Rod Markin
Encyclopedia
Dr. Rodney Smith "Rod" Markin, M.D., Ph.D., (born 1956) is an American pioneer and leading authority in the field of laboratory automation
. In 1993, he designed and created one of the world's first automated clinical laboratory specimen, device and analyzer management systems. In the mid 1990s, he chaired a standards group called the Clinical Testing Automation Standards Steering Committee (CTASSC) of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry
, which later evolved into an area committee of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
.
A hepatic pathologist by training, Markin continues to be a leading researcher in the field of clinical systems automation. Currently he is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Business Development and Chief Technology Officer at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
and serves as the David T. Purtilo Professor in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology in UNMC's College of Medicine. Prior to his current position he was the Interim Dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, Board Chairman and President and CEO of UNMC Physicians, an academic medical practice which includes more than 500 physicians, and has held several other positions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
.
; he received a bachelor of science
degree in 1977 from Nebraska Wesleyan University
, where he majored in chemistry
with a minor in mathematics
and physics
. He received a Ph.D.
degree in chemistry
from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
in 1980; he earned his medical degree
from the University of Nebraska Medical Center
(UNMC) in 1983; he completed his residency
in pathology and laboratory medicine at UNMC in 1986. He has been on the UNMC faculty since 1986. His professional and academic research interests have focused on clinical laboratory automation including robotics, information systems, medical utilization management, business efficiency modeling, telehealth, telemedicine and mobile health.
. By 1989, he developed a prototype system that would later allow "plug-and-play" integration of automation systems and clinical analyzers for managing and testing of patient specimens. His approach was to build an automated transport system which would allow various testing processes using commercial, off-the-shelf testing and collection systems. He didn't design the instruments, but sought an automated system to manage the testing processes, leading to increased efficiency, improved reporting and lower laboratory costs.
He founded LAB-InterLink in 1993, and commercialized a system to manage clinical specimens using an automated transportation system and specimen processing devices (i.e. decapping devices, recapping devices, instrument or analyzer interfaces, etc.) for laboratory testing and processing. For example, the specimen would be separated using a centrifuge
; the specimen container would be uncapped; the specimen would be tested as ordered by the physician; the container would be recapped; and the specimen would be stored in the event further testing is needed. Test results were provided to the physician or provider as part of the software management system.
LAB-InterLink sold automation systems in North America and internationally, and offices were set up in the United States, Canada and Israel. In 2004, the U.S. company was sold to Cardinal Health and the Canadian company was sold to an investor group.
automation. Known as the Microbiology Automation Research Project, or "MARP," the project is designed to develop a broad platform that can be used in the clinical laboratory, including applications for bacteriology
, mycology
and virology
. Additionally, the project has potential uses for other applications, including bioterrorism testing, and holds significant promise for the civilian sector.
Markin holds several patents, and has written numerous industry articles on laboratory automation. In 2000, he co-authored an article which provided a history of laboratory automation. He is a member of the editorial boards of several industry publications, including the Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation (JALA).
; they have two grown sons. In his free time, he enjoys his horses, working with wood, metal and plastics; gardening; traveling and photography.
Laboratory Automation
Laboratory automation is a multi-disciplinary strategy to research, develop, optimize and capitalize on technologies in the laboratory that enable new and improved processes...
. In 1993, he designed and created one of the world's first automated clinical laboratory specimen, device and analyzer management systems. In the mid 1990s, he chaired a standards group called the Clinical Testing Automation Standards Steering Committee (CTASSC) of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry
American Association for Clinical Chemistry
The American Association for Clinical Chemistry is an international society, founded in 1948, of clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists and others who are involved in clinical chemistry and clinical laboratory science. Current President is Barbara M. Goldsmith, PhD, and...
, which later evolved into an area committee of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute is a volunteer driven, membership supported, nonprofit, standards organization. CLSI promotes the development and use of voluntary laboratory consensus standards and guidelines within the health care community....
.
