Inside the Lab

One important challenge that ASCP is taking on is the notion of visibility of the laboratory.  What do successful clinical pathology lab directors do to bring the laboratory ‘out of the basement’ and advocate for the profession with colleagues, hospital leadership and the public at large? And what skills do they lean on to manage their labs successfully and achieve a healthy work-life balance?  On...

ASCP was the first medical professional organization to elect a woman as president when Dr. Emma Moss earned the title in 1955. And while women continue to make strides in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine, there is still much to be done.  So, what can we do to promote gender equality in the laboratory workforce? How can we create more opportunities for women to ascend from the bench...

In the 100 years since ASCP was founded, our mission has always centered on taking care of patients. As long as there are disparities in the healthcare system, we cannot fully realize that ambition. So, what is ASCP’s vision around diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I)? What steps can we take to promote DE&I in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine?  On this episode of Inside the...

This 45-minute podcast features the expertise of a pathologist and an oncologist highlighting important and practice-changing developments related to the use of Ki67 biomarker testing in patients with HR-positive/HER2-negative early breast cancer, such as new clinical data with immediate implications for patient care. Case-based, and with expert perspectives and recommendations, this podcast addre...

This 45-minute podcast is the first of two designed to help pathologists understand the latest evidence regarding HER2-low breast cancer, HER2 testing guidelines, the implications for the pathology team as HER2-low therapies emerge, and ways to streamline communications with oncologists and other members of the cancer care team. The podcast features authentic patient cases, scenarios, and discussi...

This podcast will help pathologists gain deeper skills in improving HER2 IHC testing in patients with breast cancer. and includes the following topics: Optimizing IHC scoring across the HER2 spectrum in patients with breast cancer Guidelines for conducting IHC and ISH testing of HER2 in patients with breast cancer Application through cases of patients with breast cancer along the lower spectrum of...

Life hacks are tricks or shortcuts that make life easier and more efficient, like storing the roll of garbage bags at the bottom of your trash bin so the next bag is right there when you take out the trash. In the world of anatomic pathology, tissue and organ samples run through multiple processes to render a diagnosis, it’s especially important that to stay organized and efficient.  So, what life...

Do you do your best work in the morning? Or does your energy peak at night?   What if you could schedule your day around your circadian rhythms so the task type and timing align? How might laboratory professionals leverage these hidden patterns of the day to maximize efficiency and make better decisions?  On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Dr. Dan Milner are joined b...

Organizational wellness is getting more attention , due in no small part to the increased stress brought on by a global pandemic.   But why do we only seem to think about wellness when we feel unwell? What does wellness look like for pathologists and laboratory professionals? And what responsibility do institutions and individuals have in making wellness a priority?  On this episode of Inside the...

What would ASCP members like to see happen in the next five to ten years that would most impact our lives and work as laboratory professionals?   And what can ASCP do as an organization to elevate laboratory medicine as a profession and address the greatest challenges we face?   On this episode of Inside the Lab, Dr. Dan Milner sits down with attendees of the ASCP 2021 Annual Meeting to explore wh...

Wellness is multidimensional. In addition to our physical health, wellness encompasses our mental, social, emotional and even financial wellbeing. It’s no surprise that there’s a connection between the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in an organization and the wellbeing of the laboratory professionals who work or train there. Programs that address the unique needs of every employee are int...

Every human has bias, as do the organizations we build. Despite commitments to diversity and inclusion, institutional bias lives on in every industry.  How does institutional bias show up in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine? And what can we do to affect change?  On this episode of Inside the Lab, Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Ms. Tywauna Wilson, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM ,...

The World Health Organization cites antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 2.8 million people in the U.S. contract an antibiotic-resistant infection every year—and more than 35,000 die. What do laboratory professionals need to know about the emerging data around a...

In general, consolidating several microbiology labs into one and automating our processes facilitates innovation and efficiency and creates a safer patient environment. But consolidation and total laboratory automation (TLA) also come with challenges. So, what do pathologists and laboratory professionals need to think about as we transition to centralized labs and implement TLA systems?  On this e...

The principal tenet of medicine is to “first, do no harm.” And yet, the U.S. healthcare sector is responsible for 8.5% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. What can we do in the clinical laboratory to deliver care with a smaller carbon footprint?  On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Dan Milner and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Ilyssa Gordon, MD, PhD , Associate Professor of...

The clinical laboratory workforce is crucial to the U.S. healthcare system, providing critical information in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease. And yet, the number of laboratory professionals continues to shrink. What can we do to reverse this trend?  On this episode of Inside the Lab, Dr. Lotte Mulder and guest host Ms. Edna Garcia, Director of Scientific Engagement and Researc...

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, it’s never too early to start planning for the next global health crisis. What have we learned as pathologists and laboratory professionals over the last 18 months? And how can we apply these key learnings to prepare for the next pandemic?  On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Omai Garn...

Pathology administrators are tasked with the recruitment, retention, and management of laboratory staff. But how do you attract personnel for hard-to-fill positions? And how do you help young pathologists and laboratory professionals advance their careers and become the next generation of leaders?   On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Ms...

Digital pathology refers to everything from a static image of a slide to a real-time broadcast image. So, what do laboratory professionals mean when we talk about using digital pathology? What infrastructure is necessary beyond the scanners themselves? And what is driving the adoption of digital pathology tools?  On this episode of Inside the Lab, Dr. Dan Milner and guest host Dr. Joe Sirintrapun,...

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 L...

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...

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 multican...

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 ,...

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. Si...

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 D...