Raw Talk Podcast

#118: Cervical Cancer Screening: The Smear Test Alternative

In this two-part episode, we discuss two very important topics related to Women’s Health; Endometriosis and Cervical Cancer. Please listen to Part 1 if you haven't already!

 

Cervical cancer is a very common cancer among young women. Early detection, primarily done via cervical screening (also known as a pap smear), greatly improves the chances of successful treatment and survival. In Part 2, we hear from Naomi Forward (Co-Founder of Thyia) and Beth Dobson (Senior Designer at Mettle Studio), who discuss the screening process behind cervical cancer and the importance of early detection of this condition. They also discuss accessibility of screening, cost of screening, screening inside and outside a healthcare setting, and many more important topics. 

#117: Endometriosis: Common Disease, Uncommon Diagnosis

In this two-part episode, we discuss two very important topics related to Women’s Health; Endometriosis and Cervical Cancer. 

 

Everyone wants to be seen and heard, especially in the context of their health and well-being. Unfortunately, this hasn’t always been the case for individuals with endometriosis. In Part 1, we take a deep dive into understanding endometriosis and gain some valuable insight into the journey of being diagnosed from our guests. We hear from Dr. Jamie Kroft (Obstetrician-Gynaecologist and Gynaecologist surgeon at Sunnybrook Hospital) and Amanda Weston (Research Quality Associate, University Health Network) who has lived experience with endometriosis.

#116: Medical Imaging: Radiology Revolution

Medical imaging, from the familiar X-rays to advanced MRI and CT scans, has revolutionized healthcare. These techniques allow us to glimpse inside, aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions. At the heart of these processes are radiologists, the medical detectives who decipher these images and translate them into diagnoses guiding patient care. Looking ahead, artificial intelligence (AI) looms large on the horizon. The potential for AI to enhance medical imaging has received increased interest. Imagine algorithms that can spot anomalies in seconds or even predict diseases before symptoms occur! In this episode, we hear from Dr. Michael McInnis (Thoracic Radiologist at JDMI; Radiology Quality Assurance Lead at UHN High Risk Lung Cancer Screening Program; Assistant Professor at UofT), Dr. April Khademi (Associate Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering at TMU; Principal Investigator of the Image Analysis in Medicine Lab; Affiliate Scientist, St. Michael’s Hospital; Researcher at iBEST, TMU; Researcher at T-CAIREM, UofT), and Dr. Trevor McKee (CEO and Co-founder, Pathomics; Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, UofT).  Join us as we explore the basics of medical imaging, the critical role of radiologists, the dynamic partnership of industry and academia, and the potential integration of AI in medical imaging. This episode will shine light on how medical imaging is shaping the present and the future of healthcare.

#115: The Future of Paramedicine

When 911 is called for medical assistance, paramedics are the personnel that are dispatched to provide transport and emergency medical care. Paramedics are generally known to play an essential role in our healthcare systems and are often regarded as the first-line of medical services in the community before reaching the hospital setting. However, paramedicine is more than just ambulatory and emergency care. In this episode, we hear from Cheryl Cameron (Paramedic from Alberta; Director of Operations of Canadian Virtual Hospice; PhD Student at Monash University; Senior Fellow with the NcNally Project for Paramedicine Research), Melissa Vose (Advanced Care Paramedic from British Columbia) and Amir Allana (Paramedic from Ontario and British Columbia; Masters Degree in the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto; Fellow at the McNally Project for Paramedicine Research) who provide us with a deep dive into the fascinating and dynamic discipline of paramedicine. Our guests share their experiences as paramedics, address systemic issues within paramedicine, and introduce us to the expansion of paramedicine outside of primary and emergency care.  

#114: Inclusivity in Sports and Fitness

The sports and fitness spaces play an important role in fostering communities – we can challenge our physical and mental capabilities, form ever-lasting bonds with teammates, find an avenue to relieve stress and find a sense of connectedness with other people. Our very own Braeden and Swapna sit down to talk about their love for sports and their journeys in this space. We hope their conversation inspires you to start your own journey in this space. In this episode, we listen to valuable insights about the different barriers Muslim women face when pursuing athletic activities in our conversation with Rishada, a program director at Hijabi Ballers, an organisation based in the Greater Toronto Area that aims to recognize and celebrate the athleticism of Muslim girls and women.

