Raw Talk Podcast

Passports and Procedures: Receiving and Providing Care Abroad features Adele Kulyk, CEO of Global Healthcare Connections. She explains reasons Canadians leave for care abroad and the types of procedures accessed. The podcast also discusses medical voluntourism with Dr. Noelle Sullivan and Dr. Jessica Evert, highlighting their concerns and insights on providing care abroad. It explores the benefits and risks of medical travel, ethical considerations, and the importance of mutual empowerment in global health engagement.

About 90% of Canadians say they support organ and tissue donation but less than 20% have made plans to donate. To tackle this discrepancy, Nova Scotia is set to become the first province in the country to have presumed consent for organ and tissue donation beginning in 2021. In this episode of Raw Talk, we speak to Jed Gross about the opt-in/opt-out systems, the ethical dilemmas of organ allocation and more. Next, we hear from Myles Lynch and Maariyah Rahman, who are alive today because of the organ donations they have received. We also had the opportunity to speak with Jillian Lynch, Myles' sister, who has been a huge advocate for organ donation, and a caregiver to her brother. Dr. Shafique Keshavjee, the Surgeon-in-Chief at University Health Network, discusses the science of organ transplant and cutting edge research that is causing the field to evolve very quickly, improving the life expectancy for many people like Myles who needed new lungs, and Maariyah who found out her heart suddenly began to fail when she was only 20 years old. Finally Dr. Istvan Mucsi, speaks to us about the important role of ethnicity, culture and religion in organ donation. We hope this episode exposes the remarkable feats and challenging realities of organ donation and transplantation today. Written by: Claire Mazzia The Organ Project Organ and Tissue Donation Canada Organ and Tissue Donation Ontario - Register to be a donor Trillium Gift of Life

On April 12, 1980, 22-year old Terry Fox dipped his toe into the icy Atlantic Ocean outside St John's, Newfoundland before setting out on one of the most inspiring athletic feats the world has ever seen. 40 years later, adaptive athletes continue to inspire movement and movements across the world. In this episode of Raw Talk Podcast, we explore lower-limb amputation, the phenomenon of phantom limb, and modern prosthetics. First, we sat down with Aristotle Domingo, an adaptive athlete, bilateral amputee, actor, motivational speaker, and founder of the Amputee Coalition of Toronto. Aristotle shared with us his amputation journey, from the difficult decision to have the surgery, to his ongoing work building and supporting the amputee community here in the GTA. Next, Dr. Amanda Mayo, a physiatrist with St. John's Rehab at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, explained the common reasons for amputation and considerations for surgical planning. Dr. Mayo also described the funding challenges experienced by amputees in Canada seeking to make the most of modern prosthetic technologies. Finally, Dr. Jan Andrysek, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at U of T and developer of the All-Terrain Knee, described the technical challenges in lower-limb prosthesis design, particularly to meet the rough-and-tumble needs of children. Dr. Andrysek also outlined his vision for the the future of prosthetics - it might not be what you'd think. Until next time, #keepitraw! Written by: Jesse Knight Aristotle Domingo Amputee Coalition of Toronto The AmpuTO Show Podcast Dr. Amanda Mayo Dr. Jan Andrysek's PROPEL Lab Legworks and the All Terrain Knee

Memory is essential for forming individual identity, as well as the process of learning. Yet, memory is not without its faults. In this episode of Raw Talk Podcast, we try to understand what memory is, the processes that affect the quality of our memories and the implications of faulty memory on the validity of eyewitness testimonies in the legal system. First we hear from Joey DeGrandis who shares his unique ability to recall specific details of autobiographical events. This rare memory phenomenon, known as Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM), provides an opportunity to investigate the brain systems underlying enhanced memory and conversely memory loss. We then hear from Dr. Amy Finn, an assistant professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto, and the principal investigator of the Learning and Neural Development Lab. Dr. Finn discusses memory formation and how the brain and cognitive development constrains and enables learning, using examples, such as the famous case of patient H.M. To better understand the 'faults in our memory', Dr. Daniel Schacter, a Harvard University Professor, discusses his work on how memory's malfunctions may be classified into seven fundamental transgressions or "sins" and describes the seven sins of memory errors. Finally, we hear from Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, who shares her experience on how memory may be manipulated and modified by messages, ideas, suggestions and other post-event information. Dr. Loftus' memory research has had significant applications to the legal field, given its reliance on memory. Join us as we put our own memories to the test and learn more about how we remember….and forget, on this week's episode of Raw Talk. Written by: Stephanie Nishi Raw Talk Podcast Friendraiser Joey DeGrandis, Time Magazine Article, 2017 Finn LAND Lab Dr. Daniel Schacter Dr. Elizabeth Loftus UCI Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory Book "The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers" by Dr. Daniel Schacter Book "Patient H.M.: A Story of Memory, Madness, and Family Secrets" by Luke Dittrich

