The Medical Journal of Australia

Episode 599: The National Health and Medical Research Council celebrates its 90th anniversary 28.06.2026 32min

This year marks the 90th anniversary of Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council.From its official inception in the 1930s, the NHMRC has had a rich history from protecting Australia from diseases like polio and tuberculosis to making sure it backs high quality research that is ethical, rigorous and focused on community benefit."The MJA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we live and work across Australia.  This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.”The Council Chair of NHMRC, Professor Caroline Homer AO joins me now.

Episode 598: Breastfeeding in a warzone - a vital lifeline 31.05.2026 40min

Breastfeeding is encouraged worldwide – it also has particular benefits for mothers in warzones.  To speak about this and other interesting facets about breastfeeding is Dr Mariana Gutierrez Popoca. She is a Paediatrician with Medicine Sans Frontiers and visited the Australian Breastfeeding Medicine Conference recently. “The MJA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we live and work across Australia.  This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.”

Episode 597: Clinical Guideline for Diagnosing and Managing Acute Coronary Syndromes 30.03.2026 16min

Welcome to this podcast from the Medical Journal of Australia. My name is Sally Block, the MJA’s news and online editor.  “The MJA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we live and work across Australia.  This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation  I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.” The MJA has recently published the Australian Clinical Guideline for Diagnosing and Managing Acute Coronary Syndromes 2025. Professor Garry Jennings AO has a distinguished career as a cardiologist in clinical practice and was previously Director of Cardiology at The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, and Chair of the Division of Medicine. He is the Heart Foundation’s Chief Medical Advisor. Professor Jennings is a co-author of the Guideline and joins me now.

Episode 596: Complex trauma - a guide for clinicians 08.02.2026 25min

Welcome to this podcast from the Medical Journal of Australia. My name is Sally Block, the MJA’s news and online editor. “The MJA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we live and work across Australia.  This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.”  Today we will be talking about a type of trauma that generally can’t be seen by the eye.  Complex trauma is defined as repeated, ongoing, and often extreme interpersonal trauma (between people) –  and it can involve violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation experienced as a child, young person and adult. The Blue Knot Foundation is a National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma. Joining me today is the Foundation’s President and Managing Director Dr. Cathy Kezelman AM to talk about complex trauma and how clinicians can help patients who are affected by it.

Episode 595: Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion or LAAO Therapy 11.01.2026 25min

Today we are exploring Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion or LAAO Therapy.  We explore the clinical rationale, patient selection, referral pathways and key considerations for LAAO. and aim to understand the therapy as an option for patients who are unsuitable for long term anticoagulation therapy. This is a sponsored podcast.A/Prof Pankaj Jain is an academic interventional cardiologist with appointments at Royal Prince Alfred, Concord, and Macquarie University Hospitals. He is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney, and Conjoint Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales. His interests include complex coronary and structural heart interventions, and mechanical support devices for heart failure.Dr Ata Doost is an Interventional  Cardiologist. He completed his training at various hospitals throughout Australia and undertook his speciality fellowship training at Kings College Hospital in London   He has appointments at Macquarie University Hospital and National Capital Private & Calvary Bruce Hospitals  in Canberra and is a Senior Clinical lecturer at Macquarie University Medical School. Dr Doost has performed thousands of cardiac catheterisations and has extensive experience in structural heart procedures. He specialises in coronary interventions, advanced imaging, and valve therapies including TAVI and MitraClip. 

Episode 594: Diagnosis of Alzheimer's and treatment of Dementia 30.11.2025 38min

Today we are exploring the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, treating dementia and how nutrition can help with cognitive decline.This podcast is sponsored by Macquarie University Hospital, part of Macquarie University Health – a trailblazer in healthcare, education and research.Dr Heather Francis is an endorsed Clinical Neuropsychologist. She is experienced in the diagnosis and management of neurological and neurosurgical conditions. She provides evidence based cognitive and lifestyle recommendations and interventions to improve brain health and mental wellbeing, as well as reduce risk of cognitive decline in aging. She has a research interest in the effects of diet on the brain.Professor James Burrell graduated with a combined Arts/Medicine degree from the University of New South Wales in 2000. He completed basic physicians training at Prince of Wales Hospital, before progressing through advanced training in neurology at Concord and Royal Prince Alfred hospitals. He completed a fellowship in neuromuscular disease and neurophysiology in 2008. Professor Burrell completed a PhD, based at Neuroscience Research Australia, then took up a position as Senior Research Officer at the same institution from 2012-2016, before moving to the University of Sydney in 2017. His PhD and subsequent research contributions focus on the clinical, neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging characteristics of dementias, with a specific aim of improving diagnostic and prognostic markers. He was appointed Clinical Associate Professor in 2019.Professor Burrell held a position as Staff Specialist in neurology at Concord Hospital from 2011 to 2025. He was appointed Senior Staff Specialist and Head of Neurology in August 2020. He is a Consultant Neurologist and Professor of Cognitive Neurology at Macquarie University. Professor Burrell is also a dedicated educator and mentor, with extensive publications in leading neurology journals.

