Clinical Pathology Symposium Provides a Fascinating Look at Science and Sustainability
By Lynn McCain | April 25The Department of Pathology’s Clinical Pathology Symposium, held on April 22nd, offered participants opportunities to learn about sustainability, heavy metal toxicities, and a legal victory. Participants also engaged with booths offering trivia, games, prizes, and a chance to learn what others in the laboratory do. In honor of Earth Day, this symposium offered sustainable food options and zero-waste products.
The first talk was by Sustainability personnel, Alexandria Galens, Christopher Victory, and Stephanie Peters. Their talk, “sustainability in the Laboratories and Beyond,” discussed the goals and progress to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce emissions to net zero by 2040, with purchased power and indirect emissions to net zero by the end of this year. Recycling and reusing products that used to go to landfills are making an impact. Construction and demolition waste is sorted for reuse, food from patient rooms is being composted, medical devices that used to be thrown away are being sterilized, broken down, cleaned, and reused, plus much more.
In addition, our laboratories were celebrated for receiving sustainability certifications, with 17 of our labs having started the certification process and 12 having been certified. Four labs entered the Freezer Challenge last year, with our Histocompatibility lab winning an award by saving 80 kWh of electricity per day, earning international recognition.
Dr. Paul Jannetto, Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Director of the Metals Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, had an entertaining talk on “Elemental Toxicity: Case Files from the Metals Lab,” starting with a heavy metal jam session. He went on to discuss case studies of patients with heavy metal toxicities, including mercury and arsenic poisonings, before concluding with testing of Ludwig van Beethoven’s hair to see if he could identify the cause of Beethoven’s deafness and other health issues leading to his death. Testing revealed that Beethoven died from lead poisoning.
Lunch followed with time to visit the booths representing various pathology laboratories, wellness activities, bone marrow registry, sustainability, FiSH! Philosophy, and more. Some creative and fun games offered at the booths included answering wellness trivia, conducting a urinalysis test in less than 8 seconds, answering hematology questions, and a FiSH! Cornhole game.
Finally, Director of Diagnostic Genetics and Genomics, Dr. Annette Kim, wrapped up the day with her talk, “We fought the FDA, and we won!” She started her talk with a fun montage of “We Fought the Law, and the Law Won” – which she adapted to…and we won! She covered the history of the FDA and CLIA oversight of laboratories, introduced the issue where the FDA wanted to regulate laboratory-developed tests, and then explained how the final rule was overturned in court, leaving laboratory-developed testing under the purview of CLIA.
The day was a great success with excellent speakers, fun games, good food, and camaraderie. Be sure to plan to attend next year’s CP Symposium, tentatively scheduled for April 20, 2026.
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