In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, we step beyond the microbiology bench to talk laboratory medicine, advocacy, and storytelling with fellow medical laboratory scientists and podcasters Stephanie Whitehead and Aaron Odegard.

We explore how their work on the SuperStat Podcast is helping amplify the voice of the laboratory through conversations on leadership, access, and visibility. The discussion also highlights Little Lab Learners: ABCs of Laboratory Medicine, a children's book created to introduce laboratory medicine early and inspire future lab professionals.

Together, we talk about lab career paths, the impact of automation and the pandemic on lab visibility, and why advocacy doesn't look the same for everyone—but matters now more than ever. This episode is a reminder that the lab's story doesn't end at the bench—it's one we all help tell.

Little Lab Learners: ABCs of Laboratory Medicine is a children's book created to introduce laboratory medicine early and help kids see lab professionals as scientists, problem-solvers, and essential members of healthcare.

Learn more about the book and the Little Lab Learners series here:
👉 https://labcares.org/Little_Lab_Learners/

Listen to the SuperStat Podcast on Spotify:
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/5wYrCFh375KclnCFY8YyN2?si=b681fc3748df48e4

Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro:

• Website: letstalkmicro.com

• Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com

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In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. Joel Mortensen to discuss a study examining intestinal parasites in pediatric patients in Guinea, West Africa.

They dive into the real-world challenges of diagnosing parasitic infections in resource-limited settings, including reliance on stool microscopy, the use of rapid antigen tests, and how seasonal changes influence infection rates. Dr. Mortensen walks us through the study design, key findings, and what the data revealed about protozoal infections, as well as the role of microscopy in identifying helminths in this setting.

This conversation highlights the critical role of clinical microbiology in global health, the importance of diagnostic context, and how laboratory data can directly inform patient care and public health strategies in underserved regions.

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to check out previous episodes featuring Dr. Mortensen, where we dive deeper into his work in Guinea, laboratory capacity building, and global health challenges in resource-limited settings:

• 🎙️ Episode 107: A Pediatric Hospital in Guinea – Pt. 1
  https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/35868465

• 🎙️ Episode 108: A Pediatric Hospital in Guinea – Pt. 2
  https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/35868460

These episodes provide important background on the hospital, training efforts, and the broader impact of this work.

Learn more about Sacre Coeur Hospital and the pediatric care and laboratory work being done in Guinea:
👉 https://www.hopeignited.org/sacre-coeur

If you're interested in learning more about this work, collaborating, or supporting efforts in Guinea, you can reach out directly to Dr. Joel Mortensen:

📧 joelmortensen@gmail.com

You can also contact me at letstalkmicro@gmail.com, and I'm happy to help connect you.

Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro:

• Website: letstalkmicro.com

• Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com

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Genomic epidemiology is reshaping how we detect, investigate, and control infectious disease outbreaks—but what does that actually look like from the bench to public health? In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by genomic epidemiologist Krisandra Allen for a practical, case-based conversation on how pathogen sequencing data is generated, analyzed, and paired with epidemiologic information to answer questions traditional methods can't. They discuss foodborne and hepatitis A outbreaks, geographically dispersed clusters, and how sequencing is being integrated into routine public health workflows, while highlighting the essential role of clinical microbiology labs in specimen submission and data quality. A timely episode for microbiologists, public health professionals, and trainees curious about how their lab work feeds into real-world surveillance and outbreak response.

Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro:

• Website: letstalkmicro.com

• Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com

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In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by faculty and collaborators from the University of Florida to discuss their new Clinical Laboratory Microbiologist (CLM) program — the first NAACLS-approved, microbiology-only certification pathway in the United States.

They share how the program was created to address the growing shortage of clinical microbiologists and provide a direct pathway for microbiology graduates and working professionals to enter the clinical laboratory.

The conversation covers:

• Gaps in the current workforce and training pipeline

• The hybrid model combining online coursework, hands-on bootcamp labs, and local clinical internships

• Real-world training with clinical lab technology such as MALDI-TOF, PCR, and blood culture systems

• Preparation for the ASCP categorical microbiology certification exam

• The strong nationwide interest in the program

The episode closes with a fun discussion on everyone's favorite microbes.

Whether you're a student, lab professional, or educator, this episode offers insight into the future of clinical microbiology training.

