Episode 25: Tackling Health Disparities: A Call to Action for Laboratory Professionals(featuring Dr. Kyle Riding)

We are excited to bring you another insightful episode!

Where do laboratory medicine and health equity intersect? In today's episode, co-host Stephanie Whitehead sat down with Kyle Riding to take a deep dive into the pressing issue of health disparities, especially within laboratory diagnostics.

Whether you're a seasoned lab professional or just beginning your journey, this episode uncovers critical insights you won't want to miss.

Here’s a glimpse of what we cover:

**Impact of Health Literacy on Families**: Understand how lack of health literacy can lead to crushing debt due to laboratory diagnostics and what can be done to improve this scenario.

**Urban vs. Rural Health Disparities**: Explore the significant differences in health outcomes like mortality rates from heart disease and diabetes complications between urban and rural communities.

**Roles of Laboratory Professionals**: Discover the vital role that all levels of lab professionals, from phlebotomists to pathologists, play in addressing health disparities.

**Advocacy and Education**: Learn why educators must emphasize advocacy and the importance of students being vocal about their concerns, plus the potential impact of societal involvement.

**Continuing Education and Evolving Roles**: Kyle and Stephanie discuss the valuable content available for continuing education in health equity and stress the importance of laboratory professionals stepping outside their traditional roles to advocate for change.

Special Guest Bio:

Dr. Kyle Riding is the incoming MLS Program Director and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of New Hampshire. He holds a bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science and a PhD in Public Health. He has a passion for topics that relate to patient safety, health equity, and the impact of access to laboratory services on community health. He works with non-profit organizations like Diverse Health Hub to enhance health literacy.

Connect with Kyle B Riding:

X (Twitter): @KRidingMLS

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-riding-phd-mls-ascp-b4211511/

Connect with Stephanie Whitehead Click on the link to connect with Stephanie for more on this and other leadership and personal development topics.

Don't forget to follow us on social media, share your experiences, and submit any questions or topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes!