Let's Talk Micro

What does it take to go from working at the bench to becoming a future clinical microbiology laboratory director?
In this episode, Luis is joined by Dr. Mackenzie Collins, a CPEP fellow at UCLA, to discuss her journey from Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) to PhD scientist and CPEP fellow. Mackenzie shares how she discovered laboratory medicine, her experience working as an MLS in molecular microbiology, and the mentors and opportunities that helped shape her career path.
The conversation explores the CPEP fellowship, the role of laboratory directors, and how MLS professionals can strengthen their applications through projects, research, presentations, and professional involvement. Mackenzie also discusses her PhD work involving HIV reservoirs and long-read sequencing, and why genomics and molecular diagnostics will continue to play an increasingly important role in clinical microbiology.
Whether you're considering graduate school, interested in the CPEP fellowship, or exploring career paths in laboratory medicine, this episode offers a firsthand look at one MLS's journey from the bench to clinical microbiology leadership.
Topics discussed:
The MLS-to-CPEP pathway and transitioning from the bench to graduate school

Mentorship, professional development, and building a competitive application

The role of clinical microbiology laboratory directors and career opportunities beyond the bench

Sequencing, genomics, and the future of clinical microbiology

Additional Resources
CPEP Fellowship Overview with Dr. Sam Goodfellow
Interested in learning more about the CPEP Fellowship? In this episode, Dr. Sam Goodfellow discusses the structure of the program, the application process, and what to expect from CPEP training.
https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/36395120
Understanding the ABMM Certification Examination
Learn more about the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM) certification, its importance for future laboratory directors, and what candidates can expect from the examination process.
https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/35868345
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Have you ever received an identification result that just didn't make sense?
In this episode, Luis shares three cases of mistaken identity from the microbiology laboratory: a Gram-positive rod identified as Kocuria, another reported as Sphingomonas, and a yeast that somehow became Brucella. While automated identification systems are powerful tools, they can only work with the information we provide.
These examples highlight an important lesson for every microbiologist: always correlate the identification with the Gram stain, colony morphology, and other bench observations. When the result doesn't fit, take a step back and ask a simple question:
Does it make sense?
Join us for a quick Micro Minutes on critical thinking, correlation, and why the Gram stain remains one of the most valuable tools in the microbiology laboratory.
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Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com

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In Part 2 of this hantavirus series, Luis continues the conversation with Dr. Ryan Relich and Dr. Stephanie Seifert by focusing on the recent Andes virus cruise ship outbreak and what makes this hantavirus different from others.
The discussion explores the outbreak investigation, the evidence for person-to-person transmission, and why the Andes virus has received so much attention from the public health community. Ryan and Stephanie also discuss diagnostic testing, including PCR and serology, the role of public health laboratories, current treatment options, prevention strategies, and how concerned the public should be about future outbreaks.
Tune in for a closer look at Andes virus and its role in the recent cruise ship outbreak.
Stay updated: https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/situation-summary/index.html
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Hantaviruses have recently been in the headlines, but what exactly are they and how do they spread? In Part 1 of this hantavirus series, Luis is joined by Dr. Ryan Relich and Dr. Stephanie Seifert for a deep dive into the world of hantaviruses.
The conversation explores the basics of hantaviruses, including their ecology, rodent reservoirs, transmission, and the diseases they cause in humans. The guests also discuss Old World vs New World hantaviruses, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), environmental risk factors, climate influences, and why these infections may be underdiagnosed.
From deer mice and spillover events to aerosol transmission and public health concerns, this episode breaks down the science behind these important zoonotic viruses in a practical and approachable way.
Stay tuned next week for an episode where our guests talk about the Andes virus.
 
Stay updated: https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/situation-summary/index.html
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Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com

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Workforce shortages continue to impact clinical laboratories across the country, especially in rural healthcare settings. In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Kenzi Haigler to discuss an innovative high school laboratory program designed to introduce students to laboratory medicine early and help strengthen the future workforce pipeline.
Kenzi shares her journey into the laboratory profession, her experiences working in rural healthcare, and the unique challenges small hospitals face when it comes to staffing, training, and retaining laboratory professionals. She also explains how her community came together to create a hands-on clinical laboratory assistant program that gives students exposure to phlebotomy, microscopy, waived testing, and laboratory workflows before graduation.
This conversation highlights the importance of mentorship, early exposure to laboratory medicine, and creative approaches to workforce development in clinical laboratory science.
Follow Kenzi on TikTok:  @lablifewithmrsh
Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro:
Website: letstalkmicro.com

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

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