I catch up with Professor Tim Cook, of the UK National Audit Projects live at the Australian Society of Anaesthetists' National Scientific Congress (NSC). We discuss his incredible work, his ideas of success and what risk in anaesthesia mean to him.

I also flag a special deal that we are hoping will be ready in time for the end of the year or early 2026.

Professor Cook's talk from the NSC is available to be viewed on demand. If you haven't already registered, you can do so here: https://asansc.com.au/registration/

3 other episodes to listen to:

Ep54: webAIRS with Prof Martin Culwick

https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/5940c2ae-2f7a-4174-ad3a-869ac46ccc64/ASA-2054.mp3

Ep79: webAIRS: jaw dislocation

https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/cf949d95-0e23-4fc7-bded-e54dabe7c75d/EP79v2-jaw-dislocation-AAP.mp3

Ep111: The GLP-1 Revolution: What it Means for Anaesthesia with Dr Doug Hacking

https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/51599ae1-81b6-4510-a1a2-af643b8a0d4b.mp3

Want to access more resources? Become an ASA member: https://asa.org.au/types-of-membership/how-to-join/

We welcome any feedback. 

[email protected]

In this episode:

• The last of my thought bubble talks on how to introduce yourself with confidence and clarity
• Some tips on balancing an academic research career and clinical medicine
• Changing from one medical specialty (e.g. paediatrics) to another (e.g anaesthesia)

I'm chatting with Dr Doug Hacking, paediatrician, anaesthetist, researcher. We are discussing GLP-1 receptor agonists and what they mean for anaesthesia. This is based on his editorial in the September 2025 edition of the scientific journal, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care.

ASA Members! Are you interested in learning more about gastric POCUS? At the end of the podcast I share with you an exclusive offer that will save you hundreds of dollars.

Link to Prof Dariush Mozaffarian podcast on the health harms of unprocessed foods and ralated policies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaiGzkKIgbc

The exclusive ASA gastric POCUS offer: https://www.asahq.org/education-and-career/educational-and-cme-offerings/gastric-pocus

Become an ASA member to access these resources and more: https://asa.org.au/types-of-membership/how-to-join/

We welcome any feedback: [email protected]

In this episode I hand the mic over to Dr Tom Neal-Williams, an anaesthetic trainee and hard working member of the ASA Communications Committee to be a guest host on the podcast. He is talking with Professor Ed Mariano, regional anaesthesia guru, researcher, leader and educator and gaining tips on how he navigates his career.

I also share some thoughts on vocal fry.

This episode was recorded live at the ASA's National Scientific Congress in Canberra.

If you want to watch Professor Mariano's talks from the Congress (and I suggest you do), you can register for access here: https://asansc.com.au/registration/

Join the ASA to have access to more great educational content: https://asa.org.au/types-of-membership/how-to-join/

We welcome any feedback. Email us ! [email protected]

An oldie but a goodie - literally!

I'm chatting with Dr Bob Hare, President of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) from 1980-82. and the earliest surviving President of the ASA. We also recorded this conversation a few years ago, prior to the ASA turning 90.

We compare various anaesthetic techniques and innovations, from ether masks to glass cannulas that have occurred across the generations. Dr. Hare shares invaluable insights about the fight to elevate the status of anaesthetists in Australia, the importance of the preoperative consultation, and advances in postoperative pain management., We also dive into the changes in our role as anaesthetists as well as some of the important work he and the ASA has done to raise the status of anaesthetists here in Australia. 

I also share some thoughts on how to introduce yourself, or more particularly, how to say your name (you'd be surprised how often I hear people don't do it well).

Some other episodes of interest:

Ep90. Our special 90th birthday episode. https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/7eec4b11-e5d5-484b-b396-ab2e701e8318/EP90-Happy-90th-birthday-AAP-V2-converted.mp3

Ep85 and Ep86. Conversations with ASA Past President Dr Don Maxwell

https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/b94ca3a2-cbc9-407c-a29b-a579ac16c34d/EP85-Dr-Don-Maxwell-Part-1-AAP-converted.mp3

https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/5325f0ca-7402-4092-bc0b-0ae8c08c27a7/EP86-Dr-Don-Maxwell-Part-2-AAP-V1-converted.mp3

Join the ASA in advancing anaesthesia excellence https://asa.org.au/

As always, I welcome feedback and ideas: [email protected]

I had a conversation with A/Prof Magdalena Simonis about her approach, as a General Practitioner, to preventative healthcare and it blew my mind. It's changed my attitude, and I hope, by sharing this conversation that you too are motivated to see your GP and engage in preventative health.

