In Episode 14 of Inside The Shoulder, Dr. Kenneth Cutbush is joined by Professor Peter Pivonka, Professor and Chair of Biomechanics at Queensland University of Technology and Co-Director of the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Joint Biomechanics.

Peter’s journey is anything but conventional. Beginning his career in civil engineering, researching concrete failure, bridge foundations and earthquake mechanics, he made a remarkable transition into biomechanics and musculoskeletal research. What started with studying how buildings fail evolved into understanding how bones fail and how engineering principles can improve patient outcomes.

In this episode, Peter shares how moving from Vienna to Australia opened the door to a career bridging engineering and medicine. He discusses the challenge of building one of Australia’s early bioengineering programs, the importance of learning anatomy and physiology from first principles, and how collaboration between engineers, biologists and orthopaedic surgeons drives innovation in joint and implant design.

This conversation explores the beauty and complexity of human anatomy, why mechanics matter in orthopaedics, and how engineering thinking is shaping the future of shoulder surgery and musculoskeletal care.

For surgeons, researchers, engineers and trainees alike, this episode highlights the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and why some of the most important breakthroughs happen at the intersection of fields.

In Episode 13 of Inside The Shoulder, Dr. Kenneth Cutbush is joined by Dr. Mohammad Jomaa, an orthopaedic surgeon leading one of Lebanon’s first dedicated shoulder and thoracic outlet units.

Broadcasting from Beirut at sunrise over the Mediterranean, Mohammad reflects on his journey from excelling in mathematics and physics as a top-ranked student in Lebanon to making a decisive shift into medicine. What began as a pursuit of complexity became a career defined by innovation.

After completing his fellowship training, Mohammad returned to Lebanon to practise as the country’s first dedicated shoulder surgeon. A significant shift in a healthcare system where orthopaedic surgeons traditionally manage all subspecialties. He discusses the challenges of introducing subspecialisation, building multidisciplinary infrastructure, and elevating shoulder care within an established generalist model.

The episode also explores one of the most confronting cases of his career. A devastating shoulder injury with no precedent in the literature. Faced with the absence of published solutions, Mohammad had to design and reconstruct using first principles. Drawing directly on the foundational training gained during fellowship.

This is a conversation about innovation under pressure, leadership in emerging systems, and what it truly means to build something new in orthopaedics.

In Episode 12 of Inside The Shoulder, Dr. Kenneth Cutbush is joined by Max Lavaill, a postdoctoral researcher whose journey into medicine and research spans continents, cultures, and disciplines.

Born in Strasbourg in northeast France to two general practitioner parents, Max grew up immersed in the medical world. That early exposure shaped his ambition to pursue medicine and research, ultimately leading him to Australia nearly eight years ago to complete his PhD and continue his academic career.

In this episode, Max shares what drew him to Brisbane, why he chose to build his career in Australia, and how international experience influences the way research is conducted and translated into clinical practice. He also discusses his recent achievement at the International Combined Orthopaedic Research Societies (ICORS) conference in Adelaide, where he was awarded Best Clinical Research Presentation, a significant milestone in any emerging academic career.

The conversation explores the role of research in modern shoulder surgery, how clinical evidence informs surgical decision-making, and why innovation and collaboration are essential to advancing patient outcomes.

For surgeons, trainees, researchers, and allied health professionals, this episode offers insight into the next generation of academic leadership within orthopaedics and the global pathways that shape it.

In Episode 11 of Inside The Shoulder, Dr. Kenneth Cutbush is joined by Keigo Honoki, one of Ken’s fellows for 2026 from Japan, for an open and personal conversation about his journey into orthopaedic and shoulder surgery.

Keigo shares how he first became interested in surgery, the realities of his medical training, and the professional and personal highs and lows that come with a demanding surgical career.

He also reflects on his own history with shoulder instability recounting a pivotal dislocation at age 24 that forced him to walk away from baseball and discusses the impact injury has had on his perspective of the profession, as well as the skills, mindset, and priorities young doctors should focus on when considering a career in surgery.

The episode also explores the lessons, practical tips, and insights Keigo has gained from working with Ken as a mentor during his fellowship, and how these experiences continue to shape his approach to patient care and surgical practice.

In Episode 10 of Inside The Shoulder, Dr. Kenneth Cutbush is joined by Tristan Shuker, a medical researcher and student, for an open and personal conversation about the unexpected hurdles and defining moments on the path to a medical career.

