LabMind

When most people think of laboratorians, they picture introverts following rigid processes to perform technical tasks. These stereotypes sell laboratory professionals short. True, laboratory testing does involve technical chemistry and biology tasks, and some scientists might be introverts, but our field is far broader than this picture suggests. In this two-part episode, Stephanie Whitehead from the University Health System San Antonio and Kathy Sakas from NW Laboratory (Part I), and Chris Bradley from Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories, along with Charles Daniels and Karen Corson from Adventist Health (Part II), shatter these stereotypes with their stories of ingenuity, creativity, and sheer grit.

Dennis Strenk, PA(ASCP)CM, has interviewed more than 70 people in pathology and laboratory medicine for his podcast, “People of Pathology.” We discuss the remarkable range of backgrounds, professional interests, and career paths he’s encountered, and why it’s never too late to pursue a laboratory career.

Global health is ultimately achieved by meeting the health needs of people in diverse real-world settings. Creative innovations developed to meet the needs of lower-resourced countries can often benefit wealthy countries as well. In this discussion, Dr. Karen Heichman, director of diagnostics for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, explains the need for fast, inexpensive testing that is easy to perform in any location. She also discusses the value of bringing large corporations, government agencies, and nonprofits together to accomplish these breakthroughs and, in the Foundation’s words, “help all people live healthy, productive lives.”

Andy Theurer recently became the seventh CEO in ARUP’s almost 40-year history. In this interview, he reflects on lessons learned from all six of his predecessors, shares why he’s been skipping to work almost every day for the more than 30 years he’s been with ARUP, and talks about how he hopes to guide the future of ARUP.

Dr. Sherrie Perkins never planned, nor aspired, to become CEO of a large clinical laboratory business. But after a long and successful career as an academic hematopathologist, she was tapped as the sixth chief executive in ARUP Laboratories’ nearly 40-year history. In this interview, she describes her journey from art student to pathologist, how every CEO leaves a distinctive mark on a company, and why diversity and inclusion are so important to ARUP’s future.

Few guests on LabMind have been as attuned to broad technologic trends in pathology as Dr. Joseph Anderson. He has worked in multiple settings, including private practice, academia, and industry, and is currently engaged in with several early-stage pathology companies. Anderson also hosts a podcast in which he interviews leaders in the domain of digital pathology. In this interview, we discuss his insights into what’s required for successful innovation, and why he’s optimistic about pathology’s future.

Patients’ needs and preferences don’t always match the preconceived notions of laboratory and medical professionals. In this interview, Heidi Wallis, president of the Association for Creatine Deficiencies, shares her family’s diagnostic odyssey. She also provides insights about how the biomedical establishment could better serve families like hers. Ms. Wallis has two children with GAMT deficiency, an inherited disorder that prevents the body from producing creatine. Her children were diagnosed in very different ways, with very different consequences.

See more about Heidi's story:
GAMT Deficiency: The Power of Newborn Screening
Association for Creatine Deficiencies