The Dark Intelligence Group Team

Robert L. Michel
President & Editor in Chief

Deborah Lucas Michel, RN
Vice President
Deborah Lucas Michel RN is the Vice President for the Dark Intelligence Group based in Spicewood, Texas since 2000. She is responsible for Audio Conferences, Human Resources, Contract Monitoring, and financial oversight. She has a nursing degree and a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from USC. Nurse Debbie is a psychiatric nurse with expertise in Quality Management, Program Development, and Case Management. When not working, she does volunteer work for community based services, trains Engel, enjoys sailing, and dancing. She can be reached at djlucas@darkreport.com or directly at 512-264-7103.

Robert Croce
Executive Publisher/General Manager
Email: bcroce@darkreport.com
Phone: (512) 264-7103
After almost 18 years as an executive in B2B publishing, Bob joined The Dark Intelligence Group in September 2018 to run daily operations and assist founder Robert Michel with a plan for future growth. Bob’s stops as a publishing company leader include health care information and training companies HCPro and Carlat Publishing, and Wellesley Information Services in the IT space. While at HCPro as Group Publisher, Bob was a part of a management team that helped that company through 10 years of super growth, leading to two private equity recapitalizations. A Boston area native, and graduate of Northeastern University, Bob splits his work time between our Spicewood, TX, main office, and his home office in the Boston area, where he lives with wife Maureen and their two “cheagle” puppies named Sully and Murphy.

Ron Rohrer
Phone: (317) 446-0225
Ron has more than 25 years of sales leadership experience excelling in the microbiology/infectious disease market. He has successfully pioneered multiple novel technology launches.
Ron is a forerunner in cultivating and capturing new standards for diagnostic medicine. He introduced and grew the following: First generation molecular with Gen-Probe, First generation MRSA and CDIFF PCR testing with GeneOhm Sciences, Multiplex PCR launch with Biofire Dx, Mass Spectrometry at Bruker, and Host Immune Response technology.
Ron is a graduate of the University of Dayton. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Lisa. Together they have raised three children and celebrate eight grandchildren. Ron enjoys coaching sports, Indy cars, biking, boating and camping.

Michael McBride
Managing Editor
Email: michael@mcbrideimedia.com
Phone: (616) 502-0850
Michael McBride is Managing Editor of Dark Daily and The Dark Report. He has been writing/editing magazine and website content on clinical laboratory medicine, pathology, healthcare information technology, and related topics for three decades. He also has edited 12 fiction novels for various authors. Michael is former Editor-in-Chief of Health Management Technology magazine, Technology Editor for Medical Economics magazine, and Editorial Director for Pandamoon Publishing.

Amanda Curtis
Manager of Marketing & Operations
Phone: (512) 264-7103
Amanda has over 20 years experience working in executive supporting/accounting roles. She has been an executive office manager, retirement plan administrator, and bookkeeper. Amanda lives near The Dark Report headquarters in Spicewood, TX with her husband and twin sons. She also has a grown daughter who lives in Dallas. Amanda is also a certified personal trainer, part-time wedding coordinator and venue manager.
Study Identifies Reversible Epigenetic Mechanism Behind Prostate Cancer Drug Resistance
Researchers report that treatment resistance in advanced prostate cancer is driven by epigenetic lineage plasticity rather than genetic mutations, raising new possibilities for combination therapies and biomarker development in clinical laboratories. Scientists at the...
Elizabeth Holmes Seeks Clemency as Theranos Case Continues to Shape Laboratory Trust and Oversight
The Theranos case continues to resonate in the lab community, reminding professionals of the importance of validation, transparency, and accountability. Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of Theranos whose company became synonymous with laboratory fraud, has formally...
Funding Standoff Jeopardizes PAMA Relief as Medicare Lab Cuts Loom
Clinical laboratories face renewed Medicare payment uncertainty as a congressional funding impasse threatens to derail temporary PAMA relief, with new CLFS cuts scheduled to take effect in days unless lawmakers act. Clinical laboratories are once again facing...
HRSA Updates Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines, Endorses HPV Self-Collection and Mandates Insurance Coverage by 2027
Federal health officials have updated cervical cancer screening guidelines to add HPV self-collection and require insurer coverage starting in 2027, a shift that could significantly impact testing volumes and workflows for clinical laboratories. In a move that could...
ADLM Guidance Urges Labs to Rethink Emergency Department Drug Testing
New recommendations highlight the limited impact of routine urine drug testing in the ED while calling on laboratories to refine test menus, expand fentanyl screening, and improve clinician education to better support trauma care, behavioral health referrals, and...
Survey: Patients Push for Predictive Lab Testing as Cost and Reimbursement Pressures Mount
Nearly 90% of patients express interest in predictive lab tests, according to a new national survey—creating new opportunities and challenges for clinical laboratories navigating consumer demand, data fragmentation, and Medicare payment cuts. A new national survey of...
AI-Designed Cancer Sensors Could Transform Early Detection—and What It Means for Clinical Labs
AI-designed molecular sensors could enable ultra-early cancer detection through simple urine tests, signaling major shifts ahead for clinical laboratories and diagnostic workflows. Artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to reshape how cancer could be detected and...
Paxton Lawsuit Puts Epic’s Control of Pediatric Health Records Under the Microscope
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging Epic Systems’ handling of pediatric medical records, alleging unlawful limits on parental access and raising broader questions about data control, compliance, and oversight for providers and laboratories. For clinical...
Mark Cuban Calls for Fines on Healthcare Overbilling, Raising Stakes for Labs and Insurers
Mark Cuban argues that fines for healthcare overbilling could drive accountability across the system, putting new pressure on insurers, hospitals, and clinical labs to defend pricing and billing practices. Imagine your clinical lab got fined every time it overbilled....
Measles Outbreak Grows as US Risks Losing Elimination Status
A growing measles outbreak in South Carolina, combined with rising cases nationwide, is putting renewed pressure on clinical and public health laboratories as the US risks losing its measles elimination status. A rapidly expanding measles outbreak in South Carolina is...

