eLABorate Topics – Details, episodes & analysis

In this heartfelt and reflective episode, the co-hosts of eLABorate Topics come together to celebrate the end of an incredible Season 4 and the podcast series with Lona Small.

Join us as we look back on our journey, share favorite moments, and highlight the episodes and topics that resonated most with our listeners.

We also discuss the impact of the show on the lab community, the invaluable lessons learned along the way, and the contributions of our inspiring guests. This episode serves as a thank-you to our dedicated audience and a celebration of the connections we've built through the podcast.

Key Takeaways:

• Recap of Season 4's most impactful episodes and moments.
• Reflections on the journey of eLABorate Topics from its inception to the finale.
• Insights into the future of healthcare and laboratory medicine based on discussions from the podcast.
• Special shoutouts to our listeners, guests, and supporters for making this journey unforgettable.

In this insightful episode, listeners will hear Dr. Alan Wu’s innovative approach to raising public awareness about the vital role of laboratory medicine in healthcare. Through his advocacy, Dr. Wu aims to transform how lab medicine is perceived and appreciated by diverse audiences.

Tune as as we unfold Dr. Alan Wu’s Visionary Three-Step Plan to Advocate for the Laboratory Medicine profession!

📖 The Role of Real-Life Stories in Revealing Lab Work’s Impact

Through powerful patient stories, Dr. Wu highlights how lab work is at the heart of diagnosing and treating patients, illustrating its often-overlooked role in healthcare.

📱 Expanding his reach with social media

Learn how Dr. Wu is tapping into the power of TikTok to engage a younger generation, showing them the dynamic, crucial world of laboratory science in creative and captivating ways.

📺 Pitching a TV Show to Put Lab Pros on the Map!

Imagine a show like CSI, but real! Dr. Wu has big plans for a series that follows lab professionals in action, helping the public see lab medicine in a new light.

🤝 How You Can Support and Connect with Dr. Alan Wu

Find out how listeners can join Dr. Wu in championing lab professionals and supporting the impact lab services have on patient lives.

This episode is perfect for anyone interested in healthcare advocacy, lab science, or how we can make the hidden heroes of healthcare more visible. Tune in for fresh ideas and ways you can help amplify the incredible world of laboratory medicine!

Dr. Alan Wu's Bio: Professor, Lab Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Co-Core lab director, San Francisco General Hospital. Author of 8 paperback books that promote the clinical laboratory to the general public consisting of real short shories of patients interacting with the clinical laboratory. This has led to my own social medial channel (Tiktok @labtales) that provides some additional short stories.

Connect with Dr. Alan Wu:

Email: alan.wu@ucsf.edu

Tik Tok: @LabTales

Books: Amazon.com: Alan H.B. Wu: books, biography, latest update

Are you a medical lab professional struggling to find happiness and fulfillment in your career? If you're feeling overwhelmed by productivity pressures, stuck in endless meetings, or managing a team under constant stress, the problem may not be what you think.

What if the root cause of your unhappiness isn't your workload, hours, or even your boss, but rather the neglect of some fundamental, non-negotiable principles in your career?

In this episode, your host, Lona Small,  career success coach, dives into "10 Non-Negotiables" that could be the hidden reasons behind your unhappiness at work. These are the essential questions every lab professional should ask themselves to ensure they are on the path to a satisfying and rewarding career.

Key Takeaways: The 10 Non-Negotiables to Consider for a Happier Lab Career

1.Do I Have Opportunities to Share Ideas and Foster Innovation?

Innovation isn’t just for tech startups—it’s crucial in labs too! Whether it’s streamlining daily tasks or contributing to large-scale projects, your voice and ideas should be heard. If you're not given a seat at the table, it may be time to speak up or look for opportunities elsewhere.

2.Is My Role Providing Me with Purpose and a Sense of Meaning?

Purpose is a powerful driver of job satisfaction. Are you able to see the impact of your work on patient outcomes or lab efficiency? If not, consider finding ways to connect your daily tasks with a bigger picture that resonates with your values.

3.Am I Continuously Growing and Learning in My Current Role?

Career satisfaction requires continuous growth. Are you gaining new skills and facing fresh challenges? If you feel stagnated, push for new opportunities—whether leading cross-functional projects or earning additional certifications.