2020 has been a strange, unpredictable and challenging year, as the coronavirus has impacted our lives in countless ways. Here at Raw Talk, we found ourselves struggling to keep up with COVID-19 research and understand the impacts of the pandemic on our society. So, instead of our usual live event this year, we created COVIDecoded: a weekly YouTube live stream of discussions with experts on all things COVID, to help understand the emerging science and social shifts. In this episode, the hosts from the series came together (distanced and wearing masks, of course) to discuss what we learned from the series, key themes that emerged, and our personal reflections on living through the pandemic. We review the current state of testing in Canada, discuss the social determinants of COVID-19 risk and the importance of gathering race-based data, and reflect on the lessons we can learn going forward. We hope the episode, and the full discussions below, can help you make sense of the diverse and complex interactions between our world and the virus, or in other words, the "New Normal". Written by: Claire Mazzia U of T Alumni Offers from our sponsors TD Insurance & MBNA Raw Talk Podcast Friendraiser Raw Talk Podcast Code of Conduct Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Italian cats and dogs Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the Spanish population COVIDecoded Series: Episode 1 - Coronaviruses 101 Episode 2 - Epidemiology and Modeling Episode 3 - Psychological Impact Episode 4 - Public Health and Policy Episode 5 - Intersections with Climate Change Episode 6 - Putting It to the test Episode 7 - Health Equity Episode 8 - Immunity in Canada

Your favourite medical science podcast is making the most of ‘the new normal’ - this year’s Raw Talk Live event was broadcast entirely on YouTube! Over 8 weeks, we spoke to researchers all across Canada about all things COVID-19. Our 8th and final instalment focuses on immunity and SARS-CoV2. Controlling this novel pathogen will no doubt require immune systems to adapt, and supporting those changes will demand a significant shift in societal attitudes and policies. What does it mean to be an asymptomatic carrier? What is herd immunity? What might a vaccination strategy look like? Join our discussion to learn all this, and more! Dr. David Naylor is a physician, biomedical researcher and former President of the University of Toronto, who most recently served as the Interim President and CEO of the SickKids Hospital prior to the appointment of the current administration. Having chaired Canada’s National Advisory Committee on SARS and Public Health back in 2003, Dr. Naylor is more than well-equipped to Co-Chair the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, develop discourse on public health and safety, and help lead Canada into the ‘next normal’. Guest - Dr David Naylor Additional insights on COVID-19 and the Immune Response Watch this stream on YouTube U of T Alumni Offers from our sponsors TD Insurance & MBNA COVID Decoded Feedback survey

Your favourite medical science podcast is making the most of ‘the new normal’ - this year’s Raw Talk Live event was broadcast entirely on YouTube! Over 8 weeks, we spoke to researchers all across Canada about all things COVID-19. Our 7th instalment focuses on health equity – the historical context and impact of longstanding systemic inequities; how the pandemic has highlighted existing inequities for racialized, marginalized, and underrepresented groups; the importance of race-based and socioeconomic data; how they can inform an equitable public health response; and how we can ensure sustainable health and societal changes moving forward. Dr. Roberta K. Timothy is an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream, and is the new Director of Health Promotion at Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Specializing in the areas of intersectionality and ethics in health work; health and race; transnational Indigenous health; and anti-oppression/anti-colonial approaches to mental health. Dr. Timothy has worked for over 30 years in community health working on resisting anti-Black racism and intersectional violence strategies. Dr. Timothy is also co-founder and consultant at Continuing Healing Consultants where she implements and teaches her intersectional mental health model "Anti-Oppression Psychotherapy". She is an interdisciplinary scholar, health practitioner, and political scientist who examines global health and ethics from a critical trauma-informed decolonizing framework. Dr. Ceinwen Pope is a new family physician and current medical resident at the University of Toronto's Public Health and Preventive Medicine residency program. Her interest in health equity and population health led her to pursue an undergraduate degree specializing in Global Health at McMaster University, followed by a medical degree at the University of Ottawa. In the fall, she will begin a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at the Dalla School of Public Health as part of her ongoing medical training. Her recent work has involved looking at equity-informed public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guest - Dr Roberta K Timothy Guest - Dr Ceinwen Pope Watch this stream on YouTube U of T Alumni Offers from our sponsors TD Insurance & MBNA COVID Decoded Feedback survey

