AMD eBulletin – 14 April 2023
A message from your President
G’day and kia ora
It has been a busy month progressing a key element of the Adult Medicine Division (AMD) workplan relating to the workforce. This update has included both national and College initiatives, including working with the Commonwealth Government to refine and explore how the Australian National Medical Workforce Strategy is implemented and facilitating ongoing feedback and discussion regarding the College Council’s Regional, Rural and Remote Working Group strategy.
Australian National Medical Workforce Strategy workshop
I recently represented the College by attending the Australian National Medical Workforce Strategy workshop in Melbourne on Monday, 27 March 2023. The workshop was attended by most specialist medical colleges and was a fantastic forum to share innovations and to identify future areas to action.
The meeting focused on key themes that are commonly raised in general physician (GP) and non-GP college meetings, including: rural issues, including distribution and supervision, and wellbeing. While this is an Australia-wide initiative, there was a particular focus on underserved populations across regional Australia and some metropolitan communities. Discussions included how we can better understand the distribution and future of the medical workforce. There were also exciting conversations regarding how we can build and facilitate innovation in specialist medical training capacity in regional Australia while maintaining the existing high-quality training and outcomes we expect in supporting our specialists. Finally, input on doctors’ wellbeing was provided regarding the Commonwealth’s work in developing a consistent approach to addressing and improving medical culture.
Regional, Rural and Remote Working Group Draft Strategy
As the AMD representative on College Council, I also had the opportunity to participate in recent discussions regarding member feedback on this important initiative. As a physician who has spent decades working outside our metropolitan centres, I have shared the passion, and at times, the understandable frustrations in developing and supporting the growth of the specialist workforce in this setting. It was great to hear the respectful, insightful and innovative insights of all our members in both metropolitan and rural settings who participated in these discussions. Like many of you, I will look forward to the further refinement of this Strategy, its planned endorsement by our Board, and the exciting bit; its implementation. This is an opportune time to drive this Strategy forward as the alignment of the College and Australian Commonwealth Government agendas provides a valuable policy window to achieve traction on real and sustainable change.
First year of presidency
Moving away from recent activities, the pending anniversary of my first year as AMD President provides an opportunity to reflect on what the Committee has done and where we are heading over the next two years. While I acknowledge that there is a lot of work ahead, I think the foundations that the AMD Council and the AMD Executive Committee have established will set our Division up to achieve great things over the next few years. A lot of these goals are in preliminary stages; however, I am happy to share we are working on an AMD mentor program and a leadership workshop, and we are focused on how we can improve and participate in College-wide initiatives. This, in turn, will improve our systems for selection to Advanced Training. I look forward to providing further details on these projects as they continue to take shape.
Model of Collaboration
The Model of Collaboration (MoC) is a project that has been undertaken to articulate and manage the relationship between the College and its affiliated specialty societies. It also meets conditions set out by the Australian Medical Council and the Medical Council of New Zealand accreditation. AMD, alongside our 27 affiliated specialty societies, is a key facilitator in this relationship. Each MoC has a unique schedule attached that outlines the unique relationship between each specialty society and the College. I am eager to progress the AMD affiliated specialty societies through my term as AMD President because the relationship between the specialty societies and the College is a valuable and mutually beneficial one. By working together, we can benefit both our trainees and Fellows by ensuring that our College remains a leader in providing the required physician workforce and healthcare service across both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. I will keep you updated on AMD’s progress with our affiliated specialty societies, and I will be working to move us from aspirational statements to real activities; including how we share expertise and information.
Are your contact details up to date?
Lastly, I want to encourage members to ensure that their contact details are updated. I appreciate that when our contact details change it is an onerous task to update all our accounts, but the College is one update that must not be overlooked. It is important that our details are correct to ensure that we are across any important College updates relating to elections, subscription payments, and general communications on College news, events, and advocacy. Many members are currently having to submit re-admission to Fellowship applications as their contact details were out of date and they were unaware that their membership fees were due. A little bit of time spent now to make sure you receive important College communications is far better than the administrative hassle associated with addressing these later.
