eLABorate Topics

In today's episode, we're diving into the importance of owning your own narrative and speaking up for yourself. Co-host, Tywauna Wilson shares practical strategies and tips to help you assert yourself with grace and confidence. This episode was inspired by a question sparked during a recent emerging leaders panel discussion, that asked... " What advice would you give your younger self ?" It became...

When it comes to healthcare, fear, and anxiety can be major obstacles to providing optimal care. Patients can feel overwhelmed by the decisions they need to make, and the intense emotions they experience can make understanding the information they receive difficult. This is where effective communication comes in. By engaging in meaningful conversations, healthcare professionals can help alleviate...

In this episode, the eLABorate Topics co-hosts discuss the importance of preparation before attending a virtual or in-person conference.  Tune in as they offer tidbits and tips such as  Setting clear goals before attending a conference (which is essential in order to make the most out of the event)!  Tailoring the sessions you attend towards your professional goals and objectives   Researching the...

Are you a medical laboratory professional who feels unfulfilled, burnt out, or stuck in your current role? You're not alone.  Many talented lab techs and scientists struggle to find meaning and satisfaction in their daily work. However, there are steps you can take to find or create a lab career that truly aligns with your passions, strengths, and professional goals.  In this week's episode of Ela...

In this episode, co-hosts Stephanie Whitehead and Tywauna Wilson chat and recap their favorite motivational and inspirational eLABorate Topics episodes from Season 3 thus far.   Tune in as they:  Discuss the impact of healthy connections on professional motivation  Share tips for building stronger networking relationships  Highlight success stories of entrepreneur relationships from previous episo...

In today's episode, "Transforming Job Rejection," we tackle the disheartening and frustrating experience of receiving a job rejection. We've all faced it at some point, but it's crucial to remember that there is always a silver lining. To kick things off, our host, Tywauna Wilson, shares a personal experience of interviewing for a laboratory project manager role and receiving the dreaded rejection...

In today's episode, we have a thought-provoking roundtable discussion on a topic that is often overlooked in the workplace - grief. We are joined by our guest, Dana Powell Baker, who is the manager for academic partnerships with the Association of Public Health Laboratories. Dana brings a wealth of expertise in higher education, relationship building, laboratory operations, and healthcare simulati...

-In this episode of eLABorate Topics podcast Lona Small discusses how tech companies like Amazon are expanding into healthcare and clinical labs. There are concerns that these companies don't understand the complex regulations and expertise needed to properly run clinical labs.   - However, there are also opportunities for collaboration between traditional clinical labs and tech companies. Clinica...

In this episode, co-host Stephanie Whitehead shares her insights on how feedback can be a powerful tool for employee growth and development. She explains the importance of feedback in understanding an individual's strengths, areas for improvement, and opportunities for learning and personal growth. Stephanie then provides tips on how to have casual conversations about career aspirations and skill-...

In this episode, co host Tywauna Wilson sits down with Eve Brunson from Qmedix. They discuss the value of additional degrees and certifications for medical laboratory professionals. They share insights on career pathways, the benefits of specialist certifications, and the importance of exploring opportunities beyond the traditional hospital laboratory. Eve also sheds light on the critical shortage...

Hosts: - Tywauna Wilson   - Stephanie Whitehead - Lona Small In this Roundtable episode, Tywauna Wilson, Lona Small and Stephanie Whitehead discuss strategies for identifying and dealing with difficult people in the workplace. They provide tips on managing emotions, maintaining composure, and having crucial conversations in challenging interpersonal situations.  Key Topics Characteristics of "diff...

  In this  episode of eLABorate Topics podcast Lona Small provides strategies for lab leaders to rediscover their passion and purpose. Lona shares a 7-step roadmap to help reignite the fire and drive change through purposeful leadership. 1. Uncover Your Calling: Identify your unique purpose and passion within the field of lab medicine. Find the niche that ignites your passion and allows you to mak...

In this episode, co-host Stephanie Whitehead chats with Life Coach and DEI Advocate, Cherie Hodge, to explore the importance of diversity in the clinical laboratory workplace and how it can positively impact productivity, creativity, and innovation. Cherie shares her tips on promoting acceptance and understanding in the workplace and encourages laboratory professionals to embrace and celebrate div...

