This week, we get the opportunity to hear from David Jewell, a communications professor in the Bachelors of Health Sciences (Honours) Program at McMaster University. In this podcast, David provides us with insight into his dynamic and diverse healthcare career journey which involve both clinical and outpatient care settings. As an experienced counsellor and communications professor, he also highlights and discusses communication skills and strategies, applicable to both healthcare settings and day-today conversations. Make sure to tune in!

This week our team had the privilege to sit down with Hartley Jaffine, a respected professor here at McMaster. The conversation revolves around exploring the nuances between the collaboration of medicine/science with the arts. Specifically, the implementation of improv and theater skills to coach medical students, residents, and doctors to increase clinical competency. For instance, using the “yes, and” method from improv to help develop the routine of exploring an idea rather than relying on biases and heuristics.

In this week’s podcast, we have the chance to talk to Dr. Ruth Cusack, a physician and research fellow currently working in the cardio-respiratory field. Dr. Cusack is natively from Ireland where she received her medical degree, and it was during her medical education that she found an interest in researching treatments for respiratory diseases. Coming to Canada, she has focused on elucidating the mechanisms behind major airway diseases such as COPD and asthma and she has been a part of clinical studies looking into atopic dermatitis. Dr. Cusack talks to us about how physicians are constantly involved in different forms of research whether that be in actual clinical studies or in their day to day work. She also discusses how her clinical research skills transfer over to her role as a physician and vice versa. Take a listen to also hear her advice for students pursuing a future career in healthcare. For instance, she explains the importance of having an open mind and not limiting oneself as there are many areas in the field where your passions may lie.

For our very first podcast, our team sits down with Alex and Glynis—two staff members from one of Hamilton’s long-term care homes, Idlewyd Manor. This conservation reveals notable insights regarding the importance of volunteers for these institutions, a few of the experiences volunteers may have, as well as some of the valuable skills volunteers will be able to develop. We discuss how high school and undergraduate students can get involved with this type of work and really make a difference.