Robert Michel
Until Robert L. Michel came along and founded The Dark Intelligence Group (DIG) two decades ago, the clinical laboratory industry and the anatomic pathology profession lacked a trustworthy source for information about the management and operations of medical laboratories. From its inception in 1995, The Dark Report quickly became the “go to” source of industry intelligence, innovations in lab management, and strategic market analysis.
This excellence in reporting has earned recognition from his peers. For example, twice Michel and The Dark Report have won national awards for best investigative reporting by the Specialty Information Publishers Association. In 2005, the award was for Michel’s coverage about how the anatomic pathology condominium laboratories (pod labs) operated by urologists and gastroenterologists came to be, who operated them, and how these owners marketed the AP condo labs to other physician groups. In 2009, Michel’s award for best investigative reporting resulted from his published interviews with Quest Diagnostics Incorporated when the company admitted that, for a period of 18 months, it had been reported inaccurate Vitamin 25(OH) D results because of problems with its laboratory-developed test methodology. The Dark Report’s story was picked up by The New York Times and was in the national news cycle for several days.
In his role as Editor-in-Chief, Michel brought unique capabilities to DIG and The Dark Report. His management training and diverse business experience—along with his skills as a concise writer and analyst—proved to be a winning combination for readers of The Dark Report. For that reason, Michel’s story has many intriguing elements.
Immediately prior to founding DIG, he had served in several executive positions for Nichols Institute based in Portland, Oregon, and San Juan Capistrano, California. This was during the time that Nichols Institute was an independent public lab company with annual revenues of about $280 million (prior to its acquisition by MetPath, Inc., now Quest Diagnostics Incorporated). He traveled extensively to many of the clinical lab business units owned by Nichols Institute in different regions of the United States and played a role in formulating effective market strategies in response to the emergence of closed-panel HMOs, capitated pricing, and full-risk managed care contracts, among other successful management initiatives.
Prior to his service at Nichols Institute, Michel served at three different Fortune 100 companies. These were Procter & Gamble, Centex Corporation, and Financial Corp. of America. Each was an opportunity to master new management techniques and apply them in different industries. Between these positions, he gained experience as an entrepreneur, having founded a real estate development firm and a general contracting company in the Southeastern United States.
Robert Michel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played rugby, a sport he participated in for another 22 years. He is a native of California and grew up in Santa Ana.
Articles by Robert Michel
Ruling Limits Lab Vulnerability on Medical Necessity
A federal appeals court ruling has established a legal “safe harbor” for clinical laboratories, shifting the burden of proof in False Claims Act cases. By allowing labs to generally rely on physician orders as evidence of medical necessity, the decision provides a new defense agains…
Six Themes Will Define the 2026 Executive War College
The 31st Annual Executive War College on Diagnostics, Clinical Laboratory, and Pathology Management is just eight weeks away. From financial performance to digital pathology and AI, this year’s jam-packed conference will deliver practical solutions for today…
PAMA Cuts Averted Until 2027; Labs Must Plan Next Move
Clinical laboratories have again avoided a potential financial disaster, at least for now, after Congress shifted PAMA cuts to test reimbursement rates until January 2027. However, the victory is temporary absent permanent PAMA reform. To that end, laboratory leaders need to push lawmak…
FDA May Reclassify Oncology Companion Diagnostics to Class II Devices
Regulatory attorneys indicate that the FDA’s move to reclassify oncology companion diagnostics to Class II medical devices could speed approvals and reduce costs for submissions. From a business perspective, the proposal could allow clinical laboratories to expand their testing option…
Top Stories in 2025 Played Out in Courts and on Capitol Hill
For clinical laboratory and pathology leaders, 2025 presented a year of profound transformation. Regulatory rulings, legislative efforts, technological innovation, and market consolidation reshaped the landscape for clinical labs. Here, members…
December 8, 2025, Intelligence: Late-Breaking Lab News
For the next 46 months, a Georgia fraudster will stay behind bars after pleading guilty to charges he violated the Anti-Kickback Statute by arranging for medically unnecessary genetic tests. A judge sentenced Patrick C. Moore, Jr. on Dec. 2. Moore was also ordered to pay $7.2 million in…
November 17, 2025, Intelligence: Late-Breaking Lab News
Dealmaking continues in the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry as AI-driven genomics and private equity reshape the market for a data-first future. On Nov. 4, Qiagen said it will acquire Parse Biosciences for $280 million to expand its reach into single-cell sequencing, levera…
NYU Langone Rolls Out Digital Pathology in One Year
During an ambitious one-year project, NYU Langone Health implemented full-scale digital pathology. Although the initiative was large, a key organizer insists that smaller diagnostic labs can use some of the same approaches. Two big lessons to convey: Document the gritty details of patho…
CAP Regains Veterans’ Affairs Lab Accreditation Contract
In a blow to The Joint Commission, the US Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a new clinical laboratory accreditation contract to the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The decision highlights the competition between the two accrediting organizations and sheds light on how C…
October 27, 2025, Intelligence: Late-Breaking Lab News
In yet another shuffling of the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) space, Hologic announced on Oct. 21 that it was being acquired by private equity firms Blackstone and TPG for $18.3 billion. The deal will take Hologic off the Nasdaq, likely in early 2026. TPG and Blackstone lauded Hol…
CURRENT ISSUE
Volume XXXIII, No. 4 – March 23, 2026
A federal court ruling has established a safe harbor for clinical labs when they run tests ordered by physicians. Lab leaders should examine this briefing for pitfalls. Also, it turns out that providers may be ordering inappropriate vitamin D tests, according to one expert.
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