RACS Post Op Podcast

Resilience and sustainability in the Northern Territory

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For nearly 20 years, general and acute care physician Dr Simon Quilty has witnessed up-close the poverty that inflicts indigenous communities in the N...

A surgeon’s journey from Texas to Queensland

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 hospita...

Striving for better Indigenous health

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Surgical Education & Training (SET) One-Year scholarship that Dr Jamie-Lee Rahiri received is an opportunity she says to help continue her pas...

Welcome the new RACS President

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This month, we welcome the College’s new president, Associate Professor Kerin Fielding. Based in the New South Wales regional centre of Wagga Wagga ...

Pathway for specialist international medical graduates

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) with formal postgraduate specialist qualifications in surgery who wish to work in Australia and Aot...

RACS 2023 ASC – Equity in Surgery

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Great strides in combating trauma

28 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

RACS’s Trauma Committee has been pivotal in helping prevent acute trauma in the community. That includes encouraging surgeons to pursue a trauma spe...

It’s hip to be active – from world champ to surgeon

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 r...

Pride in Medicine – building awareness and respect

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Freeing up cashflow for surgeons

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Economically, it’s a tough time right now. Interest rates are rising, there are labour shortages, residential rents are up, house prices are down, a...

Debut novel shines light on gruelling surgical career

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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

What’s behind pregnancy complications among female doctors? (Re-release)

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

An Australian-first study investigating fertility and pregnancy complications among Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand doctors discovered greater pre...

Norway’s vision of zero road deaths (Re-release)

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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, i...

A determined path to a surgical career (Re-release)

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Samantha Pillay graduated from the University of Adelaide Medical School in 1992 to become the first female urological surgeon in South Australia. ...

From patient to doctor – a desire for change

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 doct...

Surgical practice: owning your own room

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 sub...

A new foundational course in surgical robotics

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Technology in surgery continues to evolve in leaps and bounds, particularly the advances of robotics. A little under 20 years ago, Professor Tony Cost...

Trauma prevention: within four walls

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The incidents of domestic violence resulting in trauma (injury) would probably shock a lot of people. In Australia, a report from the Australian Insti...

The Pasifika Medical Association: serving the pacific

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Since 1996, the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) has worked closely with governments and communities to meet the health needs of people across the P...

Behind the curtain: ANZ Journal of Surgery

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First published in 1931, the ANZ Journal of Surgery is a prestigious publication serving the surgical community in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia ...

Eyes on the battle against Type 2 Diabetes (Re-release)

13 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In 2020, Dr Muecke was awarded Australian of the Year in recognition for his many decades of pioneering blindness prevention, particularly in South Ea...

A tree change with RACS’s New Fellow Rural Place

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How to prepare for a RACS Surgical Education and Training interview

16 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 y...

Important Australian superannuation changes

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Before the Australian federal election, the Coalition had legislated a number of changes to superannuation, which came into effect in July this year. ...

Two surgeons stitched together in marriage

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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,...

Insider’s tips on getting into surgical training

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 surgi...

Doctors breaking world records for melanoma awareness

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 A...

What’s behind pregnancy complications among female doctors?

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An Australian-first study investigating fertility and pregnancy complications among Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand doctors discovered greater pre...

John Corboy medalist’s commitment to help others

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Norway’s vision of zero road deaths

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 nationwid...

An advocate for quality and safety

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Health care delivery has shifted from one of blame-seeking to a more enlightened and sophisticated understanding of a modern complex system. That&rsqu...

Australian federal budget take-outs for surgeons

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 de...

A determined path to a surgical career

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Samantha Pillay graduated from the University of Adelaide Medical School in 1992 to become the first female urological surgeon in South Australia.&...

Time for a name change?

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 pr...

Embracing digital health technologies for better care

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Surgeons have benefited greatly in recent years with a range of digital tools allowing them to innovate, learn and communicate with patients. One bene...

Experiences of flexible surgical training

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Flexible training increases diversity in the surgical workforce by enabling Trainees to broaden their experience and pursue wider interests and opport...

A life-time of service in the NT (Re-release)

04 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Forty-one years after first arriving in the Northern Territory, general surgeon Assoc. Prof. Phillip Carson has retired from clinical practice. He tal...

How SET selection helps health outcomes for rural people

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Surgical Education and Training (SET) Program is designed to ensure surgical trainees become competent surgeons to the communities they serve, whi...

Delivering respect in surgery

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been almost six years since the College commenced work on the Building Respect Improving Patient Safety initiative.  A 2015 investigat...

Wellbeing Charter for Doctors

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Wellbeing Charter for Doctors was created by medical colleges to signify the importance of the role that such colleges, hospitals and health juris...

Benefits of surgical overseas volunteering (Re-release)

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Volunteering overseas is a goal for many doctors. While it’s not for the faint hearted it’s also incredibly rewarding, as Dr Thomas Schaef...

Building respect through a new information-sharing protocol

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This year a new protocol has been in development aimed at supporting information sharing between the College and hospitals. Instrumental in its evolut...

Combating the rise of mental illness (Re-release)

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After facing his own battle with mental illness, cardiologist Dr Geoffrey Toogood champions mental health support for fellow medical professionals and...

Phasing out of gendered titles

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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

Doing your bit for the environment

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Important changes to income protection insurance

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Australian financial regulator APRA has announced major reforms to income protection insurance, which will reduce the amount of benefits available to ...

Learning and Development Grants: A travelling grant for rural surgeons

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

RACS Rural Surgery Fellowship for Provincial Surgeons helps provincial surgeons to take time away from their practice to travel and develop existing s...

Improving surgical care with CTANZ

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The RACS Clinical Trials Network Australia and New Zealand – or CTANZ – was formed in 2017 to provide a structure for RACS Trainees, Junio...

The benefits of a Learning and Development grant

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of the largest providers of scholarships and grants for the surgical community worldwide is the RACS Foundation for Surgery’s Scholarships a...

Eyes on the battle against Type 2 Diabetes

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In 2020, Dr Muecke was awarded Australian of the Year in recognition for his many decades of pioneering blindness prevention, particularly in South Ea...

Welcome to the new RACS Vice President – Dr Lawrie Malisano

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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

Foundation for Surgery’s support in the Pacific

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Foundation for Surgery have been instrumental in supporting surgical needs in remote and disadvanta...

Tax planning before June 30

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 c...

Welcome to the new RACS President – Dr Sally Langley

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 Z...

2021 Australian Budget – A big spender

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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

Transitioning from plastic surgeon to sculpture artist

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

A new and improved system to address complaints

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Supportive, confidential, respectful, and non-judgemental – these words best describe new and enhanced complaints process at RACS. As an organis...

Supporting surgeons outside the major cities

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A common challenge to both New Zealand and Australia is providing medical care for people in remote communities. The College is actively working on is...

CPD Program is set for a refresh

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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

The benefits of scholarship: experiences from two surgeons

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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

Countdown to the 2021 Annual Scientific Congress

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 p...

RACS telehealth survey – results are in!

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 surgeo...

Innovators in stem cell transplantation (Re-release)

26 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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

The most interesting ASC yet!

12 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The title of the 2021 Annual Scientific Congress is ‘Celebrating the Art of Surgery in a Time of Disruption’. After cancellation of the 20...

In favour of a surgical career outside the capital cities (Re-release)

29 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Since 1992, RACS Councillor Associate Professor Kerin Fielding has lived and worked in the NSW Riverina city of Wagga Wagga. As an orth...

Opening up opportunities for women in surgery (Re-release)

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Associate Professor Payal Mukherjee is completing a PhD in new technologies in ear surgery. As one of few females studying technology, she's...

Applauding flexible training

17 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To promote flexible training and encourage take-up across the profession, RACS have published new resources on their website, including a toolkit with...

Father and son surgical team

03 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Experienced vascular surgeon Dr Bernard Bourke founded his surgical practice in Gosford, NSW, in 1986. In recent years, his son Dr Victor Bourke has j...

New Fellow Rural Placement in the Top End

20 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 reg...

2020 Budget – Takeouts for surgeons

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 ev...

One College Transformation: improving engagement

06 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Since its establishment, the One College Transformation program has been gaining momentum. It was designed to help streamline processes and deliver mo...

New Fellow Rural Placement

22 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In 2019, the Australian Government Department of Health approved a proposal from the RACS Specialist Training Program to coordinate a pilot for New Fe...

One College Transformation program for all

08 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons comprises more than 9000 Fellows, Trainees, International Medical Graduates and Staff. With so many people ...

