In this episode of Inside the Lab, host Constantine Kanakis is joined by former ASCP president and Director of Transfusion Medicine at VCU Dr. Kimberly Sanford to discuss topics in transfusion medicine. This one-on-one conversation between two transfusion experts covers a wide variety of contemporary issues in transfusion medicine, including best practices in apheresis, logistical issues associated with pre-hospital transfusion services, and strategies for addressing blood shortages. Their conversation also touches on how to compassionately discuss problems with so-called “vaccine-negative blood” with patients in the context of recent legislation regarding this, and how transfusion experts can best ration limited blood supplies during periods of scarcity.

In this episode of Inside the Lab, ASCP CMO and CEO Dr. Ali Brown is joined by Drs. Nicole Jackson and Greg Davis to discuss current topics in forensic pathology. In their fascinating and wide ranging discussion, they highlight the often overlooked role of forensic pathologists in offering empathy, care, and advice to the grieving relatives of their deceased patients, the need for expanded autopsy requirements in medical school rotations, and the utility of forensic training to anyone who needs to understand anatomy.

Listeners will come away from this episode with an appreciation of the emotional intelligence required to work as a forensic pathologist, as well as the deeply rewarding interpersonal interactions that forensic pathologists can have through autopsy pathology. They will also appreciate the difficulties that workforce shortages pose for the practice of medicine generally. Listeners will also become aware of strategies for attracting the next generation of forensic pathologists in a field critical to medical practice.

Host Kelly Swails interviews Dr. Brad Brimhall and genetic counselor Megan Maxwell from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio to discuss challenges with and strategies for the diagnosis of rare diseases. Their discussion covers topics like the advantages of proactively using genetic testing to identify gene markers at the outset of care, the possibilities of artificial intelligence in identifying markers of rare diseases, and the role of pathologists in a multi-disciplinary care team - as well as the need for adequate communication and a holistic approach within that care team. Collectively, our guests describe how these insights can be used to shorten a patient's "diagnostic odyssey."

In this special episode of Inside the Lab, producer and host David Ritter does a dive into the history of efforts to integrate AI into the practice of healthcare. He’s joined by MD/PhD candidate Rahim Hirani, who discusses the history of efforts to automate diagnostic decision making in healthcare all the way back to the 1950s, and how these efforts were qualitatively different from current tools like large language models. Then, he’s joined by Dr. Melody Nelson from the who discusses contemporary issues with applying modern AI tools in the context of the practice of pathology.

Inside the Lab is joined by experts Drs. Hannah Wang from the Cleveland Clinic and Rodney Rohde from Texas State University to discuss emerging respiratory viruses. Their discussion begins with lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and an overview of what technologies have emerged since. They go on to discuss the virology and surveillance strategies for H5N1 and RSV, as well as vaccine hesitancy and its impact in the treatment of measles.

In this episode of Inside the Lab, Dr. Ali Brown sits down with guests Sean Tucker, MLS(ASCP)CM and Laura Severs, MHA, MLS(ASCP)CM to discuss their predictions for what 2025 holds for laboratory professionals. Topics discussed include:

• How workforce trends will continue in the near future and what strategies may work for addressing them;
• What to expect with automation and what pros and cons automation holds for Labradorians;
• What challenges, risks, and benefits cybersecurity holds for laboratory professionals, particular as digital pathology becomes more prevalent;
• What's coming with AI and what it means for the practice of laboratory medicine.

In this episode of Inside the Lab, guests Jane Dickerson, PhD and Elise Occhipinti, MD join host Kelly Swails to discuss the creation and maintenance of laboratory test stewardship programs. Topics covered include:

• How and why your organization should set up a stewardship program
• Involving stakeholders in the process
• The essential components of a success program
• Metrics and key performance indicators to track
• Resources, guidelines, and toolkits for those looking to create their own program

While the rapid evolution of I-O continues to bring unprecedented change to the way cancer is treated, there are significant gaps impacting the laboratory team regarding the examination of resection specimens following neoadjuvant immunotherapy and staying abreast of advances in I-O biomarker testing.

This episode discusses advances in I-O biomarker testing, advantages and limitations of some key I-O biomarkers, and practical ways that pathologists and laboratory professionals can improve their I-O biomarker testing workflows to optimize patient care.

Topics discussed include:

• Recent advances in immune-oncology (I-O) biomarker testing
• Advantages and limitations of IO biomarkers
• Addressing challenges related to IO biomarkers
• Improving IO biomarker workflows
• Best practices for collaboration with the multidisciplinary cancer care team