On The Wards: On The Pods Medical Podcast for Doctors

This podcast is a panel discussion on the topic of indigenous communication in the healthcare setting. Effective communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is essential for culturally safe, holistic, and appropriate healthcare delivery. Jessica Johanssen, Thomas Henry and Talila Milroy are three Aboriginal junior doctors working and training across Australia who discuss how to introduce yourself and set up your interview with an Indigenous patient, Indigenous concepts of health and wellbeing and important components of health education and management.

Summary Writer:  Talila Milroy, Thomas Henry

Script Writers:  Jessica Johannsen, Talila Milroy, Thomas Henry

Interviewer:  Jules Willcocks

Panelists:  Talila Milroy, Thomas Henry, Jessica Johannsen

About Dr Jules Willcocks

Jules Willcocks is an Emergency Medicine Physician consultant and the Director of Prevocational Education and Training at Gosford Hospital.

His interest is in bringing out the best in people principally through mentoring and coaching. He firmly believes that wellbeing is a crucial part of this and that you cannot look after someone to the best of your abilities if you yourself are not well.

He trained as an executive coach and has a particular interest in financial wellness for doctors.

He is married with two boys, which is why he’s not living a degenerate life in Las Vegas and loves playing poker and fine single malt Islay whisky.

About Dr Jessica Johannsen

Jessica Johannsen (Ah Chee) Arrente/Yankunytjatjara woman from Alice Springs. Originally grew up in Alice Springs, went to boarding school in Sydney, completing University in Adelaide. I am currently a Resident Medical Officer in Alice Springs Hospital and I am going into GP training 2021.

About Dr Talila Milroy

Talila Milroy is a Yindjibarndi and Palyku woman from Western Australia and a current General Practice Registrar and Academic Registrar with the RACGP and University of Western Australia. Previously she completed her resident and intern years at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, New South Wales. Talila has a Bachelor degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Sydney in addition to a Bachelor of Science in which she majored in Psychology. Talila has three children and was the only Indigenous graduate in the class of 2016 in the Sydney Medical Program. During her undergraduate years Talila worked in the Faculty of Economics and Business at Sydney University, The Garvan Institute and Moreton Consulting. Talila is passionate about Indigenous social justice, healthcare education, and research.

About Dr Thomas Henry

Tom Henry is a proud Aboriginal man from Wiradjuri country in Western NSW. Tom grew up in the regional town of Mudgee “nest in the hills” and completed a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Newcastle (Hons.) in 2012. After working as a Physio for a year Tom went back to University and completed a Bachelor of Medicine in 2018. During his health training Tom worked as a tutor in Aboriginal health and continues to have a deep passion for health promotion in this area. He is currently an RMO on the Central Coast of NSW and is aiming to train in Emergency Medicine.

Indigenous Health – Communication and Connection

With Dr Jules Willcocks, Emergency Physician and Director of Prevocational Training at Gosford Hospital, Dr Talila Milroy, General Practice Registrar and Academic Registrar with the RACGP and University of Western Australia, Dr Thomas Henry, RMO on the Central Coast, NSW, and Dr Jessica Johannsen, RMO at Alice Springs Hospital, Australia

Introductions

Jess:  These introductions highlight the importance of initial introductions with Indigenous patients. At the root of Indigenous culture is the ability to share knowledge through story-telling and yarning in a conversational way to talk about important topics and life lessons. It is always important to identify who you are with and where you come from to form ...

Jules Willcocks interviews John Scott on the topic of compassion in medicine. Practising compassionate and empathetic patient care can benefit doctors. In this podcast, Jules and John discuss the evidence that shows how doctors' compassion can make huge differences to patient outcomes, but also to doctors' health and wellbeing. Jules and John chat about why compassion should be an integral part of your day to day practice.

Summary Writer:  Lucy Coles

Script Writer:  Jules Willcocks and John Scott

Editor:  Jules Willcocks

Interviewer:  Jules Willcocks

Interviewee:  John Scott

About Dr John Scott

John Scott is an Emergency Physician working on the Central Coast of New South Wales.

A naturally optimistic, outgoing and energetic person he was quite shocked to find himself burnt out and depressed at the end of his advanced training in Emergency Medicine. To overcome this unpleasant condition much research and soul searching has lead to John’s passion for mindfulness meditation, the field of positive psychology, the many benefits of regular exercise (crossfit and surfing) and other practices that lead to personal and institutional resilience, personal growth and movement towards our peak performance.

