the limbic

This January saw the roll out of the Medical Board of Australia’s updated CPD requirements – all registered doctors are now required to complete 50 hours of CPD annually – this includes preparing a professional development plan, and at least 25 hours spent on activities related to reviewing performance and measuring outcomes.

Now four months into the program, Chair of the Medical Board of Australia, Dr Anne Tonkin speaks to the limbic about the changes – why they were introduced, how the 50 hours are broken down, what the professional development plan looks like and her thoughts on how the changes will impact clinicians.

In this first of two episodes, we speak to two leading UK haematologists, Dr Robin Sanderson (King’s College London) and Dr Caroline Besley (Bristol), about the innovative way in which CAR-T was introduced in the UK, the challenges that have been overcome, including the impact of Covid-19, and what they have learnt so far about using this highly personalised therapy.

In this podcast senior researcher at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Dr Thomas Tu discusses the latest developments in hepatitis B presented at this year’s GESA scientific meeting - from new treatments under development that bring the promise of cure closer to public health viral elimination strategies.

And Dr Avik Majumdar, transplant hepatologist at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney shares his highlights from the Liver stream discussing new data identifying sub groups and prognosis in decompensated cirrhosis, new treatment developments in  primary sclerosing cholangitis and liver disease and the increasing role of non-invasive evaluation on prognosis in liver disease.

New FH guidance signal the shift into the era of genetic medicine for cardiologists according to specialists who foresee increased numbers of individuals being identified with heritable gene mutations from the recent publicly funded genetic testing.

The. updated Guidance released earlier this year covers updates in diagnosis and genetic testing , risk stratification, management and the latest evidence around new treatments.

In this episode lipid specialist Associate Professor David Sullivan and genetics counsellor Catherine Spinks discuss the details of the genetic test and how it fits into diagnosis and screening protocols. And paediatric cardiologist Dr Ari Horton joins us to discuss how the introduction of the MBS funded genetic test will provide the very real opportunity to expand the number of potential cases detected.

In this podcast Associate Professor James Chong, scientific program chair, discusses the latest translational research discussed at this year’s scientific meeting – from new stem cell technologies that will reduce the need for heart transplantations to the clinical consequences of cardiac fibrosis and opportunities for treatment.

Professor Liza Thomas, cardiac imaging stream lead, also shares her highlights discussing new data presented on myocardial function post COVID, the emerging field of cardio-oncology and the role of imaging in sub-clinical heart failure.

In this MOGA 21 highlights episode Dr Christina Teng, winner of this year's YOGA oral abstract prize, discusses her work looking into just how long chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) persists that provides some fascinating insights that could help clinicians discuss the side effect with patients.

We also speak to Dr Wei Hong, winner of this year's poster presentation, who discusses his latest work looking into a new approach to conducting oncology clinical trials that could save much needed time and money.

While ANCA-associated vasculitis can be described, in short, as damage to small blood vessels, there is a whole raft of different manifestations and symptoms to unravel to get to a diagnosis. The skin may be involved, as may the heart, kidneys, lungs, sinuses, the eyes, ears and nervous system - with management strategies dictated by the extent and severity to which organs are involved.

In part two of our episode on vasculitis Dr Tony Sammel and Dr Daman Langguth share their experiences and tips diagnosing and treating ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Dr Daman Langguth is VMO at Wesley Hospital, Brisbane, Director of Immunology and Chair of Partners Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology and Treasurer of the Australian and New Zealand Vasculitis Society.

Dr Tony Sammel is staff specialist in rheumatology at Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick and Sydney Eye Hospitals, where he coordinates the rheumatology vasculitis service, he has teaching appointments at the University of NSW and is Director of the Australian and New Zealand Vasculitis Society.

Clinicians who treat vasculitis are familiar with uncertainty.  In its many forms, and with no single sign, symptom or investigation strong enough to confirm a diagnosis, vasculitis presents an extensive list of challenges in a setting where diagnostic delay can lead to devastating consequences.

In episode three of our Rheumatology Advanced Trainee series we deep dive into two types of vasculitis -  giant cell arteritis (GCA) here in part 1 and ANCA-associated vasculitis next week in part 2. You'll hear Dr Tony Sammel and Dr Daman Langguth discuss what they’ve learned about how to diagnose the rare condition and how to best support patients through treatment decisions and relapse. They’ll share tips on how to overcome some of the challenges associated with ruling out other more common conditions, making decisions around imaging and biopsy as well as discussing some of the latests evidence around treatments.

With many practical tips and insights this episode is a great listen.

Dr Daman Langguth is VMO at Wesley Hospital, Brisbane, director of Immunology and chair of Partners Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology and treasurer of the Australian and New Zealand Vasculitis Society.

Dr Tony Sammel is staff specialist in rheumatology at Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick and Sydney Eye Hospitals, where he coordinates the rheumatology vasculitis service, he has teaching appointments at the University of NSW and is Director of the Australian and New Zealand Vasculitis Society.

This series is a collaboration with the Australian Rheumatology Association and the limbic. New episodes of season one will be drop every week over the next four weeks, so be sure to follow the limbic podcast in your favourite podcast app so you don’t miss out. You can also visit us at the limbic to get all the latest rheumatology news delivered to your email.

On episode 2 of our podcast series for rheumatology advanced trainees we share a fascinating conversation on fibromyalgia with the inspiring Dr Sam Whittle, Dr Emma Guymer and Dr Richard Kwiatek.

This series is a collaboration with the Australian Rheumatology Association and the limbic. New episodes of season one will  drop every week over the next four weeks, so be sure to follow the limbic podcast in your favourite podcast app so you don’t miss out. You can also visit us at the limbic to get all the latest rheumatology news delivered to your email.

In this conversation you'll hear about how each practitioner has come to accept and work with the ambiguity that comes with a  fibromyalgia diagnosis.  They’ll share tips on how to talk to patients with about their diagnosis, the ins and outs of working in the public and private setting, overcoming treatment challenges, as well as discussing the rewards that come with being able to walk alongside patients through a journey to self management.

Dr Emma Guymer has been engaged in clinical care and research with fibromyalgia patients for over 20 years. She currently heads the Monash Fibromyalgia Clinic at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne.

Dr Richard Kwiatek works primarily in private rheumatology practice and has a long-standing clinical and research interest in medically unexplained pain and fatigue syndromes.

Dr Sam Whittle is a senior consultant rheumatologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide and a senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide He is a Board member of the Australian Rheumatology Association and sits on the Steering Committee of the South Australian Statewide Chronic Pain Clinical Network.