On The Wards: On The Pods Medical Podcast for Doctors

Insertion and placement of nasogastric tubes

James talks to Rewa Keegan, General Surgical Fellow and Surgical Superintendent at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital about the insertion of nasogastric tubes.

Summary Writer:  James Paterson

Editor:  James Edwards

Interviewee:  Rewa Keegan

About Dr Rewa Keegan

Dr Rewa Keegan completed her intern and resident years at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and commenced general surgical training in 2010, successfully gaining her fellowship in 2014. Rewa loves clinical teaching from a medical student to registrar level. Particularly in the areas of surgical simulation and working with aspiring surgeons on developing their career plans.

She is very interested in surgical education and has undertaken a number of research projects looking at how registrars perceive their experience in surgical training. Rewa plans to undertake further training in oncoplastic breast surgery. And she and her husband ultimately plan to settle in a regional coastal centre after completing fellowships overseas.

Summary Writer:: Linda Wu
Editor:: Linda Wu
James Edwards
Interviewees: Ken Liu, Bridget Barbaro, Amy Freeman-sanderson

James asks Dr Ken Liu, Liver Transplant Fellow, Bridget Barbaro, Acting Nursing Unit Manager and Amy Freeman-Sanderson, Senior Speech Pathologist from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital the question - What makes a good Intern?

Ken Liu 

Dr Ken Liu is currently the liver transplant fellow at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Ken completed his internship, residency and Basic Physician Training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He also completed 2 years of advanced training in Gastroenterology at Concord Hospital.

Brigid Barbaro

Brigid Barbaro is an Acting Nursing Unit Manager at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. In 2004 Brigid completed her training to become a registered nurse in 2004.  Brigid has worked in various roles including clinical education, project management, management and was the Nursing Executive Officer in 2014 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.   In 2012 she completed her MBA, majoring in Health Management.  Brigid enjoys being a NUM, leading a team and having the ability to maintain patient contact and make impact changes for the benefit of patients.

Amy Freeman-Sanderson 

Amy Freeman-Sanderson is the manager of Speech Pathology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.  She graduated from the University of Sydney in 2001 and has been working in the hospital environment since graduation.  Amy has worked in a number of tertiary facilities both in Australia and England.  She has experience working within a multidisciplinary team in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.  Her current caseload is critical care and Amy is completing her PhD in communication facilitation in mechanically ventilated tracheostomy patients.

James asks Dr Ken Liu, Liver Transplant Fellow, Bridget Barbaro, Acting Nursing Unit Manager, and Amy Freeman-Sanderson, Senior Speech Pathologist from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The question - What makes a good Intern?

Interviewees:  Ken Liu, Bridget Barbaro, Amy Freeman-Sanderson

About Dr Ken Liu

Dr Ken Liu is currently the liver transplant fellow at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Ken completed his internship, residency and Basic Physician Training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He also completed 2 years of advanced training in Gastroenterology at Concord Hospital.

About Dr Brigid Barbaro

Brigid Barbaro is an Acting Nursing Unit Manager at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. In 2004, Brigid completed her training to become a registered nurse. Brigid has worked in various roles including clinical education, project management, management and was the Nursing Executive Officer in 2014 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. In 2012 she completed her MBA, majoring in Health Management. Brigid enjoys being a NUM, leading a team and having the ability to maintain patient contact and make impact changes for the benefit of patients.

About Dr Amy Freeman-Sanderson

Amy Freeman-Sanderson is the manager of Speech Pathology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. She graduated from the University of Sydney in 2001 and has been working in the hospital environment since graduation. Amy has worked in a number of tertiary facilities both in Australia and England. She has experience working within a multidisciplinary team in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. Her current caseload is critical care and Amy is completing her PhD in communication facilitation in mechanically ventilated tracheostomy patients.

Summary Writer:: Antonia Clarke
Interviewee:: Antonia Clarke
Rewa Keegan
Editor:: Antonia Clarke
Rewa Keegan
James Edwards
James talks to Dr Rewa Keegan about bowel obstruction, a common surgical presentation.

Rewa Keegan is a general surgeon and is currently working as the surgical superintendent at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. She completed her intern and resident years at Royal Prince Alfred, and commenced general surgical training in 2010, successfully gaining her fellowship in 2014. Rewa loves clinical teaching from a medical student to registrar level, particularly in the areas of surgical simulation and working with aspiring surgeons on developing their career plans. She is very interested in surgical education, and has undertaken a number of research projects looking at how registrars perceive their experience in surgical training. Rewa plans to undertake further training in oncoplastic breast surgery, and she and her husband ultimately plan to settle in a regional coastal centre after completing fellowships overseas.

James talks to Dr Rewa Keegan about bowel obstruction, a common surgical presentation.

Rewa Keegan is a general surgeon and is currently working as the surgical superintendent at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. She completed her intern and resident years at Royal Prince Alfred, and commenced general surgical training in 2010, successfully gaining her fellowship in 2014. Rewa loves clinical teaching from a medical student to registrar level, particularly in the areas of surgical simulation and working with aspiring surgeons on developing their career plans. She is very interested in surgical education, and has undertaken a number of research projects looking at how registrars perceive their experience in surgical training. Rewa plans to undertake further training in oncoplastic breast surgery, and she and her husband ultimately plan to settle in a regional coastal centre after completing fellowships overseas.

Summary Writer:  George McClintock

Editor:  James Edwards

Interviewee: Ian Caterson

James talks to Professor Ian Caterson about the management of blood sugar issues that may confront the junior doctor working on the wards.

Professor Ian Caterson is currently Foundation Director of the Boden Institute of Obesity Nutrition Exercise and Eating Disorders and Boden Professor of Human Nutrition at the University of Sydney. He has held the latter position since 1997. Prior to that Ian was Senior Staff Specialist and Director of Clinical Endocrinology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

He has been president of both the Australian Diabetes Society and the Australasian Society for the Study of Obesity and is president-elect of the World Obesity Federation.

Ian is a recognised expert on obesity, its causes, prevention and management. He is on the Clinical Care group of World Obesity, chairs the Expert Obesity Committee for the Australian National Preventive Health Agency, and is on the Prevention and Community Health Committee of the NHMRC of Australia.

James talks to Professor Ian Caterson about the management of Type 2 diabetes blood sugar issues that may confront the junior doctor working on the wards.

Summary Writer:  George McClintock

Editor:  James Edwards

Interviewee: Ian Caterson

About Ian Caterson

Professor Ian Caterson is currently Foundation Director of the Boden Institute of Obesity Nutrition Exercise and Eating Disorders and Boden Professor of Human Nutrition at the University of Sydney. He has held the latter position since 1997. Prior to that Ian was Senior Staff Specialist and Director of Clinical Endocrinology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

He has been president of both the Australian Diabetes Society and the Australasian Society for the Study of Obesity and is president-elect of the World Obesity Federation.

Ian is a recognised expert on obesity, its causes, prevention and management. He is on the Clinical Care group of World Obesity, chairs the Expert Obesity Committee for the Australian National Preventive Health Agency, and is on the Prevention and Community Health Committee of the NHMRC of Australia.

Summary Writer:  Andrew Tan

Editor:  James Edwards

Interviewee: Ryan Downey

James talks to Dr Ryan Downey about tips and tricks for the insertion of intravenous cannulae.

Dr Ryan Downey completed his Residency at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and is a Clinical Lecturer with the Department of Medicine at the University of Sydney and Senior Fellow in Anaesthetics at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Ryan commenced his Staff Specialist position in Anaesthetics with a focus on Head and Neck, ENT, Obstetric and Ophthalmic Anaesthesia in August 2015. He has a keen interest in medical education, particularly crisis simulation and assists in the Department of Anaesthetics Simulation Laboratory. Ryan has extensive experience in difficult intravenous cannulation.

James talks to Dr Ryan Downey about his cannula tips and tricks for the insertion of an intravenous cannula.

Summary Writer:  Andrew Tan

Editor:  James Edwards

Interviewee:  Ryan Downey

About Dr Ryan Downey

Dr Ryan Downey completed his Residency at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and is a Clinical Lecturer with the Department of Medicine at the University of Sydney and Senior Fellow in Anaesthetics at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Ryan commenced his Staff Specialist position in Anaesthetics with a focus on Head and Neck, ENT, Obstetric and Ophthalmic Anaesthesia in August 2015. He has a keen interest in medical education, particularly crisis simulation and assists in the Department of Anaesthetics Simulation Laboratory. Ryan has extensive experience in difficult intravenous cannulation.

Summary Writer:: Antonia Clarke
Editor:: Antonia Clarke
James Edwards
Interviewee: Jane Bleasal

James talks to Professor Jane Bleasel about an approach to the common condition of back pain.

Professor Jane Bleasel is a Rheumatologist and Staff Specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.  Jane was the Head of Department of Rheumatology for the last 15 years.  She has recently taken up appointment at the University of Sydney as Co-Director of the Sydney Medical program and is also Professor of Medicine.  Jane has published guidelines on back pain and red flag conditions and was part of an NHMRC grant looking at back pain presenting to GPs, Physiotherapist and Chiropractors.