4.Am I Valued and Recognized for the Contributions I Make?

Feeling valued is crucial to feeling fulfilled at work. If your efforts are going unnoticed, it might be time to seek feedback, self-advocate, or share your achievements in meetings to ensure your work is acknowledged.

5.Do I Maintain Clear Boundaries Between Work and Personal Life?

Work-life balance is vital for long-term happiness. Are you constantly working overtime or struggling to switch off? Setting clear boundaries can protect your mental health and ensure you're recharged and engaged when you're on the clock.

6.Am I Engaging in Projects and Tasks That Reflect My Core Values?

Alignment between your work and core values is key. If your projects and tasks don’t match what you stand for, it may lead to frustration and burnout. Find roles or tasks that align with your personal beliefs and values.

7.Am I Fairly Compensated for My Skills and Professional Efforts?

Fair compensation isn’t just about numbers; it’s about feeling valued. Do you believe your salary reflects your experience and contributions? If not, research industry standards and prepare to advocate for what you’re worth.

8.Is My Work Environment Positive, Supportive, and Healthy?

A toxic work environment can drain your energy and enthusiasm. Does your workplace foster a positive, supportive atmosphere where you feel respected and have access to necessary resources? If not, consider speaking up or seeking a healthier environment.

9.Do I Make Time to Support My Mental, Spiritual, and Emotional Well-Being?

Mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being are fundamental for job satisfaction. Are you taking time for self-care, meditation, or reflection? Make sure your workplace supports a holistic approach to your health and well-being.

10.Do I Cultivate a Growth Mindset, Positive Outlook, and Practice Gratitude?

Your mindset shapes your...

"The stress of a new manager is like a first date. You don't know what to expect and you're just hoping everything goes well"

Congratulations, You've been promoted!!

There is a ton of excitement that comes with this accomplishment in your career but there are also emotional challenges of the transition that you were unaware of. In the interview, none of the common sources of stress for new managers was even discussed. You are now feeling a wide range of emotions, including performance anxiety, confusion, regret, and even loss.

It's tough to be a new manager but once you identify common sources of stress that could come up and potential strategies to minimize them, you will be on your way to getting acclimated to your new role and able to perform with ease.

Common Sources of Stress for New Managers:

1.  Role Strain- Facing conflict and overload in your position
   • Too much work, too little time
   
   
2. Problem Solving Fatigue
   • Feeling like you have to solve every problem that arises for everyone
   
   
3. Imposter Syndrome
   • Inadequate feelings or struggling to hide it from others
   
   
4. Isolation
   • Missing your old work life and relationships while setting boundaries and acclimating to your new reality
   
   

Listen to the entire episode to hear the strategies for how to deal with each of these common sources of stress. 

"The greatest challenge of a new manager is not the new job, but the old job." - Coach Tee Wilson

Reflection Questions

• Which of these areas causes you the most amount of stress as a new manager?
• What was the best advice that you received as a new manager to overcome stress?

Call to Action
We would love to feature YOU!!! Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

Connect with Coach Tee Wilson
To connect with Tywauna for more on this and other leadership and personal development topics, visit: TywaunaWilson.com or connect with her on LinkedIn for the invitation to join the Trendy Elite Leadership Tidbits Community, where you can learn, grow and develop in the area of leadership, career, and personal development.

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn
5. Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail at elaboratetopics@directimpactbroadcasting.com.

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

We are experiencing some of the most challenging times in the lab field, in our personal lives, and in so many industries, especially healthcare.

Limited staffing, high staff turnover, challenges at home…

All these have been going on for some time now.

How can we keep going without breaking under this pressure?

In this episode Lona Small discussed a unique way that lab leaders and teams can keep themselves, their team, and their loved ones calm, strive and grow without bending under pressure, even when things are chaotic.

 Lona discussed the importance of leading yourself first and how to utilize the Core Method to do so.

She discussed how you can dig deep and tap into your Core

·       Core Role

·       Core Vision

·       Core Values 

·       Core Self

Lona discussed the importance of building mental strength, leading yourself, being a role model, shine the light to others around you, and create the environment where there is growth instead of breaking under pressure.

