The Off the Bench podcast series discusses scientific and not-so-scientific ideas in laboratory medicine. Join the ASCLS Off the Bench Facebook Group to continue the discussions and share your feedback. Let's share ideas and talk nerdy. 

In this Part 2 of First Lab Job Interviews, Sophia Chandrasekar, Galina Dronova, and Justin Hanenberg give tips and tricks on what to do during and after the interview, with story time—including an actual job interview answer that involves telling a man to take lingerie out of his pants!

Disclaimer: Based off of some feedback from First Lab Job Interviews Part 1, while the hosts may have used the terms, tech, lab tech, and med tech, what we meant to say was medical laboratory scientist. Moving forward, we will do our best to use more appropriate language to give recognition to our profession.

In this first of two podcasts, Galina, Justin, and Sophia talk about their first laboratory job interviews. The three hosts discuss some basic interview prep and tips, the need for perseverance through the first several interviews, the importance of trying to find a place that is a good fit for you, and how it all goes back to, "What do you want in your job?"

In this episode Kyle McCafferty, a medical laboratory scientist in Detroit, Michigan, speaks with Dr. Rodney E. Rohde, chair of the Texas State University Clinical Laboratory Science Program and Specialist in Virology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, about COVID-19, specifically monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and the medical laboratory profession.

This episode is available for one hour of P.A.C.E.^® credit. Visit Off the Bench Podcast: COVID19 Pandemic: Monoclonal Antibodies, Vaccines, and the Medical Laboratory Profession to participate in the self-study through Labucate.org and earn your credit. Free for ASCLS members ($10 for non-members).

For more instructions, read How to Obtain Podcast CE Credit.

In this episode, Galina Dronova talks with Dr. John McClure, a pathologist in Minneapolis, Minnesota, about Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), the lab testing necessary to identify AML, and where a medical technologist fits in the process.

This episode is available for one hour of P.A.C.E.^® credit. Visit Off the Bench Podcast: Acute Myeloid Leukemia Workup, Management, and Prognosis with Dr. John McClure to participate in the self-study through Labucate.org and earn your credit. Free for ASCLS members ($10 for non-members).

For more instructions, read How to Obtain Podcast CE Credit.

This special minisode of Off the Bench features hosts Sophia Chandrasekar, Galina Dronova, and Justin Hanenberg with ASCLS President Maddie Josephs. They discuss the past "crazy, awesome week for ASCLS" that included three new events: PRISM: Pride · Respect · Inclusion · Support · Momentum; the Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC²); and a Mid-Year House of Delegates Meeting.

One major driving force to viral spillover from wildlife to humans is human behavior. Join ASCLS Leadership Academy graduate Jasmine Pante, MT(ASCP), of Monterey County, California, and Dr. Tracey Goldstein, PhD, of One Health Institute Laboratory at University of California-Davis, as they discuss emerging zoonotic diseases on a global scale and the One Health approach to prevent future outbreaks.

This episode is available for one hour of P.A.C.E.^® credit. Visit Off the Bench Podcast: Understanding Emerging Zoonotic Diseases on a Global Scale with Dr. Tracey Goldstein to participate in the self-study through Labucate.org and earn your credit. Free for ASCLS members ($10 for non-members).

For more instructions, read How to Obtain Podcast CE Credit.

This episode focuses on the laboratory’s role in addressing gaps in healthcare quality for transgender patients. Romi Selzer, of Henry Ford Hospital Blood Bank in Detroit, interviews Dr. Gabrielle Winston-McPherson, associate director of chemistry, who oversees the core automation laboratory at Henry Ford Hospital.

Legislative awareness is important for laboratory professionals because what happens in legislation can affect our daily lives. Join ASCLS Leadership Academy graduates Billie Ketelsen, MLS(ASCP)^CMMB(ASCP)^CM, and Stephanie Noblit, JD, MLS(ASCP)^CM, as they discuss two legislative efforts currently impacting laboratories, PAMA and the Laboratory Workforce Shortage.

This episode is available for one hour of P.A.C.E.^® credit. Visit Off the Bench Podcast: Legislation Insights for the Laboratory with Stephanie Noblit to participate in the self-study through Labucate.org and earn your credit. Free for ASCLS members ($10 for non-members).

For more instructions, read How to Obtain Podcast CE Credit.

Episode Resources

View clips from the TV episodes discussed in this episode.

Carla's urine saga

• https://youtu.be/o_4wAnnLac8?t=153
• https://youtu.be/tyVrqQThqtU?t=27
• https://youtu.be/tyVrqQThqtU?t=205
• https://youtu.be/qwWwl3yua2Y?t=159

Gray's Anatomy bad blood scene

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0nOBpqY5LE 

General Hospital "Lab explosion"

• https://youtu.be/Abb7_5pKdoI 

Episode Resources

View the images and comments discussed in this episode.

• COVID-19 Meme
• Comment #1
• Coronavirus vs Exosomes
• Comment #2
• Image of COVID-19
• Comment #3