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.
Robotic Phlebotomy Study Signals Automation Shift for Clinical Labs
A multicenter trial of Vitestro’s system shows strong performance and patient acceptance, pointing to gains in preanalytical efficiency and specimen quality. A newly published multicenter clinical study signals a potential shift in how clinical laboratories approach...
AI Lab Result Interpretation Gains Traction with Patients, but Raises Accuracy and Validation Concerns for Clinical Laboratories
Patients are turning to AI to interpret lab results, but accuracy concerns and lack of validation are raising new challenges for clinical laboratories. Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how patients engage with diagnostic test results, creating new...
Labcorp and CHOP Launch Pediatric Diagnostics Partnership to Expand Advanced Testing and Drive Clinical Lab Growth
Labcorp and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia are partnering to accelerate pediatric diagnostic innovation and national access, signaling new growth opportunities for clinical laboratories in high-complexity, specialty testing markets. Labcorp and the Children’s...
Rising Therapy-Related Leukemia Rates Signal New Testing Demands for Clinical Labs
A long-term study shows increasing rates of therapy-related AML as cancer survival improves, pushing clinical laboratories to expand genomic testing, enhance surveillance, and prepare for more complex secondary malignancies. A new population-based study published in...
NYC Health + Hospitals CEO Signals Willingness to Replace Radiologists with AI
A top public hospital CEO says AI could soon take over radiology functions to cut costs—raising similar automation questions for clinical labs—though critics warn the technology is not ready to replace physicians. The CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals says his system is...
Walk-In Lab Testing Expands Patient Access and Autonomy in West Virginia
Walk-in lab testing in West Virginia is giving patients faster, more affordable access to diagnostics—while pushing clinical labs to adapt to a more consumer-driven care model. Across the clinical laboratory industry, the shift toward consumer-directed healthcare...
Study: Breath Test Could Transform Microbiome Diagnostics for Clinical Labs
Breath-based VOC analysis could give clinical labs a faster, noninvasive way to assess gut microbiome health and detect disease earlier. Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have identified a potential...
Executive War College 2026 to Spotlight AI, Workforce Solutions, and Financial Strategy for Clinical Labs
Set for April 28–29 in New Orleans, the 31st Annual Executive War College will bring lab leaders together for practical, execution-focused strategies across reimbursement, staffing, compliance, and emerging technologies, with new emphasis on digital pathology and...
Ex-NFL Player Convicted in $328M Genetic Testing Fraud as Medicare Scrutiny Intensifies
Keith J. Gray’s conviction underscores rising enforcement and audit risk as Medicare spending shifts toward high-cost genetic testing. A federal jury in Dallas has convicted Texas laboratory owner and former NFL player Keith J. Gray for orchestrating a $328 million...
Clinical Labs May Gain New Edge in Early Cancer Detection with Epigenetic Instability Liquid Biopsy
Johns Hopkins researchers show that measuring DNA methylation variability can improve early cancer detection accuracy and strengthen liquid biopsy performance across diverse patient populations. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center are advancing a new...

