For nearly 20 years, general and acute care physician Dr Simon Quilty has witnessed up-close the poverty that inflicts indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. The conditions are exacerbated by systems failures and lack of health care. Despite the incredible challenges, there are opportunities. Dr Quilty commends the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons’ attempts to encourage surgeons to work in remote parts of the country. Dr Quilty has been instrumental with Purple House, an initiat...
Jun 20, 2023•15 min
When Dr Emilia Dauway decided to relocate to regional Queensland from Texas, she didn’t intend for it to be permanent. The 40-bed Queensland hospital she relocated to was a far cry from the 700-bed academic hospital in the US where she was Chief of Breast Surgery and Director of the Breast Cancer Program. Now, based permanently in Harvey Bay, Dr Dauway’s committed to raising funds and educating women in regional Queensland on breast cancer treatments, through ‘Restore More’ a non-profit she foun...
Jun 06, 2023•14 min
The Surgical Education & Training (SET) One-Year scholarship that Dr Jamie-Lee Rahiri received is an opportunity she says to help continue her passion to promote health equity among Indigenous people, particularly among the Maori and Pacifika community of Aotearoa New Zealand. That passion is exemplified by many things she’s done, including her PhD research, which focused on investigating equity in access to bariatric surgery for Māori, and also understanding how health benefits could be opt...
May 23, 2023•8 min
This month, we welcome the College’s new president, Associate Professor Kerin Fielding. Based in the New South Wales regional centre of Wagga Wagga since 1992, Assoc Prof Fielding has been a role model to younger surgeons working in rural areas. She was the first woman in New South Wales to become an orthaepedic surgeon, and only the third in Australia. She’s also an associate professor with the University of Notre Dame. Assoc Prof Fielding discusses what her priorities are, and what she hopes t...
May 09, 2023•19 min
Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) with formal postgraduate specialist qualifications in surgery who wish to work in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand can apply to RACS for an assessment of their qualifications and experience. Graeme Campbell, Clinical Director for SIMG Assessment & Support at RACS, explains the application process, which includes exams for some, supervised practice and face-to-face interviews. SIMG Overview https://www.surgeons.org/en/SIMGs/simg-overview Se...
Apr 26, 2023•16 min
The 2023 RACS Annual Scientific Congress will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on 1-5 May. There’s been a lot of work behind the scenes to prepare for what should be an exciting event, with a variety of topics and speakers. The theme this year is ‘Equity in Surgery’. Convener of the 2023 RACS ASC is Professor Amal Abou-Hamden, who discusses the event’s details in this episode. 2023 RACS 91st Annual Scientific Congress: https://asc.surgeons.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...
Apr 11, 2023•12 min
RACS’s Trauma Committee has been pivotal in helping prevent acute trauma in the community. That includes encouraging surgeons to pursue a trauma specialty. Instrumental to its success is Dr Li Hsee, who stepped down as Chair of the Aotearoa New Zealand Trauma Committee in late 2022, after eight years in the role. Among other leadership roles in trauma both at home and internationally, Dr Hsee’s responsible for the development and implementation of the first Acute Surgical Unit in Aotearoa New Ze...
Mar 28, 2023•9 min
Dr Mat Brick’s journey into the world of surgery wasn’t the most conventional. He studied at medical school, but shifted direction to focus on running and cycling. He is a two-time world champion duathlete and he’s represented Aotearoa New Zealand at the world championship level in cycling. That passion for sports and activity-related injury enticed him back to the medical fold as an orthopaedic surgeon. Today he’s one of just a handful of surgeons world-wide who have experienced thousands of hi...
Mar 14, 2023•18 min
WorldPride is the biggest event on the world’s LGBTQIA+ calendar. This year, it’s being hosted by Sydney – the first time WorldPride is held in the Southern hemisphere – coinciding with the iconic Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. This year, RACS is participating in WorldPride alongside several other medical colleges. The involvement has come about through the advocacy of a new LGBTQIA+ community, Pride in Medicine. Two key figures of the group are Dr Matt Marino, a surgical Fellow who is Pre...
Mar 01, 2023•18 min
Economically, it’s a tough time right now. Interest rates are rising, there are labour shortages, residential rents are up, house prices are down, almost everything is more expensive – all these issues are exacerbated by world events including the war in Ukraine. And that means cash flow is tight for everyone, including those in the medical profession. That’s according to Nick Fennessy, Director and Partner at the The Bongiorno Group. He joins Mark Bremner, the Bongiorno Group’s Senior Financial...
