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Raw Talk PodcastAuthor: Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto
Raw Talk is a graduate student-run podcast at the University of Toronto about medical science, and the people who make it happen. We focus on the journeys, perspectives, and expertise of health researchers, professionals, students, patients, and community members at the University of Toronto and beyond. Our mission is to promote the research culture within the Institute of Medical Science, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and broader life sciences community; provide guidance to current and prospective graduate students; and to engage the public in medical science innovations and translational research. Language: en Genres: Life Sciences, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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#135 Part 1: Why Fertility Preservation Must Be a Health System Priority
Episode 135
Wednesday, 13 May, 2026
Deciding if and when to have children can be a major challenge and is even more difficult when facing the unrelenting pace of medical training. Long hours, rigid schedules, financial strain, and unspoken expectations often push family planning to the sidelines. In this episode, Sonika and Julia explore the realities of family planning and fertility preservation for medical trainees at different career stages. For an early career perspective, Sonika and Julia talk with Dr. Lauren Pickel, a first-year urology resident, who reflects on how little formal education she received around fertility and family planning while in medical school. She discusses how this education gap can significantly shape both personal and professional decisions. Looking at a later career medical professional, Sonika and Julia interview Dr. Niro Sivachandra, a retinal surgeon and clinician-scientist, who shares her experience regarding having children during residency, and how supportive leadership can help improve quality of life for many physicians and their families. Together, our guests unpack their hidden barriers, from fears about burdening colleagues to discouragement from following certain medical specialties. They emphasize the importance of workplace culture and policies which are supportive to both career and family development. Tune in for a frank and thought-provoking conversation about why family planning needs a place in medical education. Thank you to our production team: Sonika Kumari and Julia Wong (Show Hosts), Tesam Ahmed (Content Creator), Emily Forster (Science Writer), Angela Dela Cruz (Audio Editing), Saleena Zedan (Graphic design and Promotions), and Nicole Chu (Executive Producer). Thank you to the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto for the support in this episode production.
