Purple Pen Podcast

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.

We talked with, Dr Eleni Yiasemides (board-certified consultant Dermatologist specialist from Sydney) about

*Inappropriate indications for topical corticosteroids (cortisones) like perioral dermatitis when less is usually more

*The verdict on combination products corticosteroids + anti fungal creams and when to use them

*Busting myths on topical corticosteroids like "apply sparingly"

*The issue of tachyphylaxis

*Practice points about alcohol based treatments, preservatives and fragrance

*Alternative topical therapy other than corticosteroids

*Best practice for managing skin health (moisture, hydration and occlusion) alongside medicated treatment like corticosteroids

Read further

Perioral dermatitis

https://dermnetnz.org/topics/periorificial-dermatitis

RACGP

https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2021/september/selection-of-a-corticosteroid

The Australasian College of Dermatologists

https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ACD-Fact-Sheet-Topical-corticosteroids-and-eczema-April-2024.pdf

We're marking World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week 2025 with an episode dedicated entirely to antibiotics, the medicines we rely on every day and the ones we need to protect.

We're joined by Caroline Chen, a senior antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist and project officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, for a deep dive into all things antibiotics. Together, we walk through the ABCs of commonly used antibiotics, or more accurately the B through T, including beta-lactams, clindamycin, doxycycline, macrolides, metronidazole, nitrofurantoin, quinolones, rifampicin and trimethoprim.

This episode highlights how these medicines work and when we use them and key counselling points. Antibiotics are a finite resource, and understanding them is one of the most powerful tools we have to preserve their effectiveness for the future.

Listen in as Kristin chats with Dr Angela Kwong, a Sydney-based General Practitioner with a special interest in medically supervised weight management, about the use of GLP-1 agonists.

Dr Kwong serves as the NSW State Lead for the RACGP Specific Interests Group in Obesity Management and works closely with colleagues across disciplines to improve care for people living with obesity. She is also the founder of Enlighten Me, a multidisciplinary online program that provides evidence-based, GP-led support for patients seeking weight management. The program has been recognised for its contribution to patient education and its focus on accessible, stigma-free care.

Additional GLP-1 reading:

1. GLP-1 agonist role in renal protection - FLOW Trial

1a. Digestible summary of the FLOW trial

2. Current ANZCA guidelines for anaesthesia / sedation in patients using GLP-1 agonists (May 2025)

3. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity