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.

In this episode of Inside the Lab, host David Ritter kicks off a new series on corporate responsibility with a timely conversation about Green Labs. Joined by Dr. Ilyssa Gordon and Dr. Moira Larsen, the discussion revisits how far laboratory sustainability has come since Dr. Gordon’s 2021 appearance on the show and examines what has changed over the last four years.

The episode explores what “green labs” really mean in the context of clinical and pathology laboratories, from life-cycle assessments that quantify the carbon footprint of common workflows to system-level strategies that integrate sustainability into corporate responsibility frameworks. Dr. Gordon shares insights from her research on the environmental impact of GI biopsy processing and discusses how data-driven approaches can influence decision-making at the bench. Dr. Larsen outlines how green initiatives must be built into lab’s missions and financials in order to truly take hold, as well as the importance of partnering with aligned partners when sourcing materials.

Throughout the conversation, the guests emphasize practical, achievable actions—both at the institutional and individual levels—while addressing the realities facing today’s lab professionals. The episode concludes on an optimistic note, highlighting what’s currently inspiring leaders in laboratory sustainability and reinforcing the idea that meaningful progress is possible, even in resource-constrained environments.