems in your lab.
Topics Covered
· The concept of hemovigilance and how it fits into the larger culture of safety in medicine
· Why data collection for hemovigilance is so complex and how standardizing forms and leveraging databases streamline the reporting process
· The importance of developing relationships with nursing and IT to build reporting systems for transfusion medicine
· How hemovigilance reporting is mandatory in Massachusetts and the benefit of being able to compare your facility’s data with the rest of your state
· The value of integrating medical data systems on a national scale
· Resources on hemovigilance to initiate data collection systems in your lab
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. AndrzejewskiDr. Andrzejewski at Baystate Health
Connect with Ms. O’HearnMs. O’Hearn on Facebook
Connect with Mr. SteinOneBlood
Mr. Stein on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Milner & Ms. SwailsDr. Milner on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Resources
American Association of Blood Banks Hemovigilance Resources
AABB Quick Reference Guide for the NHSN Hemovigilance Module
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Conflict in the workplace is not necessarily a bad thing. When managed well, it can lead to learning and improve an organization overall. But when conflict is managed poorly or not at all, it makes for a combative environment where people feel disrespected and can’t do their best work.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Karim E. Sirgi, MD, MBA, FCAP, Founder and CEO of Sirgi Consulting and President of the American Pathology Foundation, Dr. Marissa White, MD, Assistant Professor of Pathology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Member of the ASCP Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and Mr. Paul Chiou, MPH, SCT(ASCP), Faculty at the Department of Clinical Laboratory and Medical Imaging Sciences at Rutgers University and a 2015 ASCP 40 Under Forty Honoree, to discuss conflict in the workplace.
Our panelists share the most common areas of conflict among pathologists and laboratory professionals, and describe how to distinguish between productive and unproductive or even discriminatory conflict. They weigh in on how diversity can both cause conflict and enhance our learning overall, explaining what microaggressions look like and how they compromise a safe working environment. Listen in for Dr. Sirgi, Dr. White, and Mr. Chiou’s insight on the relationship between conflict and burnout and learn what we can do to foster a healthy competition of ideas while resolving unproductive conflict in the workplace.
Topics Covered
· How lack of leadership, communication, transparency and trust lead to conflict among pathologists and laboratory professionals
· Why conflict in the workplace or learning environment isn’t always a bad thing
· Distinguishing between productive conflict and conflict that is unproductive or
discriminatory
· How diversity both causes conflict and enhances our learning overall
· What microaggressions look like and how they compromise a safe working environment
· Our panelists’ personal experience with conflict in the laboratory workplace and how they resolved the situation
· How chronic unresolved conflict impacts our health and causes burnout
· Why knowing people as human beings is the best way to facilitate conflict resolution
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. SirgiSirgi Consulting
Dr. Sirgi on Twitter
Connect with Dr. WhiteDr. White at Johns Hopkins
Connect with Mr. ChiouMr. Chiou at Rutgers
Mr. Chiou on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. SwailsDr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Resources
ASCP Diversity and Inclusion Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
An autopsy is the final chapter in a patient’s life. And while it can be a research tool, its underlying purpose is to give the family closure. So, what does the death certification process look like? How does the work of autopsy pathologists serve patients, their families, and the community at large?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Wendy Lavezzi, MD, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for the Districts 5 and 24 Medical Examiner’s Office in Leesburg, Florida, Dr. Robert Padera, Jr., MD, PhD, Pathologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Associate Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Joneé M. Taylor, MD, MA, Deputy Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and Dr. Alex K. Williamson, MD, Chief of Autopsy Pathology at Northwell Regional and Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, to discuss death certificates.
Our panelists introduce us to the vocabulary of the death certification process, explaining who can legally certify a death and what mistakes non-pathology physicians make in filling out death certificates. They weigh in on what differentiates the work of a medical autopsy pathologist from that of a forensic autopsy pathologist and describe the particular challenges they all faced during the pandemic. Listen in for our panelist's insight on the shortage of autopsy and forensic pathologists and what we can do to address that need.
Topics Covered
· Who can legally certify a death and when it’s appropriate to certify a death without an autopsy
· What differentiates the work of a medical autopsy pathologist from that of a forensic autopsy pathologist, and when they might work together
· Common mistakes non-pathology physicians make in filling out death certificates
· What the terms “cause,” “mechanism,” and “manner of death” mean in the formal death certification process
· The challenges in the death certification process during the pandemic
· Disparity challenges around death certification in the pandemic and the distinction between dying with COVID and dying of COVID
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. LavezziDr. Lavezzi on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. PaderaDr. Padera on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. TaylorOffice of the Chief Medical Examiner, District of Columbia
Connect with Dr. WilliamsonDr. Williamson at Northwell Health
Books by Dr. Williamson
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. Milner
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Milner on Twitter
ResourcesInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Pathologists and lab professionals in global health are working to achieve health equity for all people worldwide. But what does that look like in practice? What challenges do global health advocates face, and what resources do they need to do their work? Which factors influence their ability to help build sustainable health delivery systems in places where people currently lack access to care?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Dr. Dan Milner are joined by Dr. Beatriz Hornburg, MD, Anatomic Pathologist and Cofounder of the CEDAP Laboratory in South Brazil, Dr. Dianna Ng, MD, Assistant Attending Physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Ms. Linda Cherepow, HT(ASCP)HTL, Founder of Global Histology Consulting and Cofounder of Swift Path Solutions in Uganda, Dr. Jane Brock, MD, PhD, Chief of Breast Pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Dr. Timothy Amukele, MD, VP Global Medical Director for ICON plc, to share their experiences with global training programs for pathologists and laboratory professionals.
