Raw Talk Podcast

Welcome to the Raw Talk Reunion mini series where we touch base with past team members! In this first episode (#124), we sit down with our Co-Founders, Richie Jeremian and Jabir Mohamed, to delve into their founding visions for the podcast. They share insights into the evolution of the podcast and reflect on how the team and structure of Raw Talk has expanded over the past eight seasons. Keep an eye out for the next episode (#125), where we catch up with more Raw Talk Podcast alum!

Conversations around generational differences in the workplace are becoming increasingly common. Contentious issues around working expectations and treatment are happening across many fields, including healthcare. Nurses, in particular, have faced many challenges in recent years, particularly as a result of the pandemic and widespread employee shortages, and the field has become a hotbed for conversations around generational working styles. To better understand how generational dynamics are impacting the field and how the newer generation of nurses see their futures, we spoke to undergraduate nursing students Vivian Li and Avery Russell, and graduate nursing students Kimberly Villacorta and Ben Le, at the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. Each guest shared their path to nursing and reflected on their education and experience thus far. They also shed light on the biggest challenges facing the field right now, particularly those impacting nursing trainees. Finally, our guests shared key lessons they’ve learnt from senior colleagues as well as what they would like them to know about the new generation. Join us in hearing from the newer generation of nurses!

Trauma-related injuries are severe and can often lead to long-lasting adverse patient outcomes such as physical damage, mental health struggles, diminished quality of life, and even death. In fact, it is one of the leading causes of death both nationwide and globally. In this episode, we sit down with three experts in trauma care: Dr. Homer Tien (Trauma Surgeon at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and President and CEO of Ornge), Dr. Suzanne Beno (Medical Co-Director of the Trauma Program at Division of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children), and Dr. Brodie Nolan (Emergency Physician and Trauma Team Leader at St. Michael’s Hospital). Each guest shed light on the current state of trauma care in different fields. Dr. Tien provides us with a comprehensive overview of the trauma systems and the intersection between civilian and military trauma care. Dr. Beno shares insight into pediatric trauma care and how it compares to adult trauma care. And finally, Dr. Brodie Nolan provides us with an overview of the current research in trauma care. Join us as we dive deep into the fascinating world of trauma systems and research.

What do you think when you hear the words “Bill 60”? For years, public versus private healthcare has been a topic of debate. But how much do we really know? Tune in to hear Dr. Allin, Director of the North American Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, and Dr. Danyaal Raza, health reformer and founding advisor of Progress Toronto answer our questions about healthcare privatization. In this episode of Raw Talk, we learned how different healthcare systems function, the economic (and political) sustainability of healthcare models, and how our own Canadian healthcare system compares to other international models. Our guests discuss both the pros and cons of certain healthcare models, as well as more nuanced topics like motivations behind how healthcare is provisioned, who is most greatly impacted by changes to the system, and their own opinions on how to most effectively treat patients. Written by: Gil Angela Dela Cruz

In an era where medications like Ozempic are gaining popularity for their off-label use as weight loss drugs, the dialogue on societal perceptions of weight and health is increasingly relevant. Listen in on our thought-provoking discussions featuring Ali Eberhardt (registered dietician at the Provincial Adult Tertiary Specialized Eating Disorders Program) and Dr. Catherine Sabiston, (Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Mental Health) as we explore how societal structures, media, and body ideals intertwine to shape our understanding of weight loss.

Canadians in rural areas make up one-fifth of the population yet are served by only 8% of the physician population. With limited access to primary care, mental health care, and specialist care, rural Canadians experience worse health outcomes compared to the rest of the population. In this episode of Raw Talk Podcast, we dive into the current state of rural health care in Canada. Our featured guests in this episode are Dr. Ojistoh Horn (Family Physician at Akwesasne Medical Clinic and Lecturer at McGill University) and Dr. Catherine Cervin (Retired Family Physician and former Vice Dean Academic at Northern Ontario School of Medicine). Our guests provide us with an overview of social, political, and environmental differences in rural settings and the challenges faced by these communities in accessing various health care resources. Dr. Horn speaks about her experience as a physician in a rural community and strategies for navigating various equity, cultural sensitivity, and accessibility issues. Dr. Cervin provides an outline of education, skills, and training requirements to train as a physician in a rural setting. Our guests end off with some advice to the next generation of medical students aspiring to care for Canadians in rural areas.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/

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.

