Dr. Robin's Inner Circle

Members Only Newsletter

A Note from Dr. Robin

Hi Reader,

My private practice was a safety net clinic, caring for patients who didn't otherwise have access to care. Many of my patients found me when things were truly serious and a friend or neighbor told them about my practice. One woman arrived looking so pale that the inside of her lower eyelids, where there should be healthy pink color, were almost white. She said she felt “just a little tired,” but something was clearly very wrong.

She had no insurance and refused to go to the emergency room, so I convinced her to at least let me draw blood and send it to the lab STAT (which means that it gets done right away). Hours later, around three in the morning, a medical laboratory scientist called me. My patient's blood counts were so low that she shouldn’t have been able to stand up, let alone go about her day.

I thanked the scientist, who said she hoped everything turned out okay, and called my patient right away. When my patient didn't answer, I feared the worst. Thankfully, she called me back few minutes later. She’d been in the shower, getting ready for her shift that started at 6 am. She got to the ER safely, where she was given a blood transfusion, admitted to the hospital, and diagnosed with cancer.

And here’s the part I love most: I attended her wedding two years later.

I will never forget how the skill, speed, and care of a medical laboratory scientist changed the entire story. They are the unseen heroes detecting the clues the rest of us depend on.

Dr. Robin

​

---

Roots & Suffixes: hema- / hemo- ​ Even doctors come across words they’ve never seen before. Learning roots and suffixes helps you guess smart—so unfamiliar words start to make more sense!

You’ll see it in words like: hematology — the study of blood hemoglobin — the protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen hemorrhage — bleeding ​ Whenever you see hema/hemo, think of your red blood cells or your bloodstream.

---

What I'm Reading

This week’s pick is Sunnyside Plaza by Scott Simon.

When residents in a group home begin passing away under mysterious circumstances, the residents become determined to uncover the truth. It’s a story about friendship, dignity, and recognizing the value of every person’s voice.

​

If your student enjoys gentle mysteries, character-driven stories, or books that are written from a different perspective, this is a wonderful, thoughtful read. ​ Get It On Amazon This is an affiliate link. You don't pay extra but you help support the school anytime you click one of our links before shopping!

​

---

Career Corner: Medical Laboratory Scientist

Medical laboratory scientists are the detectives of medicine. They analyze blood, tissue, and other samples to uncover the clues doctors need to diagnose and treat disease. ​ They work behind the scenes — but their discoveries are critical for nearly every major medical decision. ​ Download the Career Page ​ ​

Today's Career Question: ​ If you were a medical laboratory scientist, would you rather spend your day running tests with robots and machines or do tests that you have to run by hand like in a chemistry lab or using a microscope? Why? ​ Download the Coloring Page ​

---

​

Ask Dr. Robin!

Do you have a question about a lesson you're doing? You can write in and ask Dr. Robin!

Question:

What does it mean if someone’s hemoglobin is “low”?

​

Answer from Dr. Robin:

Hemoglobin is the protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen. When someone has low hemoglobin, it means they have anemia — but that doesn’t always mean they have fewer red blood cells.

Anemia is actually a whole group of conditions. A person can have anemia because:

• they don’t have enough red blood cells,
• their red blood cells are smaller than normal,
• or the cells don’t have enough hemoglobin inside them.

Each type of anemia affects oxygen delivery in a slightly different way, which is why lab testing is so important. Medical laboratory scientists help doctors figure out which kind of anemia someone has so the treatment actually helps.

​

P.S. Have a question from your lesson or something you’ve always wondered about medicine? Hit reply and ask me! Your question might be featured in a future Ask Dr. Robin.

​

That's all for this week! Happy Learning!

​

​

Questions? Get one-on-one assistance from Nurse Jill Cooper. Reply to this email, schedule office hours with Jill, or text or call 720-257-9030. Business hours are 9-5 M-F MST, closed for school holidays.