Our panelists discuss their concerns around realizing sustainable interventions, recruiting the right volunteers, and securing the resources they need to do effective work in global health.
Topics Covered
· Challenges around understanding culture, finding the right local partners, and realizing sustainable interventions
· Strategies for recruiting local and international volunteers and why it’s important to establish a standard of training for global health volunteers
· What diseases our panelists see as major threats to global health that need our attention
· Virtual teaching in the COVID era and how travel restrictions have affected work in global health
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Hornburg
Ms. Hornburg on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Ng
Dr. Ng on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Cherepow
Ms. Cherepow on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Brock
Dr. Brock on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Amukele
Dr. Amukele on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Milner & Dr. Mulder
Dr. Milner on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
World Health Organization
WHO’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer
WHO’s Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer
WHO’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative
For all of its faults, social media provides an extraordinary opportunity for pathologists and laboratory professionals to engage with each other as well as the general public. And if we are mindful about how we show up, platforms like Twitter give us a forum for networking, advocating for our profession, and sharing our work with the world.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Dr. Lotte Mulder are joined by Ms. Dana Baker, MLS(ASCP)CM, Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences within the School of Health Professions at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Dr. Kamran Mirza, MD, MLS(ASCP)CM, Associate Professor of Pathology and Vice Chair of Education at Loyola University Health System in Maywood, Illinois, Dr. Sanjay Mukhopadhyay, MD, Director of Pulmonary Pathology at the Cleveland Clinic and Associate Editor of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology, and Dr. Sara Jiang, MD, Associate Professor of Pathology at Duke University and Director of the Duke Pathology Communications Group, to discuss how social media can benefit medical laboratory professionals.
Our panelists offer advice around posting cases on social media, and discuss the challenges of creating and enforcing social media policies for pathologists and laboratory professionals. They weigh in on the potential pitfalls of social media and share their individual approaches to posting personal versus professional content. Listen in for insight on leveraging social media for educational purposes and learn how we can use social media to increase the visibility of medical laboratory professionals.
Topics Covered
· The impetus to use social media for professional reasons and why busy lab professionals should take time to learn and use social media
· Advice for posting cases on social media and why it’s crucial to be in compliance with your organization’s social media policies
· Challenges around creating and enforcing social media policies for pathologists and laboratory professionals
· How social media can open up professional opportunities and access to the global community of pathologists and laboratory professionals
Connect with ASCPASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter Connect with Ms. BakerMs. Baker on Twitter
Connect with Dr. MirzaDr. Mirza on Twitter
Connect with Dr. MukhopadhyayDr. Mukhopadhyay on Twitter
Dr. Mukhopadhyay on YouTube
Connect with Dr. JiangDr. Jiang on Twitter
Dr. Jiang on Facebook Connect with Dr. Mulder & Dr. MilnerDr. Mulder on Twitter
Dr. Milner on Twitter
Resources ‘The Network That Never Sleeps’ in Lab MedicineASCP 40 Under Forty
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Seventy percent of medical decisions depend on laboratory results. And yet, pathologists and medical laboratory professionals received very little press coverage prior to the pandemic. Now that our work has been recognized, what can we do to keep that ball rolling? How can we expand Medical Laboratory Professionals Week beyond the walls of the lab and inspire our communities to celebrate with us?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Ms. Theresa Tellier-Castellone, EdD, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, Program Director at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital, Dr. Melanie Johncilla, MD, Consultant Pathologist at Port of Spain General Hospital in Trinidad and Tobago and Medical Director at Global Pathology Solutions, and Mr. Aaron K. Odegard, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSMCM, Medical Laboratory Technologist at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida, and Chair of the ASCP Council of Laboratory Professionals, to discuss their plans for Medical Laboratory Professionals Week and the importance of celebrating the lab.
Our panelists share how they recognize Lab Week outside the lab, offering insight how to engage the rest of the hospital staff and even the general public to celebrate with us. They weigh in on the psychological benefit of celebrating the work we do and describe how we might take advantage of the lab’s visibility during COVID to elevate Lab Week this year. Listen in for Ms. Tellier-Castellone, Dr. Johncilla, and Mr. Odegard’s favorite Lab Week memories and get their top ideas for celebrating our role as medical laboratory professionals and pathologists.
Topics Covered
· Our panelists’ favorite Medical Laboratory Professionals Week games and activities
· The challenges celebrating Lab Week in a resource-restricted setting
· What to do to have Lab Week recognized outside the lab
· How we might take advantage of the lab’s visibility during COVID to elevate Lab Week this year and invite the rest of the hospital staff to celebrate with us
· The psychological benefit of celebrating the work we do as medical laboratory professionals
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Theresa Tellier-CastelloneMs. Tellier-Castellone on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. JohncillaDr. Johncilla on LinkedIn
Global Pathology Solutions
Connect with Mr. Odegard
Mr. Odegard on Twitter
Mr. Odegard on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. Mulder
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Resources
ASCP Resources for Celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
ASCLS Resources for Celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
COVID-19 presents in a variety of ways, and hearing survivors’ stories helps us understand its complexities. For those of us who have experienced the virus firsthand, sharing our own stories helps us heal.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by three ASCP Patient Champions. Ms. Cathrine Solomon, RN, Transplant Coordinator for Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, Ms. Lynnette Chakkaphak, MS, MT(ASCP), Director of Clinical Operations at St. Vincent’s HealthCare in Jacksonville, Florida, and Mr. Anthony Reed, CEO of Kidney Trails and kidney transplant recipient.
