Lab leaders on the future: vision and counsel on how to prepare your lab

August 5, 2025

By: Jake Crampton, MedSpeed CEO

I recently had the pleasure of moderating a panel with lab leaders Sam Terese (Alverno Laboratories), Eric Carbonneau (TriCore) and Jennifer Fralick (Stanford Health Care) at the Executive War College Conference. Together, we tackled a timely question: What does the lab of the future look like—and how do we get there?

This conversation took place as labs are facing a pivotal moment. They are navigating workforce shortages, evolving care models and rising expectations—all while needing to maintain speed and accuracy. To stay relevant and drive growth, labs must prioritize innovation, workforce development, and stronger alignment with other parts of the healthcare ecosystem. That also includes smarter approaches to lab logistics, which directly impact efficiency and patient care.

Our conversation about the future of lab spanned innovation, staffing, access and patient-centered care. The insights were practical and forward-thinking, offering a glimpse into the future of lab medicine and what it will take to thrive. We heard a resounding message: to build the lab of the future, leaders must focus on smarter resource use, play a more active role in patient-centered care and step up as key players in population health.

Finding smarter ways to use limited resources

Across the U.S., up to half of hospitals are operating at a deficit. Labs are also feeling the pressure, grappling with tighter funding and growing competition for resources.

One solution to the resource challenge? Rethinking how labs staff and train. “The old model of just replacing one licensed person for one licensed person no longer applies,” said Jennifer Fralick of Stanford Health Care. Instead, labs are developing internal pipelines by training assistants and offering clear career paths—an approach that can improve both retention and costs. Stanford Health Care deployed this approach and “99.4 percent [of training assistants] have stayed and converted to full-time,” Fralick noted, underscoring the model’s success.

Another key to resource optimization: collaboration. Strategic partnerships between vendors, and even between labs themselves, are unlocking new ways to share knowledge and optimize resources in support of care delivery.

“A vendor’s not going to go far with you. You need a partner,” Fralick emphasized. From co-developing tools like AI and digital pathology to strengthening lab logistics and streamlining workflows, these collaborations are laying the foundation for long-term success. “I can see everyone in this room working together to support one another. That kind of collaboration is key to the future,” Fralick added.

Helping advance patient-centered care

Today’s patients are more involved than ever in their care. This consumer-driven shift is transforming how labs operate. As Carbonneau noted, “In the next 5 to 10 years, the laboratory is really going to be serving not only our physicians but directly involved with patients.”

From scheduling draws and using at-home test kits to reviewing results through online portals, patients now expect flexibility, clarity and access to care on their terms.

But patient empowerment requires more than access—it requires understanding. Many patients lack clinical literacy, and without guidance, lab results can be confusing or even misleading. Carbonneau stressed the need for labs to evaluate how they are communicating with patients and ensure information is clear and actionable for the average person. “How do we give them information they can absorb from an expert’s point of view [so they understand] how to take that next step in their care?” noted Carbonneau.

TriCore has even reshaped their leadership to reflect this shift, bringing on a Chief Medical Officer with a background in family practice. According to Carbonneau, this strategic decision is helping ensure the patient perspective is embedded in lab strategy.

Supporting population health

With the shift to value-based care, labs have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to take on a larger role in managing population health. That means moving beyond traditional boundaries and securing a seat at the care team table. The lab, and specifically data driven by the lab, is the linchpin to population health and also to preventive intervention. By building stronger relationships with clinicians—from oncologists to primary care providers and beyond—labs can help drive earlier detection, more precise treatment and ultimately, healthier patient populations.

“I really think preventive medicine is something the laboratory needs to collaborate on with clinicians,” Terese shared. Success in population health depends on trust and collaboration. Labs must be seen not just as data generators, but as strategic partners. As Terese explained, “We’ve built healthcare in the U.S. around treating the sick. But the future is about keeping people well—avoiding diabetes, catching conditions earlier and lowering the overall cost of care.”

Innovative tools like pharmacogenomics are enabling labs to contribute directly to personalized, cost-effective care. But achieving this shift takes intention. It means stepping out of the lab, connecting with inpatient teams, understanding clinical goals and aligning with the health system’s broader strategy.

“You can’t just celebrate wins at your daily huddle,” Terese said. He encourages lab leaders to actively promote their lab. Make sure you are represented in key meetings and show why you should be part of the organization’s long-term vision.

Running a lab today requires more than technical skill—it takes leadership, strategy and a mindset shift.

A commitment to future lab excellence

I thoroughly enjoyed learning from these lab leaders. The full potential of the lab of the future will require more than just innovation; it will take collaboration, shared commitment and a willingness to challenge the status quo. From operations to technology, from lab logistics to leadership, every part of the ecosystem plays a role. Together, we can help shape the future of healthcare.