Rod Markin

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 clinical automated laboratory management systems. In the mid 1990s, he chaired a standards body called the Clinical Testing Automation Standards Steering Committee (CTASSC) of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, which later evolved into the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. He continues to be a leading researcher in this area; he also serves as president and CEO of UNMC Physicians, a medical practice which includes more than 500 physicians, and holds several other positions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Early life
Markin was born and raised in Lincoln; 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%E2%80%93Lincoln 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. His professional and academic research interests have focused on clinical laboratory automation, which includes robotics, information systems, medical test management and business efficiency modeling.

Lab automation development
Markin's interest in laboratory automation, blending clinical processes with information technology, began during his graduate studies, which focused on graph theory. By 1989, he developed a prototype system that would later allow "plug-and-play" testing of blood samples. His approach was to build an automated racetrack which would allow various testing processes using commercial, off-the-shelf testing and collection systems. He didn't design the testing machinery, but sought an automated system to manage the testing processes, leading to increased efficiency, improved reporting and lower lab costs.

He founded LAB-InterLink in 1993, and commercialized a system to send clinical specimens along an automated transportation system for laboratory testing and processing. For example, the specimen would get 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 clinical physician as part of the software management system.

LAB-InterLink sold automation systems in the U.S. and internationally, and offices were set up in the United States, Israel and Canada. 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 microbiology 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 lab automation. In 2000, he co-authored an article which provided a history of lab automation. He is a member of the editorial boards of several industry publications, including the Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation (JALA).

A hepatic pathologist by training, Markin also serves as the David T. Purtilo Professor at UNMC's Department of Pathology and Microbiology; as Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs of UNMC's College of Medicine ; and as president and CEO of UNMC Physicians.

Personal and family
Markin and his wife Annette live in Omaha; they have two grown sons.