Feb 14, 2023•18 min
A new novel shines the light on excessive workloads faced by junior doctors and specialist trainees. The Registrar is written by debut author, Dr Neela Janakiramanan, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon specialising in hands and wrists. She tells the story through protagonist Emma Swann, a surgical registrar who not only is overwhelmed by a punishing schedule, she’s also confronted by bullying and harassment. To purchase a copy from Booktopia, please visit: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-regi...
Jan 31, 2023•11 min
An Australian-first study investigating fertility and pregnancy complications among Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand doctors discovered greater pregnancy complications than the general population. Dr Jasmina Kevric was one of three doctors who conducted the survey of 1099 doctors. She says training requirements have delayed family planning and subsequently increased age-related pregnancy complications. She discusses what measures can be taken to address these issues. Medical Mums and Mums to ...
Jan 17, 2023•11 min
In 2019, Norway’s capital of Oslo recorded just one death from a traffic accident. From a peak of 570 annual roads deaths in the 1970s nationwide, in recent years Norway’s toll has been reduced to just 80 deaths a year. Senior Advisor at the Norwegian Council for Road Safety Bard Johansen says its success has been a multi-faceted and integrated approach. It includes lower speed limits, safer vehicles, safer roads, better technology, stricter policing of those driving under the influence of alcoh...
Jan 03, 2023•19 min
Dr Samantha Pillay graduated from the University of Adelaide Medical School in 1992 to become the first female urological surgeon in South Australia. From a very early age a physical condition prevented Dr Pillay from being able to walk. But it’s made her all the more determined to pursue her dreams and to help others in need. Dr Pillay is the founder of Continence Matters, an online resource to educate the medical professional and the general public on bladder and continence issues. She’s also ...
Dec 20, 2022•17 min
Ben Bravery was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in his late 20s. That led to many months of treatment and much of his time in hospital wards and doctors’ clinics. He was confronted with over-worked and stressed medical staff and a health system which placed grades over patient bed-side manner. Once treated, he decided to enact change in the health system by becoming a doctor himself. He’s written a memoir about his experience, The Patient Doctor, where he shines a light on what needs to change ...
Dec 06, 2022•16 min
There comes a time in a surgeon’s career when they’ll start to think about obtaining their own medical practice. It’s a big decision, with a substantial financial outlay. There’s much to consider, including the location, the size of the space, and whether to obtain a room on their own or with others. Also important are the tax implications, structure considerations, and the option of buying rooms via a self-managed super fund. Simon Farmer, Managing Director of Walshs Financial Planning and Hugh...
Nov 22, 2022•14 min
Technology in surgery continues to evolve in leaps and bounds, particularly the advances of robotics. A little under 20 years ago, Professor Tony Costello performed the first radical prostatectomy using robotics in Australia. Since then, he has performed 2,500 robotic procedures and has trained dozens of international robotic surgeons at International Medical Robotics Academy (IMRA), an institution he founded and of which he is currently Executive Director and CEO. RACS has partnered with IMRA t...
Nov 08, 2022•16 min
The incidents of domestic violence resulting in trauma (injury) would probably shock a lot of people. In Australia, a report from the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare showed that more than 29,000 people had at least one hospital stay due to family and domestic violence in the seven years between 2010-11 and 2017-18. In fact, the leading cause of homicide in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand is domestic and family violence, mostly against women. Surgeons are very much on the frontlin...
Oct 25, 2022•10 min
Since 1996, the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) has worked closely with governments and communities to meet the health needs of people across the Pacific region. The PMA helps boost the workforce of Pasifika healthcare professionals and to increase the number of Pacific people in leadership roles. It also provides disaster support for Pacific countries, and helped with the COVID-19 response, both within Pacific countries and Pasifika communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. The current PMA presid...
Oct 11, 2022•14 min
First published in 1931, the ANZ Journal of Surgery is a prestigious publication serving the surgical community in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia It’s purpose? To publish articles that further the art and science of all of surgery. It’s the job of Professor Julian Smith, Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Editor in Chief of the ANZ Journal of Surgery, to painstakingly sort through and select the cream of the submissions crop. Professor Smith delves into the submission process and offers some tips fo...
