Many teachers and students have been hesitant to embrace online learning, but the Coronavirus pandemic has left little choice but to do so. So, what does teaching pathology and laboratory medicine look like in a virtual setting?  

On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Sara E. Wobker, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Urology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Natalie Banet, MD, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and Dr. Richard Davis, PhD, D(ABMM), MLS(ASCP)CM, Regional Director of Microbiology for Providence Health Care in Eastern Washington, to discuss online teaching and learning in the age of COVID-19. 

The panelists explain how the landscape of virtual education has changed in light of the pandemic and describe how teaching pathology and laboratory medicine online differs from other subject areas. Listen in for insight on promoting equity and inclusion in a virtual setting, overcoming the limitations of remote learning, and avoiding the pitfalls associated with creating educational resources online. 

Key Takeaways 

·       Past vs present online learning
·       How the landscape of online learning has changed in light of the pandemic
·       How teaching pathology online differs from other subject areas, and which aspects of laboratory medicine are particularly difficult to teach virtually
·       How to promote diversity and inclusion in online learning
·       How to address the needs of ESL, hearing impaired and neurodivergent students in a virtual setting
·       Predictions around the future of remote learning 

Connect with ASCP 

ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter
ASCP 2020 Virtual 

Connect with Dr. Wobker 

Dr. Wobker at UNC School of Medicine
Virtual Pathology Grand Rounds
Dr. Wobker on Twitter 

Connect with Dr. Banet 

Dr. Banet at Brown University
Dr. Banet’s Website
Dr. Banet on YouTube
Dr. Banet on Twitter
Deeper Levels Podcast 

Connect with Dr. Davis 

Providence Health Care
Dr. Davis on Twitter
Dr. Davis’ Viral Mask Tweet

Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails 

Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter

Most of the media surrounding COVID-19 addresses how large hospitals in urban areas are navigating the crisis. But what challenges do small, independent facilities face? And how is the virus affecting the community MLS programs responsible for training the next generation of laboratory professionals? 

On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by Dr. Dana Altenburger, MD, FASCP, Medical Director of the laboratory at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, and Ms. Terese Abreu, MLS (ASCP)CM, Assistant Professor of Biological Science and Director of the Medical Laboratory Science Program at Heritage University, to explore the unique challenges community hospitals and MLS programs are facing in the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The panelists weigh in on turnaround times for COVID results, budgetary concerns caused by the virus, and staffing shortages labs are likely to face in the aftermath of the pandemic. Listen in for insight into how the virus has affected student training and the potential long-term implications of COVID-19 for healthcare workers in community hospitals and MLS programs. 

Key Takeaways 

·The unique challenges community hospitals and labs face during the COVID-19 pandemic
· When to test in-house for COVID, vs when to send out 
· How COVID-19 is affecting student training and how MLS students are being included during the crisis
· How the coronavirus has impacted the morale of students and staff 
· The staffing shortages labs are likely to face in the aftermath of COVID-19
· Challenges the coronavirus presents in the migrant communities
· Navigating budgetary concerns caused by COVID-19
· What support community hospitals and MLS programs need moving forward
· Insight on the potential long-term implications of COVID-19

Connect with ASCP 

ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter

Connect with Dr. Altenburger 

Carle BroMenn Medical Center
Dr. Altenburger on WebMD 

Connect with Ms. Abreu

Heritage University’s MLS Program
Ms. Abreu at Heritage University 

Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails

Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter

A July study found that for every 10,000 people, 23 white people contract COVID-19 compared to 62 Black and 73 Latinx people. And according to the COVID Racial Data Tracker, minority populations have a much higher mortality rate than that of whites: For every 100K people, 74 Black Americans, 40 American Indian or Alaskan Natives and 40 Hispanic or Latino people die from the virus—compared to 30 whites. Why are minority communities disproportionately affected by the coronavirus? And what can we do as lab professionals to address these disparities? 

On this inaugural episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts Dr. Lotte Mulder and Ms. Kelly Swails are joined by  Dr. Von Samedi, MD, PhD, FASCP, Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Dr. Valerie Fitzhugh MD, FASCP Associate Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine at Rutgers University’s New Jersey Medical School, and Mr. Aaron Odegard, MS, MLS (ASCP) SMCM, Medical Technologist in the Infectious Diagnostic Laboratories at Baptist Health Jacksonville, to explore the disparities in COVID-19 cases among minority populations. 

The panelists explain why minority populations are more vulnerable to the coronavirus and how the pandemic is both exposing and exacerbating the disparities in our healthcare system. Listen in for insight around the pathology and laboratory community’s responsibility to speak up and serve as an agent for change and learn what we can do to combat the disparities and create a more inclusive environment for underserved patients. 

Key Takeaways

• How Black, Latinx and other minority populations bear a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 cases and experience a much higher mortality rate than their white counterparts
• Why minority communities are more vulnerable to the coronavirus than the general population
• How the pandemic is both exposing the existing disparities in healthcare and further expanding the incongruities in patient care
• The pathology and laboratory community’s responsibility to educate the community and serve as an agent for change

Connect with ASCP

ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter

Connect with Dr. Samedi

Dr. Samedi at the University of Colorado
Dr. Samedi on Twitter 

Connect with Dr. Fitzhugh 

Dr. Fitzhugh at Rutgers
Dr. Fitzhugh on Twitter
Connect with Mr. Odegard

Mr. Odegard on LinkedIn
Mr. Odegard on Twitter

Connect with Dr. Mulder & Ms. Swails

Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Ms. Swails on Twitter