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 ...
Jul 20, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 26
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 Associat...
Jul 06, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 25
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 e...
Jun 22, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 24
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 Spri...
Jun 08, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 23
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 Foun...
May 25, 2021•58 min•Season 1Ep. 22
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 Of...
May 11, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 21
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. Bea...
Apr 27, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 20
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 Depa...
Apr 13, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 19
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....
Mar 30, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 18
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 Operatio...
Mar 23, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 17
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...
Mar 09, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 16
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 Laborat...
Mar 02, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 15
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 Southwes...
Feb 16, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 14
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 S...
Feb 02, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 13
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 Me...
Jan 19, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 12
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 Univer...
Jan 05, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 11
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 Mulde...
Dec 22, 2020•51 min•Season 1Ep. 10
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 Progr...
Dec 08, 2020•49 min•Season 1Ep. 9
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 Direct...
Nov 24, 2020•57 min•Season 1Ep. 8
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 ...
Nov 03, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 7
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...
Oct 20, 2020•49 min•Season 1Ep. 6
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. Dia...
Oct 06, 2020•52 min•Season 1Ep. 5
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 Leadersh...
Sep 22, 2020•59 min•Season 1Ep. 4
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. ...
Sep 01, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 3
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 ,...
Aug 25, 2020•42 min•Season 1Ep. 2
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 ...
Aug 11, 2020•44 min•Season 1Ep. 1
