Gastroenterologist and three-time guest Dr Kostas Brooks returns for a discussion on colonoscopy, bowel cancer screening, and best practice care in Australia.

In this episode, we cover:

Home bowel cancer screening

• The role of home-based faecal occult blood tests in early detection

• How the program works in practice

• What best practice looks like in screening and surveillance

Bowel preparation for colonoscopy

• Why there is no single standard bowel preparation protocol

• Practical tips to support patients to achieve optimal preparation

• Key considerations for medicines before and after colonoscopy

What happens during a colonoscopy

• Step-by-step overview of the procedure

• Emerging role of artificial intelligence in detection and diagnosis

Colorectal cancer in Australia

• Prevalence and key risk factors

• Who is most at risk and why

• What happens next after a positive colonoscopy finding

Further reading

• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care - Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard - https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/clinical-care-standards/colonoscopy

• National Bowel Cancer Screening Program - https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-bowel-cancer-screening-program?language=en

• Bowel Cancer Australia - Red Apple Day - https://redappleday.au/

In this episode of Myopia Progression and the Role of Atropine in Managing Myopia, we speak with Dr Loren Rose about one of the fastest growing challenges in children's eye health. We explore emmetropisation, the natural process by which a child's eyes develop towards clear vision, and what happens myopia. Dr Rose explains key concepts including hyperopic reserve, what a dioptre actually measures, and why both genetics and environment play important roles in myopia development. We discuss the influential Taiwan studies showing that spending around two hours outdoors each day can help reduce the risk of myopia, as well as the evidence linking prolonged near work and screen use with increasing rates of short-sightedness. We discuss the role of atropine drops and peripheral defocus lenses.

Further reading

• Rose LVT. The quest for safe and effective myopia control in children. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2024 Jul;52(5):503-504. doi: 10.1111/ceo.14391. PMID: 38950909. - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38950909/
• Optometry Australia Position Statement on Myopia Management - https://www.optometry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Professional_support/Guidelines/Myopia-Position-Statement-2024-v3.pdf
• https://www.optometry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/Documents/Myopia-management-resource-guide.pdf

In this episode, we're joined by Dr Mariya Farah Kitson, Consultant Rheumatologist at the Osteoporosis Refracture Prevention Clinic at Royal North Shore Hospital, for a deep dive into the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. We explore why osteoporosis remains significantly underdiagnosed, current recommendations for bone mineral density (BMD) screening, and the ongoing osteoporosis care gap that leaves many patients untreated after fragility fractures. Dr Kitson also explains the role of secondary fracture prevention services and why menopause represents a particularly high-risk period for accelerated bone loss and fracture risk in women.

The conversation also unpacks the evolving treatment landscape for osteoporosis, including discussions around denosumab, its PBS and other indications, and important considerations regarding duration of therapy and rebound vertebral fracture risk following discontinuation. Dr Kitson compares the mechanisms of action of denosumab and bisphosphonates, outlines current recommendations for safely stopping denosumab, and discusses where newer therapies such as romosozumab fit into contemporary osteoporosis care. We also touch on the emerging role of biomarkers in fracture risk assessment and treatment monitoring, offering listeners an up-to-date and clinically relevant overview of osteoporosis management.

Further Links

ASBMR - The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research - https://www.asbmr.org/Default.aspx

International Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/

In this episode, dermatologist Dr Francis Lai joins us to unpack everything you need to know about scabies — what it is, how it spreads and why some communities are more at risk. We break down diagnosis, treatment options, common myths and what to expect during recovery. Practical, evidence‑based advice for clinicians, parents and anyone dealing with this incredibly itchy but entirely treatable condition.

Kristin speaks with two pharmacists working in menopause care:

• Bo Kim, clinical pharmacist and founder of EmpowHer Menopause in Perth

• Jarrah Anderson, Clinical Lead at MedCast and member of the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance

• Types of menopausal hormone treatment (MHT) When different MHT options are used in perimenopause and menopause.

• Safety conversations Current thinking on precautions and contraindications, and how to explain risks and benefits clearly.