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).

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.

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]

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).

Love is a complicated, painful, wonderful, and abstract thing we are all familiar with. From the fleeting moments of bliss to the deepest relationships, love has also been the subject of objective study, yielding some diverse yet incredible insights. In this episode, we are joined by Rebecca Horne (PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology, University of Toronto), Carole Sandy (a couples and family therapist based in Toronto), and Dawn Maslar-Biggie (award-winning author and Adjunct Professor of Biology based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) as we explore the science behind love, attraction, and relationships. We hope this episode can highlight some interesting facts about the neuroscience and psychology of love, and how we can use that to create better relationships.

In 2021, Dr. David Julius and Dr. Ardem Patapoutian won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for their discoveries related to temperature and touch receptors. In this episode, Dr. Rose Hill and Dr. Robert Bonin introduce us to this topic of sensory perception, specifically touch and pain. Dr. Bonin describes how we experience pain, delving into acute vs chronic pain, thresholds to pain, and the distinction between nociception and pain. Dr. Hill also shares about her experience being in Dr. Patapoutian's Nobel winning lab, and her work on the perception of itch. Additionally, we get a deeper look into the inner workings of the Nobel Prize, as Dr. Abdel El Manira shares about his time on the Nobel Committee and the inner workings of the Nobel. Join us on this episode, as we unravel touch and the Nobel Prize. Written by: Veena Sanmugananthan Links Discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch Bonin Lab UofT Centre for the Study of Pain Dr. Hill profile A trio of ion channels takes the heat Profile of 2021 Nobel Prize winners

The field of forensics encompasses the intersection between law and science. This episode explores forensics in more detail. Our guests, Chief Coroner of Ontario, Dr. Dirk Huyer, and Deputy Chief Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Jayantha Herath, share the investigative perspective including behind the scenes of their professions, the intersection with the judicial system, and systemic social issues in forensics. Sheila Early, a forensic nurse and co-founder of the Canadian Forensic Nurses Association (CFNA), shares how healthcare contributes to this field, how it is to work with forensic patients, and her history with the CFNA. This episode takes a deep dive into the truth about forensics, its misconceptions, and how technology evolves alongside. Written by: Gil Angela Dela Cruz (Content Creator) and Veena Sanmugananthan (Content Creator and Science Writer) Clinical Examination and Reporting of a Victim of Torture Lawyer’s Guide to the Forensic Sciences Making Sense of a Global Pandemic: Relationship Violence & Working Together Towards a Violence Free Society Episode Team: Atefeh Mohammadi (Episode Lead and Show Host), Kayvan Alfaki (Show Host), Gil Angela Dela Cruz (Content Creator), Veena Sanmugananthan (Content Creator and Science Writer), Anukrati Nigam (Audio Engineer), Anam Islam (Promotions), Janine Truong (Graphic Design).

One of the most underappreciated inventions in history can be dated back to 15th century Europe when German goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg developed the printing press which, for the first time ever, automated the book-printing process. This newfound ability to productively disseminate knowledge and ideas revolutionized society overnight. In fact, English intellectual Francis Bacon, who is known for popularizing the scientific method, famously wrote that the three inventions that forever changed the world were gunpowder, the nautical compass, and the printing press. Books and libraries opened science for citizens outside of the elite intellectual circle. And now, with the advent of computers and digitalization of information, we continue to see science become more accessible. On this episode, show hosts Zeynep and Sumi speak to Dr. Anthony Bonato, Mathematics professor at Ryerson University, Dr. Leslie Chan, principal investigator of the Open and Collaborative Science in Development Network, and Dr. Brian Baigrie, associate professor at University of Toronto’s Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. We hear about their thoughts on open access, how it is generally perceived in the scientific community, its importance and feasibility globally, and finally, how it helped shape scientific communication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Written by: Sumi Links: Unsettling Knowledge Inequities Podcast Bioline International Information on Open Access Budapest Open Access Initiative For more on Publishing: Episode #65 Investing in Knowledge: The Life Cycle of Research Rachael Ainsworth TedTalk (TEDxMacclesfield): Research Culture is Broken; Open Science can Fix It