As always, if you have any topics that you would like the Division to consider, I encourage you to contact me via the secretariat at adult.med@racp.edu.au.
Professor Graeme Maquire
President, Adult Medicine Division
AChSHM President’s Post
Kia ora koutou,
We currently have a great opportunity available for an AChSHM trainee to join the AChSHM Committee to represent all trainees in the Chapter. We recommend considering applying for this role or spreading the word in your cohort. For more details on the position and how to apply, please visit the RACP website.
I am also happy to announce that Dr Vincent Cornelisse was approved as the RACP representative on the mpox National Clinical Evidence Taskforce (NCET) Steering Committee. Dr Cornelisse’s early involvement with the 2022 mpox outbreak was crucial to the Australian response, and his involvement on the Steering Committee will be most valuable.
Last month I attended many face-to-face events, including the AChSHM Committee meeting, the RACP President’s Forum with the affiliated specialty societies, Divisions, Faculties, and Chapters, and the 2023 AChSHM Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), which were all great successes.
It was wonderful to see so many Fellows and trainees making the journey to see our passionate speakers presenting on such important topics at both the ASM and the Advanced Training Meeting (ATM).
The key takeaways from the ASM were that the future for sexual health medicine is bright, with many exciting developments in sight. These include meaningful involvement with the community, vaccines, and other innovative preventive measures to curb the sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemics.
I would like to congratulate the following prize winners who presented at the ASM:
- Dr Ian Anderson received the Jan Edwards Prize 2022 for presenting Jumping to the second-line: treatment outcomes in people with macrolide-resistant mycoplasma genitalium who use pristinamycin or sitafloxacin as first-line therapy.
- Dr Madhara Weerasinghe received the Penelope Lowe Prize 2023 for presenting on Prozone phenomenon in a heterosexual male presenting with ocular syphilis.
The first AChSHM Committee meeting of the year was also held on 16 March 2023, with most members attending face-to-face in Sydney. It was a great opportunity to discuss the Committee’s workplan at length, and to start the year off with a refocusing on our main priorities.
The next AChSHM meeting will take place on Wednesday, 28 June 2023 via videoconference. If there are any items you would like to raise with the Committee, or if you have any feedback for us, please feel free to contact us through our secretariat at shmed@racp.edu.au or via the RACP Online Community (ROC).
Ka kite anō au i a koutou!
Dr Massimo Giola
Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine President
AChPM President’s Post
Hello and kia ora,
There is currently an opportunity open for an Aotearoa New Zealand based Fellow to join the AChPM Committee. If you would like to ensure the AoNZ voice is heard when discussing important issues for the Chapter, we encourage you to apply for the representative position or to share the news in your cohort. For more details on the position and how to apply, please visit the RACP website.
I am excited that we have had overwhelmingly positive feedback to the Spirituality Workshop Pilot that took place in November 2022. This was an extensive resource that took place virtually over four weeks. Our Spirituality Training Working Group has met to discuss this feedback and will make a recommendation to the AChPM Committee about whether to run this type of training again.
The Committee looks forward to meeting face-to-face for our second meeting of the year on Tuesday, 13 June. In the meantime, we will be focusing on moving forward with our work plan goals and matters arising from the last meeting.
If you have any feedback, questions or concerns to bring to the committee, please feel free to contact us through the Chapter secretariat at PallMed@racp.edu.au or via the RACP Online Community (ROC).
Associate Professor Peter Poon
Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine President
Hello and kia ora,
Super early bird registration for the 2023 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) conference is already open. The conference will take place in a hybrid format (Adelaide and online) from 12 to 15 November, and registration is open for both in person and online options. You can register to attend here.
In March, Professor John Saunders, President-elect of the AChAM, attended the public hearing of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs’ inquiry into online gambling and its impact on those experiencing gambling harm. Professor Saunders was appointed to represent the College after contributing to the joint The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and RACP submission to the inquiry.