Episode 593: Finding a cure for asthma 16.11.2025 18min

My name is Sally Block, the MJA’s news and online editor. “The MJA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we live and work across Australia.  This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.” This week the MJA has published a supplement called Cure asthma – it’s a collaboration between keen Australian stakeholders, and co-ordinated by The University of Melbourne and Asthma Australia.   As the name states, the goal is to not just treat asthma, but to find a cure. To discuss this I am joined by Professor Gary Anderson who is a pharmacologist and immunologist and Director of the Lung Health Research Centre at the University of Melbourne.

Episode 592: Australia's first male infertility guidelines 02.11.2025 23min

Australia now has its first Male Infertility guidelines. The Guidelines are featured today as an Online First ahead of their official publication in MJA later this year. “The MJA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we live and work across Australia.  This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.” Associate Professor Darren Katz is a Urologist at the University of Melbourne’s Department of Surgery. He is Medical Director of Men’s Health Melbourne. Here’s here to speak to us about the guidelines and joins me now. 

Episode 590: Lung Cancer Screening Program 19.10.2025 17min

Australia has its first new cancer screening programme in 20 years, this time for lung cancer. Today we’ll be discussing this new programme in depth as well as the role of primary care and the supports available in delivering the programme.This podcast is Sponsored by the Australian Government National Lung Cancer Screening Program.Professor Vivienne Milch is Medical Director, at Cancer Australia. Professor Milch is also Medical Advisor to the Australian Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing on cancer screening policy.Professor Milch holds a Master’s degree in Health Policy and is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Medicine, Sydney Campus at The University of Notre Dame, Australia and Professorial Fellow at the Caring Futures Institute at Flinders University in Adelaide. Prior to joining Cancer Australia, Professor Milch was a General Practitioner and clinical researcher at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney. Relevant links:the Investigating Symptoms of Lung Cancer guideHealthcare Provider ToolkitThe NLCSP websiteProgram GuidelinesGP guide resourceReducing stigma in the programLow-dose CT Scan request formeLearning modules developed by Lung Foundation AustraliaActionable additional findings guidelines

Episode 591: Cardiac surgery in elderly patients 14.10.2025 36min

Today we are exploring cardiac surgery in elderly patients.This podcast is sponsored by Macquarie University Hospital, part of Macquarie University Health – a trailblazer in healthcare, education and research.Professor Michael Vallely is a leading cardiothoracic surgeon who has clinical and academic interests in minimising the invasiveness of cardiothoracic surgery and is a world authority on total arterial, anaortic, off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. He also has interests in minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS and Da Vinci robotic surgery), transcatheter (TAVI and Mitra-Clip) cardiac surgery, thoracic aortic surgery, geriatric cardiac surgery, and hybrid procedures including the use of ECMO.Dr Nargis Shaheen is a consultant geriatrician with a special interest in perioperative medicine working at Macquarie University Hospital and Concord Hospital. She is a member of the ANZCA perioperative care working group and is involved in perioperative medicine teaching.

Episode 589: MJA Podcasts 2025 Episode 18 - Hong Kong Flu 28.09.2025 28min

Welcome to this podcast from the Medical Journal of Australia. My name is Sally Block, the MJA’s news and online editor. “The MJA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we live and work across Australia.  This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.” Between 1968 and 1970, Australia was hit by a pandemic known as the Hong Kong Flu. The MJA is publishing an historical piece about the pandemic and its impact. Dr John Gerrard is the Infectious Diseases Physician at the Gold Coast University Hospital and  former Chief Health Officer of Queensland.

Episode 588: MJA Podcasts 2025 Episode 17 - Advances in glaucoma and age-related macular disease 21.09.2025 45min

Today we are exploring advances in glaucoma and age-related macular disease. This podcast is sponsored by Macquarie University Hospital, part of Macquarie University Health – a trailblazer in healthcare, education and research.Dr Helen Do is an ophthalmic surgeon with a specialising in medical retina and cataract surgery with a focus on diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration at Macquarie University hospital. She is a clinical lecturer at Macquarie University and Sydney University. And Dr Aparna Raniga is a glaucoma and cataract specialist surgeon with a focus on diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration at Macquarie University Hospital. 

Episode 587: MJA Podcasts 2025 Episode 16: Clinical Care Standards - a decade of excellence 17.08.2025 18min

A little over 10 years ago the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care released its first national clinical care standard.A perspective on the subject is published in the MJA today and a webinar is being held tomorrow where the Commission will showcase the five stories of excellence discussed in today’s podcast. The link to the webinar will be is hereThe Chief Medical Officer of the Commission Conjoint Professor Carolyn Hullick  and its Clinical Care Standards Director Dr Alice Bhasale join me on today's podcast.