Networking is often touted as an essential aspect of professional success, but is it really about who you know? Maybe not. In fact, it may be more crucial to consider who knows you. While having a wide network of connections can open doors, true leadership success lies in building meaningful relationships with individuals who are aware of your capabilities and potential. In this episode, co-host T...

A well-defined career ladder can provide employees with clear goals, opportunities for growth, and increased job satisfaction. In this episode, the co-hosts delve into the process of designing a career ladder framework for your laboratory.  Tune in as they discuss the key components to consider, such as defining job roles, establishing competency levels, and outlining promotion criteria.  Don't fo...

In this episode of the Elaborate Topics Podcast, Lona discuss how lab leaders can Level up their careers get seen, recognized and promoted. She discussed  1.   Importance of Demonstrating Impact: ·      Lab leaders often feel unrecognized for their work. ·      Demonstrating impact can help advance careers and open doors to new opportunities   2.    ROI methodology provides a framework for quantif...

In this episode, co-host Stephanie Whitehead chats with medical lab scientist and founder of Fancy-Free Hair & Skin, Iyonna Woods, MS, MLS(ASCP)SBB, to discuss her journey from working in the laboratory to starting her own hair and skin care line. As a lab scientist, Iyonna was driven to help others with their skin and hair care needs and decided to take her skills and knowledge to the next le...

On this episode of eLABorate Topics, Tywauna Wilson delves into the complex issue of office politics and how it affects laboratory teams. She discusses how different personalities, such as complainers, gossipers, and bullies, can affect lab morale and productivity. Tywauna offers tips for laboratory managers on how to handle these types of personalities and emphasizes the significance of cultivati...

Are you looking for strategies to develop and enhance your team's cohesion?  Tune in to the latest podcast episode and learn how to bring your team together and create a strong sense of unity.  Key Topics discussed include: The importance of communication, providing feedback, promoting team building activities, and creating a shared sense of purpose.  How to recognize and address any conflicts tha...

 In this episode of the Elaborate Topics Podcast, Lona Small interviews Unika Alexander, a medical lab scientist turned entrepreneur. Unika shares her journey from working in the lab to co-founding Proficient Lab, a SaaS platform coupled with consulting services for laboratory training, competency plans, and compliance management.  Unika is the co-founder and CEO at The Proficient Lab, a training...

For many labs, validating their own laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) is the best solution to provide innovative, niche laboratory results in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.   In this episode, Stephanie Whitehead had the privilege of interviewing Michelle Campbell, MS, MLS(ASCP) MB, SC - an accomplished laboratory diagnostic development scientist (and medical laboratory professional) wi...

On this episode of eLABorate Topics, host Tywauna Wilson shares practical tips for personal and professional growth that can help medical laboratory professionals excel in their careers. As a healthcare detective herself, Tywauna provides valuable insights for listeners, encouraging them to reflect on their current situation, rate past experiences, and set SMART goals. Additionally, she emphasizes...

Are you looking for answers to your burning questions about life, your career and everything in between?  In this episode, the eLABorate Topics co-hosts answer questions submitted by our fans on social media.  Tune in as they offer advice on how to successfully navigate your career path, how to increase your confidence, and tips to use this podcast to reach your career goals.  Join us and get insp...

In this episode Lona Small discussed ways lab leaders can use an innovative way to set career goals they would be excited to keep. Lona discussed the importance of setting end goals instead of means goals, in order to reach career objectives. Lona also discussed the 3 MIQ or 3 Most Important Questions made popular by Vishen Lakhani.  She also mentioned the use of Vivid Vision that was discussed in...

Nicole Colby MLS(ASCP)cm, SBBcm, SCcm is an accomplished laboratory professional who's passion for educating others has helped her make a lasting impact within the laboratory industry. In this enlightening episode, Stephanie Whitehead chats with Nicole about her laboratory journey and how she is using her current role at COLA to help advocate and educate the laboratory community. Overall, this epi...