Listen to the full episode to find out the details of why our #1 focus should be to lead ourselves and not others.

For more information and support on this and similar topics email Lona Small directly at lonasmall@lonasmall.com  You can send direct message on LinkedIn at Lona Gordon Small, If you want to learn more practical ways to create the best culture for yourself and your team and  propel your growth in an environment of calm and happiness and create the impact you want for your lab.

Follow hashtag #YouAreAnImportantPartOfTheWhole on LinkedIn

We are happy to announce that you can also hear us on LabVine
You can register on Labvinelearning.com for free and you will get access to this show.

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn
5. Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail at elaboratetopics@directimpactbroadcasting.com.

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

In this episode, co-hosts Stephanie Whitehead and Tywauna Wilson talk with Sean McNair, MPH, CT(ASCP) about his professional journey and the themes of resiliency and self awareness that he has experienced throughout his career.  
 
Tune in as Sean details how he has used innovation and flexibility to make an impact in the cytopathology community and the laboratory medicine profession! 

Special Guest Bio:

Sean McNair, MPH, CT(ASCP) has been the Cytology Education Coordinator for the Department of Pathology at MSK since 2015. His responsibilities include coordination of the Cytology Staff Conference series, and coordination of Cytology Service educational activities. He also provides educational content to Cytopathology fellows and participates in Cytology clinical service duties. Mr. McNair is also the Program Director for the Advanced Certificate in Cytotechnology for Hunter College, a collaborative Cytotechnology training program in which the students are trained exclusively at MSK. Mr. McNair has overseen the evolution and transition of the Memorial Sloan Kettering School of Cytotechnology, which existed for over 50 years and has provided MSK and neighboring institutions with highly skilled Cytotechnologists. Outside of MSK, Mr. McNair is actively in several professional societies, including the ASCP and ASC as a committee member, working to continue to drive the evolution of today’s Cytotechnologist to tomorrow’s Pathology professional. Mr. McNair completed his Cytology training at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and subsequently completed his MPH in Health Policy and Management. 

Listeners can connect with Sean McNair at:

smcnair0328@gmail.com

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-mcnair-5412511b/

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/smcnair0328

Podcast Call to Action
We would love to feature YOU!!!
Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

Be an eLABorate Supporter!
1.     Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform

2.     Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 

3.     Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!

4.     Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

5.     Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

 
Be a Guest on our show!
If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at elaboratetopics@directimpactbroadcasting.com.

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

The number of monkeypox cases are rising across the US...How worried should you be about this virus? 
How can lab professionals use their voice to advocate for public health safety?

In this “Ask the Expert” episode, Stephanie Whitehead talks with Dr. Rodney Rohde, a public health subject matter expert, to answer all your pressing questions about the monkeypox virus. Tune in and learn everything you need to know about the current monkeypox outbreak and other emerging dieases currently in the news. 

For a deeper dive into conversations with Dr. Rohde, be sure to check out S2 Ep. 20 "The Path to Least Antibiotic Resistance".

Don't forget to share this episode with a colleague, friend or family member!

Public Health resources recommended in this episode:
Health Alert Network (HAN) | CDC
Home - ProMED - ProMED-mail (promedmail.org)

"Ask the Expert" Guest Bio:

Dr. Rohde has published over 90 research articles and abstracts, two books and is a highly sought keynote presenter with over 100 international, national, and state conference presentations. His two books focus on Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) adaptation and Clinical Considerations in Rabies. In recent years, he has become a globally viral author subject matter expert utilizing invited articles, TEDx talks, podcasts, video casts and interviews to enhance science communication and translational health research literacy in public health, healthcare, and the medical laboratory environment.

During the #SARSCoV2 / #COVID19 pandemic, Doc R is the #1 quoted Texas State subject matter expert and conducted over 150 interviews for podcasts, TV, newspapers, and internet sites including dozens of webinars and workshops at all levels. He has received numerous awards and honors during his career, and most recently, added to The Pathologist’s PowerList 2020 and Cardinal Health’s Laboratory Excellence List (2022).