The joint submission provides the perspectives of physicians, paediatricians, and psychiatrists on the need for thorough regulation of online gambling provision and an integrated public health response when treating those experiencing gambling harm. A transcript of the public hearing is available on the Australian Parliament website.
A reminder that there is a position open for an Aotearoa New Zealand representative on the AChAM Committee. We strongly encourage AoNZ-based Fellows to apply or share this opening with your colleagues. This is a great opportunity to ensure your voice is heard and to have a say on important decisions for the Chapter. For more details on the position and how to apply, please visit the RACP website.
The AChAM Committee is planning to meet again soon. If you have any feedback, questions, or comments for me or the Committee, please get in touch through our secretariat at AddictionMed@racp.edu.au or via the RACP Online Community (ROC).
Professor Adrian Dunlop
Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine President
Expressions of Interest (EOIs)
All Expressions of Interest
Obituary for Associate Professor Philip Robinson
Members of the AMD are alerted to the sudden unexpected death of Associate Professor Philip Robinson (rheumatologist) who passed at aged 43 on 3 January 2023.
Phil completed his undergraduate and specialist training in Aotearoa New Zealand. He moved to Brisbane in 2010 where he completed his PhD in the genetics of axial spondyloarthritis at the University of Queensland, and a post-doctoral Fellowship at the Queensland Brain Institute. In 2014 he became a senior staff rheumatologist with Metro North Hospital and Health Service (MNHHS) at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) and opened a solo private practice.
Phil was a prolific researcher with more than 170 academic publications. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic Phil connected with colleagues to establish the Global Rheumatology Alliance (GRA), an international collaboration that literally changed the rheumatology world.
Phil had many more strings to his bow. He loved educating undergraduates, postgraduates, and colleagues. His financial acumen as the Australian Rheumatology Association (ARA) treasurer helped steer our volunteer-driven organisation through the pandemic. His business insight led him to open a long-dreamt collaborative private clinic in 2022 with Dr Hanish Bagga. Further, he was a tireless contributor to Arthritis Queensland (AQ), driven by their Vision of Freedom from Arthritis.
Above all, he mastered human connection. He loved attending conferences to learn, teach, and chat with friends over a drink. He will be remembered for his relentlessly cheeky sense of humour, fiery red hair, infectious smile, and his laugh. He was an amazing father and a passionate support of all women in medicine, especially his remarkable wife and best friend Helen Tanner (obstetric physician).
Queensland rheumatologists will remember Phil as the founder of the Golden Jandal Beach volleyball competition which was, and always will be, enthusiastically contested at the annual scientific meeting.
The medical family of Australasia send our deepest love to his widow Helen and their gorgeous young sons, Tommy and Eddie. Phil was a great rheumatologist, respected researcher, dedicated ARA and AQ volunteer, wonderful family man and above all, a damn good bloke.
Vale Phil. You and your smile will be missed.
Claire Barrett (ARA President) and Sam Whittle (ARA Vice President)
RACP Foundation grants and prizes
2023 RACP Educational Development (Study) Grants
The 2023 RACP Educational Development (Study) Grants support Fellows and trainees to undertake further educational training or to develop educational initiatives.
Awards available for this round include:
- Skilled Medical Scholarships for Advancement of Indigenous Health
- Aotearoa New Zealand Educational Development Grant
- Richard Kemp Memorial Fellowship.
Applications for 2023 funding round one close on Tuesday, 2 May 2023. Visit the RACP Foundation webpage to see the eligibility criteria for each award and to access the online application form.
Opening soon: RACP Foundation Research Awards
Applications for the RACP Foundation Research Awards for 2024 will open on Monday, 1 May 2023.
More than 50 awards, with a total value of approximately $2.5m, are available across these categories:
Applications for research development grants and travel grants will open Saturday, 1 July 2023.
Chapter awards
AChSHM
- 2023 RACP AChSHM Study Grant – applications close on Tuesday, 2 May 2023. The grant, valued up to $4,000, can go towards training at an appropriate institution, supporting costs associated with research projects, or participation and presentation of a paper at a conference or scientific meeting.
- AChSHM Jan Edwards Prize – applications close on Sunday, 7 May 2023. Awarded to the best research-based oral presentation by a registered AChSHM trainee. The prize includes $500 and a certificate.
AChAM
Your Fellowship means you belong to the RACP MyCPD Home
There are many benefits of being a part of the RACP CPD Home, including access to the MyCPD platform, interactive handbooks and templates, and a wide range of quality resources on the RACP Online Learning platform. We are dedicated to supporting you throughout your career to meet your CPD requirements, and our CPD team are on hand to provide you with expert and tailored support.
Looking to meet your peer review requirements and connect with colleagues? Log onto the RACP Online Community (ROC) and explore the Mentor Match program where you will find space dedicated to fulfilling the CPD Category 2: Reviewing Performance.
You have never stopped learning. We’re here to make sure that continues. My RACP. MyCPD Home.
View the short video
Internal Medicine Journal
The latest issue of the Internal Medicine Journal (IMJ) is now live on the Wiley Online Library and the RACP website (log in using your RACP login credentials). Access articles tweeted on IMJ's Twitter account for free, for a limited time. The easiest way to access the IMJ is via the Wiley Online Library App, find out how you can access it.
Key highlights from the issue are:
- Safety of hydroxychloroquine
- Treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma
- Obstructive sleep apnoea among Indigenous Australian adults
- Progression of borderline TSH to overt abnormality
- PPI use and risk of developing peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis
- Central venous access device practice across haematology and oncology centres
This month’s Editor's Choice is an original article titled Predicting kidney transplant function in Indigenous Australians.
Read the journal
CPD simplified
The new CPD simplified online learning resource provides Fellows with an overview of the RACP’s continuing professional development (CPD) program; MyCPD.
Learn how to easily plan, complete, and record activities to meet the annual CPD requirements. Access engaging case studies and examples which will help you identify CPD opportunities in your daily practice. Head to Medflix to watch episode 3 of the Decoding CPD video series where Dr Catherine D’Souza, a Palliative Care Specialist at South Canterbury Hospice in Aotearoa New Zealand, discusses how she effectively completes category 2 CPD activities including peer review, weekly complex case meetings, and monthly consultant meetings.
Access CPD simplified
Don’t forget to claim CPD for time spent on RACP Online Learning.
How to log in to the ROC - for first-time users
Did you know that the RACP Online Community (ROC) is a private, secure place where you can post messages and engage in discussions with other members? It’s also where you can take advantage of our Member and Special Interest directories and participate in our Mentor Match program.
The ROC is exclusive to RACP members and Overseas Trained Physicians (OTPs) and is the perfect way to keep up-to-date with what’s happening in your community and the College as a whole.
To access the ROC, simply download the app from the App Store or Google Play, or log in via MyRACP.
Watch this short video to see how easy it is to log in to the ROC and be part of the conversation.
Log into the ROC
Have you completed your ‘my work profile’?
By completing your ‘my work profile’ you will provide us with valuable insights which we can use to make evidence-based and informed advocacy decisions for improving workforce planning. All you need to do is log in to My RACP, click ‘update my work profile’ and answer a few questions about your work activities.
Complete ‘my work profile’
Appraisal by the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) meeting on 27 to 28 July 2023
Scheduled agenda items for the 88th Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) meeting can be found on the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care website.
MSAC values consultation input from individuals and organisations with an interest in an application that it is considering, including experience of the medical conditions, services or technologies being addressed by the application. Consultation input must be received by Friday, 9 June 2023.
Celebrate this April with Member Advantage
Celebrate April, with a range of new offers and discounts on retail, whitegoods, automotive, and travel. You can also save on movie tickets when you purchase discounted eGift cards on your benefits platform.
Available online, 24/7. That's your Member Advantage. *Terms and conditions apply.
Australian member access Aotearoa New Zealand member access
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New South Wales
Drug and Alcohol Services Medical Director | Closing: 9 May 2023
View career opportunities on the RACP website.