Advertise on podcast: Off the Bench

In this episode, Sophia Chandrasekar sits down with Dr. Letycia Nuñez-Argote , Dr. Tara C. Moon, and Dr. Juan Ulises Rojo, to learn about the Clinical Laboratory Science Journal. The three are associate editors of the CLS Journal, and they share their advice and expertise on the importance of having a laboratory journal and how to start your own manuscript to submit to the CLS journal!

Doryan and Sophia sit down with Stacey Robinson, Cherie Petersen, and Holly Covas to explore the multigenerational workforce in the medical laboratory. From communication styles and workplace expectations to work-life balance and generational stereotypes, the group discusses where differences can create both challenges and opportunities for understanding. Listen along as they explore how we can learn from one another and how laboratory leaders can help bridge generational differences to build a stronger, more collaborative workplace.

Recorded live and in person at the 2026 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, it’s the return of Query Check! Hosts Doryan Redding, Sophia Chandrasekar, and Emily Woten take the stage once again for this Off the Bench game show tradition. Contestants Dr. Kathryn Golab, Dr. Elizabeth Fisher, and Federico Rodriguez Quezada face off in a fast-paced battle of laboratory-ish knowledge, creative scenarios, and just the right amount of chaos. So … who earned the bragging rights and took home the coveted Query Check Champion Trophy? Listen and play along to find out!

Dr. Rodney E. Rohde, University Distinguished Regents' Professor and Chair for the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at Texas State University, joins Sophia and Doryan to discuss some of the infectious diseases currently making headlines: Hantavirus, Ebola and more. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in microbiology, virology, and public health, Dr. Rohde helps us separate fact from fiction while exploring the critical role clinical laboratories play in outbreak response.

Preparing for a medical laboratory Board of Certification exam? In this episode, Doryan and Sophia share study tips, memory tricks, and test-day wisdom to help you study smarter, not harder. Whether you’re taking the exam, supporting a student, or mentoring future laboratorians, this episode is packed with practical advice and encouragement.

In this episode, Doryan and Sophia are joined by Dr. Melody Boudreaux Nelson, Stephanie Whitehead, and Aaron Odegard, the amazing trio behind the children's book, Little Lab Learners: The ABCs of Laboratory Medicine. Tune in as we ask how the book came to life, what else they have planned, and the importance of reaching younger learners about the laboratory profession.

In a showdown to determine which TV show gets medical laboratory science right, who will come out on top? And even more entertaining, who ends up dead last? Join Sophia and Doryan as they break down scenes from The Pitt, Scrubs, and more, diving into how lab science is portrayed in media, and what it all means for the broader branding and visibility of the profession. Check out: “Go with O Pos” – Blood transfusion during mass casualty in The Pitt

Join Doryan and Sophia as they take a look at the stats for the 2025 Off the Bench Season, and share upcoming events for 2026. Happy New Year and see you all in March 2026!

Scientific communication isn’t just about sharing data. It’s how laboratorians build trust, advocate for their profession, and protect patient care. In this episode, host Doryan Redding sits down with ASCLS President Kyle Riding, Past President Pat Tille, and Leadership Development Committee Vice Chair Nickola Chin as they explore communication in the clinical laboratory, from feedback loops to leadership strategies. Join us as we break down what it really takes to be heard behind the closed doors of the laboratory.

Malarial drugs gone purple, beer in the bladder, and a blood type no one saw coming—sounds like a night out gone weird, but it's actually laboratory science history! Join Doryan and Sophia as they dive into the serendipitous side of science that reminds us that progress often starts with the unexpected.

This month Sophia and Doryan are joined by Malissa Norfolk and Miles Tompkins to break down the freshly updated ASCLS Body of Knowledge, the essential roadmap of competencies and skills for today’s medical laboratory scientists. From building marketable skills and fueling passion for the profession to a surprising Waffle House detour, this episode blends professional insight with a side of fun.

In this month's episode, Doryan Redding and Sophia Chandrasekar sit down with Heather Santaniello (previously on JAM Query Check 2024) and talk about the importance of having stories to share with those in and out of the medical laboratory profession, as well as swap some favorite stories. Come and geek out about our love of the lab with us!

Recorded live and in person at the 2025 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting in Sacramento, California, it’s the return of Query Check! Hosts Doryan Redding and Emily Woten take the stage once again for this Off the Bench game show tradition, joined by Sophia Chandrasekar for a special preface to kick things off. Contestants Emilia Marrero, Heather Parks, and Emily Reed face off in a fast-paced battle of laboratory-ish knowledge, creative scenarios, and just the right amount of chaos. So ... who earned the bragging rights and took home the coveted Query Check Champion Trophy? Listen and play along to find out!

In this episode, hosts Doryan Redding and Sophia Chandrasekar sit down with ASCLS Executive Vice President Jim Flanigan and longtime federal lobbyist Patrick Cooney to unpack the rapidly evolving landscape of federal policy and what it means for the clinical laboratory workforce and the patients we serve. Jim and Patrick share an insider’s perspective on what’s happening as they break down how current policy decisions, like massive proposed cuts to the US Department of Health and Human Services and Medicaid and the politicization of science, are reshaping the future of the lab. From threats to workforce funding to legislative wins, this episode highlights why the lab can’t afford to stay on the sidelines.

In this episode Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding sit down with Dr. Carol Rentas, Tony Kurec, and Dr. Cathy Otto and talk about their experiences as a leader, and what advice they would share with others looking to be a leader in their community. The three also talk about the learning modules that they created for the ASCLS Leadership Development Committee's Leadership Certificate Curriculum.   Be sure to check out their work! After all, "Opportunities are seldom labeled," by John A. Shedd, American author and professor.