Episode 586: MJA Podcasts 2025 Episode 15: Re-thinking coronary heart disease 03.08.2025 24min

The likelihood of a man or woman dying of coronary heart disease is much less than it was half a century ago with better treatments and a reduction in smoking. However, as our special guests will explain today, the overall burden of coronary disease continues to grow and it still remains the single leading cause of death in Australia.  Professor Will Parsonage is Clinical Director at the Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Senior Staff Cardiologist at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and St Vincent's Private Hospital. Associate Professor Sarah Zaman is an Academic Interventional Cardiologist at Westmead Hospital and the University of Sydney. They are co authors on  the The Lancet Commission on rethinking coronary artery disease and they have written about it for the MJA’s InSight+ and they join me now.

Episode 585: MJA Podcasts 2025 Episode 14 - Clinicians’ discretion to contact patients’ at-risk relatives about their genetic risk 13.07.2025 22min

Australia’s privacy regulator has recently updated its guidance to clinicians about contacting their patients’ relatives about their genetic risk of disease. The MJA is featuring an article on the subject by Dr Jane Tiller as an Online First this week, ahead of its publication in the Journal in August. Dr Tiller is a lawyer, genetic counsellor and public health researcher. She’s the Ethical, Legal and Social Adviser in Public Health Genomics at Monash University.

Episode 584: MJA Podcasts 2025 Episode 13 - Indigenous voices in medical education 06.07.2025 21min

It’s NAIDOC week and the MJA’s – special issue on Indigenous Health “The MJA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we live and work across Australia.  This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.” Associate Professor Paul Saunders is a proud Biripi man whose family comes from the mid north coast of New South Wales. He is the associate professor and academic lead for Indigenous Health in the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Wollongong. He is one of the Guest editorial team and is our podcast guest today.

Episode 583: MJA Podcasts 2025 Episode 12 - Inflammatory bowel disease and Bowel cancer screening and treatment 22.06.2025 49min

Today we are joined by Dr Brandon Baraty and Associate Professor Viraj Kariyawasam, two leading experts in gastroenterology, to discuss the latest in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management and bowel cancer screening. They’ll share insights into the most recent advancements in diagnostic techniques and cutting-edge treatment options shaping the future of patient care.This podcast is sponsored by Macquarie University Hospital, part of MQ Health - a trailblazer in healthcare, education and research.Dr Baraty is a senior Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist, and Endoscopist. He is the Head of Discipline of Gastroenterology at Macquarie University Hospital and the Director of Endoscopy at Ryde Hospital. Dr Baraty specialises in IBD care and is a leading expert in transabdominal ultrasound for IBD assessment in New South Wales.Associate Professor Kariyawasam is a Senior Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist, and Endoscopist at Macquarie University Hospital and Concord Hospital. He holds a PhD from Sydney University and has completed international fellowship training in IBD. He is dedicated to advancing IBD diagnosis and management while actively supporting patient advocacy and education.

Episode 582: MJA Podcasts 2025 Episode 11 - Pulmonary Hypertension - Associate Professor Martin Brown and Associate Professor Fred Joshua 01.06.2025 28min

 In this episode we are exploring advances in pulmonary hypertension as well as symptoms, treatments, and its connection to rheumatological patients and much more.This podcast is sponsored by Macquarie University Hospital, part of MQ Health – a trailblazer in healthcare, education and research.Associate Professor Martin Brown is a cardiologist specialising in advanced heart failure, complex structural heart disease, and pulmonary hypertension. A Clinical Associate Professor at Macquarie University, he currently leads several international trials on heart failure and pulmonary hypertension and has developed the right heart catheter virtual reality training program being used worldwide.Associate Professor Fred Joshua is a physician specialising in rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis. He pioneered rheumatological ultrasound in Australia and developed a degree for rheumatologists through the Australian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Rheumatology Clinical Discipline Head at Macquarie University.

Episode 581: MJA Podcasts 2025 Episode 10 - GP special issue - President RACGP and MJA co-author Dr Michael Wright 18.05.2025 11min

This week is the General Practice issue of the MJA. One of the authors featured is Dr Michael Wright, the President of Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. He is a co-author on the paper "The impact of patient enrolment in primary care on continuity and quality of care around the world, 2014–2024, and lessons for Australia: a scoping review."

Episode 580: MJA Podcasts 2025 Episode 9 - Menzies School of Health Research 40 year anniversary 07.05.2025 22min

The Menzies School of Health Research is celebrating its 40th anniversary.It’s Australia’s leading medical research institute for improving health outcomes for First Nations people and its reach now extends beyond our shores to the Asia Pacific region.To commemorate this milestone, Menzies has chosen a collection of papers published in the MJA to highlight their research.Professor Alan Cass AO is the Director of Menzies and joins me now to discuss its work, its history and its future.