Episodes
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Career paths are not always linear. Curves and bumps along the way can take your career to unexpected places. In this episode, we drop into a discussion with three lab professionals who know what its like to wonder the career path to beyond the bench. They offer advice to help medical laboratory professionals manage their career development, and sometimes a cup of coffee can influence the path you take.
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Legally defending your medical lab’s work is no laughing matter. In this episode, we speak with a geneticist who has provided testimony in order to help medical laboratory professionals navigate the process. We also take a look at forensics in crime scenes and how sharing your DNA publicly online could have consequences.
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Missing episodes?
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The opioid epidemic is a complex and multi-layered problem. In this episode, we explore how various factors are contributing to this crisis. We also delve into how one novel drug testing methodology might just be one piece of the puzzle to combat the epidemic.
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Health care professionals have a responsibility to use correct gender information to respectfully and properly care for all patients. In this episode, we discuss how gender diversity impacts patient care with three panelists who bring their own expertise and experience to the topic.
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The medical laboratory is a female dominated profession; however, this isn’t the case for leadership roles. Why is that? In this episode, we delve deeper into the challenges and mindsets that might be holding women back from taking on such positions, and what can be done to create a truly equal workplace.
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When natural disasters, bioterrorism or public health epidemics strike, Canada has a national emergency system in place to protect its citizens. In this episode, we speak with directors who oversee different components of this system, and you might be surprised at how uniquely Canadian it is—hint, hint: it involves hockey.
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Are you new to the profession and thinking of working alone? Or are you contemplating accepting a job offer where you would have to work on call or at night, where other lab professionals are nowhere in sight? In this episode, we will help you navigate working solo. We also share the lived experience of two CSMLS members who are lone lab rangers during their shifts.
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Has the idea of taking a genetics test ever crossed your mind? Maybe you have limited access to lab services, or maybe you think these do-at-home tests are a harmless look into your ancestry. In this episode, we speak with a genetics counsellor and a genetics technologist to explore the drawbacks of these tests, like error rates and placing more strain on an already overburdened health care system—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
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Do you ever wonder if artificial intelligence will replace medical laboratory professionals? Or maybe you’re curious as to what current advanced technology looks like in the lab context, and how it will affect your everyday work life. In this episode, we speak with medical laboratory professionals who have implemented cutting-edge software in their own lab. We also delve into exciting artificial intelligence research for health care applications.
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We’re back and ready to deliver season three of The Objective Lens. Here’s a quick sneak peek into some of the big questions we will be tackling this year. Stay tuned over the next couple weeks to be sure you don’t miss the first episode.
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Season 2 is a wrap! In this season finale, your host, Cathy Bouwers, and co-producer, Michael Grant, reflect on their favourite episodes of the season, plan for future episodes and do a little humble bragging—The Objective Lens is officially an award-winning podcast. Be sure to share your thoughts and ideas with us.
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With its many challenges and sacrifices, life in the military as an MLT might not be for everyone, but for the right person it is an extremely rewarding opportunity of a life time. In this episode, we speak with Sergeant Jeff Scott, an MLT in the Canadian Armed Forces, about his experiences with enlisting in the armed forces, forming tight-knit bonds with his colleagues and providing humanitarian relief in Ebola-stricken Sierra Leone.
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Health care in remote and indigenous communities poses unique challenges. In this episode, we speak with professionals who are on the front line of northern and indigenous health care to gain insight into the obstacles these communities face, and how the lab can work side-by-side with them to resolve these challenges.
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Blood transfusion medicine has come a long way since its early beginnings in 1492. In this week’s episode, we speak with industry experts across Canada to delve into exciting research in the field of blood and learn how innovation and communication in the lab saves lives.
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Science can learn a thing or two from art, especially when it comes to public education. In this episode, we speak with a biomedical artist and a microbiologist media entrepreneur to discuss alternative tools to improve science literacy and public outreach through fun, easy-to-digest artistic mediums, like dancing, painting and mobile app gaming.
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Did you know that April is World Autism Month? In this bonus mini episode, we speak with Louise Nagy, National Director of Community Engagement and Environmental Sustainability at LifeLabs, about LifeLabs’ Serving Customers with Autism program. This program combines customer services and lab services to help improve patient care for people with autism spectrum disorder.
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Do you ever find yourself wondering how you can foster top talent in your medical laboratory? Or are you looking to advance your career but need a little help? In this episode, we speak with industry leaders to learn effective strategies for all medical lab professionals to develop top talent who can then go on to make great contributions in the healthcare industry.
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The game of baseball and the medical laboratory have more in common than you may think. They both need to communicate strategically with all members on their team to ensure they get the job done. In this episode, we talk with lab professionals and a communications expert to learn how MLTs and MLAs can proactively improve patient care by understanding and implementing clear, respectful intraprofession communication strategies in their day-to-day interactions.
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How are we meeting the training needs of medical laboratory students with less opportunity for hands-on experience? In this episode we discuss the use of simulation as a viable way for students to practice critical skills in a risk free environment. We talk to educators, program graduates and the CEO of SIM-one Canadian Network for Simulation in Healthcare, to discuss the role simulation plays in education. Listen in to hear a very compelling discussion about how this growing learning model fits with the need for clinical education.
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Have you ever called in sick to work with a cold, when in reality you needed a mental health day? In this episode, we discuss the importance of having open dialogue about mental health issues. CSMLS Researcher Laura Zychla reports on the research she conducted with medical lab professionals. We also discuss the CSMLS Mental Health Toolkit and other strategies to help deal with workplace stress that can impact your mental health.
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