Listeners can connect with Dr. Rodney Rohde at: 

Personal Website: https://rodneyerohde.wp.txstate.edu/

Twitter: @RodneyRohde | @TXST_CLS | @TXST_THR

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneyerohde/ [personal]

https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-state-clinical-laboratory-science-program/?viewAsMember=true 
[Texas State CLS Program]

Facebook:

"Sitting in a workshop listening to two speakers talk about laboratory medicine sparked my interest in the profession"- Dr Tiffany Bratton
 
Sharing your excitement for the laboratory profession is a great way to promote the career field as in the same way the two clinical chemists did for Dr Bratton. Having the opportunity to build a laboratory from the ground up, with its intimate look at processes and regulations, can provide a unique opportunity for laboratorians. Understanding additional concepts such as lab billing, marketing, and business development are pathways to serving in other capacities in the lab.

In this episode, Co-Host Tywauna Wilson sits down with Dr. Tiffany Bratton to discuss her journey to CLIA director for Histocompatibility and Molecular laboratories and how she has been able to support multiple laboratories as their director and help other labs get started.

Key Topics Shared in this episode:

• What is histocompatibility, and how does one get into this space
• Recruitment and retention of personnel during the Covid-19 crisis and afterward
• How labs can prepare the pipeline for staff to promote up to different levels in the lab off the bench
• How serving as lab director provides one the opportunity to build business and entrepreneurial skills

Special Guest Bio:

Dr. Tiffany Bratton is an award-winning innovative scientific leader with focused experience in healthcare administration, business strategy, and clinical diagnostics. Dr. Bratton is board certified in clinical chemistry (DABCC) and histocompatibility (FACHI). She completed her fellowship training at one of the world’s leading research universities, Emory University. In 2012, Dr. Bratton began partnering to establish commercial molecular labs. She designed, built, validated, and accredited the laboratories as well as supported technical sales and marketing. From these experiences, Dr. Bratton learned the value of business strategy, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence to the commercial success of clinical laboratories. In the years that followed, Dr. Bratton provided intermittent consulting support to various laboratory businesses while maintaining a laser focus on her academic goals. In 2020 Dr. Bratton formed Bratton LabWorx to provide expert guidance for independent specialty diagnostic laboratories that need to evolve and thrive in the years ahead.

Call to Action
WE would love to feature YOU!!! Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn
5. Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at elaboratetopics@directimpactbroadcasting.com.

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

In this episode of eLABorate Topics podcast hosts Lona Small, Tywauna Wilson, and Stephanie Whitehead had a great roundtable discussion on Training vs. Competency.

The podcast hosts discussed:

·       What is training and what is competency

·       Why training and why competency. 

·       Major regulatory requirements for training and competency

·       Ways to have effective training and competency

Listen to the full episode to get more detailed information on the difference between training and competency and ways to have an effective training and competency programs in your labs.

Call to Action.

We would love to feature YOU!!! Share your favorite takeaway from today's episode or anyone from this season: Video Review

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1.    Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform

2.    Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 

3.    Be sure to leave a comment, and share it with fellow medical laboratory professionals!

4.    Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

5.    Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at elaboratetopics@directimpactbroadcasting.com.

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

In this episode, co-host Stephanie Whitehead talks with Luis Plaza, the creator of the “Let’s Talk Micro” podcast. Luis is a Medical Laboratory Scientist (at AdventHealth) and an adjunct laboratory instructor (at the University of Central Florida) in Orlando. 

Tune in to this interesting episode as Luis Plaza discusses his career in the laboratory profession and how is role as an educator and scientist inspired him to create his popular podcast. 

The “Let’s Talk Micro” podcast is an entertaining and educational show that features episodes explaining Clinical Microbiology in simple terms. Listeners can listen to “Let’s talk Micro” Apple, Spotify and Google Podcasts. This podcast is great for Microbiology Scientists or CLS Students so be sure to subscribe and share!

Listeners can connect with Let’s Talk Micro (Luis Plaza) at letstalkmicroo@outlook.com or on social media at:

Twitter @Letstalkmicro1

Instagram @Letstalkmicro

Be a Supporter!

Listen on Lab Vine, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 

Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!

Be a Guest!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us at elaboratetopics@directimpactbroadcasting.com or Direct Impact Broadcasting on Social Media.