Dr Magdalena Simonis is a leading women’s health expert and advisor and a Senior Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne Department of General Practice, where she develops education resources for GPs. She is a long-standing member of the Expert Committee for Quality Care for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Breast Cancer Network Australia Strategy and Policy Expert Advisory Group. She sits on the Women’s Health Victoria Board and is a Board Director at The Melbourne Teaching Health Clinics (MTHC) at the University of Melbourne . She is on several National Expert Advisory Groups, a Board member, GP, medical educator and examiner.

As promised, here is the link to order a poo test: https://www.cancer.org.au/bowelscreening

Let me know what you thought about my discussion of Chris Voss' "Late night FM DJ voice". Does it convey a sense of calm authority?

[email protected]

In this episode I chat with Dr Alison Jarman, a Melbourne based anaesthetist who has temporarily located to Dili, Timor-Leste on an ASA Pacific Fellowship.

We chat about life and anaesthesia in Timor-Leste and patiently navigating challenges and opportunities.

Dr Jarman has been able to undertake this Fellowship with thanks to Sabbatical Leave from Austin Health (with acknowledgement to the Australian Medical Association for these and other leave entitlements) and the Australian Society of Anaesthetists Overseas Development and Education Committee (ODEC).

To find out more about ODEC, please visit: https://asa.org.au/overseas-development-and-education-committee

Looking for similar episodes? Then I suggest:

Ep105 on another project, led by Dr Pip Lane, that was accomplished with Sabbatical Leave: https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/2b616ec8-ac3c-4368-9c9b-77b2112500fd/EP105-Dr-Pip-Lane-AAP.mp3

Ep75 where I chat with Dr Moira Rush about her Pacific Fellowship in Fiji: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/e08f0b57-d9d5-486d-9087-760bee48e618.mp3

In Ep99 I chat with A/Prof Rob McDougall about how Lifebox ANZ is improving operating theatre safety in the region. https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/1a56c07f-98e1-4d8c-9f16-4f401b66f500.mp3

Everyone, and I mean everyone - Government, the ASA, AMA, ANZCA and other Colleges - is talking about anaesthesia workforce in Australia. We have a shortage. We have a maldistribution, with not enough anesthetists in regional Australia.

What is the solution? Nurse anaesthetists? Career medical officers? Importing anaesthetists from overseas - otherwise known as International Medical Graduates or IMGs?

In this episode I chat with current ANZCA President (and conflict of interest - my boss at the University of Melbourne) about the process that has recently commenced by the Medical Board of Australia to expedite the recognition of overseas anaesthetists here in Australia.

Find out more about the process here: https://www.anzca.edu.au/getContentAsset/0d0a59e7-0a91-4dfc-bb02-561fae80d398/80feb437-d24d-46b8-a858-4a2a28b9b970/Expedited-SIMG-pathway-ANZCA-information-update-Mar-2025-Final.pdf?language=en

Learn about the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) recommendations to meet the workforce challenge: https://asa.org.au/publications/anaesthetist-workforce-modelling

CPD Home is free to ASA members! Make it easy to stay compliant and fulfill your Continuing Professional Development requirements: https://www.cpdhome.org.au/

Come and listen to Dr Pip Lane, amazing leader, as she describes how she built this amazing service which enables timely intravenous access and reduces needle related trauma in women and children.

I'm not alone in finding this service impressive. It has won many awards in South Australia and nationally.

Two of the big contributors to Dr Lane's success was having Clinical Support/Non-Clinical Time (CST/NCT). Paid Non-Clinical time is a direct result of advocacy undertaken by the Australian Medical Association (AMA)/Australian Salaried Medical Officer's Federation (ASMOF). Show your gratitude for receiving this and other workplace protections by joining the AMA:

https://www.ama.com.au/join-the-ama

The Persuasion and Influence Masterclass is on offer at the 2025 ASA National Scientific Congress. Secure your place (and meet me there!) by registering here:

https://asansc.com.au/

Share and develop your leadership skills by joining WELI. Men and women are welcome. Find out more in Ep83

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/1c43eb90-20ac-4cac-b915-ee46a326f798/

and by visiting

https://ausnzweli.org/

Come Together for the Australian Society of Anaesthetists' National Scientific Congress (NSC) in Canberra.

To be held from Thursday 2nd October - Sunday 5th October. It is during the school holidays for some states, so get those leave requests in, if you haven't already.

Join NSC Convenor Dr Girish Palnitkar as we dive into what makes Canberra so special and what we can look forward to during the NSC.

See you at the Gala Dinner at Parliament House - I can't wait!

Register here: https://asansc.com.au/

Advanced Recovery Room Care (ARRC) is a concept that has changed the way I think about our model of care when it comes to or surgical patients.

Come and meet the man behind the concept, Professor Guy Ludbrook. We discuss his ideas on innovation and dive into ARRC.

Email [email protected] for more information or an introduction