Laboratory medicine plays an essential role in healthcare, yet many children grow up with little awareness of what happens in the clinical laboratory—or the wide range of careers that make diagnosis possible. In this episode, the creators of STEM to STAT discuss their efforts to introduce children to laboratory medicine early, helping young learners connect STEM education with real-world healthcare and imagine themselves as the scientists and laboratory professionals of the future. The conversation explores why visibility matters, how storytelling and educational resources can reshape perceptions of the laboratory, and how STEM to STAT hopes to build a more informed and inclusive pathway into laboratory medicine. Host David Ritter is joined by STEM to STAT cofounders Stephanie Whitehead, Aaron Odegard, and Melody Nelson.

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In this episode of Inside the Lab, Patricia Delgado and Liz Etkin-Kramer explore the evolving landscape of cervical cancer screening amid recent guideline updates emphasizing primary HPV testing, self-collection, and revised screening exit criteria. The conversation examines the challenges posed by HPV-negative cervical cancers and highlights the importance of close collaboration between pathology and OB-GYN teams when screening results, clinical findings, and patient presentation do not align neatly. Through a detailed case discussion, the guests describe how ongoing communication and iterative review between specialties ultimately leads to improved diagnostic accuracy in difficult cases, underscoring the value of interdisciplinary partnership in complex gynecologic cases.

Key Takeaways

1. Recent cervical cancer screening updates are not yet fully harmonized across major professional organizations, creating a transitional landscape that clinicians and laboratories must navigate carefully.
2. HPV-negative cervical lesions and cancers can present significant diagnostic challenges, particularly when standard screening results do not match clinical suspicion.
3. Strong, iterative collaboration between OB-GYNs and pathologists can be critical for resolving complex cases and achieving accurate diagnoses, as illustrated by the discussion of lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia.

Recorded live at the 2025 ASCP Annual Meeting in Atlanta, this special episode of Inside the Lab brings together a diverse panel—a practicing pathologist, two medical students, and a resident—to explore one of the profession’s most urgent challenges: the pathology workforce shortage. Against the backdrop of ASCP workforce data showing a growing gap between supply and demand, the guests share firsthand perspectives on why students discover pathology late, how misconceptions persist, and what it takes to cultivate interest in a specialty that underpins 70% of medical decision-making. Their discussion spans everything from pipeline barriers and visibility gaps to influential moments of mentorship that sparked their own career trajectories.

The panel also delves into the future—how medical schools might better integrate pathology into mandatory curricula, how social media and community engagement can reshape public perception, and how pathologists can meaningfully mentor the next generation earlier in their training. From high-impact outreach efforts to the energizing role of professional communities, the group highlights actionable strategies for securing the future health of the field. The result is an inspiring, candid conversation about why pathology is a calling, what keeps trainees engaged, and how everyone in the profession can contribute to strengthening the workforce.