http://www.hijabiballers.com/

#113: Raw Talk Live: Finding the Cutoff

In this special episode, we reflect on our Raw Talk Live event, themed "Finding the Cutoff" - an interesting panel discussion on identifying and addressing social biases in healthcare data. Through a candid conversation between members of the Raw Talk Podcast team and data science and healthcare experts on this ever-evolving topic, we touch on what biases exist in healthcare data, how they affect clinical practice, and how they inform care of racially marginalized communities. We hear from Dr. Pascal Tyrell (Associate Professor, Medical Imaging & Statistical Sciences, University of Toronto), Sara Fung (Healthcare Advocate and Co-host of the "Gritty Nurse Podcast"), and Dr. Azadeh Yadollahi (Senior Scientist at the KITE Research Insitute, University Health Network), as they discuss these topics with our Events Coordinator and Show Host, Adrian Dychiao. 

#112: Architecture x Health: The Blueprints behind Healthcare Spaces

The spaces we live, work, play in shape our health and our psyche - and healthcare spaces are no different. In this episode, we take a deep, multifaceted look at the field of healthcare architecture. Our guests give us valuable insights into how hospitals are designed and how elements of clinical care, sound design, and innovative research combine to create spaces we all experience sickness and health in. We hear from "dochitect" Dr. Diana Anderson (board-certified healthcare architect and internist at VA Boston Health System), Dr. Michaela Cada (hematologist-oncologist and Chief Clinical Planning Officer of Project Horizon), and Dr. John Straube (registered professional engineer and Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo).

#111: Tiny Tots, Huge Hurdles

In this episode of Raw Talk Podcast, we dive into the big world of little humans as we explore the topic of neonatology. Our guests give us an overview of what neonatology as a field encompasses and the very special population that neonatologists serve. This episode also dives into the impacts of research and new medications in the NICU, challenges regarding disparities of care, and the real life experience of a NICU family. This episode features notable guests like Dr. Estelle Gauda (Division Head, Neonatology at SickKids and Professor of Pediatrics at University of Toronto), Dr. Pia Wintermark (Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics at McGill University), Dr. Tamorah Lewis (Division Head for Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at SickKids), Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta (Director of Research at the Centre for Global Child Health, SickKids), and most especially, Kimberley and Christina Foreman, who kindly shared their personal experiences at the NICU with us. 

#110: Back to School with Raw Talk

Back to school season is in full force, and students ride the rollercoaster of academia for another year. This is where students face new joys, opportunities and challenges along the way. As technology and scientific advancements progress at a rate faster than we’ve ever seen before, graduate, post-graduate, medical and other professional students embark on a journey of research and of adulthood all at once. In today’s episode, we have a roundtable discussion to exchange views on our hopes and struggles as a graduate student. Our teams shared stories of our first research experiences, tips on finding balance between personal and academic life and keys to success learned along the way. Each of our stories are unique but common themes of resilience, collaborative work, networking with faculty and peers, coping with societal expectations and finding ways to balance a busy lifestyle can be seen. Things aren’t always easy, and they definitely aren’t pretty all the time, but through these experiences we gain knowledge that helps contribute to science, and changing the world. Although it’s a struggle, it is a collective one and we lean on one another to be the best version of ourselves. We have fun together, we support each other, and we grow stronger. 

Written by Radha 

[This episode was hosted by Angela and Noor. Hannah, Sonika, Braeden, Julia, and Belinda participated in our roundtable discussion. Alex and Junayd were our audio engineers. Noor was the executive producer]

#109: Caregivers: The Forgotten Pillars of Healthcare

Think back to the last time you fell ill or were having a bad day - you likely reached out to your loved ones for support to help you feel better and get through the day productively. Now, think of those with terminal illness or those from marginalized communities seeking care for a chronic condition - for many of them, the first point of contact is a caregiver, helping them with following treatment regimens to even daily activities of living, like eating or changing. 

They are instrumental to the wellbeing of those who cannot care for themselves - but who cares for the caregivers?

This episode aims to explore the role of personal support workers and family caregivers in promoting health in families and communities, and the unique physical, cultural, and policy challenges they face, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We speak with Taylor Booroff (spokesperson of the Ontario PSW Association), Ron Beleno (family caregiver and advocate for caregivers of older adults with AGE-WELL), and Danielle Alcock (patient navigator for Indigenous communities in Southwestern Ontario).