Our panelists describe the COVID symptoms they experienced, explaining the steps they took to protect their families and how their backgrounds in healthcare informed the way they managed the illness. Listen in for Ms. Solomon, Ms. Chakkaphak, and Mr. Reed’s insight on making the decision to get vaccinated for the virus and learn about the role laboratory professionals play in saving people’s lives.
Topics Covered
· Symptoms the panelists or their family members experienced that made them suspect they had COVID
· The long-hauler phenomenon
· How a background in laboratory medicine can help understand what was happening and ask the right questions
· The challenges of Mr. Reed’s COVID journey in light of his history as a transplant patient
· The steps our panelists took to protect themselves and their families from contracting the virus
· Ms. Solomon’s harrowing story of losing both parents to COVID while she suffered from the virus herself
· Ms. Solomon and Ms. Chakkaphak’s experience with COVID convalescent plasma donation
· The COVID treatments received during hospitalizations
· How Ms. Solomon’s experience as an RN informed her ability to navigate the virus
· Making the decision to get the COVID vaccine and the minor side effects experienced
· How COVID highlights the role laboratory professionals play in saving people’s lives
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Solomon
Ms. Solomon on LinkedIn
Ms. Solomon on Instagram
Connect with Ms. Chakkaphak
Ms. Chakkaphak on LinkedIn
Ms. Chakkaphak on Twitter
Connect with Mr. ReedKidney Trails
Mr. Reed on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. Mulder
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
ASCP Patient Champions
Anthony’s COVID Experience on the Kidney Trails Blog
Vaccines have revolutionized public healthcare, helping us eradicate a number of debilitating and deadly diseases. And yet, many people are hesitant to get vaccinated for COVID-19. So, how do the new Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines work? And are they truly safe?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Dr. Dan Milner are joined by Ms. Lindsey Clark, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Sciences at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Dr. Hana M. El Sahly, MD, Associate Professor of Molecular Virology and Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine, and Mr. Anthony Reed, Founder and CEO of Kidney Trails and ASCP Patient Champion, to discuss vaccine safety.
Dr. El Sahly explains how the COVID vaccines work, walking listeners through the most common reactions to the Pfizer and Moderna iterations and describing how a vaccine’s safety is ensured—even when its release is accelerated via Emergency Use Authorization. Listen in for Ms. Clark and Mr. Reed’s insight on how they, as high-risk patients, made the decision to get vaccinated and learn what we can do to encourage vaccination among those with reservations.
Topics Covered
· The four main categories of vaccines and why live, attenuated vaccines are not recommended for immunocompromised or immunosuppressed individuals
· How mRNA vaccines deliver the code necessary to trigger an immune response and the most common local and systemic reactions to the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines
· The rigorous testing and approval process for vaccines
· Why COVID-19 vaccines received Emergency Use Authorization and how EUA differs from approval
· Safety data the medical community is gathering as COVID vaccines are rolled out
· Open questions around whether existing COVID vaccines protect against variants
· Concerns of high-risk patients about getting the COVID vaccine
· Why it’s crucial for people who’ve been vaccinated to continue social distancing and wearing masks until we’ve built herd immunity
· Hesitations around getting vaccinated for COVID and what how to encourage vaccination among those with reservations
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Clark
Ms. Clark on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. El Sahly
Dr. El Sahly at Baylor College of Medicine
Connect with Mr. Reed
Mr. Reed on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Milner & Dr. Mulder
Dr. Milner on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trial Data
Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trial Data
ASCP Patient Champions
Forty-five percent of all medical laboratory workers have more than 20 years of experience, while only 23 percent have been on the bench for five years or less. A retirement bubble is coming and burnout among lab professionals is high in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. What can we do to recruit more people for MLS programs?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Kristina Behan, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, Department Chair of Medical Laboratory Sciences at the University of West Florida, Mr. James Payne, MS, Phlebotomy and Laboratory Science Teacher at the WEMOCO Career and Technical Education Program in Spencerport, New York, and Ms. Susan Graham, MS, MT(ASCP), Department Chair and MLS Program Director of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Science at SUNY Upstate Medical University, to discuss recruitment for MLS programs.
Our panelists share what they are doing as educators to increase the number of young people entering a career in laboratory medicine. Listen in for Dr. Behan, Mr. Payne, and Ms. Graham’s insight on MLS education in the post-COVID era and learn what we can do as lab professionals to boost enrollment in clinical laboratory science programs.
