The Medical Journal of Australia

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.

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 guide Healthcare Provider Toolkit The NLCSP website Program Guidelines GP guide resource Reducing stigma in the program Low-dose CT Scan request form eLearning modules developed by Lung Foundation Australia Actionable additional findings guidelines

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

Osteoporosis, which is characterised by low bone density and bone tissue deterioration, affects two thirds of Australians over the age of 50.Healthy Bones Australia has been contracted by The Department of Health and Aged Care to update the 2017 guidelines for osteoporosis management.A summary of this update has now been published in the Medical Journal of Australia.Professor Peter Wong is a rheumatologist and head of Rheumatology at Westmead Hospital and the honorary medical director of Healthy Bones Australia.He is one of the co-authors of the guidelines and joins me now.

Today we are exploring the topic of Translational Orthopaedic Research in Practice.This podcast is sponsored by Macquarie University Hospital, part of MQ Health - a trailblazer in healthcare, education and research.Joining me is Associate Professor Sumit Raniga who is an award winning sub-specialist internationally recognised. orthopaedic shoulder and elbow surgeon. He is the Director of the Translational Orthopaedic Research Lab and Head of Upper Limb Surgery and Therapy at Macquarie University Hospital. Dr Michael Dan is a lower limb orthopaedic specialist with further formal subspeciality training from the Lyon Knee School in France.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for women during the perinatal phase of pregnancy. And one in 10 men suffer from perinatal depression according to Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia or PANDA.As healthcare practitioners – what signs should you be on the look out for when you’re seeing patients.To explore this, PANDA CEO Julie Borninkhof joins me now.

Today we are exploring advanced back pain management and robotic advances in spinal surgery. This podcast is sponsored by Macquarie University Hospital, part of MQ Health - a trailblazer in healthcare, education and research.Today I am joined by two guests, my first is Associate Professor Tillman Boesel. He is a pain management specialist who practises at Macquarie University Hospital and Macquarie Neurosurgery and Spine. He Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University’s Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Human Sciences.The second guest is Dr Matthew Tait is a neurosurgeon who specialises in spinal disorders and cerebrovascular diseases. He practises at Macquarie University Hospital and Macquarie Neurosurgery and Spine. He is a Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University’s Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Human Sciences.

Today we are exploring the role of GPs in fertility management.This podcast is sponsored by Genea Fertility. Genea has been helping create families for almost four decades. Their world leading IVF science and technology delivers success rates consistently higher than the national average, ensuring your patients have the best chance of a healthy baby. Referral and patient resources can be found at genea.com.auWe also discuss how GPs can navigate ethical issues around fertility treatments and patient care.Associate Professor Alex Polyakov is the Medical Director of Genea Melbourne City, a highly skilled obstetrician, gynaecologist, and fertility specialist based in East Melbourne and joins us today.