Tristan shares the "heartbreak moment" that nearly derailed his journey. Missing a critical interview deadline for the University of Queensland after five years of preparation. He discusses the realities of balancing high-stakes academic goals with personal life, the mental toll of the GAMSAT and application process, and how he navigated the devastating "brutal" setbacks that can occur along the way.

The episode highlights Tristan’s work in clinical and biomechanical research under Ken’s mentorship. They reflect on the importance of resilience, the lessons learned from failure, and the dedication required to contribute to the field of orthopaedic surgery through research and academic perseverance.

In this episode of Inside The Shoulder, Dr. Kenneth Cutbush is joined by physiotherapist Lucy Angelini from Extend Hand Therapy for an honest and practical conversation about building a career in shoulder rehabilitation.

Lucy shares how she first found her way into physiotherapy, her training at The University of Queensland, and the knowledge and skills required to specialise in shoulder and upper-limb rehabilitation. She reflects on working in the United States, returning home to Brisbane, and spending more than a decade working in shoulder rehab.

The episode also explores Lucy’s family life and upbringing, what continues to motivate her in clinical practice, and the key advice she would give to anyone considering a career in physiotherapy in the shoulder and sports rehabilitation space.

Lucy is also a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and the Shoulder and Elbow Physiotherapy Association.

In this episode of Inside The Shoulder, Dr. Kenneth Cutbush is joined by Anand Ashok Kumar, who completed a six-month shoulder fellowship with Ken in 2025, for an open and practical conversation about training, mentorship and international experience.

Anand shares his journey growing up and completing his schooling in South India, before moving across different regions of India to undertake his medical and orthopaedic training. He reflects on what it was like to train in Australia, the clinical and cultural challenges he faced, and the professional highs and lows of completing an international fellowship.

The episode also explores what Anand has taken back from his time in Australia, and the honest advice and guidance he offers to younger surgeons in India who are considering advanced training and international fellowships.

In this episode of Inside The Shoulder, Dr. Kenneth Cutbush is joined by Ridzwan Namazie (“Rids”), one of Ken’s former shoulder fellows, for a wide-ranging and personal conversation about building a career in orthopaedic and shoulder surgery.

After completing his fellowship, Ridzwan stayed in Brisbane and began working in orthopaedic surgery at Redcliffe Hospital. He now works across public and private practice, including Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), Greenslopes Private Hospital and Mater Hospital Brisbane.

Ridzwan shares his remarkable personal story being born in Kuala Lumpur, growing up across two cities in Malaysia, and later earning a scholarship to study medicine in Ireland. He reflects on moving overseas, the role of family throughout his training, and what it really takes to pursue a career in orthopaedics and shoulder surgery in Australia.

In this episode of Inside The Shoulder, Dr. Kenneth Cutbush is joined by Dutch shoulder surgeon Freek Hollman, currently practising in the south of the Netherlands.

Freek shares how growing up in a medical family with a surgeon father and a brother in medicine, shaped his early path, and how a third-year internship changed everything after being involved in an AC joint reconstruction. That moment sparked his passion for orthopaedics and ultimately led him to focus on shoulder surgery.

He discusses why the shoulder’s complexity continues to motivate him, how every structure must work together for function of the arm and hand, and why the diversity of shoulder surgery is so rewarding. Freek also explains what it really takes to become a surgeon in the Netherlands, the highly competitive training pathway, and the reality that many graduates struggle to secure surgical positions.

The conversation explores his upbringing, family life, and the key advice he would offer to anyone considering a future in orthopaedic and shoulder surgery.

In this episode of Inside The Shoulder, Dr. Kenneth Cutbush is joined by Kieran Hirpara, an orthopaedic surgeon now based in Rockhampton, for a personal and insightful conversation about international training and building a surgical career in Australia.

Kieran shares his journey through medical school and orthopaedic training in Ireland, completing a hand fellowship in the UK, and why he chose to apply for a fellowship in Australia. Seeking a system similar to the UK, with a better lifestyle and climate. Arriving in Brisbane with his family, Kieran reflects on how eye-opening the experience was, the volume of surgery he was exposed to, and how he became Ken’s very first shoulder fellow, helping launch the fellowship program.

He also speaks about his family background, moving across countries throughout his life, meeting his partner, raising a family, and eventually settling in regional Australia. The episode closes with Kieran’s advice for international surgeons considering Australia, and why orthopaedic and shoulder surgery became his chosen path.