Topics Covered
· The four categories of stakeholders who share concerns around the sustainability of university-based medical laboratory sciences programs
· Strategies for growing the number of graduates to fill vacancies in the laboratory
· How the pandemic affected MLS programs and the resilience of students in laboratory medicine
· The value of career fairs and sharing classroom activities with middle and high school teachers
· How laboratory professionals can help boost enrollment in MLS programs by providing shadowing opportunities, hosting field trips and offering to do stories for local media
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Behan
Dr. Behan at the University of West Florida
Dr. Behan on LinkedIn
Connect with Mr. Payne
BOCES 2 CTE at WEMOCO
Mr. Payne on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Graham
Ms. Graham at SUNY
Ms. Graham on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Jaworski
Ms. Jaworski on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. Mulder
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
ASCP Patient Champions Program
ASCP Career Ambassador Programs
To get the best outcome for patients, communication between anatomic and clinical pathologists is critical. And although the field is small, specialists in infectious disease pathology are especially equipped to facilitate collaboration among AP and CP lab professionals.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Clare McCormick-Baw, MD, PhD, AP/CP-Trained Pathologist and Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Andrew Clark, PhD, D(ABMM), Associate Director of Microbiology at Clements University Hospital at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Jonathon Wilcox, MD, Third-Year AP/CP Resident at the University of Vermont Medical Center, and Ms. Karen Jaworski, MT(ASCP), Microbiology Supervisor at Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas, Texas, to discuss infectious disease as a bridge between anatomic pathology and clinical pathology.
Our panelists explore the value of interfacing among infectious disease, clinical pathology and anatomic pathology professionals to improve patient care and what barriers exist in collaborations between anatomic pathologists and clinical microbiologists. Listen in for Dr. McCormick-Baw, Dr. Clark, Dr. Wilcox and Ms. Jaworski’s insight on how COVID has affected their working relationships and learn more about the unique, specialized field of infectious disease pathology.
Topics Covered
· What makes infectious disease pathology unique in terms of the division between anatomic pathology and clinical pathology
· Why it’s crucial for AP and CP colleagues to communicate around infectious disease cases
· The role the bench tech plays in IDP, AP and CP in terms of biosafety and patient care
· How COVID has affected the panelist’s working relationships and how previously established relationships among departments improved their response to the pandemic
· How AP-CP communication and infectious disease could be incorporated into diagnostic or multidisciplinary management teams
· How advanced diagnostics and personalized medicine are likely to influence the future of AP, CP and IDP
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. McCormick-Baw
Dr. McCormick-Baw at UT Southwestern
Connect with Dr. Clark
Dr. Clark at UT Southwestern
Connect with Dr. Wilcox
The University of Vermont Medical Center
Connect with Ms. Jaworski
Ms. Jaworski on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Swails & Dr. Milner
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Milner on Twitter
Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 4,900 students graduate from MLS and MLT programs in the U.S. every year. But there are 9,000+ job openings. So, what’s behind the 46% vacancy rate? And what can we do as laboratory professionals to address these significant staffing shortages?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Rodney E. Rohde, PhD, SV, SM, MB(ASCP), FACSc, Professor and Chair for the Clinical Laboratory Science Program in the College of Health Professions at Texas State University, Dr. Brandy D. Gunsolus, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM, Administrator of the Immunology and Toxicology Laboratories and Specimen Referral at Augusta University Medical Center, and Ms. Edna Garcia, MPH, Director of Scientific Engagement and Research at ASCP’s Institute for Science, Technology and Policy in Washington, DC, to discuss laboratory staffing shortages—before, during, and after COVID-19.
Our panelists explore the factors that have contributed to the rise in staffing shortages over the past 30 years, discussing why the laboratory continues to struggle with recruitment and retention despite advancements in automation. Listen in for Dr. Rohde’s, Dr. Gonsolus’, and Ms. Garcia’s insight on advancing the visibility of the lab to strengthen the pipeline and find out what we can do to meet the workforce challenges the laboratory faces moving forward.
Key Takeaways· How laboratory staffing has evolved over the past 30 years and factors contributing to the rise in staffing shortages
· The challenges around recruitment and retention in the laboratory revealed in ASCP’s Wage and Vacancy surveys
· What can be done to advance the visibility of the lab and how COVID has helped highlight the profession in the past few months
· Why some labs are laying off lab professionals while others are desperate to hire staff to accommodate coronavirus testing
· The challenge the laboratory faces moving forward in terms of strengthening the pipeline and training administrators
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Rohde
Dr. Rohde at Texas State University
Dr. Rohde on Twitter
Dr. Rohde on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Gunsolus
Augusta University Health
Dr. Gunsolus on Twitter
Dr. Gunsolus on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Garcia
ASCP Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy
Ms. Garcia on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Dr. Milner
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Dr. Milner on Twitter
Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Everyone deserves equal access to compassionate care. And yet, transgender and gender non-conforming individuals face a number of challenges in navigating the healthcare system. As pathologists and laboratory professionals, what can we do to improve the healthcare experience for our transgender patients?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Dr. Lotte Mulder are joined by Dr. Jeff SoRelle, MD, Assistant Instructor of Pathology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, Ms. Julie Papango, MLS(ASCPi)CM, Medical Technologist, Humanitarian Aid Worker, and Award-Winning Public Speaker, and Dr. Robin LeGallo, MD, Associate Professor of Surgical and Autopsy Pathology at the University of Virginia, to discuss transgender pathology.