Additional resources:

• ASCP Categorical Certification (Microbiology)
  https://www.ascp.org/boc/explore-credentials/view-all-credentials/M

• University of Florida Clinical Laboratory Microbiologist (CLM) Program
  https://microbiologyonline.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/clinical-laboratory-microbiologist/

• GIDEON (Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Network)
  https://www.gideononline.com/

Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro:

• Website: letstalkmicro.com

• Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com

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Tick-borne diseases continue to expand across North America, but diagnosing them in the clinical laboratory remains complex—especially when timing between symptom onset and testing isn't considered.

In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Kyle Rodino, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Assistant Director of Microbiology, for a lab-focused discussion on tick-borne disease diagnostics.

They cover major bacterial, parasitic, and viral causes of tick-borne disease, and walk through how molecular testing, serology, and microscopy are used at different stages of illness. The conversation highlights why test selection and timing matter, common diagnostic challenges—particularly with Babesia and Lyme disease testing—and how laboratories can support better diagnostic decision-making.

A practical episode for microbiologists, laboratorians, and clinicians navigating real-world testing challenges in the lab.

Additional resources:
Update on North American tick-borne diseases and how to diagnose them
https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00807-23

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• Website: letstalkmicro.com
  

• Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com

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In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, we break down metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and how it's changing the way we diagnose complex infectious diseases.

I'm joined by Steve Miller, MD, PhD—Chief Medical Officer at Delve Bio—to discuss how unbiased metagenomics moved from research labs into real-world clinical practice.

We cover what metagenomics is, how it differs from targeted PCR and sequencing, and where it adds the most value—especially in meningitis and encephalitis, immunocompromised patients, and cases where routine testing comes back negative.

Dr. Miller shares insights from years of clinical experience, including how mNGS can improve diagnostic yield, shorten time to diagnosis, guide targeted therapy, and reduce unnecessary testing and hospital stays. We also touch on challenges like cost, result interpretation, diagnostic stewardship, and where metagenomics is headed next—including its role in public health and emerging infections.

• Clinical metagenomics for meningitis and encephalitis (Nature Medicine)
  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03275-1

Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro:

• Website: letstalkmicro.com

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PEA agar is often treated as "the gram-positive plate," but that shortcut can lead to real bench-level mistakes.

In this MicroMinutes episode, we break down what phenylethyl alcohol agar actually does, why growth on PEA does not automatically mean an organism is gram-positive, and how selective media can change colony appearance and behavior.

You'll hear about:

• What PEA inhibits — and what it doesn't

• Why Pseudomonas aeruginosa can grow quite well on PEA

• How colony morphology and hemolysis may differ from blood agar

• Why Lancefield grouping should never be performed directly from PEA
  
  

PEA is a powerful recovery tool — but only when you understand its limitations.
Short, focused, and straight from the bench, this is your Micro minutes.

Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro:

• Website: letstalkmicro.com

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In this special episode, I'm joined by three leaders who helped shape the conversation at the 2025 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Summit in Detroit: Dr. Lauren Hunt, Dr. Linoj Samuel, and Dr. Robert Tibbetts. Together, we explore how this intimate, multidisciplinary summit brought together clinical microbiology, infectious diseases, stewardship, public health, policy, and veterinary medicine to tackle the growing challenges of antimicrobial resistance.

We break down the key themes that emerged throughout the meeting—shared accountability, One Health collaboration, diagnostic innovation, payer perspectives, and the urgent need for equitable access to testing. You'll hear about surprising insights, personal stories that brought AMR's impact into sharp focus, and the collaborative projects already taking root as a result of this year's summit.

Whether you're on the bench, managing stewardship programs, shaping policy, or simply passionate about the future of diagnostics, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the conversations and partnerships driving AMR action forward.

Thank you to Lauren, Linoj, and Robert for joining me—and to everyone committed to advancing the fight against AMR. One Health, one fight.

If you'd like to explore more background from last year's summit, here are two excellent resources:

• 2024 AMR Summit Article
  Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology (ASHE)
  DOI:10.1017/ash.2025.10039
  
  

• ASHE Podcast Episode Recapping the 2024 Summit
  🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0YBcDwgfYIy75pTVjCZZ5Y?si=jb8N_3AIQdOmcC2YaOvOag
  
  

If you're interested in contributing ideas, collaborating on AMR initiatives, or learning more about future AMR Summits, you can reach out directly to:

Dr. Lauren Hunt

📧 lauren.hunt@biomerieux.com

Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro:

• Website: letstalkmicro.com

• Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com

• Interested in being a guest on Let's Talk Micro? Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/V2fT3asjfyusmqyi

Support the podcast:

• Venmo
  
  

• Buy me a Ko-fi