The Dark Intelligence Group Team
![Robert L. Michel](https://www.darkdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/Robert-Michel.jpg)
Robert L. Michel
President & Editor in Chief
![Deborah Lucas Michel, RN](https://ddaily.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/team-Debbie-Michel-2.jpg)
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](https://www.darkdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/bob-croce.jpg)
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.
![Jim Whitehurst](https://www.darkdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/Jim-Whitehurst-1.jpg)
Jim Whitehurst
National Sales Director
Jim Whitehurst joins The Dark Intelligence Group as a Senior Sales Executive. Jim Brings with him over 25 years of experience in the laboratory industry, selling highly-complex laboratory, revenue cycle, document imaging, web portal and connectivity solutions to both commercial and outreach laboratory marketplaces. Prior to TDIG Jim was the the Director of Sales at tevixMD and was responsible for all sales, marketing and business development activities. Prior to tevixMD Jim worked as Vice President of Sales at ASPYRA LLC where he was he is responsible for all sales and new business development activities. Prior to ASPYRA, Whitehurst worked as VP of Sales for Halfpenny Technologies selling connectivity, web portal and mobile reporting solutions for laboratory service providers.
![Ron Rohrer](https://www.darkdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/Ron-Rohrer-Executive-Sales.jpg)
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](https://www.darkdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/Michael-McBride-Headshot-200x300-1.jpg)
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](https://www.darkdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/Amanda-Curtis-1.jpg)
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.
Amazon One Medical Call Centers Found Wanting in Washington Post Report
Patients concerns about the quality of care provided since Amazon acquired One Medical in 2022 can affect clinical laboratory testing for those providers Recently, The Washington Post reported on leaked documents that appear to indicate Amazon’s One Medical primary...
At-Home Paper Influenza Test Differentiates Strains, Gives Hope for Improved Screening and Surveillance of Viral Outbreaks
Researchers used CRISPR-based assays to develop new clinical laboratory point-of-care blood test which boasts accuracy, affordability, and accessibility Here’s a novel use of paper as clinical laboratory test media. Researchers at Princeton University in New Jersey,...
Researchers in China Develop AI-powered Tool That Can Diagnose Three Cancers Using a Drop of Dried Blood
Use of artificial intelligence in clinical laboratory testing could improve the diagnosis of cancer worldwide In a proof of concept study, scientists at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China have developed a clinical laboratory test that utilizes artificial...
Mayo Clinic Scientists Use Chemical Analysis of Beethoven’s Hair to Determine Lead Poisoning May Have Contributed to Composer’s Hearing Loss and Other Health Ailments
Results of an earlier study in which locks of Beethoven’s hair underwent genetic analysis showed the composer ‘had a predisposition for liver disease and became infected with hepatitis B’ Here is an example of modern technologies being used with “historical...
Brigham and Women’s Hospital Researchers Develop Implantable ‘Lab in a Patient’ to Test Effectiveness of Brain Cancer Drugs
Scientists reported positive Phase 1 trial results of their “intratumoral microdevice” in patients with glioma tumors Here is an example of new microtechnology which has the potential to greatly shorten the time and improve the ability of physicians to determine which...
University of Cincinnati Pathologist Develops Speedier Tissue Processing for Small Biopsies
Syringe-based technique is disposable and enables clinical laboratories to process small biopsies in about two hours instead of overnight and with significantly less waste Histotechnologists and clinical laboratory managers know that the standard method of processing...
Fred Hutch Researchers Identify Oral Bacteria That Appear to Play a Role in Certain Colon Cancers
Discovery highlights how ongoing microbiome research points to new opportunities that can lead to development of more effective cancer screening clinical laboratory tests New research from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle once again demonstrates that the...
UPMC Researchers Develop Biomarkers That Identify Biological Age While Also Predicting Disease Risk
Scientists turned to metabolomics to find cause of biological aging and release index of 25 metabolites that predict healthy and rapid agers Researchers at the University of Pittsburg Medical Center and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified...
Woman Performs Do-it-yourself Fecal Transplant to Relieve Symptoms of IBS, Gets Donor’s Acne
Clinical laboratory scientists and microbiologists could play a role in helping doctors explain to patients the potential dangers of do-it-yourself medical treatments Be careful what you wish for when you perform do-it-yourself (DIY) medical treatments. That’s the...
Dutch Patient with Longest COVID-19 Case of 612 Days Had More than 50 SARS-CoV-2 Mutations Before He Died
Study of the 50 Omicron variants could lead to new approaches to clinical laboratory testing and medical treatments for long COVID Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 can usually expect the COVID-19 illness to subside within a couple of weeks. However, one Dutch patient...