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
Beckman Coulter, Olympus, LabCorp, Anthem, WellPoint, Medtox, University of Toronto
BECKMAN COULTER REPORTS EARNINGS THAT INCLUDE OLYMPUS THERE WAS A BIG JUMP in fourth quarter revenue at Beckman Coulter Inc., of Brea, California, which increased by 22% over the previous year, to $989.6 million. This number included $120.2 million in reven…
February 15, 2010 “Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
In response to the sky-rocketing expenses associated with genetic and molecular testing, health insurers are planning ways to control both utilization and the prices at which these tests are reimbursed. For example, during the past year, Humana began using DNA Direct …
Ireland Is Restructuring National Lab Test System
CEO SUMMARY: Working from a consultant’s report and recommendations based on studies dating back to 2006 and 2007, Ireland’s Health Service Executive is moving forward to effect a comprehensive reconfiguration of clinical laboratory testing across the nation. This ma…
Predict 60,000 Doctors To Adopt EMRs Each Year
CEO SUMMARY: Only about 180,000 U.S. physicians have adopted electronic medical record (EMR) systems over the past 14 years—mostly in larger medical groups. Now experts believe as many as 60,000 physicians per year will begin to adopt EMRs because of new federal incenti…
Rate of Health Spend Increase in 2008 Was Lowest Since 1960
RECENTLY the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reported on healthcare spending for 2008. The noteworthy finding was that the rate of increase in health spending fell to 4.4% for 2008. This is the lowest annual rate of increase in health spending since CMS first began …
Two Big Pathology Groups Tap Investors for Capital
CEO SUMMARY: Pathology supergroups in California and Tennessee have each announced major recapitalizations. Both groups will use some of the money to cash out retiring partners. The balance of the new capital will be used to expand their businesses. With so many baby boomer pathologists a…
Pathology, Inc. Sells Equity to Raise Capital
CEO SUMMARY: In looking how to propel its business to the next level, the partners at Pathology, Inc., opted not to sell their pathology group practice. Instead, they chose to raise capital by selling equity in their company to a group of investors. In this exclusive interview, executives…
January 25, 2010 “Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
Probably few pathologists know that a musical group in San Diego, California, is performing under the name “Pathology.†It is classified as an American death metal band. Alert readers will notice a theme in this band’s output. In 2006, it released its debut album, called “Surgically Hacked, 
New Clinical Lab Trends To Shape Events in 2010
CEO SUMMARY: In presenting this list of macro trends for clinical laboratories, several themes are in play. They range from a continued emphasis on improving lab operations to the need to acquire and deploy sophisticated information technology. During the next few years, the long…
Laboratory Merger & Acquisitions Saw Several Deals during 2009
CONSOLIDATION OF INDEPENDENT CLINICAL LABORATORIES continued during 2009. The most active acquirer was Sonic Healthcare, Ltd., of Sydney, Australia. It purchased three laboratories in the United States this year. Just this month, Sonic acquired East Side Clinical Laboratory …
CURRENT ISSUE
Volume XXXII, No. 14 – October 6, 2025
The Dark Report examines increasing healthcare costs for employers and how clinical labs can help those employers. Also, an in-depth case study shows how one hospital system regained its outreach program after originally ceding it to a national lab company, adding millions to the system’s bottom line.
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