John runs a wellbeing program at Gosford Hospital Emergency Department and is currently undertaking a Diploma in Positive Psychology and Wellbeing.

About Dr Jules Willcocks

Jules Willcocks is an Emergency Medicine Consultant and the Director of Prevocational Education and Training at Gosford Hospital.

His interest is in bringing out the best in people principally through mentoring and coaching. He firmly believes that wellbeing is a crucial part of this and that you cannot look after someone to the best of your abilities if you yourself are not well.

He trained as an executive coach and has a particular interest in financial wellness for doctors.

He is married with two boys, which is why he’s not living a degenerate life in Las Vegas and loves playing poker and fine single malt Islay whisky.

Svetha Rao talks to Louis Angelopoulos about what constitutes infertility, common causes and how to approach a couple who presents with infertility.

Summary Writer:  Jane McDonnell

Script Writer:  Jane McDonnell, Svetha Rao

Editor:  Svetha Rao

Interviewee:  Louis Angelopoulos

About Dr Svetha Rao

Dr Svetha Rao is a third-year Obstetrics and Gynaecology trainee. She calls Sydney home and is undergoing her basic training through Liverpool hospital. Svetha loves the high risk and high reward aspect of obstetrics. 

Aside from catching babies, she enjoys long walks on the beach and working on her down-facing dog.

About Dr Louis Angelopoulos

Dr Louis Angelopoulos is a Staff Specialist in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Gosford General Hospital, Central Coast, NSW, Australia. After graduating from medicine in South Africa at Stellenbosch University, Louis commenced his Obstetrics & Gynaecology training in 2003 in the Oxford Deanery of England, working in hospitals in the Thames Valley, completing his Certificate of Completion of Training in 2009. After working in the Royal Berkshire NHS Trust for two years, he moved to Australia. Louis has a strong interest in medical education and speaks both English and Afrikaans.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to vast changes in how healthcare is delivered. This has left many pregnant patients uncertain of how their care through pregnancy and delivery will be affected. Becky Taylor speaks to Emma Watson, who is currently nearing the end of her pregnancy, about pregnancy and COVID-19 to answer some common questions and concerns.

Summary Writer:  Lucy Coles

Script Writer:  Becky Taylor and Emma Watson

Editor: Becky Taylor

Interviewer:  Emma Watson

Interviewee:  Becky Taylor

About Emma Watson

Emma Watson has worked as the antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for 6 years. She has a Master of Pharmacy and a Bachelor of Biotechnology from the University of Newcastle. She is particularly interested in infectious diseases and infection control and is passionate about the appropriate use of antimicrobials in all aspects of medicine.

Emma enjoys travelling, swimming and dragon boating and prior to falling pregnant was starting to get into running.

She recently started maternity leave and is excitedly awaiting the birth of her first child who is due this month.

About Dr Becky Taylor

Dr Becky Taylor is a 5th year Obstetrics & Gynecology trainee. Originally hailing from the UK, she trained at the University of Edinburgh where she also completed her internship and residency, before moving to Australia. Becky undertook her basic Obstetrics & Gynecology training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney and was working in the Solomon Islands before COVID-19 forced her to return home.

When she’s not knee-deep in amniotic fluid she is a keen swimmer and free diver, a terrible cook and married to an anaesthetist she met at a Cat One Caesarean.

A talk by Associate Professor Amanda Walker from onthewards conference discussing the practicalities of end of life care, warning signs that a patient is dying, what to consider, say, be, and chart as a doctor.

Summary Writer:  Edward Brentnall

Script Writer:  Amanda Walker

Editor:  Amanda Walker

About Amanda Walker

Amanda Walker is a Specialist in Palliative Medicine. She is also working as a Senior Clinical Advisor at the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare. Furthermore, Amanda has worked at the NSW Clinical Excellence Commission developing programs addressing diagnostic errors and end of life care. She has previously worked as a clinician, educator, and administrator in South Western Sydney.

Allison Hempenstall speaks with Rebekah Ledingham about working as a rural General Practitioner in Broome, Western Australia.

Summary Writer:  Theoni Haralabopoulos

Script Writer:  Allison Hempenstall

Editor:  Allison Hempenstall

Interviewer:  Allison Hempenstall

Interviewee:  Rebekah Ledingham

About Dr Allison Hempenstall

Dr Allison Hempenstall is an ACRRM Registrar currently working on Thursday Island. Her interests include public health, tropical medicine and medical education.

About Dr Rebekah Ledingham

Dr Rebekah Ledingham is a Rural Generalist and medical educator in Broome, Western Australia. She is passionate about Aboriginal health and committed to Closing the Gap and supporting an increasing number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the health workforce. She is also a keen advocate for well-being of medical students and doctors in training and would like to see a more nurturing, flexible system in which to grow our future workforce.

She founded the online group Medical Mums and Mums To Be, now a support network for more than 9,000 doctors,  after struggling with the prospect of being a junior doctor and a mum simultaneously but remains eternally thankful that she ignored the (ridiculous) advice not to have babies as they are growing into fabulous humans who help it all make sense.

Elizabeth Campbell chats to Isabel Hanson about general practice training and the perks and challenges of a career as a General Practitioner as well as junior doctor wellbeing.

Script Writer:  Elizabeth Campbell

Editors:  Elizabeth Campbell and Isabel Hanson

Interviewer:  Elizabeth Campbell

Interviewee:  Isabel Hanson

Summary Writer:  Eloise Sobels

About Dr Elizabeth Campbell

Dr Elizabeth Campbell is a General Practice Registrar in Sydney, Australia. She studied medicine at the University of Sydney, and completed an undergraduate degree in classical piano at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Elizabeth is interested in medical education and mentorship.

About Dr Isabel Hanson

Dr Isabel Hanson is a General Practice Registrar with The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Her interests include public policy, preventative health, medical humanities, and doctors' wellbeing. Outside of the clinic, Isabel is a published writer, yoga teacher, and Co-Founder of the 'Feel Good' staff choir at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.

Mikey Xie chats to Ben Nguyen about his experience as the COVID-19 registrar to give everyone a better understanding of what is happening at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, how patients with COVID-19 are being managed in the hospital and what the role of the COVID-19 team is.

Summary Writer:  Theoni Haralabopoulos and Edward Brentnall

Script Writer:  Ben Nguyen and Mickey Xie

Editor:  Ben Nguyen and  Mikey Xie

Interviewer:  Ben Nguyen

Interviewee:  Mickey Xie

About Dr Ben Nguyen

Dr Ben Nguyen is currently a Respiratory Registrar at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He studied medicine at the University of Sydney prior to internship and completed his residency and Basic Physician Training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

About Dr Mikey Xie

Dr Mikey Xie is currently a Basic Physician Trainee at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He graduated from the University of New South Wales and completed his internship and residency at Liverpool Hospital.

Anna McLean chats to Laura Glenn about how to recognise and manage a deteriorating COVID-19 positive patient.

Script Writer:  Anna McLean and Laura Glenn

Editor:  Laura Glenn

Interviewer:  Anna McLean

Interviewee:  Laura Glenn

About Dr Anna McLean

Dr Anna McLean is a Respiratory and Sleep Advanced Trainee at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia. She is a Clinical Lecturer with the University of Sydney and has had a long-standing interest in the medical education and pastoral care of both medical students and junior medical officers.

About Dr Laura Glenn

Dr Laura Glenn is a final year Advanced Trainee in Respiratory Medicine and is also undertaking a PhD with The University of Sydney in the field of interstitial lung disease. She has a strong interest in education and clinical leadership, and is an Associate Clinical Lecturer with The University of Sydney Medical School.

In this podcast, Josh Pillemer talks about blood gases.

“What does the gas show?” A simple question you hope nobody EVER asks you! In fact, the world of acid-base is an intimidating monster that terrifies even the most seasoned ward doctors. Even though acid-base is impossible to understand, there are some tips that can help make the interpretation of blood gases less daunting.

Summary Writer:  Alexandra Bolger

Script Writer:  Josh Pillemer

Editor:  Josh Pillemer

About Dr Josh Pillemer

Josh Pillemer is an Intensive Care Fellow at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. Although he thoroughly enjoys the excitement and stimulation of ICU medicine, he is learning that it’s the quieter moments spent with patients and their families that matter the most.