RACS Post Op Podcasts
Overview
RACS Post Op Podcast features extended interviews each fortnight on articles from Surgical News magazine, plus practical advice that surgeons can implement in their practices, including insights on financial management and wealth creation, legal and tax advice and economic forecasts.
Where to listen
Listen to Post Op Podcast in your favourite podcast app on your mobile. Subscribing is free and ensures that you receive the latest episodes as soon as they are available. Or you can listen below right from this website.
Latest episodes
Striving for better Indigenous health
The Surgical Education and Training (SET) One-Year scholarship that Dr Jamie-Lee Rahiri received is an opportunity she says to help continue her passion to promote health equity among Indigenous people, particularly among the Māori and Pacifika community of Aotearoa New Zealand. That passion is exemplified by many things she’s done, including her PhD research, which focused on investigating equity in access to bariatric surgery for Māori, and also understanding how health benefits could be optimised for Māori post-surgery. Having a safe and supportive workplace – that’s inclusive of everyone – is an important step, she says, for the greater good of patients.
Welcome the new RACS President
This month, we welcome the College’s new president, Associate Professor Kerin Fielding. Based in the New South Wales regional centre of Wagga Wagga since 1992, Associate Professor Fielding has been a role model to younger surgeons working in rural areas.
Pathway for specialist international medical graduates
Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) with formal postgraduate specialist qualifications in surgery who wish to work in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand can apply to RACS for an assessment of their qualifications and experience. Graeme Campbell, Clinical Director for SIMG Assessment & Support at RACS, explains the application process.
RACS 2023 ASC – Equity in Surgery
The 2023 RACS Annual Scientific Congress will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on 1-5 May. There’s been a lot of work behind the scenes to prepare for what should be an exciting event, with a variety of topics and speakers. The theme this year is ‘Equity in Surgery’. The Convener of the 2023 RACS ASC is Professor Amal Abou-Hamden, who discusses the event’s details in this episode.
Great strides in combating trauma
RACS’ Trauma Committee has been pivotal in helping prevent acute trauma in the community. That includes encouraging surgeons to pursue a trauma specialty. Instrumental to its success is Dr Li Hsee, who stepped down as Chair of the Aotearoa New Zealand Trauma Committee in late 2022, after eight years in the role.
It’s hip to be active – from world champ to surgeon
Dr Mat Brick’s journey into the world of surgery wasn’t the most conventional. He studied at medical school, but shifted direction to focus on running and cycling. He is a two-time world champion duathlete and he’s represented Aotearoa New Zealand at the world championship level in cycling. That passion for sports and activity-related injury enticed him back to the medical fold as an orthopaedic surgeon.
Pride in Medicine - building awareness and respect
WorldPride is the biggest event on the world’s LGBTQIA+ calendar. This year, it’s being hosted by Sydney and RACS is participating in alongside several other medical colleges. The involvement has come about through the advocacy of a new LGBTQIA+ community, Pride in Medicine. Two key figures of the group are Dr Matt Marino, a surgical Fellow who is President of Pride in Medicine and Dr Sarah Rennie, Aotearoa New Zealand Surgical Advisor and a driver of this initiative for RACS. Both participated in the Mardi Gras parade.
Freeing up cashflow for surgeons
Interest rates are rising and that means cash flow is tight for everyone, including those in the medical profession. That’s according to Nick Fennessy, Director and Partner at the the Bongiorno Group. He joins Mark Bremner, the Bongiorno Group’s Senior Financial Consultant, to discuss options for surgeons who are looking to get ahead financially in the near and long term.
Debut novel shines light on gruelling surgical career
The Registrar is written by debut author, Dr Neela Janakiramanan, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon specialising in hands and wrists. She tells the story through protagonist Emma Swann, a surgical registrar who not only is overwhelmed by a punishing schedule, she’s also confronted by bullying and harassment.
From patient to doctor: a desire for change
Ben Bravery was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in his late 20s. That led to many months of treatment and much of his time in hospital wards and doctors’ clinics. His memoir, the Patient Doctor, shines a light on what needs to change to ensure the patient is at the heart of healthcare.
Surgical practice: owning your own room
There comes a time in a surgeon’s career when they’ll start to think about obtaining their own medical practice. It’s a big decision, with a substantial financial outlay.
A new foundational course in surgical robotics
Technology in surgery continues to evolve in leaps and bounds, particularly the advances of robotics. A little under 20 years ago, Professor Tony Costello performed the first radical prostatectomy using robotics in Australia.
Trauma prevention: within four walls
The incidents of domestic violence resulting in trauma (injury) would probably shock a lot of people. In Australia, a report from the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare showed that more than 29,000 people had at least one hospital stay due to family and domestic violence in the seven years between 2010-11 and 2017-18.
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The Pasifika Medical Association: serving the pacific
Since 1996, the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) has worked closely with governments and communities to meet the health needs of people across the Pacific region.
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Behind the curtain: ANZ Journal of Surgery
First published in 1931, the ANZ Journal of Surgery is a prestigious publication serving the surgical community in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia
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Eyes on the battle against Type 2 Diabetes
Dr Muecke is championing action to prevent Type 2 diabetes – a preventable disease and the leading cause of blindness in Australian adults.