Sep 28, 2022•22 min
In 2020, Dr Muecke was awarded Australian of the Year in recognition for his many decades of pioneering blindness prevention, particularly in South East Asia. He cofounded ‘Vision Myanmar’ and ‘Sight for All’, both initiatives to help prevent and treat blindness. These days, Dr Muecke is championing action to prevent Type 2 diabetes – a preventable disease and the leading cause of blindness in Australian adults. His profile is helping raise awareness of the role sugar and processed foods play in...
Sep 13, 2022•30 min
As a new Fellow, Dr Zainab Naseem was hoping to achieve a more comfortable work-life balance when she came across an advertisement for the New Fellow Rural Placement – or NFRP – on the College’s website. The NFRP is an initiative delivered by RACS through the Specialist Training Program, funded by the Australian Department of Health. Dr Naseem was at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital at the time when she applied for the rural placement at Griffith Base Hospital, in the Riverina region of centr...
Aug 31, 2022•14 min
One of the requirements for Surgical Trainees is the RACS Surgical Education and Training interview. If you’re a junior doctor who has yet to face your questioners, don’t fear! With the right preparation, it doesn’t have to be so daunting. Someone who has been through the process is Dr Teriana Maheno, a SET 3 Orthopaedic Trainee in Aotearoa New Zealand. She shares her insights on how the interviews are structured, how to prepare for them, and – importantly – how to manage those nerves on intervi...
Aug 16, 2022•17 min
Before the Australian federal election, the Coalition had legislated a number of changes to superannuation, which came into effect in July this year. What are those changes and what do you need to do to take advantage of tax concessions with your own super? For answers we turn to Michael Walsh, CEO of chartered accountants and financial advisors, Walshs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 02, 2022•10 min
Have you ever thought what it’s like to be married to another surgeon? Well, for married surgical couple Dr Sandra Krishnan and Dr Adrian Fernandez, it’s been a blessing, not only for each other (of course!) but also for the surgical work they do. Dr Sandra Krishnan is a senior breast and surgical oncologist in Sydney and Canberra. And Dr Adrian Fernandez is a general and colorectal surgeon based in the Far South Coast, NSW and Canberra. They reflect on their work, which can involve long and odd...
Jul 19, 2022•13 min
There comes a time when a medical student or junior doctor decides to proceed on the path of a surgical career. The first step is the process of surgical training, education, and assessment conduct by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Dr Joseph Xavier, General Surgery SET Registrar, SET 4 Trainee, and RACSTA Committee member explains the application process. He reflects on his own experience, including what he would have done differently if he’d had his time again. SET selection requir...
Jul 06, 2022•17 min
Despite decades of media campaigns, more work still needs to be done to raise the awareness and treatment of skin cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia – two countries with the highest rates of melanoma in the world. To help fight the disease, ten doctors have committed to reclaim their world record of rowing for 60 hours in Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital foyer from the 22nd to the 24th of June. Their ‘A Million Metres for Melanoma’ team set the world record in 2016, while raising...
Jun 20, 2022•7 min
An Australian-first study investigating fertility and pregnancy complications among Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand doctors discovered greater pregnancy complications than the general population. Dr Jasmina Kevric was one of three doctors who conducted the survey of 1099 doctors. She says training requirements have delayed family planning and subsequently increased age-related pregnancy complications. She discusses what measures can be taken to address these issues. Medical Mums and Mums to ...
Jun 07, 2022•11 min
Since 2010, the College has awarded the John Corboy Medal in recognition of exceptional service of surgical Trainees. The medal is named after Dr John Corboy, former Chair of RACS Trainee Association, who gave generously to his peers and who offered energetic service for surgery despite facing personal adversity. On the recommendation of the Trainee’s Association, the medal is awarded annually to a Trainee who demonstrates the characteristics for which Dr Corboy was admired. The award is made to...
May 24, 2022•8 min
In 2019, Norway’s capital of Oslo recorded just one death from a traffic accident. From a peak of 570 annual roads deaths in the 1970s nationwide, in recent years Norway’s toll has been reduced to just 80 deaths a year. Senior Advisor at the Norwegian Council for Road Safety Bard Johansen says its success has been a multi-faceted and integrated approach. It includes lower speed limits, safer vehicles, safer roads, better technology, stricter policing of those driving under the influence of alcoh...
May 10, 2022•19 min
