SUPERSTAT

The conversation continues. In Part 2 of our special interview with Nancy Stratton, CEO of COLA, we take the discussion beyond today's challenges and into the future of laboratory medicine. From leadership and workforce development to innovation, accreditation, and the evolving role of the laboratory in healthcare, this episode explores what it will take to prepare the profession for the next deca...

Leadership is easy to talk about—but much harder to practice during times of change. In Part 1 of this special SUPERSTAT conversation, we sit down with Nancy Stratton, CEO of COLA, to discuss leadership, accreditation, and the future of laboratory medicine. Together, we explore how organizations navigate uncertainty, why accreditation remains a cornerstone of quality and patient safety, and the op...

Social media says methylene blue can boost memory, increase energy, optimize mitochondria, improve focus, and maybe even help you live longer. Laboratory medicine says: let's take a closer look. In this episode of SUPERSTAT, we explore one of the hottest trends in wellness and biohacking. From its origins as a laboratory stain to its FDA-approved use in treating methemoglobinemia, methylene blue h...

🦠✈️ SUPERSTAT: Catching the Travel Bug(s) — PART 2 ✈️🦠 We’re back for Part 2 of our global microbiology adventure with co-host and microbiology superstar Aaron Odegard 🔬 This episode goes even deeper into the bugs, bites, vectors, and vacation souvenirs nobody asked for. From emerging infectious diseases to the diagnostic challenges laboratorians face when patients return home sick, we’re talki...

Pack your bag but maybe also pack some PPE 👀 This week on SUPERSTAT, we kick off a TWO-PART deep dive into the bugs you can pick up while traveling — from tropical diseases and foodborne nightmares to the headline-grabbing infections everyone suddenly Googles mid-flight. Leading the show is microbiology superstar and fan-favorite co-host Aaron Odegard, bringing the perfect mix of microbiology kno...

Digital Twins in Healthcare?! 🤖🧪 Medicine is officially entering sci-fi territory. This week on SUPERSTAT, join co-host Dr. Melody Boudreaux Nelson as she dives into the world of digital twins. These are virtual, AI-powered models of patients built using laboratory data, imaging, wearables, genetics, and clinical history to potentially predict disease and personalize treatment. Sounds futuristic...

This SUPERSTAT episode delves into the controversy surrounding high COVID IgG titers and their potential impact on health. It also addresses the challenges of public misinterpretation of lab results, the implications of on-demand testing and accessible platforms, and the ownership of lab result interpretation. Takeaways High COVID IgG titers may not necessarily be harmful Public misinterpretation...

This week, SUPERSTAT dives into the chaos, comedy, and culture of viral food prep challenges and how they collide headfirst with the legendary Lab Week potluck. From perfectly portioned TikTok meal grids to the unlabeled crockpot that’s been on “warm” since 7 a.m., we’re unpacking what these food trends say about lab life, teamwork, and trust. We explore the unspoken rules of the breakroom, the sc...

What happens when laboratory medicine becomes the punchline but never the story? In this reflective and thought-provoking episode of SUPERSTAT , Dr. Nelson explores the gap between how laboratory professionals are portrayed and the reality of the care they deliver every day. This episode challenges a deeply rooted mindset in laboratory medicine: the idea that our work should “speak for itself.” Be...

What happens when passion for science meets the endurance of a marathoner? In this inspiring episode of SUPERSTAT, we sit down with the force behind @MadScientistRunning—a laboratory professional who’s taking advocacy beyond the bench and onto the pavement. From early morning runs to miles logged with purpose, she shares how her journey in laboratory medicine evolved into a mission: making the inv...

In our latest SUPERSTAT episode, we explore the growing conversation around using CGM in inpatient units and why, despite the technology being widely available, it still hasn’t fully crossed the hospital threshold. Right now, major guidelines from organizations like the American Diabetes Association still recommend confirming CGM readings with traditional blood glucose testing before clinical deci...

A new bill introduced in Utah is raising major questions across the blood banking and transfusion medicine community. The proposal suggests the possibility of providing “vaccine-free blood” for transfusions — a concept that challenges how the blood supply currently operates in the United States. In this episode of SUPERSTAT, we unpack what the legislation actually proposes and why it has generated...

In this episode of SUPERSTAT, we take a closer look at recent federal cases involving unauthorized home laboratories that have drawn national attention and raised important questions about biosafety, regulation, and community safety. Reports of makeshift laboratories operating in residential settings, sometimes involving biological materials and laboratory equipment, have prompted investigations f...

In this powerful and reflective episode of @SUPERSTATpodcast, we honor the legacy, leadership, and lasting impact of Black pioneers in laboratory medicine — individuals whose contributions helped shape the scientific, diagnostic, and public health systems we rely on today. We spotlight trailblazers such as Dr. William Augustus Hinton, developer of the Hinton Test for syphilis and the first Black p...

In this championship-level episode of SUPERSTAT, we sit down with the 2026 Cell Bowl winning instructor, Katie Baskins, from Wichita State University Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) to talk about what it really takes to build a winning team. From competition strategy and student preparation to culture, leadership, and recruitment innovation, we unpack how their program rose to the top and what o...

In this short episode of SUPERSTAT, we’re recognizing the professionals who are often the very first step in the diagnostic journey .... phlebotomists! During National Phlebotomy Recognition Week, we take a moment to highlight the skill, precision, and patient-centered care required to ensure specimen integrity and accurate laboratory results. From bedside collections to navigating challenging dra...

In this episode of SUPERSTAT, we take a deeper look at moral injury in laboratory medicine: what it is, how it shows up, and why it’s often misunderstood as simple burnout. We explore how system pressures, resource constraints, misaligned priorities, and lack of visibility can place laboratory professionals in ethically challenging positions, even when they are doing everything “right.” This conve...

In this episode of SUPERSTAT, we explore innovative teaching styles and how modern educational approaches are shaping the next generation of STEM and laboratory professionals. Joined by Jim Payne, we discuss:How learning styles are evolvingWhy traditional teaching models may fall shortStrategies to better engage future scientists and laboratoriansBuilding sustainable education-to-workforce pipelin...

In this episode of SUPERSTAT, we explore one of the most confusing topics in laboratory medicine: professional titles. From Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), Medical Technologist (MT), and Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) to “technologist” versus “scientist,” we examine why laboratory titles vary across healthcare systems and why it matters. We discuss whether laboratory job titles should ali...

In this episode of SUPERSTAT, we examine real federal fraud cases involving laboratory testing and how they impact patient care, compliance, and trust in diagnostics. From billing fraud to inappropriate test utilization, we break down how these schemes happen and what laboratory professionals can learn from them. We discuss enforcement trends, ethical testing practices, and key differences in drug...

It’s a new year and the cat is officially out of the bag. 🐱🎉In this special SUPERSTAT episode, we’re heading into kicking off 2026 with a conversation that looks beyond today’s challenges and straight toward the future of laboratory medicine. We’re sharing why curiosity matters, why early exposure to science makes a difference, and how investing in education today can shape the next generation o...

In this episode of SUPERSTAT, we unpack what the Hospice Act means in real clinical practice and why access to blood transfusions for symptom relief—not cure—remains a critical and often misunderstood component of palliative care. From regulatory barriers and reimbursement challenges to ethical considerations and patient-centered decision-making, this conversation highlights how laboratory medicin...

What will the clinical laboratory look like three decades from now? In this forward-thinking episode, the SUPERSTAT crew travels to the year 2055 to imagine the diagnostic ecosystem of the future. From autonomous workflows and precision-guided analytics to new models of laboratory–clinician collaboration, we explore the possibilities, the pitfalls, and the innovations already reshaping the path fo...

This week on SUPERSTAT, co-host Aaron Odegard is exploring how gamification is transforming laboratory education by turning traditional training into engaging, competitive, and skill-building experiences. From digital badges to escape-room-style challenges, we’ll talk about how educators are using game mechanics to spark curiosity, improve retention, and inspire the next generation of laboratorian...

As direct-to-consumer biomarker testing explodes in popularity, more companies are promising to unlock peak wellness, optimize longevity, and predict health risks before symptoms appear. But where does innovation end and ethical uncertainty begin? In this SUPERSTAT episode, we examine the rise of pan-biomarker wellness platforms—those offering expansive test panels and personalized dashboards stra...