Off the Bench

Dr. Rodney E. Rohde, University Distinguished Regents' Professor and Chair for the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at Texas State University, joins Sophia and Doryan to discuss some of the infectious diseases currently making headlines: Hantavirus, Ebola and more. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in microbiology, virology, and public health, Dr. Rohde helps us separate fact from fic...

Preparing for a medical laboratory Board of Certification exam? In this episode, Doryan and Sophia share study tips, memory tricks, and test-day wisdom to help you study smarter, not harder. Whether you’re taking the exam, supporting a student, or mentoring future laboratorians, this episode is packed with practical advice and encouragement.

In this episode, Doryan and Sophia are joined by Dr. Melody Boudreaux Nelson, Stephanie Whitehead, and Aaron Odegard, the amazing trio behind the children's book, Little Lab Learners: The ABCs of Laboratory Medicine. Tune in as we ask how the book came to life, what else they have planned, and the importance of reaching younger learners about the laboratory profession.

In a showdown to determine which TV show gets medical laboratory science right, who will come out on top? And even more entertaining, who ends up dead last? Join Sophia and Doryan as they break down scenes from The Pitt, Scrubs, and more, diving into how lab science is portrayed in media, and what it all means for the broader branding and visibility of the profession. Check out: “Go with O Pos” –...

Join Doryan and Sophia as they take a look at the stats for the 2025 Off the Bench Season, and share upcoming events for 2026. Happy New Year and see you all in March 2026!

Scientific communication isn’t just about sharing data. It’s how laboratorians build trust, advocate for their profession, and protect patient care. In this episode, host Doryan Redding sits down with ASCLS President Kyle Riding, Past President Pat Tille, and Leadership Development Committee Vice Chair Nickola Chin as they explore communication in the clinical laboratory, from feedback loops to le...

Malarial drugs gone purple, beer in the bladder, and a blood type no one saw coming—sounds like a night out gone weird, but it's actually laboratory science history! Join Doryan and Sophia as they dive into the serendipitous side of science that reminds us that progress often starts with the unexpected.

This month Sophia and Doryan are joined by Malissa Norfolk and Miles Tompkins to break down the freshly updated ASCLS Body of Knowledge , the essential roadmap of competencies and skills for today’s medical laboratory scientists. From building marketable skills and fueling passion for the profession to a surprising Waffle House detour, this episode blends professional insight with a side of fun.

In this month's episode, Doryan Redding and Sophia Chandrasekar sit down with Heather Santaniello (previously on JAM Query Check 2024 ) and talk about the importance of having stories to share with those in and out of the medical laboratory profession, as well as swap some favorite stories. Come and geek out about our love of the lab with us!

Recorded live and in person at the 2025 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting in Sacramento, California, it’s the return of Query Check! Hosts Doryan Redding and Emily Woten take the stage once again for this Off the Bench game show tradition, joined by Sophia Chandrasekar for a special preface to kick things off. Contestants Emilia Marrero, Heather Parks, and Emily Reed face off in a fast-...

In this episode, hosts Doryan Redding and Sophia Chandrasekar sit down with ASCLS Executive Vice President Jim Flanigan and longtime federal lobbyist Patrick Cooney to unpack the rapidly evolving landscape of federal policy and what it means for the clinical laboratory workforce and the patients we serve. Jim and Patrick share an insider’s perspective on what’s happening as they break down how cur...

In this episode Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding sit down with Dr. Carol Rentas, Tony Kurec, and Dr. Cathy Otto and talk about their experiences as a leader, and what advice they would share with others looking to be a leader in their community. The three also talk about the learning modules that they created for the ASCLS Leadership Development Committee's Leadership Certificate Curriculum....

In this episode, host Doryan Redding talks with Anne Tate and Tristan Sonnier about the ASCLS Political Action Committee (PAC) . They explore what it means to them, what the PAC does, and why they joined. Get inspired to make a difference!

Co-hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding talk about their "brain worms." Like ear worms, these are topics that are hard to get out of your head. We talk about an insomnia that kills you, blood flukes that alter the course of history, supplements that need better disclosures, and a true crime that's inspired TV plots. Give it a listen and share your brain worms! Trigger Warning: This episode...

Join Sophia and Doryan as they recap the best moments from episodes of Off the Bench in 2024. They reflect on standout episodes, share their favorite clips, and close the year with a blooper reel that’s sure to leave you smiling into 2025.

To prepare for Small Business Saturday (November 30, 2024), hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding feature four small businesses that are run by fellow medical laboratory professionals. Find links to their businesses here. 

In this episode, hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding are joined by Emily Woten and ASCLS President-Elect Dr. Kyle Riding. The four explore the question that's plagued a few medical laboratory geeks—how do science fiction instrumentation work? How reliable are they? And why does MALDI-TOF keep coming up? Tune in and comment below on how you think this stuff works! References to the science...

In this episode, co-hosts Doryan Redding and Sophia Chandrasekar speak with Dr. Audrey Folsom of Arkansas State University, as she shares her experiences as a medical laboratory scientist doing lab work overseas and her adventures in teaching lab and health courses in China. See photos from Audrey's travels.

In this episode, co-hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding talk with Dr. Kelly Winter about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) OneLab initiative. Hear about all that OneLab has to offer, from CEs to virtual reality labs to facilitate training, and catch our enthusiasm to sign up for OneLab today !

Doryan Redding and Emily Woten host the 2024 Query Check Game Show live at the 2024 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting . Our three wonderful contestants, Dr. Audrey Folsom, Heather Santaniello, and Amara Sugalski, face off with BOC-styled questions, lab-ish questions, and scenarios that show who's the most "technically" correct. Find out who took home this year's Query Check Champion tro...

On today's episode, hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding meet up again with previous guest Grace Leu-Burke, MSCLS, MLS(ASCP), Associate Professor and Program Director of the MLS program at The University of Alaska, Anchorage. Doryan and Sophia pick Grace's brain on how blood banking has changed since her student years, especially with the effects of HIV and Hepatitis in blood banking and s...

This month, hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding talk with Dr. LaShanta Brice, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM, SH(ASCP)CM, about her amazing journey from an MLS in a hospital lab to a Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) in industry. She describes what it's like to go through the DCLS program, and what her role in industry is today.

In this month's episode, host Sophia Chandrasekar talks with Professor Grace Leu-Burke of the University of Alaska in Anchorage (UAA). Professor Leu-Burke shares the challenges for a medical laboratory professional in Alaska and the research program she developed at UAA for the MLS program. Hear about her students' research and fascinating (and terrifying!) observations that they've cultured.

In this episode, hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding speak with Letycia Nuñez-Argote, PhD, CPH, MLS(ASCP)CM, about the ASCLS Diversity Advocacy Council, the 2024 ASCLS PRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum Book Club, and how we can always be improving and learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion and how we see the world. Special thanks go out to our episode sponso...

It's the final episode of Off the Bench for 2023. Hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding reflect on the past year and share upcoming news for 2024. Off the Bench will take a short break this winter and will be back with new episodes in March. Happy New Year to all medical laboratory professionals and listeners!