A hepatic pathologist by training, Markin continues to be a leading researcher in the field of clinical systems automation. Currently he is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Business Development and Chief Technology Officer at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center
The University of Nebraska Medical Center is a public academic health sciences center located on 42nd and Emile Streets in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. UNMC is the only public academic health science center in Nebraska.-Academics and rankings:...
and serves as the David T. Purtilo Professor in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology in UNMC's College of Medicine. Prior to his current position he was the Interim Dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, Board Chairman and President and CEO of UNMC Physicians, an academic medical practice which includes more than 500 physicians, and has held several other positions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center
The University of Nebraska Medical Center is a public academic health sciences center located on 42nd and Emile Streets in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. UNMC is the only public academic health science center in Nebraska.-Academics and rankings:...
.
Early life
Markin was born and raised in LincolnLincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
; he received a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in 1977 from Nebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational university located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was founded in 1887 by Nebraska Methodists. As of 2007, it has 1,600 full-time students and 300 faculty and staff. The school teaches in the tradition of a liberal arts college education....
, where he majored in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
with a minor in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. He received a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degree in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...
in 1980; he earned his medical degree
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from the University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center
The University of Nebraska Medical Center is a public academic health sciences center located on 42nd and Emile Streets in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. UNMC is the only public academic health science center in Nebraska.-Academics and rankings:...
(UNMC) in 1983; he completed his residency
Residency (medicine)
Residency is a stage of graduate medical training. A resident physician or resident is a person who has received a medical degree , Podiatric degree , Dental Degree and who practices...
in pathology and laboratory medicine at UNMC in 1986. He has been on the UNMC faculty since 1986. His professional and academic research interests have focused on clinical laboratory automation including robotics, information systems, medical utilization management, business efficiency modeling, telehealth, telemedicine and mobile health.
Laboratory automation development
Markin's interest in laboratory automation, blending clinical processes with information technology, began during his graduate studies, which focused on graph theoryGraph theory
In mathematics and computer science, graph theory is the study of graphs, mathematical structures used to model pairwise relations between objects from a certain collection. A "graph" in this context refers to a collection of vertices or 'nodes' and a collection of edges that connect pairs of...
. By 1989, he developed a prototype system that would later allow "plug-and-play" integration of automation systems and clinical analyzers for managing and testing of patient specimens. His approach was to build an automated transport system which would allow various testing processes using commercial, off-the-shelf testing and collection systems. He didn't design the instruments, but sought an automated system to manage the testing processes, leading to increased efficiency, improved reporting and lower laboratory costs.
He founded LAB-InterLink in 1993, and commercialized a system to manage clinical specimens using an automated transportation system and specimen processing devices (i.e. decapping devices, recapping devices, instrument or analyzer interfaces, etc.) for laboratory testing and processing. For example, the specimen would be separated using a centrifuge
Centrifuge
A centrifuge is a piece of equipment, generally driven by an electric motor , that puts an object in rotation around a fixed axis, applying a force perpendicular to the axis...
; the specimen container would be uncapped; the specimen would be tested as ordered by the physician; the container would be recapped; and the specimen would be stored in the event further testing is needed. Test results were provided to the physician or provider as part of the software management system.
LAB-InterLink sold automation systems in North America and internationally, and offices were set up in the United States, Canada and Israel. In 2004, the U.S. company was sold to Cardinal Health and the Canadian company was sold to an investor group.
Current activities
In October 2005, the U.S. Defense Department provided a grant to Markin and his team to design a new method for microbiologyMicrobiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
automation. Known as the Microbiology Automation Research Project, or "MARP," the project is designed to develop a broad platform that can be used in the clinical laboratory, including applications for bacteriology
Bacteriology
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species...
, mycology
Mycology
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals , food and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or...
and virology
Virology
Virology is the study of viruses and virus-like agents: their structure, classification and evolution, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their use in research and therapy...
. Additionally, the project has potential uses for other applications, including bioterrorism testing, and holds significant promise for the civilian sector.
Markin holds several patents, and has written numerous industry articles on laboratory automation. In 2000, he co-authored an article which provided a history of laboratory automation. He is a member of the editorial boards of several industry publications, including the Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation (JALA).
Personal and family
Markin and his wife Annette live in OmahaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
; they have two grown sons. In his free time, he enjoys his horses, working with wood, metal and plastics; gardening; traveling and photography.