• Access and cost in Australia PBS considerations, affordability and opportunities for pharmacist support.

• Bio‑identical and body‑identical hormones Why it matters for patient communication.

• Testosterone in menopause care What the evidence says about when it can be used and practical issues with prescribing and access.

• Non‑hormonal therapies Options for symptom management, including the emerging medicine fezolinetant.

Links:

This International Women's Day (IWD) we a focused on women's health. In this episode, Kristin speaks with Professor Susan Davis, AO, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, FAHMS, Head Monash University Women's Health Research Program, Endocrinologist, leading menopause researcher. Prof Davis is Director of the Women's Health Research Program in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Melbourne. She is a consultant Endocrinologist at Cabrini Medical Centre and Head of the Women's Specialist Clinic, the Alfred Hospital Melbourne. She is also President of the International Menopause Society and Past-President of the Australasian Menopause Society.

They discuss the definitions of menopause, the menopause transition and perimenopause, along with factors that influence the timing of menopause and the wide range of symptoms women may experience.

Professor Davis explains the role of blood hormone testing in menopause care. The conversation also covers contraception in perimenopausal women. They also review the evidence for menopausal hormone therapy, including indications for treatment, the benefits and risks of different therapies, and duration of use.

Links:

https://www.menopause.org.au/

In this episode, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) pharmacists Clarissa Rentsch and Sheridan Rodda break down the essentials of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, from diagnosis and treatment options to the expanding role of monoclonal therapies. We explore Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, therapeutic drug monitoring and how pharmacists can optimise care for people living with IBD. A clear, practical conversation for clinicians and anyone wanting to better understand this complex condition.

Purple Pen Podcast 2026 Listener Survey

https://tinyurl.com/PPPSurvey2026

In this episode, I'm coming to you live from NAPSA Congress, the National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association's week-long flagship event that brings together pharmacy students from across Australia. The Congress is packed with education sessions, workshops, social events, networking opportunities, and a vibrant trade exhibition, and this episode captures the energy of being right in the middle of it all.

I spoke with Sebastian Harper from Griffith University, NAPSA's National President, Sebastian Schulke from the University of Queensland, and Mia Avram from Monash University and NAPSA's National Treasurer. We spoke about their favourite moments from Congress, what stood out most, and the key learnings they will be taking forward into their future pharmacy careers.

Our conversations explored a wide range of timely and important topics, including practical insights into probiotics, the expanding role of pharmacists in harm reduction and dependency services such as naloxone take-home programs, and the skills of full-scope physical assessment. We also discussed how pharmacists can better support patients using GLP-1 agonists, from counselling to ongoing care, and what it really means to serve your community as a healthcare professional.

We also touched on highlights from Pharmacy Student of the Year (PSOTY), unpacking the qualities that set leaders apart, as well as a thoughtful conversation on authenticity in pharmacy. We discussed why being yourself matters, how to avoid the "pharmacist Barbie" stereotype, and the value of showing up as a real, relatable professional.

This episode was recorded live in the trade exhibition space at NAPSA Congress, so you may hear some background noise throughout. Every effort has been made to optimise the audio while keeping the authentic atmosphere of Congress intact.

Listen in to our latest episode as Kristin chats with Josh Schiller, a Accredited Practising Dietitian, about navigating the world of nutritional supplements and vitamins in pharmacy practice. Josh breaks down which products he would recommend, the key interactions between diet, vitamins, and prescription medicines that you need to know about and the age old question, do you really need that multi-vitamin.

From green leafy vegetables to food-drug interactions that can impact therapy outcomes, this episode will help you confidently guide your patients through the supplement aisle and beyond.

We talk to Gary Bain (AKA the wound guy) about the integumentary system, the stages of wound healing, the advantages of good old fashioned clean water for wound cleaning, guiding principles of dressing changes for inflammatory phase vs proliferation phase, when to use different types of dressings e.g hydrocolloid, the benefits of a wound selfie to check progress, advantages of compression bandages for accelerating wound repair, the importance of moisturising a closed wound and busting wound management myths.