Racs Post Op Podcast

Due to COVID-19 many events were cancelled last year, including the College’s 2020 Annual Scientific Congress. But, with a lot of planning and plenty of hard work from all involved, ASC coordinator Dr Liz McLeod is looking forward – as we all are – to the 2021 Congress to be held from May 10 – 14. In this episode, Dr McLeod explains the theme of the ASC and what participants can look forward to. For more information about RACS ASC 2021, please visit: https://asc.surgeons.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COVID-19 has greatly affected the way we’ve all worked in the last 12 months. If there’s a silver lining, it would be the fact that surgeons and their patients can rely on technology to talk to each other online. The College conducted a survey with several hundred Fellows and patients and their attitudes towards using telehealth services. The response? Overwhelmingly positive, says Professor Mark Frydenberg, who explains the results of the survey in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In April, orthopaedic surgeon Associate Professor Claudia Di Bella, and her team at BioFab3D, trademarked a revolutionary new method of stem cell transplantation. Located within St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne,  the 3D laboratory is Australia's first hospital-based bio-fabrication lab. In this episode Assoc. Prof. Di Bella explains how its cartilage project aims to build biological structures with the use of stem cells printed within a gelatinous scaffold, and then cultured in 3D. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The title of the 2021 Annual Scientific Congress is ‘Celebrating the Art of Surgery in a Time of Disruption’. After cancellation of the 2020 Congress due to COVID-19, the 89th ASC is expected to be a hybrid of in-attendance and online events. Convenor, Professor Wendy Brown, discusses the challenges and rewards of preparing for what will be the most interesting ASC yet. For more information, please visit asc.surgeons.org  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since 1992, RACS Councillor Associate Professor Kerin Fielding has lived and worked in the NSW Riverina city of Wagga Wagga. As an orthopaedic surgeon practicing in a regional part of the Australia, she's cognisant how health outcomes for people in rural areas are impacted by the lack of facilities and medical professionals. Using her own experience as an example, she'd like everyone to know how country areas are uniquely rewarding for surgeons and their careers, as well as being great places to live. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Associate Professor Payal Mukherjee is completing a PhD in new technologies in ear surgery. As one of few females studying technology, she's pushing for greater female participation in STEM disciplines – that is, Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics.  Assoc. Prof. Mukherjee is an Ear, Nose, Throat Surgeon with a special interest in ear surgery.  She's Deputy Chair of the RACS State Committee of New South Wales and an Associate Professor of Surgery at The University of Sydney. And, she was a finalist in the 2019 New South Wales Premier's Woman of the Year Award. In this episode Assoc. Prof. Mukherjee explains why she chose surgery as a vocation and how rewarding it's been for her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To promote flexible training and encourage take-up across the profession, RACS have published new resources on their website, including a toolkit with tips for establishing flexible roles and a series of interviews with surgeons and Trainees who have experienced it personally. For more information about flexible training go to: www.surgeons.org/flexibletraining   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experienced vascular surgeon Dr Bernard Bourke founded his surgical practice in Gosford, NSW, in 1986. In recent years, his son Dr Victor Bourke has joined him at Central Coast Vascular. The Bourkes explain their passion for surgery, their love of learning, and what it’s like to work closely together. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Priya Nandoskar is one of two Fellows selected to participate in a pilot coordinated by the RACS Specialist Training Program for new Fellows in regional and rural areas. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, the program is designed to offer Fellows a comprehensive, high-quality experience outside the big cities. Based in Darwin for her twelve-month placement, Dr Nandoskar discusses her highlights so far and how worthwhile the program has been. Specialist Training Program https://www.surgeons.org/en/Education/specialist-training-program See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 6 October 2020, Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivered a big-spending budget in a year where the economy has been hit hard by unprecedented events. Michael Waycott, Director at The Bongiorno National Network, looks at the takeouts from the budget for those in the medical profession and for surgeons in particular. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since its establishment, the One College Transformation program has been gaining momentum. It was designed to help streamline processes and deliver more reliable data among the College’s many people working and learning across various fields and locations on both sides of the Tasman. To provide an update on its progress we turn to John Biviano, Chief Executive Officer at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He explains how One College Transformation Program is changing the way Fellows, Trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates engage with the College. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2019, the Australian Government Department of Health approved a proposal from the RACS Specialist Training Program to coordinate a pilot for New Fellows in regional and rural areas. It was designed in consultation with the RACS Rural Surgery Section to give them a comprehensive, high-quality experience, outside the big cities. Dr Michael Basedow is one of two Fellows funded by the Australian Government Department of Health through the Specialist Training Program. He explains his involvement in the program and highlights so far.  Specialist Training Program https://www.surgeons.org/en/Education/specialist-training-program See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons comprises more than 9000 Fellows, Trainees, International Medical Graduates and Staff. With so many people working and learning across various fields and different regions, a program was recently established to help streamline processes and deliver more reliable member data. The initiative is called ‘One College Transformation’; it’s a huge task which aims to reform organisational structure and capabilities, governance, and communication channels. Instrumental to its establishment is Dr Richard Perry – a colorectal surgeon and, until recently, RACS Vice President – who explains the background of the program. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Dr Nitin Verma – For the past 16 years, leading Hobart ophthalmologist Dr Nitin Verma has taken his skills, passion and determination to Timor Leste to combat the serious issue of eye disease in that poverty-stricken nation. In the process he and his teams of volunteers have transformed the lives of thousands. Dr Verma discusses the development of his East Timor Eye Program since its small beginnings in the year 2000. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

COVID-19 has affected the way many people in the community communicate with their health professionals.  Fortunately, great strides had already been taken in the use of Telehealth – that is, the provision of health via online technology. An advocate for Telehealth is Prof. Mark Frydenberg, a urological surgeon and Chairman of the Department of Urology at Monash Health in Melbourne. In this episode, Prof. Frydenberg discusses the advantages Telehealth has brought to both patients and medical professionals.

Forty-one years after first arriving in the Northern Territory, general surgeon Assoc. Prof. Phillip Carson has retired from clinical practice. He talks about his career highlights in the Top End, including his immense satisfaction being involved with the local and surgical communities of the NT.  Assoc. Prof. Carson continues his active engagement with the College - in surgical education, governance of cancer services, and facilitating the delivery of surgical services across Australia's vast and remote areas.

The RACS Morbidity Audit and Logbook tool (MALT) has been useful to electronically log procedures, conduct self-audit and peer-review audit. Paediatric surgeon Mr Paul Jackson uses MALT for recording his own personal data as a surgeon as well as mentoring trainees by examining their data. Mr Jackson works as a specialist Paediatric Surgeon and Paediatric Urologist at Wellington Children's Hospital, New Zealand. He is also a Clinical Senior Lecturer for the School of Medicine & Health Sciences at the University of Otago in Wellington. In this episode he explains the benefits of MALT for both mentors and their trainees.

When general surgeon Dr Ruth Bollard migrated to Australia from England in 2006, she chose Victoria's regional city of Ballarat to established her own practice. She says rural and regional areas like Ballarat offer terrific lifestyle opportunities. Dr Bollard would like to encourage more medical specialists to consider regional and rural areas, which can offer fulfilling professional opportunities too.

In April, orthopaedic surgeon Associate Professor Claudia Di Bella, and her team at BioFab3D, trademarked a revolutionary new method of stem cell transplantation. Located within St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne,  the 3D laboratory is Australia's first hospital-based bio-fabrication lab. In this episode Assoc. Prof. Di Bella explains how its cartilage project aims to build biological structures with the use of stem cells printed within a gelatinous scaffold, and then cultured in 3D.

Overcrowding, lack of running water, poor hygiene, nutrition, lack of access to medical care – all are symptoms of acute poverty into which Aboriginal children are born in remote corners of Australia. And they're the reasons why indigenous children have the highest rates of middle ear infection in the world. For forty years Paediatric Otolaryngologist Dr Harvey Coates has spent up to several weeks each year providing treatment to the most vulnerable of Australian children, and continues to lead the charge of better health outcomes for children and ear disease. Dr Coates was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2005 for his work and research in paediatric otolaryngology and ear disease in Aboriginal children.