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.

In this episode the limbic talks to Associate Professor Peter Wong, convenor of this years' scientific meeting, about the highlights from the hybrid event.

Professor Paul Zimmet believes that serendipity and chance have played a central role in his career. From reading an article on diabetes in a discarded Lancet during a cold London Christmas to finding himself sitting on a beach next to a director of the World Health Organisation, he’s embraced opportunities that arose from being in the right place at the right time. Lucky breaks aside, Professor Zimmet’s hard work and determination have undoubtedly led to his string of achievements in the world of diabetes and obesity. He founded the International Diabetes Institute and his epidemiological studies have predicted and charted the global type 2 diabetes epidemic. He was integral to the establishment of the National Diabetes Strategy and continues to advise governments on ways to manage diabetes and obesity. In this episode, we talk to Professor Zimmet about his career highlights, how he works to inspire policy makers to get behind a cause, and his two current passions: establishing a registry for more insight into the link between COVID and diabetes, and researching technology that has the potential to revolutionise the way we handle insulin. LISTEN NOW

Tackling some of the biggest global challenges from respiratory health in the face of climate change to fighting big tobacco and COVID-19 as well as highlighting important developments in respiratory genetics and technology - this year's TSANZSRS conference covered a lot of ground. In this podcast the limbic talks to Professor Gary Anderson, Associate Professor Lucy Burr and Danny Brazzale about their highlights from the 2021 meeting.

The largest survey of Australia’s healthcare workers has highlighted the sharp rise in mental health symptoms experienced by doctors and health care workers around the country throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Australian Frontline Healthcare Workers Study was distributed nationally in September last year at the height of Victoria’s COVID-19 second wave amid nearly four months of strict lockdown, receiving record responses. Over eight weeks close to 10,0000 healthcare workers participated in the survey speaking of burnout, feeling unsafe at work, and frustration with misplaced funding and inadequate quick fixes. Detailed stories from senior clinicians, junior doctors, allied health workers and hospital administrators have revealed the magnitude of mental health symptoms experienced throughout the crisis: More than half of survey respondents had depression, while 70% of participants experienced emotional exhaustion and 41% experienced post traumatic stress disorder as measured on validated psychological scales. In this podcast lead investigators respiratory physician Associate Professor Natasha Smallwood and health sociologist Professor Karen Willis talk to the limbic about the key findings from their analysis and what Australia's healthcare workers say about how inevitable future crises should be handled to protect the mental health of frontline workers.

Professor Dan Chambers was alarmed when he began seeing new cases of silicosis in dozens of young men in Queensland in 2018. The cases triggered a nationwide audit of the manufacturing stone industry, revealing that hundreds of workers have contracted the potentially fatal disease as a result of workplace safety breaches. The occupational lung condition is now said to be at epidemic levels in Australia. Knowing that many more young men would need help, Professor Chambers, Thoracic Transplant Physician at Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, and his colleagues began investigating an established technique – lung lavage – as a potential treatment. In this episode we talk to Professor Chambers about the procedure that has already been used to effectively treat six men with early stage silicosis and the plans to roll the program out across other states.

In this podcast Dr Hash Abdeen, Chair of the AMAs Council of Doctors in Training talks to the limbic about how the medical profession's hierarchal structure continues to breed a culture of systemic bullying, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the profession to look at new approaches to training and assessing junior doctors that could finally address the bottleneck leaving many trainees unable to move out of pre-vocational and unaccredited training.

Oncologist, acclaimed author and journalist Dr Ranjana Srivastava talks to the limbic about the responsibility of practicing the art of empathy in medicine, negotiating difficult conversations and what she's learned from her patients over two decades about dying well. Ranjana Srivastava is an oncologist, award-winning author and columnist for The Guardian. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her work on doctor-patient communication. Her book, Dying for a Chat: the communication breakdown between doctors and patients, won the 2013 human rights literature award.

In this podcast we talk to rheumatologist Dr Gabor Major, rheumatology clinical nurse consultant Fiona Nidddrie and research fellow Dr David Tunnicliffe from the Adolescent and Young Adult with Rheumatic Disease (AYARD) clinic at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle about the role clinicians play in helping young rheumatology patients transition to adult healthcare. They share fascinating insights from their study that investigates how young rheumatology patients and their parents experience transition care. With up to half of adolescent patients who move to adult care lost to follow-up within 2 years, their findings shed a light on what can change to improve adolescent outcomes into adulthood.

In this podcast we speak to CSANZ President Professor Clara Chow about her thoughts on where SGLT2 inhibitors will fit into clinical practice, how the ongoing affects of COVID-19 will impact the delivery of cardiac services as well as her thoughts on what 2021 will bring to the field of cardiology in Australia.

A year into the coronavirus pandemic and now with a vaccine finally approved by the TGA for use in Australia we speak with TSANZ president Professor Bruce Thompson about vaccine rollout and how COVID-19 will continue to affect the field of respiratory medicine. We also talk about TSANZs controversial position on e-cigarettes, the devastating lung condition silicosis and how changing the language we use to talk about respiratory conditions could help make the biggest difference to patient outcomes in 2021.