Giving the gift of sight in Timor Leste (Re-release)

24 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Nitin Verma – For the past 16 years, leading Hobart ophthalmologist Dr Nitin Verma has taken his skills, passion and determination to Timor L...

The importance of Telehealth in a pandemic

10 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

COVID-19 has affected the way many people in the community communicate with their health professionals.  Fortunately, great strides had already b...

A life-time of service in the NT

28 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Forty-one years after first arriving in the Northern Territory, general surgeon Assoc. Prof. Phillip Carson has retired from clinical practice. He tal...

MALT: a useful tool for mentors and trainees

14 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The RACS Morbidity Audit and Logbook tool (MALT) has been useful to electronically log procedures, conduct self-audit and peer-review audit. Paediatri...

A migrant's journey to practice in regional Victoria

30 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Innovators in stem cell transplantation

16 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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

Tackling ear infections in remote indigenous regions of Australia (Re-release)

02 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Overcrowding, lack of running water, poor hygiene, nutrition, lack of access to medical care – all are symptoms of acute poverty into which Abor...

Covid-19 and the impacts on Indigenous health

19 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 peopl...

From Broken Hill to Oxford - a PhD student's passion advance Indigenous health

05 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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

Using MALT as an audit tool

26 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The RACS Morbidity Audit and Logbook Tool – often referred to its acronym, MALT – is a system designed to log procedures electronically. E...

Coronavirus cash flow assistance for businesses and what medical practitioners need to know about their own finances

25 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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, whic...

Opening up opportunities for women in surgery

16 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Associate Professor Payal Mukherjee is completing a PhD in new technologies in ear surgery. As one of few females studying technology, she's pushing f...

How major changes to income protection insurance might affect you

03 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Major changes to the rules covering income protection insurance have been proposed by APRA, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. Michael Wa...

Reflections on frontline volunteering

18 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sydney vascular surgeon Dr John Swinnen OAM has risked his life treating hundreds of gunshot wounds, bomb blast injuries and performed countless opera...

In favour of a surgical career outside the capital cities

04 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Since 1992, RACS Councillor Associate Professor Kerin Fielding has lived and worked in the NSW Riverina city of Wagga Wagga. As an orthopaedic su...

To treat or not to treat: the palliative care question (Re-release)

21 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Modern medical treatments can do so much to prolong life. But at what point should surgeons hold back, despite a conviction that treatment will benefi...

The effects of unconscious sexism in surgery (Re-release)

07 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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

The story behind surgical separation of conjoined twins, Nima and Dawa (Re-release)

24 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A medical team at the Royal Children's Hospital successfully separated conjoined Bhutanese twins, Nima and Dawa. The 14-month-old girls and their moth...

Benefits of surgical overseas volunteering

10 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Volunteering overseas is a goal for many doctors. While it’s not for the faint hearted it’s also incredibly rewarding, as Dr Thomas Schaef...

Port Macquarie: Tale of two surgeons in a regional city

26 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 attract...

Celebrating the work of surgeons during NSW Surgeons Month

12 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Specialist upper gastrointestinal surgeon, Dr Ken Loi has a number of priorities he'd like to address as regional chairman NSW RACS. In this episode, ...

Starting out in private practice – what you should know

29 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

To help shine a light on the financial considerations involved for Fellows entering into private practice, the Bongiorno National Network is running a...

RACSTA: an important support for surgical trainees

14 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The College's Trainee Association – or RACSTA – serves an important role in representing the interests of surgical trainees. Imogen Ibbett...

Combating the rise of mental illness

02 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After facing his own battle with mental illness, cardiologist Dr Geoffrey Toogood champions mental health support for fellow medical professionals and...

Welcome RACS new president, Dr Tony Sparnon

17 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

RACS recently welcomed its new president, Adelaide paediatric surgeon, Dr Tony Sparnon, who replaced outgoing president, Dr John Batton. Since his app...

Strategies to build resilience, reduce stress and maintain standards of performance

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Stress can sneak up on anyone over time, and if left unchecked can affect the quality of behaviour and performance. But there are strategies to help b...

Counting the cost of health care in rural & regional Australia

20 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The lack of surgeons based in rural and regional Australia is impacting the health and financial wellbeing of families living in those areas. Long com...