LabMind

Mike Astion, a pathologist and professor of laboratory medicine at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, shares his experiences in launching and growing three different businesses over the course of his career and describes some of the unique challenges and opportunities he faced in his academic settings. He also explains the importance of hustle and negotiation for would-be entrepreneurs.

What role will pathologists play in the healthcare systems of the future, and what skills will those pathologists need? Andrew Fletcher, a pathologist with ARUP Laboratories, describes his own varied career, including time spent as a physician assistant, medical student, surgery intern, pathologist, and health system administrator. Along the way he addresses cultural divides, inter-professional communication, and that the unique contributions that laboratories and pathologists can bring to value-based healthcare.

Part I: Early career influences. In this segment, Dr. Carl Kjeldsberg, professor emeritus of pathology at the University of Utah, describes his early influences and preparation for academic entrepreneurship. He also discusses the challenges that he and his colleagues faced in order to establish ARUP Laboratories in the early 1980s.

Part II: The CEO years. In this segment, Dr. Carl Kjeldsberg, professor emeritus of pathology at the University of Utah, discusses his tenure as both CEO of ARUP Laboratories and department chair of Pathology at the University of Utah. He describes how his people-first leadership philosophy was critical to growing the company.