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Join CSMLS for a virtual symposium featuring industry leaders from across the country!
We’ll broadcast expert-led sessions to you so you can earn continuing education hours from the comfort of your home or lab.
Wednesday July 22, 2026 1200 - 1600 (ET)
Session 1: Using AI in Virtual Simulation Development: The Value of Open Ended Questions for Learners, Tammy Hardie BA, MLT/RT, CAE
Session 2: From Conflict to Collaboration: Improving Communication and Promoting Wellbeing in Medical Laboratory Science, Rosina Mete, MSc, PhD, RP
Session 3: Designing Exam Questions That Measure Real Laboratory Competency, Lorna Zilic, MLT, CAE, ICE-CCP
All sessions will be recorded and made available to registrants.
Using AI in Virtual Simulation Development: The Value of Open Ended Questions for Learners
Learning Objectives:
Session Description:
We hear it over and over again--students need to develop better skills in the areas of communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving, if they are to function successfully as MLT's in today's demanding healthcare settings. We know this, and yet, as program numbers expand and class sizes grow, work-load capacities are stretched and faculty become more and more reliant on multiple choice evaluations and text-based answers.
Let's face it---there are no multiple choice questions, with a list of options to choose from when our learners are faced with real-world problems.
Graduates have to critically think their way through challenges, and find solutions to problems from the body of knowledge they have acquired during their studies, and resources they have on hand. They will have to *gasp*--talk to people! Wait what?! But I chose MLS because I like being in the lab and I don't want to talk to people.
Surprise!--you may have less direct patient contact than other healthcare professions--but good communication skills remain core to our work as MLTs.
So, how do we prepare our graduates for the challenges of the workplace? Let me show you how AI tools and Virtual Simulation can help prepare students to meet these competencies without adding a ton of work to your already full plate!
Speaker bio:
Tammy Hardie BA, MLT/RT, CAE is currently the Simulation Coordinator supporting Lab and Allied Health Programs in the School of Health at British Columbia Institute of Technology. She is a graduate of the Health Sciences Center/Red River College program in Winnipeg, Manitoba and received certification from the Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Sciences (CSMLS) in 1989. Since then, she has worked as a Medical Laboratory Technologist in a variety of disciplines. Her experience spans the gamut, small community centers, remote northern regional centres, major urban hospitals, and provincial reference laboratories. She has been an MLS educator for over 20 years.
Ms Hardie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (*with Distinction) in Canadian Literature and Native Studies from the University of Manitoba in 2005. In 2010 she completed her Certificate in Adult Education from Red River College.
Tammy left the prairies in 2012 to accept a teaching position at BCIT and in June of 2023 she was selected by her peers for her current role as the Simulation Coordinator. She has completed the DASH Rater Course from the Centre for Medical Simulation at Harvard and the Master Debriefer Course from the Debriefing Academy. She has contributed to the Virtu-WIL projects led by Simulation Canada and CiCAN, authoring a virtual Simulation for Chain of Custody and co-authoring another on Antibody Investigation. She is one of the early adopters of the Affinity platform. She has presented on a wide variety of topics related to Simulation Education at conferences, locally, nationally, and abroad. She maintains practice and relevancy by working locums whenever she can in BC's remote northern communities. She has a passion for lab work, education, and simulation—this new frontier is proving to be a great place to bring her penchant for creativity and her thirst for scientific knowledge together—and she couldn’t be happier to share what she’s learned, with you!
From Conflict to Collaboration: Improving Communication and Promoting Wellbeing in Medical Laboratory Education
Learning Objectives:
Session Description:
Educators in medical laboratory science support their students' learning and skill development through a variety of educational methods. Effective communication skills are important for any medical laboratory professional; however, educators and students may encounter miscommunication and conflict in the lab and in field placement settings that lead to challenges. This session aims to provide information on communication and interpersonal interactions for educators. Participants will also learn tangible strategies for de-escalating conflict within the educational setting. Finally, the session will highlight strategies to promote collaboration, healthy communication, and wellbeing.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Rosina Mete is the Director of Faculty Recruitment and Training in the Masters of Counselling Psychology program at Yorkville University. She has also worked as a registered psychotherapist for over ten years and specializes in supporting individuals with depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, and chronic illness. Dr. Mete is co-Vice-President of the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention (CASP) and the President of the Counsellor Educator and Supervisors Chapter of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). Her research interests and publications include mental health care, counsellor education and curriculum, leadership development, and technology in higher education.
Beyond Recall: Designing Exam Questions for Real Laboratory Practice
Learning Objectives:
Session Description:
This interactive workshop is designed for educators involved in developing or reviewing assessment items for MLA and MLT students. While many exam questions test knowledge recall, fewer effectively measure the reasoning and decision-making required in real laboratory practice.
Participants will explore a practical framework for moving from recall-based multiple-choice questions to application- and judgment-level items aligned with competency-based education. Using laboratory scenarios, participants will engage in live collaborative “fix the question” activities and discussions to improve consistency in question evaluations.
Speaker Bio:
With nearly 15 years at CSMLS, Lorna Zilic has played a key role in shaping national certification processes for medical laboratory professionals across Canada. Now serving as Member Engagement Manager, she brings deep expertise in credentialing, assessment, and professional standards.
A certified Medical Laboratory Technologist and a CAE® and ICE-CCP™ credential holder, Lorna also holds a Certificate of Mastery in Prior Learning Assessment from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. She is passionate about ensuring certification processes are fair, valid, and defensible—and that they truly reflect the realities of professional practice.