Putting a Face on Clinical Laboratory Sciences w/ Dr. Rodney Rohde

There is a critical shortage of Clinical Laboratory Scientists across the U.S. According to today’s guest, there’s a nationwide gap of roughly 40% and it’s creating a national healthcare crisis that the public doesn’t quite grasp.

On this episode we talk with Dr. Rodney Rohde, a Regents’ Professor at Texas State University, and the University Distinguished Chair and Professor for Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS). Dr. Rhode helps us to better understand what a Clinical Laboratory Scientist does, why they are so critical to healthcare delivery, and why it’s so important to raise awareness of the profession, as well as the risks we face due to the shortage. Dr. Rohde tells us that a big part of who he is today is because he is trying to put a face on this critical function that happens entirely in the background.

Dr. Rohde is not just an educator in academia. Throughout our conversation, and in everything he does, his goal is education. This is evident in each topic we discuss including:

  • Airdropping vaccines to quell a canine rabies epidemic in Texas.
  • Raising awareness of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
  • Using social media to combat misinformation (and why more scientists need to do this)

Beyond all of this, Dr. Rohde is a founding member of TIPS. He was with us from the start and continues to be one of our most impactful board members. We’re grateful for Dr. Rohde’s contribution to TIPS and are thrilled to share his story with you today.

About Dr. Rodney E. Rohde

Rodney E. Rohde, PhD is a Regents / University Distinguished Professor and Chair for the Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) Program in the College of Health Professions at Texas State University. He also serves as Associate Director for the Translational Health Research Center. Dr. Rohde is a Global Fellow, Fellow of the Association of Clinical Scientists, and Honorary Professor of International studies. He is an ASCP board certified Specialist in Virology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology. He spent a decade as a public health microbiologist and molecular epidemiologist with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Bureau of Laboratories and Zoonosis Control Division prior to his academic career, including two terms as a CDC Visiting Scientist. Dr. Rohde served as Associate Dean for Research in the College of Health Professions for nine years. His research interests include Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs), antimicrobial resistance, and clinical / public health microbiology especially zoonotic diseases (Rabies, Hantavirus, and others).

Dr. Rohde has published over 80 research articles and abstracts, two books and is a highly sought keynote presenter with over 100 international, national, and state conference presentations. His two books focus on Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) adaptation and Clinical Considerations in Rabies, respectively. In recent years, he has become a globally viral author subject matter expert utilizing invited articles, TEDx talks, podcasts, video casts and interviews to enhance science communication and translational health research literacy in public health, healthcare and the medical laboratory environment. During the #SARSCoV2 / #COVID19 pandemic, Doc R is the #1 quoted Texas State subject matter expert and has conducted over 150 interviews for podcasts, TV, newspapers, and internet sites as well as delivered dozens of webinars and workshops at the international, national, state, and local levels. He has received numerous awards and honors during his career, and most recently, added to The Pathologist’s PowerList 2020 (global award).

Personal Website: https://rodneyerohde.wp.txstate.edu/

Twitter: @RodneyRohde | @TXST_CLS | @TXST_THR

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneyerohde/ [personal]

https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-state-clinical-laboratory-science-program/?viewAsMember=true [Texas State CLS Program]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010172941875 [personal]

https://www.facebook.com/txstate.cls/ [Texas State CLS Program]

https://www.facebook.com/txst.THR/ [Texas State Translational Health Research]

Links and Resources

Antimicrobial Resistance: A Review of a Broad-Spectrum Problem and Future Needs by Andrea Prinzi Ph.D., MPH, SM(ASCP), Lauren N Hunt, PharmD, BCIDP, Debra Goff, Pharm.D. FIDSA, FCCP, Dr. Rodney E. Rohde

Louis Pasteur’s scientific discoveries in the 19th century revolutionized medicine and continue to save the lives of millions today by Dr. Rodney E. Rohde


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