Episode 5 - Wellbeing, histopathology and microbiology with Dr Jo Horne & Cherie Beckett

How can biomedical scientists manage worry, anxiety and stress and boost mental wellbeing in the midst of the pandemic? What mental health support has been put in place and how do we ensure these services are maintained and expanded post-pandemic? Dr Jo Horne is a consultant Biomedical Scientist in Gastrointestinal & Hepatobiliary Histopathology at University Hospital Southampton Trust. She has been helping colleagues cope with the pressures that the pandemic has put on their mental health. Jo discusses the issues biomedical scientists have faced during COVID-19, her role alongside her main work as a ‘safe space practitioner' delivering psychological first aid and if the increased emphasis on supporting mental wellbeing during Covid-19 will lead to permanent change post-pandemic. Jo also chats about her scientific work, talking us through the dissection and reporting process in Histopathology and answers a question about encouraging women into STEM in light of International Women’s Day on the 8th March and faces our quick-fire round. In LabLife, we caught up with Cherie Beckett, Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology. She chatted to us about her work outside the lab hosting the IBMS Twitter chat and volunteering to show a child who has leukaemia around her laboratory for the charity Harvey’s Gang. Also features IBMS news – a roundup of all the latest developments from the IBMS. Presented by IBMS Communications officer Ella Fornari. Show Notes: Episode Outline: 0:15 – IBMS News 2:25 – Interview with Jo Horne 2:25 - Section 1: Working in Histopathology - including what is gastrointestinal pathology and why is it so important; what samples are dissected and how; what are the most unusual samples processed and what research does she do. 10:56 – Section 2: Health and Well-being in the pandemic including Jo’s personal journey throughout Covid, her role as safe-space practitioner, issues arising, systemic change post-pandemic and positive things to come out of the pandemic. 24:17 – Section 3: How can we encourage