Podcasts by RACS Post Op Podcast

Resilience and sustainability in the Northern Territory from 2023-06-20T20:00

For nearly 20 years, general and acute care physician Dr Simon Quilty has witnessed up-close the poverty that inflicts indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. The conditions are exacer...

A surgeon’s journey from Texas to Queensland from 2023-06-06T20:00

When Dr Emilia Dauway decided to relocate to regional Queensland from Texas, she didn’t intend for it to be permanent.

The 40-bed Queensland hospital she relocated to was a far cry from t...

Striving for better Indigenous health from 2023-05-23T20:00

The Surgical Education & 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 Indigeno...

Welcome the new RACS President from 2023-05-09T20:00

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, Assoc Prof Fielding has been a rol...

Pathway for specialist international medical graduates from 2023-04-26T00:09:40

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 a...

RACS 2023 ASC – Equity in Surgery from 2023-04-11T20:00

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, ...

Great strides in combating trauma from 2023-03-28T19:00

RACS’s 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 ...

It’s hip to be active – from world champ to surgeon from 2023-03-14T19:00

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 champi...

Pride in Medicine – building awareness and respect from 2023-03-01T02:58:03

WorldPride is the biggest event on the world’s LGBTQIA+ calendar. This year, it’s being hosted by Sydney – the first time WorldPride is held in the Southern hemisphere – coinciding with the icon...

Freeing up cashflow for surgeons from 2023-02-14T19:00

Economically, it’s a tough time right now. Interest rates are rising, there are labour shortages, residential rents are up, house prices are down, almost everything is more expensive – all these...

Debut novel shines light on gruelling surgical career from 2023-01-31T19:00

A new novel shines the light on excessive workloads faced by junior doctors and specialist trainees. The Registrar is written by debut author, Dr Neela Janakiramanan, a plastic and reconstructiv...

What’s behind pregnancy complications among female doctors? (Re-release) from 2023-01-17T19:00

An Australian-first study investigating fertility and pregnancy complications among Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand doctors discovered greater pregnancy complications than the general popula...

Norway’s vision of zero road deaths (Re-release) from 2023-01-03T19:00

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 ...

A determined path to a surgical career (Re-release) from 2022-12-20T19:00

Dr Samantha Pillay graduated from the University of Adelaide Medical School in 1992 to become the first female urological surgeon in South Australia.  From a very early age a physical condition ...

From patient to doctor – a desire for change from 2022-12-06T19:00

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. He was confronted with over-wo...

Surgical practice: owning your own room from 2022-11-22T19:00

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. There’s much to conside...

A new foundational course in surgical robotics from 2022-11-08T23:14:30

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 prostatecto...

Trauma prevention: within four walls from 2022-10-25T19:00

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 mor...

The Pasifika Medical Association: serving the pacific from 2022-10-11T19:00

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. The PMA helps boost the workf...

Behind the curtain: ANZ Journal of Surgery from 2022-09-28T05:28:23

First published in 1931, the ANZ Journal of Surgery is a prestigious publication serving the surgical community in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia It’s purpose? To publish articles that furth...

Eyes on the battle against Type 2 Diabetes (Re-release) from 2022-09-13T20:00

In 2020, Dr Muecke was awarded Australian of the Year in recognition for his many decades of pioneering blindness prevention, particularly in South East Asia. He cofounded ‘Vision Myanmar’ and ‘...

A tree change with RACS’s New Fellow Rural Place from 2022-08-31T01:07:37

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...

How to prepare for a RACS Surgical Education and Training interview from 2022-08-16T20:00

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! With the right pr...

Important Australian superannuation changes from 2022-08-02T20:00

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 ...

Two surgeons stitched together in marriage from 2022-07-19T20:00

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...

Insider’s tips on getting into surgical training from 2022-07-06T01:41:27

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 cond...

Doctors breaking world records for melanoma awareness from 2022-06-20T01:32:57

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 high...

What’s behind pregnancy complications among female doctors? from 2022-06-07T20:00

An Australian-first study investigating fertility and pregnancy complications among Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand doctors discovered greater pregnancy complications than the general popula...

John Corboy medalist’s commitment to help others from 2022-05-24T20:00

Since 2010, the College has awarded the John Corboy Medal in recognition of exceptional service of surgical Trainees. The medal is named after Dr John Corboy, former Chair of RACS Trainee Associ...

Norway’s vision of zero road deaths from 2022-05-10T20:00

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 b...

An advocate for quality and safety from 2022-04-26T20:00

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, Asso...

Australian federal budget take-outs for surgeons from 2022-04-12T20:00

Although the Australian federal election had yet to be announced, it was very much on the minds of everybody when the Australian federal budget was delivered by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on the ...

A determined path to a surgical career from 2022-03-29T19:00

Dr Samantha Pillay graduated from the University of Adelaide Medical School in 1992 to become the first female urological surgeon in South Australia.  From a very early age a physical condi...

Time for a name change? from 2022-03-15T22:21:05

RACS is considering a proposal to change the name of the College following a request from our Fellowship. RACS Council appointed a working party to progress the matter and it was agreed that an ...

Embracing digital health technologies for better care from 2022-03-02T03:44

Surgeons have benefited greatly in recent years with a range of digital tools allowing them to innovate, learn and communicate with patients. One benefit of digital health technologies is that t...

Experiences of flexible surgical training from 2022-02-01T19:00

Flexible training increases diversity in the surgical workforce by enabling Trainees to broaden their experience and pursue wider interests and opportunities while progressing towards Fellowship...

A life-time of service in the NT (Re-release) from 2022-01-04T19:00

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 En...

How SET selection helps health outcomes for rural people from 2021-12-14T23:13:32

The Surgical Education and Training (SET) Program is designed to ensure surgical trainees become competent surgeons to the communities they serve, which include regional areas of Australian and ...

Delivering respect in surgery from 2021-11-30T19:00

It’s been almost six years since the College commenced work on the Building Respect Improving Patient Safety initiative.  A 2015 investigation led by an expert advisory group...

Wellbeing Charter for Doctors from 2021-11-16T19:00

The Wellbeing Charter for Doctors was created by medical colleges to signify the importance of the role that such colleges, hospitals and health jurisdictions have to play to support doctors and...

Benefits of surgical overseas volunteering (Re-release) from 2021-11-02T19:00

Volunteering overseas is a goal for many doctors. While it’s not for the faint hearted it’s also incredibly rewarding, as Dr Thomas Schaefer, an orthopaedic surgeon in Western Austra...

Building respect through a new information-sharing protocol from 2021-10-19T19:00

This year a new protocol has been in development aimed at supporting information sharing between the College and hospitals. Instrumental in its evolution is the College’s Censor-in-Chief, ...

Combating the rise of mental illness (Re-release) from 2021-10-05T19:00

After facing his own battle with mental illness, cardiologist Dr Geoffrey Toogood champions mental health support for fellow medical professionals and the general public. He says it's important ...

Phasing out of gendered titles from 2021-09-21T20:00

The only profession that continues to use gendered titles in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand is surgery. Spearheading a push to phase out its archaic and discriminatory usage is Dr Christine ...

Doing your bit for the environment from 2021-09-07T20:00

Climate change and other environmental issues may not be at the front of your mind when you’re dealing with any number of minor or major medical crises. But, it might surprise you how much...

Important changes to income protection insurance from 2021-09-01T20:00

Australian financial regulator APRA has announced major reforms to income protection insurance, which will reduce the amount of benefits available to Australian policy holders . So, if you haven...

Learning and Development Grants: A travelling grant for rural surgeons from 2021-08-24T19:00

RACS Rural Surgery Fellowship for Provincial Surgeons helps provincial surgeons to take time away from their practice to travel and develop existing skills or acquire new skills. Orthopaedic sur...

Improving surgical care with CTANZ from 2021-08-10T20:00

The RACS Clinical Trials Network Australia and New Zealand – or CTANZ – was formed in 2017 to provide a structure for RACS Trainees, Junior Doctors, and medical students to lead &nda...

The benefits of a Learning and Development grant from 2021-07-27T20:00

One of the largest providers of scholarships and grants for the surgical community worldwide is the RACS Foundation for Surgery’s Scholarships and Grants Program, which offers two rounds o...

Eyes on the battle against Type 2 Diabetes from 2021-07-13T20:00

In 2020, Dr Muecke was awarded Australian of the Year in recognition for his many decades of pioneering blindness prevention, particularly in South East Asia. He cofounded ‘Vision Myanmar&...

Welcome to the new RACS Vice President – Dr Lawrie Malisano from 2021-06-29T20:00

In this episode we welcome the new RACS Vice President, orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Lawrie Malisano. Based in Spring Hill, Queensland, Dr Malisano has had numerous roles in the College, including RA...

Foundation for Surgery’s support in the Pacific from 2021-06-15T20:00

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Foundation for Surgery have been instrumental in supporting surgical needs in remote and disadvantaged communities, not only in Australia and N...

Tax planning before June 30 from 2021-06-01T20:00

As we turn the page on another financial year, what do you need to think about between now and June 30? For answers we turn to Michael Walsh, CEO of chartered accountants and financial advisors,...

Welcome to the new RACS President – Dr Sally Langley from 2021-05-18T22:55:57

This month the College extends a warm welcome its new President, Dr Sally Langley, who takes over the role from Dr Tony Sparnon.

Dr Langley is a New Zealand plastic surgeon, former presid...

2021 Australian Budget – A big spender from 2021-05-18T07:43:03

The much-anticipated Federal Budget delivered by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg last week was certainly a big-spending one, particularly in relation to aged-care and mental health.

For comment...

Transitioning from plastic surgeon to sculpture artist from 2021-05-05T02:39:23

After 30 years as a plastic surgeon, Chris Edwards transitioned smoothly into a career as a sculptor. Chris is a former president of the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, who in...

A new and improved system to address complaints from 2021-04-20T20:00

Supportive, confidential, respectful, and non-judgemental – these words best describe new and enhanced complaints process at RACS. As an organisation that furthers the interests of our mem...

Supporting surgeons outside the major cities from 2021-04-07T22:11:22

A common challenge to both New Zealand and Australia is providing medical care for people in remote communities. The College is actively working on issues like workforce recruitment, retention a...

CPD Program is set for a refresh from 2021-03-23T19:00

The RACS Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program is undergoing changes for 2021, providing more flexibility, and with an emphasis on health equity and the importance of cultural compet...

The benefits of scholarship: experiences from two surgeons from 2021-03-09T19:00

Each year RACS provides a number of scholarships through the Foundation of Surgery. Scholarships are important to help surgeons, trainees and health professionals facilitate changes and improve ...

Countdown to the 2021 Annual Scientific Congress from 2021-02-23T19:00

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 co...

RACS telehealth survey – results are in! from 2021-02-09T19:00

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...

Innovators in stem cell transplantation (Re-release) from 2021-01-26T19:00

In April, orthopaedic surgeon Associate Professor Claudia Di Bella, and her team at BioFab3D, trademarked a revolutionary new method of stem cell transplantation. Located w...

The most interesting ASC yet! from 2021-01-12T19:00

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...

In favour of a surgical career outside the capital cities (Re-release) from 2020-12-29T19:00

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 ...

Opening up opportunities for women in surgery (Re-release) from 2020-12-15T19:00

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...

Applauding flexible training from 2020-11-17T19:00

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 ...

Father and son surgical team from 2020-11-03T19:00

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 Bou...

New Fellow Rural Placement in the Top End from 2020-10-20T19:00

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 Austral...

2020 Budget – Takeouts for surgeons from 2020-10-14T05:21:23

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 Bongi...

One College Transformation: improving engagement from 2020-10-06T19:00

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 m...

New Fellow Rural Placement from 2020-09-22T20:00

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 de...

One College Transformation program for all from 2020-09-08T20:00

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 a...

Giving the gift of sight in Timor Leste (Re-release) from 2020-08-24T20:00

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 dise...

The importance of Telehealth in a pandemic from 2020-08-10T20:00

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 – t...

A life-time of service in the NT from 2020-07-28T20:00

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 En...

MALT: a useful tool for mentors and trainees from 2020-07-14T20:00

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 reco...

A migrant's journey to practice in regional Victoria from 2020-06-30T20:00

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...

Innovators in stem cell transplantation from 2020-06-16T20:00

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...

Tackling ear infections in remote indigenous regions of Australia (Re-release) from 2020-06-02T20:00

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 o...

Covid-19 and the impacts on Indigenous health from 2020-05-19T20:00

While most of us have been impacted in some way from the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis has also exposed the health vulnerabilities of Indigenous people. Deputy Chair of the Foundation for Surger...

From Broken Hill to Oxford - a PhD student's passion advance Indigenous health from 2020-05-05T04:00

Junior doctor and Wiradjuri woman Dr Claudia Paul is passionate about Indigenous health and opportunities for Indigenous medical students and junior doctors. Dr Paul is only the...

Using MALT as an audit tool from 2020-04-26T20:00

The RACS Morbidity Audit and Logbook Tool – often referred to its acronym, MALT – is a system designed to log procedures electronically. Easily accessible from a web-based device, MA...

Coronavirus cash flow assistance for businesses and what medical practitioners need to know about their own finances from 2020-03-25T02:28:31

Without doubt, the pandemic we're facing is disrupting much of what we do, where we go and how we travel. The impact on the economy will be huge, which has led the federal government to announce...

Opening up opportunities for women in surgery from 2020-03-16T23:00

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 participa...

How major changes to income protection insurance might affect you from 2020-03-03T05:34:31

Major changes to the rules covering income protection insurance have been proposed by APRA, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. Michael Waycott, a Director of the Bo...

Reflections on frontline volunteering from 2020-02-18T19:00

Sydney vascular surgeon Dr John Swinnen OAM has risked his life treating hundreds of gunshot wounds, bomb blast injuries and performed countless operations not often seen in dev...

In favour of a surgical career outside the capital cities from 2020-02-04T19:00

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 regio...

To treat or not to treat: the palliative care question (Re-release) from 2020-01-21T19:00

Modern medical treatments can do so much to prolong life. But at what point should surgeons hold back, despite a conviction that treatment will benefit the patient? Palliative medicine specialis...

The effects of unconscious sexism in surgery (Re-release) from 2020-01-07T19:00

Dr Katrina Hutchison – Gender biases can be so subtle that often the behaviour is not obvious to victims or offenders alike. However, the consequences can be very rea...

The story behind surgical separation of conjoined twins, Nima and Dawa (Re-release) from 2019-12-24T19:00

A medical team at the Royal Children's Hospital successfully separated conjoined Bhutanese twins, Nima and Dawa. The 14-month-old girls and their mother were brought to Australia in October 2018...

Benefits of surgical overseas volunteering from 2019-12-10T19:00

Volunteering overseas is a goal for many doctors. While it’s not for the faint hearted it’s also incredibly rewarding, as Dr Thomas Schaefer, an orthopaedic surgeon in Western Austra...

Port Macquarie: Tale of two surgeons in a regional city from 2019-11-26T00:49:54

Living and working in regional parts of Australia can be immensely rewarding for surgeons. Port Macquarie on NSW's mid-north coast has been an attractive place to call home for both Dr K...