Laboratories on the Front Lines: Battling COVID-19

COVID-19 was an unprecedented time in our nation and our world’s history as we respond and attempt to mitigate the spread of a pandemic. Pathologists and laboratory professionals are the unsung heroes in this effort, as they comprise the backbone of medical laboratories, which conducted testing for the coronavirus. Pathologists and laboratory professionals were on the front lines 24/7, making sure that all the tests were functioning, that we had the materials that we needed, and most importantly, that patients were receiving the appropriate diagnosis and treatment in an efficient manner.

ASCP is proud to showcase the behind-the-scenes work that our laboratories across the nation did to care for our population in the following docuseries, "Laboratories on the Front Lines: Battling COVID-19." View ASCP's latest docuseries, “The Scientists Who Saved the World: The Fight Against COVID-19,” here.

Episode 1 - NorthShore University HealthSystem

Watch the first in a series of in-the-moment interviews with members of the medical laboratory team on the front lines of the response to COVID-19. ASCP CEO Dr. E. Blair Holladay speaks with Dr. Karen Kaul, Chairperson of NorthShore University HealthSystem.

Epsiode 2 - Cleveland Clinic

In the second episode of this ongoing series of in-the-moment interviews with members of the medical laboratory team responding to COVID-19, Gary Procop, MD, MS, MASCP, Chair of ASCP’s Commission on Science, Technology and Policy, and Chairperson of Cleveland Clinic talks about the unsung heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this segment, ASCP CEO Dr. E. Blair Holladay speaks with both Dr. Procop and Brian Rubin, MD, PhD, of Cleveland Clinic.

Episode 3 Part 1 - University of Washington

In the third episode of this series we’re sharing more behind-the-scenes work that medical laboratories are doing to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Geoffrey Baird of the University of Washington School of Medicine talks with ASCP CEO Dr. E. Blair Holladay about the tireless efforts being made by the medical laboratory team during the pandemic.

Episode 3 Part 2 - University of Washington

As we continue in this series, we’re sharing more behind-the-scenes work that medical laboratories are doing to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Keith Jerome, Dr. Alex Greninger, Dr. Arun Nalla and Greg Pepper of the University of Washington School of Medicine talk with ASCP CEO Dr. E. Blair Holladay about the herculean efforts being made by the medical laboratory team during the pandemic.

Episode 4 Part 1 - UCLA Health System

In the first part of a two-part episode speaking to UCLA laboratory experts, learn about how clinical laboratories are working to meet the needs of patients who need diagnostic testing and support the health systems as best they can. Dr. Alyssa Ziman and Omai Garner talk with ASCP CEO Dr. E. Blair Holladay about how clinical laboratories have stepped up during this extremely challenging time to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Episode 4 Part 2 - UCLA Health System

In the second part of our interviews from UCLA Health System, ASCP CEO Dr. E. Blair Holladay speaks with clinical microbiologist Stephanie Horiuchi about how rewarding it is to be working behind the scenes to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic head-on and support patients who are battling COVID-19. Meanwhile, ASCP Past President Dr. Lee Hilborne, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, talks about the importance of having a strong laboratory infrastructure in order to protect people across the country.

Episode 5 Part 1 - University of Nebraska Medical Center

As ASCP continues our series covering the work medical laboratories are doing to combat COVID-19, we visit the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha, Nebraska. In the first of a two-part episode, ASCP CEO Dr. E. Blair Holladay speaks with Dr. Peter Iwen, Director of the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory, housed on the University’s campus. Dr. Iwen and Amanda Bartling, molecular laboratory technologist, give us an extraordinary, behind the scenes look inside this unique biocontainment laboratory and how samples are tested for the novel coronavirus.

Episode 5 Part 2 - University of Nebraska Medical Center

In the second part of a two-part episode featuring interviews with laboratory experts from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha, Nebraska, we continue to cover the work medical laboratories are doing to combat COVID-19. ASCP CEO Dr. E. Blair Holladay speaks with Dr. Steven Hinrichs, Chair of the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, about the relationship between the University and State that led to the development of the unique biocontainment facility housed on the University’s campus. They also talk about the critical role that laboratory science is playing to fight this pandemic.