Your favourite medical science podcast is making the most of ‘the new normal’ - this year’s Raw Talk Live event was broadcast entirely on YouTube! Over 8 weeks, we spoke to researchers all across Canada about all things COVID-19. Our 6th instalment focuses on COVID-19 testing – what the tests tell us and how they work, how testing has changed the course of the pandemic, and what we can expect from them in terms of epidemiological surveillance and recovery as we move forward. Dr. Adeli is a senior scientist and clinical biochemist with over 30 years of experience in clinical chemistry service, education, and research. He is currently the Head of Clinical Biochemistry at the Hospital for Sick Children and Full Professor in the Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Biochemistry, and Physiology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Adeli also serves as the President of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) and the current Editor-in-Chief of Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Mary Kathryn Bohn is a PhD candidate in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry at McMaster University in 2018 and is now a trainee with the Canadian Laboratory Initiative on Paediatric Reference Intervals (CALIPER) under the supervision of Dr. Khosrow Adeli at The Hospital for Sick Children. Guest - Dr Khosrow Adeli Guest - Mary Kathryn Bohn Watch this stream on YouTube U of T Alumni Offers from our sponsors TD Insurance & MBNA COVID Decoded Feedback survey

Your favourite medical science podcast is making the most of ‘the new normal’ - this year’s Raw Talk Live event was broadcast entirely on YouTube! Over 8 weeks, we spoke to researchers all across Canada about all things COVID-19. Our 5th instalment focuses on the connections between the COVID-19 pandemic and Climate Change: similarities on both personal and structural levels, key differences, and lessons we can learn from each crisis for the other. We are grateful to be joined by two experts working at the intersections of health and environment: Chúk Odenigbo is Director of Ancestral Services at Future Ancestor Services and a PhD student at The University of Ottawa in Medical Geography. Proudly Franco-Albertan, Chúk is passionate about the interactions between culture, health and the environment. As a former ambassador for the outdoors with MEC, and alumni of the first Ocean Bridge cohort, Chúk was ranked among the top 25 environmentalists under 25 in Canada by the starfish for three years. Gideon Forman is a Climate Change Policy Analyst with the David Suzuki Foundation working to promote renewable energy projects and the expansion of active and public transportation. For over a decade he was Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, leading campaigns against lawn pesticides and coal-fired power. In recognition for his environmental work, Gideon was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal in 2013. Guest - Chúk Odenigbo Guest - Gideon Forman Watch this stream on YouTube U of T Alumni Offers from our sponsors TD Insurance & MBNA COVID Decoded Feedback survey

Your favourite medical science podcast is making the most of ‘the new normal’ - this year’s Raw Talk Live event was broadcast entirely on YouTube! Over 8 weeks, we spoke to researchers all across Canada about all things COVID-19. Our fourth instalment features public health experts Dr. Jeff Kwong and Professor Vivek Goel in a discussion on the public health response to COVID-19 in Canada and Ontario. We also explore the role of public health interventions and the future of the COVID-19 public health response. Dr. Jeff Kwong is an epidemiologist, a specialist in public health and preventive medicine, and a family physician. He is the Program Leader of the Populations and Public Health Program at IC/ES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences), a Scientist at Public Health Ontario, a Professor at the University of Toronto, and the Interim Director of the University of Toronto’s Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases. He has conducted a range of studies related to the epidemiology of influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Professor Vivek Goel is a member of the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force and the Governing Council for CanCOVID, the national research platform for COVID-19 research. He is also Special Advisor to the President and Provost at the University of Toronto and a Professor in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. He has previously served as the University’s Vice-Provost, Faculty and was subsequently Vice President and Provost from 2004 until 2008. He was a founding scientist at IC/ES, where he continues as an Adjunct Senior Scientist. He served as founding President and CEO of Public Health Ontario from 2008 until 2014, before returning to the University as Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives from 2015-2020. Guest - Dr Vivek Goel Guest - Dr Jeff Kwong Dealing with COVID-19: A Balanced Response Letter Watch this stream on YouTube U of T Alumni Offers from our sponsors TD Insurance & MBNA COVID Decoded Feedback survey