Navigating Your Path

Are you a leader in the clinical laboratory and diagnostics space struggling with your role? Do you feel uncertain about your non-technical responsibilities, such as personnel management, effective communication, team building, connecting with your boss, or climbing the promotion ladder? Whether you are new to your role or have been doing it for years, this podcast will help you see that you are not alone in these struggles. Through shared experiences of your host, and his conversations with recognized and respected leaders in our field, you’ll hear about the challenges each has faced as they navigated their own paths. You’ll also gain insight from the approaches they’ve taken to learn from and overcome their challenges. While everyone’s specific experiences and unique paths differ, the perspectives provided in each episode will educate and inspire you to identify and navigate your unique path, discovering, cultivating, and strengthening the authentic leader withi

Navigating Your Path is a business podcast hosted by Duane Newton, with 9 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Duane Newton hosts Navigating Your Path, a business show with 9 episodes published.

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  Episode #7

  Navigating Your Path - S1E7: A Conversation with Marie-Claire Rowlinson

  Aug 26, 20261h 33mS1

  Public Health Forever: Marie-Claire Rowlinson and her Passion for Exploration, Adventure, and Public Health Duane chats with Marie-Claire Rowlinson about their connection since the First Coast meeting in Jacksonville (January 2024) and her career path from growing up in London to public health microbiology. She describes being guided into microbiology by a teacher, studying medical microbiology at the University of Newcastle, and earning a PhD in molecular parasitology at the University of Nottingham with field work in Cameroon. Marie-Claire shares how zest for exploration and interest in public health were influenced by experiences in Tanzania, Namibia, and films like Outbreak and Contagion. Realizing basic research didn’t fit, she found ASM’s CPEP fellowship programs via Google – training at UCLA where she was mentored by figures including Dave Bruckner, Janet Hindler, Ed Desmond, Sid Feingold, and Max Salfinger, relationships that sparking her interest in TB and steered her into public health lab leadership. She discusses global lab capacity work at APHL, public health funding realities, imposter syndrome and perfectionism, and her recent pivot into industry at bioMérieux while keeping public health central. 00:00 First Coast Connection 03:26 London Roots and Science Spark 04:39 Teachers and Choosing Microbiology 10:27 Tanzania Trip and Outbreak Movies 13:31 Leaving London then Leaving Basic Science 19:22 Googling into CPEP and UCLA Highlights 27:21 Mentors Who Shaped Her 32:54 Post Fellowship Winding Road 38:11 Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism 45:53 Global Health Spark 47:48 Africa Fieldwork Lessons 50:59 APHL To Lab Director 57:31 TB Mentors and Meaning 59:12 Giving Back Mentorship 01:05:37 Why Public Health Labs 01:07:36 Funding, Politics, & Pressures 01:13:10 Pivot into Industry and Staying Authentic 01:29:08 Public Health Forever Connect with Duane here: Email me: duane@navigatingyourpath.site Podcast Website: www.navigatingyourpath.site YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@NavigatingYourPath LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/duanenewton/ Coaching Website: www.dwnconsult.com

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  Episode #6

  Navigating Your Path - S1E6: A Conversation with Linoj Samuel

  Jul 29, 202657 minS1

  The Data Is the Data: Linoj Samuel’s Journey Through War and Uncertainty to Leadership in Microbiology In this episode, Duane has a conversation with Dr. Linoj Samuel, Division Head of Microbiology at Henry Ford Health in Detroit. Linoj shares his personal and professional journey, from growing up in Kuwait as an Indian expatriate to experiencing the First Gulf War, fleeing through Iraq to a refugee camp in Jordan, and later adapting to life in India before returning to Kuwait. Linoj describes how early curiosity about outbreaks led him to study medical microbiology, pursue graduate training in the U.S., and complete a PhD focused on tuberculosis while witnessing the realities of basic science funding. He explains how discovering ASM CPEP programs led to fellowship training at the University of Rochester with Marilyn Menegus, whose mentorship emphasized curiosity and patient-centered work. Linoj discusses a variety of challenges he’s faced (transitioning from fellow to director, imposter syndrome, lab consolidations) as well as his ability to build a psychologically safe workspace, while staying grounded and connected. Importantly, Linoj stresses the importance of clinical and scientific information driving decision-making, leaning into the Dr. Menegus’ saying, “The Data is the Data.” 0:00 Setting the Stage 3:45 Origin Story in Kuwait 6:00 Refugee Camp Lessons 12:44 Microbiology Path Begins 15:15 Finding the CPEP Fellowship 17:45 Mentorship Memories 19:58 Imposter Syndrome and Setbacks 25:11 Serving the Profession 33:18 From Fellow To Director 37:35 Building Psychological Safety 40:25 What’s Next In Career 46:14 Industry And The Future 49:53 Advice To Younger Self 52:39 The Data Is The Data Connect with Duane here: Email me: duane@navigatingyourpath.site Podcast Website: www.navigatingyourpath.site YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@NavigatingYourPath LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/duanenewton/ Coaching Website: www.dwnconsult.com