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A tree change with RACS’s New Fellow Rural Place
As a new Fellow, Dr Zainab Naseem was hoping to achieve a more comfortable work-life balance when she came across an advertisement for the New Fellow Rural Placement – or NFRP – on the College’s website.
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How to prepare for a RACS Surgical Education and Training interview
One of the requirements for Surgical Trainees is the RACS Surgical Education and Training interview. If you’re a junior doctor who has yet to face your questioners, don’t fear!
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Important Australian superannuation changes
Before the Australian federal election, the Coalition had legislated a number of changes to superannuation, which came into effect in July this year. What are those changes and what do you need to do to take advantage of tax concessions with your own super? For answers we turn to Michael Walsh, CEO of chartered accountants and financial advisors, Walshs.
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Two surgeons stitched together in marriage
Have you ever thought what it’s like to be married to another surgeon? Well, for married surgical couple Dr Sandra Krishnan and Dr Adrian Fernandez, it’s been a blessing, not only for each other (of course!) but also for the surgical work they do.
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Insider’s tips on getting into surgical training
There comes a time when a medical student or junior doctor decides to proceed on the path of a surgical career. The first step is the process of surgical training, education, and assessment conduct by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
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Doctors breaking world records for melanoma awareness
Despite decades of media campaigns, more work still needs to be done to raise the awareness and treatment of skin cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia – two countries with the highest rates of melanoma in the world.
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What’s behind pregnancy complications among female doctors?
An Australian-first study investigating fertility and pregnancy complications among Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand doctors discovered greater pregnancy complications than the general population.
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John Corboy medalist’s commitment to help others
RACS is proud to announce the 2022 John Corboy Medal is awarded to Dr Amanda Nikolic, who has worked tirelessly to help surgical Trainees.
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Norway’s vision of zero road deaths
In 2019, Norway’s capital of Oslo recorded just one death from a traffic accident. From a peak of 570 annual roads deaths in the 1970s nationwide, in recent years Norway’s toll has been reduced to just 80 deaths a year.
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An advocate for quality and safety
Health care delivery has shifted from one of blame-seeking to a more enlightened and sophisticated understanding of a modern complex system. That’s according to Dr Mark O’Brien, Associate Fellow & Programme Director, Oxford Healthcare Leadership Programme, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
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Australian federal budget take-outs for surgeons
Michael Waycott, Director of The Bongiorno Group, discusses the key take-outs for surgeons in Australia.
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A determined path to a surgical career
Dr Samantha Pillay graduated from the University of Adelaide Medical School in 1992 to become the first female urological surgeon in South Australia.
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Time for a name change?
RACS is considering a proposal to change the name of the College following a request from our Fellowship.
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How SET selection helps health outcomes for rural people
Associate Professor Matthias Wichmann and recent general surgical SET trainee Dr Matt Watson discuss the benefits of the program and the attraction of working and living rurally.
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Delivering respect in surgery
Ruth Friedman is the external evaluator of the RACS Building Respect Action Plan, who has been evaluating its work to build a culture of respect in surgery.
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Wellbeing Charter for Doctors - a chat with Dr Ruth Bollard & Dr Eric Levi
We speak to Dr Ruth Bollard, Chair of the RACS Wellbeing Working Group, and Dr Eric Levi, a member of the working group. Dr Bollard and Dr Levi are both passionate advocates for shining the spotlight on doctors’ wellbeing.
Building respect through a new information-sharing protocol
Censor-in-Chief, Dr Adrian Anthony explains how the information-sharing protocol is about supporting patient safety through a culture of respect.
Combating the rise of mental illness (Re-release)
Dr Geoffrey Toogood champions mental health support for fellow medical professionals and the general public.
Phasing out of gendered titles
Dr Christine Lai encourages surgeons to replace gendered titles with Doctor or academic titles.
Doing your bit for the environment
Dr Ben Dunne discusses what medical professionals can do to reduce their impact on the environment.
Important changes to income protection insurance
Michael Waycott, Director of The Bongiorno Group, discusses important changes to income protection insurance.
Eyes on the battle against Type 2 Diabetes
Dr James Muecke is championing action to prevent Type 2 diabetes – a preventable disease and the leading cause of blindness in Australian adults.
Welcome to the new RACS Vice President – Dr Lawrie Malisano
New RACS Vice President, Dr Lawrie Malisano, discusses his role and the opportunities ahead.
Foundation for Surgery’s support in the Pacific
Dr Trevor Cullwick, Head of Department of Surgery and Orthopaedic surgeon in Vanuatu, discusses his career and experiences working in a remote Pacific-island nation.
Tax planning before June 30
Michael Walsh (CEO of chartered accountants and financial advisors, Walshs) outlines some of the major tax considerations for surgeons in Australia.
Welcome to the new RACS President – Dr Sally Langley
New RACS President, Dr Sally Langley discusses her role and the challenges and opportunities facing the College in the near future.