Raw Talk Podcast

In this episode, we dive into the world of surgical innovation—think lungs on ice, robots in the operating room, and AI transforming the way surgeries are performed. We hear from Dr. Aadil Ali, who shares his groundbreaking work in lung transplantation, highlighting challenges like organ preservation and the innovative solutions his team developed, including a life-changing preservation method now used worldwide. Next, Dr. Siba Haykal introduces us to the world of reconstructive surgery, discussing off-the-shelf tissues and the potential of using bioreactors to engineer transplants that mimic natural tissues more effectively. Finally, Dr. Amin Madani delves into the integration of artificial intelligence in surgery, revealing how computer vision and AI can revolutionize decision-making and surgical precision.

The episode was hosted by Prisca and Bellinda. The interviews were conducted by Noor, Prisca, and Bellinda. Tima served as the audio engineer, Selina assisted with episode promotions, and Noor was the executive producer. 

Welcome to the Raw Talk Reunion mini series where we touch base with past team members! In the previous episode (#124), we spoke with our Co-Founders to hear all about how the podcast came about. In this episode (#125), we catch up with more Raw Talk Podcast alum who were integral members of the podcast during past seasons. We explore how their involvement with the podcast influenced their personal and professional lives, where their paths have led since their time with us, and the wisdom they offer to our listeners.

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.