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  Episode #5

  Navigating Your Path - S1E5: A Conversation with Ken Gavina

  Jul 8, 20261h 21mS1

  Finding Your Path in Clinical Microbiology: Dr. Ken Gavina on Mentorship, Saying No, and Building a Career In this episode of Navigating Your Path, Duane talks with Dr. Ken Gavina, Medical Director of Clinical Microbiology and Serology at Eskenazi Health, and Assistant Professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine, about his path from Winnipeg to U.S. clinical lab leadership. Ken describes undergraduate research at Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory, PhD work in malaria diagnostics for low-resource settings, pivots through industry and a molecular diagnostics postdoc, and how COVID-19 work on high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 testing led him to a CPEP fellowship at Indiana University and an attending role in Indiana. He explains earning ASCP certifications during fellowship to better understand bench workflows and build credibility and shares how coaching and teaching shaped his mentoring style. Duane and Ken discuss Ken’s use of the Kirkpatrick Model of education, and reflect on choosing professional-society roles, learning to say no, and embracing mistakes to grow. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 03:30 First Meeting Story 05:17 Canada Roots and Early Research 06:24 PhD and Training Detours 09:10 COVID Testing and CPEP Choice 13:19 ASCP Certification During Fellowship 21:49 Teaching and Coaching Passion 26:15 Engagement and Kirkpatrick Model 32:32 Mentorship and Authenticity 39:38 Choosing What Matters 42:20 Networking Beyond Extroversion 47:34 Strategic “No” Decisions 49:25 Guilt, Fear, and Boundaries 52:10 When Yes Backfires 55:28 Self Awareness Guideposts 59:42 Next Level CV Building 01:02:22 Shiny Offers and Capacity 01:07:15 Advice to Younger Self 01:09:40 Embrace the Struggle 01:18:52 Closing Connect with Duane here: Email me: duane@navigatingyourpath.site Podcast Website: www.navigatingyourpath.site YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@NavigatingYourPath LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/duanenewton/ Coaching Website: www.dwnconsult.com

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  Episode #4

  Navigating Your Path - S1E4: A Conversation with Donna Wolk

  Jun 24, 20261h 25mS1

  Trailblazing a Path from Bench Tech to Division Chief: Dr. Donna Wolk on Trusting Yourself, Building a Career, and Giving Grace In this episode, Duane talks with Dr. Donna Wolk, Division Chief of Molecular and Microbial Diagnostics and Development at Geisinger Health System. Donna discusses her unconventional career path from bench technologist to PhD, CPEP fellowship at Mayo Clinic, leadership roles in Arizona, and return to Pennsylvania. She also describes being a first-generation college graduate and single parent, making career decisions driven by survival, patient-care impact, and a desire to stay in science, including a pivotal health discovery that relieved her back pain in the Arizona desert and influenced her move to the University of Arizona. Donna discusses learning to plan ahead, secure resources for microbiology through research and grants, navigate difficult workplace dynamics, and separate personal identity from job roles. Duane and Donna reflect on mentorship, intuition, giving oneself grace, and lessons from The Four Agreements and Think Again as she approaches succession planning and retirement. 00:00 Welcome 01:10 Boards Exam Memories 03:08 From Bench to PhD 04:44 Single Mom Leap of Faith 07:48 Desert Healing Turning Point 09:58 First Gen Career Reflections 12:19 Choosing Mayo Fellowship 14:40 Hawaii Wake Up Call 17:37 Building Research Muscle 21:56 Lessons and Paying Attention 24:48 Quotes Humility and Intuition 34:17 Roots, Role Models, and Penn State 38:56 Blue Collar Funding Reality 40:38 Proving Them Wrong 42:56 No One Will Save You 48:47 Finding Your Fit 52:25 Values Over Titles 54:37 North Star, Not Employer 58:14 Advocacy and Negotiation 01:05:56 Advice to Younger Self 01:13:33 Four Agreements Lessons 01:22:26 Closing Connect with Duane here: Email me: duane@navigatingyourpath.site Podcast Website: www.navigatingyourpath.site YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@NavigatingYourPath LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/duanenewton/ Coaching Website: www.dwnconsult.com

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  Episode #3

  Navigating Your Path - S1E3: A Conversation with Beth Marlowe

  Jun 8, 20261h 25mS1

  From Military Brat to Lab Leader: Dr. Beth Marlowe on Community, Mentorship, and Leading Through Adversity In this episode, Duane interviews his longtime friend Dr. Beth Marlowe, Executive Scientific Director for Infectious Diseases at Quest Diagnostics, about how their military-family upbringings shaped resilience, perspective, and a drive to build community. Beth recounts her father’s Vietnam service and her rural roots in Blythe, California, emphasizing community values, patient advocacy, and remembering where you came from. She traces her path from early dreams of being an astronaut to environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona, highlighting mentors and interdisciplinary training. They discuss mentorship as a “personal board of directors,” the value of travel and diverse perspectives, and Beth endorses the need for lab leaders to develop business and communication skills. She describes how joining Quest shortly before COVID strengthened her leadership through visibility, teamwork, psychological safety, and rapid decision-making under scrutiny. 00:00 Welcome 04:50 Happy Hour Community Vibes 09:12 Military Brat Roots 12:32 Blythe and Giving Back 19:45 Germany and Growing Up Abroad 26:43 From Astronaut Dreams to Micro 31:44 Grad School Mentors and Hawaii 38:45 Interdisciplinary Skills That Stick 41:53 Mentorship and Personal Board 46:18 Women in Leadership 49:37 Business Skills Gap 55:41 Travel and Perspective 01:00:05 Advice to Younger Self 01:09:22 Leading Through COVID 01:13:30 Psychological Safety 01:20:06 Community and Wrap Up Connect with Duane here: Email me: duane@navigatingyourpath.site Podcast Website: www.navigatingyourpath.site YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@NavigatingYourPath LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/duanenewton/ Coaching Website: www.dwnconsult.com

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