Our panelists explore the challenges transgender and gender non-conforming people face in accessing healthcare, describing how lab values can change in patients on hormone therapy, and what we can do to improve anatomic pathology processing and reporting for the transgender population. Listen in for Dr. SoRelle, Ms. Papango, and Dr. LeGallo’s insight on advancing electronic health records to better accommodate transgender patients and learn what we can do as pathologists and laboratory professionals to advocate for the transgender and gender non-conforming community.
Key Takeaways
· The challenges transgender and gender non-conforming people face in accessing healthcare
· The specific challenges transgender people face in the area of anatomic pathology processing and reporting
· How lab values change in transgender patients on hormone therapy and what we can do to implement transgender-specific reference intervals
· How some laboratory information systems handle the sex field for transgender patients and how electronic health records might be improved
· Leveraging precision medicine to better serve the transgender population
· What laboratory professionals and pathologists can do to advocate for improved healthcare for the transgender community, especially in rural areas
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. SoRelleDr. SoRelle at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dr. SoRelle on LinkedIn
Dr. SoRelle on Twitter
Connect with Ms. PapangoSociety of Transsexual Women of the Philippines
Ms. Papango on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. LeGallo Dr. LeGallo at the University of Virginia
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Dr. MilnerDr. Mulder on Twitter
Dr. Milner on Twitter
ResourcesInside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Having the right mentor can help pathologists and laboratory professionals shorten the learning curve and accelerate their professional success. But what should mentees be looking for in a mentor (and vice versa)? And where is the best place to find this kind of professional guidance and support?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Kamran Mirza, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology and Vice Chair of Education at Loyola University Health System in Maywood, Illinois, Ms. Tywauna Wilson, MBA, MLS(ASCP), System Technical Director of Chemistry for CompuNet Clinical Laboratories in Dayton, Ohio, and bestselling author of Some Leaders Wear Lab Coats, and Retired Colonel Dr. Nathan H. Johnson, PhD, MASCP, MT(ASCP), DLM(ASCP), SC, SLS, Chair of the Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Health Professions, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas, to discuss mentorship in the laboratory.
The panelists speak to the importance of the mentor-mentee relationship, explaining the need we have for mentorship in the laboratory and the pros and cons of having a mentor in your specific field of study. Listen in for Dr. Mirza, Ms. Wilson, and Dr. Johnson’s insight on how to connect with a potential mentor, what questions to ask to determine if they’re the right fit and how a successful mentor-mentee relationship benefits both parties.
Key Takeaways
· Why the mentor-mentee relationship is so important and how a successful one benefits both parties
· The need for mentorship in the laboratory and why it might look different from traditional corporate mentorship programs
· The pros and cons of having a mentor in your field and why your boss may or may not be the best choice
· How to connect with a mentor in the workplace, through professional organizations, or on social media
· The most important factors for a mentor and mentee to consider before agreeing to the relationship
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Mirza
Dr. Mirza at Loyola University Medical Center
Dr. Mirza on Twitter
Dr. Mirza on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Wilson
Trendy Elite Coaching and Consulting
Ms. Wilson at CompuNet Clinical Laboratories
Ms. Wilson on Twitter
Ms. Wilson on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Johnson
Dr. Johnson at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Dr. Johnson on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
An educated patient is an empowered patient. The more you know, the better you can advocate for yourself and others. And while pathology and laboratory medicine affects every patient at some point in their life, few understand the role of the lab in high-quality patient care. As laboratory professionals, what can we do to help patients understand the scope of our role and how we can work together to improve their healthcare experience?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Jeffrey Myers, MD, A. James French Professor of Diagnostic Pathology and Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs and Quality at the University of Michigan Medical School, Ms. Jasmin Hudgins, M.Clfs., MLS(ASCP)CM, Laboratory Manager for Schneider Regional Medical Center on the island of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and Ms. Renee Siegel, MSW, LCSW, Program Manager for the Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) and Project Manager for the Division of Patient and Family Programs and Services at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, to discuss the importance of empowered patients.
The panelists explain what differentiates patient- and family-centered care, describing what it looks like to work with patients and how listening to their concerns reorients us to what matters most. Listen in for insight around the appetite patients have for learning about their lab results directly from pathology professionals and learn how to cultivate patient engagement through formal Patient and Family Advisory Councils, and informally on the clinical level and in the communities we serve.
Key Takeaways
· What distinguishes patient- and family-centered care from what historically has been provided
· What it looks like for professionals in pathology and laboratory medicine to work with patients and families versus doing things to and for them
· The opportunities for understanding and eliminating barriers to racial equity in the healthcare system
· How cultural differences impact patient engagement and empowerment
· Questions to ask as patients to gain a more complete understanding of lab results and course of care moving forward
· The most effective strategies for collecting feedback from the communities we serve
· Barriers to patient advocacy work and what the lab can do to work through those obstacles
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Myers
Dr. Myers at the University of Michigan
Dr. Myers on LinkedIn
Connect with Ms. Hudgins
Schneider Regional Medical Center
Connect with Ms. Siegel
Patient and Family Advisory Councils at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Ms. Siegel on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on Native American communities. In fact, a CDC study in 23 selected states found that the incidence of confirmed cases among American Indians and Alaska Natives was 3.5 times that of non-Hispanic whites. Why are indigenous people among the hardest hit by the virus?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Sonya Shin, MD, Founding Director of the Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment Program and Contact Tracing Lead under the Navajo Nation Unified Command, Dr. Thomas Sequist, MD, Chief Patient Experience and Equity Officer at Mass General Brigham, Professor of Medicine and Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School and Medical Director of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Physician Outreach Program with the Indian Health Service, and Dr. Tricia Murdock, MD, Assistant Professor of Pathology at Johns Hopkins Medicine, to discuss the challenges specific to the Native American population through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The panelists explain how the coronavirus has served as “historical truth serum,” shedding light on the racist systems that have actively oppressed indigenous communities over the centuries and how the higher prevalence of chronic illness among Native Americans created by those systems led to poor outcomes in the pandemic. Listen in to learn what we can do to keep health equity in the spotlight when COVID-19 is a thing of the past.
