Scroll down to watch any of the recorded CROSH COVID Conversation webinars.
October 1
Theme: Screening and Tracking for Workplaces
Panelists: Dr. Katie Goggins and Patrick J. Trottier
Dr. Katie Goggins is a Postdoctoral Researcher at CROSH and is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at Laurentian University. Her research interests focus on the role of biomechanics, human factors, and ergonomics on industrial health and safety and occupational disease.
Dr. Goggins will generally discuss COVID-19 workplace entrance screening, and more specifically the temperature measurement aspect of the screening process.
Patrick J. Trottier is a 4th year Computer Science student at Laurentian University and a student member of CROSH.
Patrick will be discussing the technology behind COVID-19 tracking and how it applies to the workplace.
October 8
Theme: Managing the Flow in the Workplace
Panelists: Judit Nelson and Dr. Thomas Merritt
Judit Nelson is an Industrial Hygiene Specialist at Workplace Safety North. She specializes in dust and other airborne hazard controls in industrial establishments. Prior to this, Judit contributed significantly to a large project on dust control and mitigation measures. Judit has extensive experience in industrial and confined space ventilation which assists in her goal to improve environment conditions in the workplace.
Judit will be discussing COVID-19 transmission via aerosol and ventilation controls we can consider in order to reduce the risk of transmission.
Dr. Thomas Merritt is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Laurentian University. Dr. Merritt’s research combines bioinformatics, functional genomics, and experimentation to explore the connection between genetic diversity and biological complexity.
Dr. Merritt will talk about using direct genome sequencing to identify SARS-CoV2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, in municipal waste water.
October 15
Theme: Breaking the Chain of Infection in the Workplace
Panelists: Dr. Sandra Dorman and Eyad Kinkar
Eyad Kinkar is a PhD Candidate in Biomolecular Science at Laurentian University. Eyad has masters degrees in laboratory medicine and in cellular and molecular microbiology. His research interests focus on studying and understanding various aspects of microbial-human and microbial-environmental interactions. Eyad uses bioinformatic tools and bio-molecular techniques to address different questions related to a number of bacterial secreted toxins and their secretory pathways.
Eyad will discuss the use of disinfectants and their role in helping break the chain of infection. He’ll cover what disinfectants do and how they should be used.
Dr. Sandra Dorman is a Full Professor in the Faculty of Health at Laurentian University and the Director of the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH). Her expertise is in respiratory physiology and immunology, and her research program focuses on health promotion and disease prevention in the occupational setting. She has a track record for successfully addressing workplace-identified problems and communicating information back to the host organization. She has authored over 25 papers and received over $5 million in research funding.
Dr. Dorman will talk about masks and shields connect to the chain of infection – how they work, what their differences are, and what works best for prevention.
October 22
Topic: Crisis and Opportunity in the Workplace
Panelists: Dr. Diana Coholic and Dr. Ann Pegoraro
Dr. Diana Coholic, RSW is a clinical social worker with a small private practice, and Full Professor in the School of Social Work at Laurentian University. Since 2005, her research program has focused on studying the benefits of an arts-based mindfulness group intervention for developing resilience. Her publications include the book: Mindfulness: A Guide for Human Service Professionals. More information can be found at: https://www.dianacoholic.com
Crisis can create opportunities for change if we are able to rebound and grow. The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has brought to many people’s awareness the need for change in many of our micro and macro systems ranging from individual beliefs and behaviours to global systems and mechanisms. Dr. Coholic’s presentation will focus on individual capacities and strategies that can strengthen our abilities to cope and adjust to today’s challenging realities.
Dr. Ann Pegoraro is the Lang Chair in Sport Management currently holds an appointment as a Full Professor in the School of Hospitality, Food, and Tourism, all at the University of Guelph. Dr. Pegoraro is also the co-Director of the National Network for Research on Gender Equity in Canadian Sport. Dr. Pegoraro will be discussing “Crisis as Opportunity: What we have learned from past crises and how to use it during the current pandemic”.
October 29
Theme: Mechanisms of COVID-19 and Why Vaccination Matters
Panelist: Dr. Sandra Dorman
Dr. Sandra Dorman is a Full Professor in the Faculty of Health at Laurentian University and the Director of the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH). Her expertise is in respiratory physiology and immunology, and her research program focuses on health promotion and disease prevention in the occupational setting. She has a track record for successfully addressing workplace-identified problems and communicating information back to the host organization. She has authored over 25 papers and received over $5 million in research funding.
Dr. Dorman will give an overview of how we think the coronavirus is infecting people, highlighting the spike protein and how vaccines are targeting this to prevent infection.
Dr. Caitlin Mullarkey is currently an Assistant Professor and Associate Chair of Undergraduate Education in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University. For many years her research focused on novel universal influenza vaccine approaches, and more recently she has become immersed in the scholarship of teaching and learning with a specific emphasis on exploring advanced methods of delivering learning content. With extensive training and expertise in infectious disease and vaccine development, she teaches virology, cell biology, biochemistry, immunology, and advanced laboratory techniques to undergraduates at all levels.
