In this episode of the “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by colleagues Wendy Daigle and Ellen Dijkman Dulkes to discuss National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week and share ideas for celebrating across the organization.

• National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week background (00:25): A brief history and overview of the annual celebration honoring laboratory professionals.
• Celebrating in the lab (01:22): Tried-and-true traditions and creative activities the team has seen during Lab Week throughout their careers.
• Taking the message beyond the lab (08:52): Ideas for using Lab Week to highlight the impact of laboratory professionals in healthcare.
• Reaching off-site staff (11:52): Insights on engaging and celebrating staff who work outside the main laboratory.
• Educational opportunities (13:32): Thoughts on incorporating learning and professional development into Lab Week activities.
• Rapid fire question (17:14): The team shares what makes careers in laboratory medicine rewarding.

Get guidance for planning your Lab Week in “Plan a meaningful Lab Week with the three E’s,” an article from Dijkman Dulkes.

In this episode of the “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by colleagues Wendy Daigle and Ellen Dijkman Dulkes to explore the diverse roles and responsibilities of outreach leaders. Together, they share insights based on their own experiences and the work they do with clients.

• Common responsibilities (01:02): An overview of core duties that outreach leaders manage across programs of varying size and maturity.
• Ideal job description (12:07): A discussion of what the team believes should be included in a well-designed outreach leadership role.
• Time distribution (21:36): How outreach leaders balance their time across responsibilities, stakeholders, and organizational needs.
• Leadership highlights (23:02): Reflections on the most rewarding aspects of leading and supporting a successful outreach program.

In this episode of the “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by colleagues Wendy Daigle and Ellen Dijkman Dulkes to discuss identifying meaningful goals for a laboratory outreach program and taking steps to achieve them. Key topics include:

• Internal influences (01:32): The importance of considering your organization’s and department’s broader goals when defining your own.
• Measurement (06:20): Using metrics and data to understand your current state and track progress.
• Ambition level (10:10): Determining the right balance between bold, aspirational goals and more attainable ones.
• Prioritization (13:00): Factors to consider when prioritizing goals.
• Planning for success (14:30): How to create a plan that helps you make meaningful progress.