Key Takeaways
· The challenges Native American populations face around access to healthcare in general
· What makes the coronavirus pandemic a “perfect storm for disaster” among Native American communities
· How COVID-19 has served as a historical truth serum and shed light on the health disparities among minority populations in the U.S.
· How a higher prevalence of chronic illness among Native Americans led to poor outcomes with coronavirus
· How to facilitate dialogue around health equity and help deconstruct the systems intended to decimate Native American communities
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Shin
Navajo Nation’s Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment Program
Gallup Indian Medical Center
Dr. Shin on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Sequist
Dr. Sequist at Harvard
Dr. Sequist at Brigham Health
Dr. Sequist on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Murdock
Dr. Murdock at Johns Hopkins
Dr. Murdock on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
The recent protests and social unrest have reignited the conversation around diversity and inclusion in the U.S. But what is the laboratory’s role in inclusion? And how can our efforts to create an inclusive environment in pathology and laboratory medicine departments help us better serve our patients and build a more equitable healthcare system overall?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Melissa Upton, MD, FASCP, Associate Director of the Pathology Residency Program at the University of Washington and Chair of the ASCP Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Dr. Darryl Elzie, PsyD, MHA, MT(ASCP), CQA(ASQ), Laboratory Quality Coordinator for the Sentara Healthcare System, and Dr. Yvette Marie Miller, MD, Executive Medical Officer for the Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, to discuss the laboratory’s role in inclusion and why it is crucial for laboratory staff to reflect the communities in which they serve.
The panelists share the current statistics around diversity in the laboratory and explore inclusion as a separate focus, stressing the importance of an environment where minority employees feel empowered to speak up and show up as their authentic selves. Listen in for insight on creating a safe space to discuss racial concerns and learn how lab professionals can cultivate a diverse, inclusive environment and partner with patients to deliver equitable access to healthcare.
Key Takeaways
· The laboratory’s role in inclusion and the impact of unconscious bias on a pathology team
· Why it’s crucial for the laboratory staff to reflect the communities in which we serve
· How the laboratory can leverage education and outreach programs to address healthcare inequity
· Current statistics around diversity in the laboratory and why pathology residency programs struggle to create a diverse environment
· How to create a safe space for minority employees to discuss racial concerns
· The challenges associated with racial discussions in the workplace and the importance of acting upon them
· The panelists’ vision of a diverse and inclusive workplace
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Upton
Dr. Upton at the University of Washington
Dr. Upton on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Elzie
Dr. Elzie on Lablogatory
Dr. Elzie on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Miller
Dr. Miller at the Red Cross
Dr. Miller at the American Association of Blood Banks
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Autopsies allow the dead to teach the living, and the information gathered by forensic pathologists is crucial in helping us understand what COVID-19 does to the body and improve patient care moving forward. So, what challenges have forensic pathologists and patient advocates faced through the pandemic?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, moderators Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Ms. Lisbeth Harcourt, LMSW, Program Manager of Decedent Affairs at Michigan Medicine, Dr. Brandi McCleskey, MD, Assistant Professor in the Division of Forensics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Pathology, Dr. Paul Benson, MD, Associate Professor of Anatomic Pathology and Autopsy Section Head at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Dr. Allecia M. Wilson, MD, Director of Autopsy and Forensic Services at the University of Michigan and Chief Medical Examiner of Washtenaw and Livingston Counties, to explore how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the work of forensic pathologists and medical social workers.
The panelists explain how COVID has affected end-of-life care and bereavement services, sharing what their teams are doing to support the families of decedents and how the virus highlights the importance of forensic pathologists as an integral part of the healthcare team. Listen in to understand what precautions our panelists have taken to keep their staff members safe in this challenging time and learn how forensic pathologists are using their autopsy findings to serve the living.
Key Takeaways
· How the coronavirus has affected forensic pathology resources and caseloads
· How COVID has impacted end-of-life care and bereavement services
· How the coronavirus has changed processes in forensic pathology offices for the better
· The challenges of transitioning to a COVID-capable autopsy service and the precautions to keep staff members safe
· How the pandemic has blurred the lines between work and home life for forensic pathologists and medical social workers
· What has been learned about COVID from autopsy findings and how those observations can be used to help the living
· What the future of forensic pathology looks like and opportunities for autopsy research collaborations
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Harcourt
Ms. Harcourt at Michigan Medicine
Ms. Harcourt on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. McCleskey
Dr. McCleskey at UAB
Dr. McCleskey on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Benson
Dr. Benson at UAB
Connect with Dr. Wilson
Dr. Wilson at the University of Michigan
Dr. Wilson on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
For pathologists and laboratory professionals in academia, publishing research in peer-reviewed literature is critical to success. And beyond that, there is a sense of fulfillment that comes from contributing to scientific knowledge and furthering the progress of society.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Steven Kroft, MD, MASCP, Editor in Chief of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology, Dr. Roger Bertholf, PhD, DABCC, FAACC, Medical Director of Clinical Chemistry at Houston Methodist Hospital and Editor in Chief of Laboratory Medicine, and Dr. Sanjay Mukhopadyay, MD, Director of Pulmonary Pathology at the Cleveland Clinic and Associate Editor of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology, to explain why research and publication are important to a career in laboratory medicine.
The panelists weigh in on the peer review process, describing what it is, how it works, why it’s important—and how it’s been fast-tracked in the season of COVID. Listen in for insight on sharing research findings on social media and learn how to maximize your chances of getting published in a scientific journal.
Key Takeaways
· The importance of research to an academic career in laboratory medicine and how publication serves as a form of scientific communication
· Separating scientific literature from unvetted information
· What the peer review process looks like and how it improves healthcare practice and delivery
· The editor’s responsibility and limitations for a publication’s integrity
· The disadvantages of the peer review process
· Sharing research findings on social media, and informal post-publication reviews
· The increase in submissions to scientific journals during the pandemic, and how editors are responding
· How to maximize your chances of getting published
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Kroft
American Journal of Clinical PathologyDr. Kroft on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Bertholf
Laboratory MedicineDr. Bertholf at Houston Methodist
Dr. Bertholf on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Mukhopadhyay
American Journal of Clinical PathologyDr. Mukhopadhyay at the Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Mukhopadhyay on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Laboratory professionals are working harder than ever to get test results out as quickly as possible. But no one was prepared for COVID-19, and at the start of the pandemic turnaround times were much longer than hoped for. What challenges did clinical laboratories face early on in the pandemic? What bottlenecks continue to hinder turnaround times? And what issues might we face moving forward?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Ms. Diana Kremitske, MHA, MS, MT(ASCP), Vice President of the Diagnostic Medicine Institute at Geisinger Medical Labs, Dr. Nicholas Moore, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, Assistant Director of Clinical Microbiology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and Dr. Karissa Culbreath, PhD, D(ABMM), Medical Director of Infectious Diseases at TriCore Reference Laboratories and Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, to discuss laboratory turnaround times during COVID-19.
The panelists share the challenges they have faced in getting results back to clinicians and patients in a timely manner and describe what they are doing to set stakeholders’ expectations for turnaround times. Listen in to better understand the concerns our panelists have around the upcoming respiratory virus season and learn about the innovative strategies laboratory professionals are using to increase testing capacity, establish testing priorities and optimize turnaround times in the season of coronavirus.
Key Takeaways
· How panelists have expanded the number of testing platforms, redeployed staff from other areas and added second and third shifts to improve turnaround times
· Challenges around coordinating courier support and securing adequate supplies for specimen collection
· The pre- and post-analytical considerations impacting a lab’s ability to expedite COVID-19 test results
· How the pandemic has opened the door for laboratory advocacy and why it’s important that the lab keeps a seat at the table once the current crisis is over
· Strategies to set expectations around turnaround times for COVID-19
· Concerns around the upcoming respiratory virus season
· Responses to high-profile criticisms of testing turnaround times on social media and what factors are out of the lab’s control
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Kremitske
Ms. Kremitske at Geisinger Medical Labs
Ms. Kremitske on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. MooreDr. Moore at Rush University
Dr. Moore on Twitter
Connect with Dr. CulbreathDr. Culbreath at the University of New Mexico
Dr. Culbreath on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store
Do you overreact to little annoyances? Do you feel tired all the time? Worse yet, do you feel apathetic toward the work you used to love? Or like you’ve lost your purpose? If so, what you’re experiencing goes beyond the usual stress associated with working in the lab. What you’re feeling is full-fledged burnout.
On this episode of Inside the Lab, Ms. Kelly Swails is joined by panelists Dr. Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, Chief Officer of Medical Quality at ASCP, Dr. Lotte Mulder, PhD, Director of Leadership and Empowerment at ASCP, and Dr. Joe Sirintrapun, MD, Director of Pathology Informatics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, to discuss the behavioral, mental, and physical signs of burnout they recognized in themselves and what they did to overcome it.
The panelists explore why burnout has gotten more media coverage in recent years and how the coronavirus pandemic is likely to increase burnout among pathologists and lab professionals. Listen in for insight on the role technology plays in contributing to burnout in the healthcare space and learn what leaders can do to prevent burnout and create an organizational culture that values wellbeing.
Key Takeaways
· The distinction between stress and burnout
· How changing attitudes toward work-life balance have increased media coverage of burnout in recent years
· How a loss of autonomy and the high-stakes nature of medical laboratory work has led to an increase of burnout among lab professionals
· How technology contributes to burnout among healthcare professionals
· The behavioral, mental and physical signs of burnout
· How the uncertainties around COVID-19 are likely contributing to or accelerating burnout we won’t see the true impact until the pandemic is over
· How to deal with burnout
· What leaders can do to prevent burnout and help their team members overcome it
· How organizational culture contributes to burnout, and why prioritizing wellbeing over productivity metrics is critical
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Brown
Dr. Brown on LinkedIn
Dr. Brown on Twitter
Connect with Dr. SirintrapunAssociation for Pathology Informatics
Dr. Sirinatrapun at Sloan Kettering
Dr. Sirinatrapun on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Mulder
Dr. Mulder at ASCP
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Connect with Ms. Swails
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Resources
ASCP Store
Many teachers and students have been hesitant to embrace online learning, but the Coronavirus pandemic has left little choice but to do so. So, what does teaching pathology and laboratory medicine look like in a virtual setting?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Sara E. Wobker, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Urology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Natalie Banet, MD, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and Dr. Richard Davis, PhD, D(ABMM), MLS(ASCP)CM, Regional Director of Microbiology for Providence Health Care in Eastern Washington, to discuss online teaching and learning in the age of COVID-19.
The panelists explain how the landscape of virtual education has changed in light of the pandemic and describe how teaching pathology and laboratory medicine online differs from other subject areas. Listen in for insight on promoting equity and inclusion in a virtual setting, overcoming the limitations of remote learning, and avoiding the pitfalls associated with creating educational resources online.
Key Takeaways
· Past vs present online learning
· How the landscape of online learning has changed in light of the pandemic
· How teaching pathology online differs from other subject areas, and which aspects of laboratory medicine are particularly difficult to teach virtually
· How to promote diversity and inclusion in online learning
· How to address the needs of ESL, hearing impaired and neurodivergent students in a virtual setting
· Predictions around the future of remote learning
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
ASCP 2020 Virtual
Connect with Dr. Wobker
Dr. Wobker at UNC School of Medicine
Virtual Pathology Grand Rounds
Dr. Wobker on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Banet
Dr. Banet at Brown University
Dr. Banet’s Website
Dr. Banet on YouTube
Dr. Banet on Twitter
Deeper Levels Podcast
Connect with Dr. Davis
Providence Health Care
Dr. Davis on Twitter
Dr. Davis’ Viral Mask Tweet
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
Most of the media surrounding COVID-19 addresses how large hospitals in urban areas are navigating the crisis. But what challenges do small, independent facilities face? And how is the virus affecting the community MLS programs responsible for training the next generation of laboratory professionals?
On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Dana Altenburger, MD, FASCP, Medical Director of the laboratory at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, and Ms. Terese Abreu, MLS (ASCP)CM, Assistant Professor of Biological Science and Director of the Medical Laboratory Science Program at Heritage University, to explore the unique challenges community hospitals and MLS programs are facing in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The panelists weigh in on turnaround times for COVID results, budgetary concerns caused by the virus, and staffing shortages labs are likely to face in the aftermath of the pandemic. Listen in for insight into how the virus has affected student training and the potential long-term implications of COVID-19 for healthcare workers in community hospitals and MLS programs.
Key Takeaways
·The unique challenges community hospitals and labs face during the COVID-19 pandemic
· When to test in-house for COVID, vs when to send out
· How COVID-19 is affecting student training and how MLS students are being included during the crisis
· How the coronavirus has impacted the morale of students and staff
· The staffing shortages labs are likely to face in the aftermath of COVID-19
· Challenges the coronavirus presents in the migrant communities
· Navigating budgetary concerns caused by COVID-19
· What support community hospitals and MLS programs need moving forward
· Insight on the potential long-term implications of COVID-19
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Altenburger
Carle BroMenn Medical Center
Dr. Altenburger on WebMD
Connect with Ms. Abreu
Heritage University’s MLS Program
Ms. Abreu at Heritage University
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter
A July study found that for every 10,000 people, 23 white people contract COVID-19 compared to 62 Black and 73 Latinx people. And according to the COVID Racial Data Tracker, minority populations have a much higher mortality rate than that of whites: For every 100K people, 74 Black Americans, 40 American Indian or Alaskan Natives and 40 Hispanic or Latino people die from the virus—compared to 30 whites. Why are minority communities disproportionately affected by the coronavirus? And what can we do as lab professionals to address these disparities?
On this inaugural episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Von Samedi, MD, PhD, FASCP, Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Dr. Valerie Fitzhugh MD, FASCP Associate Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine at Rutgers University’s New Jersey Medical School, and Mr. Aaron Odegard, MS, MLS (ASCP) SMCM, Medical Technologist in the Infectious Diagnostic Laboratories at Baptist Health Jacksonville, to explore the disparities in COVID-19 cases among minority populations.
The panelists explain why minority populations are more vulnerable to the coronavirus and how the pandemic is both exposing and exacerbating the disparities in our healthcare system. Listen in for insight around the pathology and laboratory community’s responsibility to speak up and serve as an agent for change and learn what we can do to combat the disparities and create a more inclusive environment for underserved patients.
Key Takeaways
- How Black, Latinx and other minority populations bear a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 cases and experience a much higher mortality rate than their white counterparts
- Why minority communities are more vulnerable to the coronavirus than the general population
- How the pandemic is both exposing the existing disparities in healthcare and further expanding the incongruities in patient care
- The pathology and laboratory community’s responsibility to educate the community and serve as an agent for change
Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Samedi
Dr. Samedi at the University of Colorado
Dr. Samedi on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Fitzhugh
Dr. Fitzhugh at Rutgers
Dr. Fitzhugh on Twitter
Connect with Mr. Odegard
Mr. Odegard on LinkedIn
Mr. Odegard on Twitter
Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter