AMD eBulletin – 30 June 2023
A message from your President
G’day and kia ora
The AMD Executive and Council have been active in supporting you as members of the College. I was thrilled to recently welcome our New Fellows into the College at our recent Melbourne convocation. These events are always a great chance to celebrate the work we all do as trainees and Fellows in supporting and developing the next generation of physicians. Congratulations to you all.
Adult Medicine Division Executive Committee (AMDEX) meeting
We recently held our third AMD Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday, 7 June 2023. We had a full agenda that focused on progressing the five key areas of the AMD Council’s workplan which are listed below.
- Improve the capacity of the College to respond to adult medical workforce needs.
- Ensure equity, fairness, and transparency in Advanced Training.
- Support and grow the physician leader.
- Articulate the rationale and function for the AMD.
- Support the wellbeing of AMD Fellows and trainees.
I know we have mentioned these before but I, along with the AMD Executive Committee, am passionate about ensuring these goals are met during our term. We are working behind the scenes on two key projects that fall under the third initiative. I hope to be able to announce these in greater detail in the near future.
AMD Council
Planning for our second AMD Council meeting has commenced, which will be held face-to-face in Sydney in August. It will be the first face-to-face meeting during my term as AMD President, and I am looking forward to meeting the AMD Council members in person.
Calling for an Aotearoa New Zealand Fellow Representative
Due to one of our valued and longstanding members stepping down, a vacancy has been created for an Aotearoa New Zealand Fellow Representative on the AMD Council. If you, or someone within your network, is interested in this position, I encourage you to apply. Your strong, persuasive and articulate voice on the Council can ensure the priorities of Aotearoa New Zealand members are heard and addressed. Please email us for further information.
Exams
I would like to extend best wishes to all the Basic Trainees preparing to sit, or who have sat, the Divisional Clinical Examinations across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand this month. Good luck to all, and thank you to all the members, testing sites, and College staff for the support provided during this time.
If you have any topics that you would like our Division to consider, I encourage you to contact me via the secretariat at adult.med@racp.edu.au.
Professor Graeme Maguire
President, Adult Medicine Division
AChSHM President’s Post
Kia ora koutou,
I would like to start my post by acknowledging the members I have been privileged to work alongside on the AChSHM Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) Organising Committee:
- Adjunct Professor Darren Russell – Chair
- Dr Ian Anderson
- Dr Manoji Gunathilake
- Dr Jason Ong
- Dr Caroline Thng
The ASM Organising Committee convened on Tuesday, 9 May for a debrief meeting following the delivery of our AChSHM ASM on Saturday, 18 March 2023. We discussed the attendee feedback, considered some improvements for future events, debated the delivery format of virtual and/or face-to-face on a rotating basis, and reviewed a spectrum of wonderful topic suggestions.
To reiterate my sentiments in my post from April, I would like to thank all attendees, sponsors, speakers, and the Organising Committee members for making this event possible. We look forward to providing formal feedback to the incoming Organising Committee and seeing the 2024 AChSHM ASM event come to life.
I would like to draw your attention to the AChSHM Award for Best Postgraduate Thesis in Sexual Health Medicine which is open until 31 August 2023.The AChSHM recognises the importance of training its workforce in research. Members can recognise an AChSHM Fellow or trainee for their outstanding postgraduate work. The recipient will be formally acknowledged at the AChSHM ASM.
The AChSHM Committee met on Wednesday, 28 June via teleconference to discuss the Chapter workplan, the Evolve recommendations and how these can be improved, our communication with our trainees, and other important issues for our Chapter.
Our next AChSHM Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 13 September via videoconference. Please let us know if you have any items you would like to be discussed or 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,
It is hard to believe we are halfway through the year. What a busy six months we have had. Thank you to everyone in our palliative medicine community for your hard work and support, and a warm welcome to our new Fellows and diploma graduates. It was wonderful to see you all at the recent convocation ceremony in Melbourne.
I would like to draw your attention to the Margot Nott Scholarship in Palliative Medicine which opens for applications in August 2023. This award has been established to support palliative medicine Advanced Trainees in South Australia. It has a value of A$20,000 per annum for up to three years. We encourage you to share this information with your South Australia-based colleagues to ensure this opportunity is utilised.
I would also like to highlight an opening on our Training Committee in Palliative Medicine (TCPM). The TCPM oversees Advanced Training and the Clinical Diploma in Palliative Medicine. The Committee seeks expressions of interest from Palliative Medicine Fellows who hold FRACP and/or FAChPM postnominals to join as an Appointed Member. See the key responsibilities and application details.
We are also seeking case study and research project markers. See details for these positions, including how to submit an expression of interest.
The AChPM Committee held our second meeting of 2023 on Tuesday, 13 June. It was exciting to be able to meet face-to-face at the RACP offices in Sydney. We discussed the ongoing availability of spirituality training and other key initiatives, including our core business of how we can support the TCPM with the review of the education curriculum. We also discussed the issues of recent opioid medications being withdrawn from the market in Australia and how the College and the College Policy and Advocacy Council (CPAC) might be able to escalate this critical issue in collaboration with the Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine and Palliative Care Australia.
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,
We held the second meeting of the year for the AChAM Committee via Zoom on Friday, 26 May 2023. One of the items the Committee has been keenly following is changes to the Opioid Dependence Treatment Program (ODTP) in Australia. The Interim Report of the Post-market Review of ODTP medicines has been released. Information about what this will mean for community pharmacists, prescribers, patients, hospitals and dosing sites participating in state and territory ODT programs is available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) website.
The AChAM led two College submissions to inform the post-market review, arguing strongly for ensuring the cost of opioid treatment to the patient does not remain a barrier to participating in this treatment, as occurs with the current funding models. We also argued that it is essential that the providers of this treatment, most notably community pharmacists, private medical practitioners and public sector services (e.g. Local Health Districts and Networks, hospitals, prisons), are compensated fairly. Doing so will ensure quality service provision, and it will attract and retain service providers involvement in this treatment.
As recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, the way in which Opioid Dependence Treatment (ODT) medicines are currently listed on the PBS schedule is changing. From 1 July 2023, ODT medicines will become part of the Section 100 Highly Specialised Drugs (HSD) Program (Community Access) arrangements.
More information can be found regarding:
We have been advised that the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care is implementing a transition period from 1 July to 30 November this year. As an interim measure, under the current system this will enable private clinics, non-PBS listed pharmacies, and GP clinics to continue ordering methadone and the various formulations of buprenorphine from manufacturers.
AChAM prize
Applications are now open for the AChAM Nghi Phung Research Project Prize. The Prize is awarded annually to the best Advanced Training research project on addiction medicine and includes a cash prize of $1,000 and a certificate formally presented at the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol & other Drugs (APSAD) conference. I would encourage eligible AChAM trainees to apply.
RACP Evolve
The RACP Evolve team is keen to hear from AChAM members interested in developing a case study to address one or two of AChAM’s Top-5 recommendations to reduce low value care. The aim of the case study is to support Fellows and trainees to build an understanding of low-value care within the AChAM’s specialty and to act as a tool for clinical educators and supervisors.
Expressions of interest are currently open for members interested in developing an AChAM Evolve case study. Please contact Stephanie Wrightman at evolve@racp.edu.au for further information. To view other Evolve case studies, please refer to the Evolve website resources page.
Lastly, in September, Professor John Saunders, President-elect will be presenting at the Australian Gaming & Screens Alliance Symposium (AGASA) in Canberra. If you would be interested in hearing John speak alongside other industry leaders, visit the AGASA website.
The AChAM Committee will next meet in August. 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
RACP Foundation grants and prizes
RACP Foundation Research Awards
Applications for the RACP Foundation Research Awards for 2024 are open. The Research Entry Scholarships are for researchers in their early career. Applications close on Tuesday, 18 July 2023.
Applications for research development grants and travel grants will open Saturday, 1 July 2023.
Chapter awards
AChSHM
- AChSHM Award for Best Postgraduate Thesis in Sexual Health Medicine – nominations close on 31 August 2023. The award recognises the importance of training its workforce in research. Recognise an AChSHM Fellow or trainee for their outstanding postgraduate work. The recipient will be formally acknowledged at the AChSHM ASM. Self-nominations are accepted.
College medals and awards
Nominations will open soon for the following College awards and medals. These awards and medals acknowledge outstanding contributions and achievements made by members in their respective fields. Consider nominating a colleague, a mentor, or a trainee, deserving of recognition. Applications for these opportunities close on 30 September 2023.
- The John Sands Medal recognises a Fellow who makes a significant contribution to the welfare of RACP and its members.
- The College Medal is aligned to the College motto hominum servire saluti. It is awarded to a Fellow who makes a significant contribution to medical specialist practice, healthcare and/or health of community through physician activities. Applications close on 30 September 2023.
- RACP International Medal recognises a member who has provided outstanding service in developing countries. Applications close on 30 September 2023.
- RACP Medal for Clinical Service in Rural and Remote Areas recognises a Fellow who has provided outstanding clinical service in rural and remote areas of Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.
- RACP Mentor of the Year Award recognises a Fellow who has made an outstanding contribution to mentoring or provided a high level of support and guidance throughout training.
- RACP Trainee of the Year Award recognises a Trainee who has made an outstanding contribution to College, community and trainee activities.
- The Eric Susman Prize is awarded by the College to a Fellow for best contribution to the knowledge of internal medicine.
Full details are available on the RACP Foundation webpage.
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:
- Contemporary updates on ventricular arrhythmias
- Management of cerebral amyloid angiopathy
- Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians with cirrhosis
- TB: a targeted student screening programme
- Capnocytophaga canimorsus meningitis.
Read the journal
Specialty Society webinar series 2023
We are pleased to announce that the 2023 Specialty Society webinar series has commenced. This year we have six specialty societies participating. Keep an eye on the ROC for upcoming webinars.
July webinar presentations:
See all upcoming events
Stand out from the crowd
The RACP Trainee Research Awards are open to all RACP trainees and first year Fellows. This is a terrific opportunity to have your research recognised and it makes a great addition to your CV.
Trainees who take out top honours at their regional event will be invited to present alongside recognised researchers at a College event in 2024. They will also be invited to have their abstracts published in the Congress supplement of the Internal Medicine Journal or Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Applications for the 2023 Awards are open from 1 July to 31 August 2023.
Find out more
Help us shape the future of specialist training
We are seeking expressions of interest from specialists including Fellows and qualified non-Fellow candidates where applicable to help us develop draft competency-based curricula for selected Advanced Training programs. We have up to 16 roles available to represent each of the specialties participating in curricula renewal in 2023.
This is an opportunity to shape the future of training in your specialty.
For more information, visit the website. To apply, please email your completed expression of interest form and a copy of your CV latest by 11.59pm AEST Monday, 3 July to curriculum@racp.edu.au.
How can we support your digital health learning needs?
Trainees, to assist us in developing digital health training and educational resources and opportunities that suit trainees’ needs, we are asking for your input. You are invited to complete a short survey to help us understand your current level of digital health experience and skills.
Findings from the survey will guide us in developing appropriate digital health resources and professional development opportunities, and identify areas where you may need further training, education and support.
Take the survey
Online resources to help you reach your full potential
RACP Online Learning offers a wide array of dynamic online resources to support you in maintaining the highest professional standards in your field. Our comprehensive resources will enable you to upskill and develop across all of the professional practice domains, including in areas such as quality and safety, ethics, cultural safety, advocacy, communication and beyond. Unleash your full potential with our diverse range of educational resources.
Don’t forget to claim CPD hours for time spent on RACP Online Learning.
PBS Authorities launches podcast
Services Australia has started a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) podcast which identifies trending topics. The first episode includes insights from Rachel Macaulay (Services Australia) and Christopher Deane (Department of Health and Aged Care) who explain why some PBS medicines require authority and discuss the exciting future of electronic PBS Authorities.
Listen now
Pomegranate Health podcast - Ep94: Facing up to racial bias
Ep94: Facing up to racial bias
In this episode, we try and understand the impact that racial bias makes on variation in clinical care. For example, racialized patterns in the use of analgesia were brought to light over 20 years ago but are still occurring today. In research from the UK published in March, it was found that women of African or South Asian extraction were significantly less likely to receive an epidural during vaginal birth, or instrumental assistance with the delivery. The direct reasons for this variation were not revealed by the study and could simply reflect the preferences of different cultural groups. But if that’s the case, it behoves us to address gaps in health education in a culturally sensitive way.
This podcast highlights the subtle drivers of racialized disparity at different layers of service delivery. At an individual level implicit bias can affect clinical decision-making. At an institutional level there may be known resourcing issues not being addressed, like availability of translators to help diverse patients understand what they’re consenting to. And all this takes place within the context of structural racism, the inequity that was long ago baked into society’s power structures. That’s particularly true in colonised countries like ours, so we also ask what it means to “decolonise” medicine.
Guests
- Wendy Edmonson PhD (Cultural Advisor, RACP)
- Dr Kudzai Kanhutu FRACP GAICD MPH (Dean, RACP; Deputy Chief Information Office, Royal Melbourne Hospital)
Please visit the Pomegranate Health web page for a transcript and supporting references. Login to MyCPD to record time spent listening and reading supporting materials. Subscribe to new episode email alerts or search for ‘Pomegranate Health’ in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, or any podcasting app.
Pomegranate Health podcast – Ep95: Machine learning 101
Ep95: Machine learning 101
AI-assisted healthcare is reaching maturity in many applications and could alleviate some of the capacity gap increasingly faced by our health systems.
Over the next three podcasts we focus on artificial intelligence tools designed to assist directly with clinical practice. Most commonly reported tools are the algorithms capable of pattern recognition on medical images. In some settings these perform as well – or better – than expert diagnosticians at classifying disease. AI models have also been developed to perform regression analysis more complex than classical risk stratification aids. The standard statistical algorithms used to solve these problems struggle when many variables are introduced. In these cases, deep learning models that mimic brain networks are sometimes a powerful alternative.
In this episode we explain how machine learning algorithms are trained on particular tasks and where there are risks of error and bias being introduced. In part two, we identify the ergonomic issues that affect practical implementation of AI tools in the clinic and in the decision cascade. And in the final episode of the series we discuss the questions that regulators and lawyers should be asking of this new technology and what role natural language processors might have in medicine.
Guest
- Dr Ian Scott FRACP MHA MEd (Director of Internal Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital; Professor of Medicine, University of Queensland).
Pomegranate Health podcast – Ep96: The ergonomics of AI
Ep96: The ergonomics of AI
The allure of having devices and tasks assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) is that they will help overcome some of the natural limits of human cognition with regards to working memory and attention. And in helping with the mundane tasks, AI can buy back clinicians time to spend with the complex patients who really need it. But the way all this pans out will really depend on how seamlessly the machine learning devices fit in with the clinical workflow.
Which aspect of clinical decision-making do they support and how are the consequences of error mitigated? Only a small fraction of research projects makes it all the way to implementation, and in this podcast we discuss the ergonomic factors that need to be solved to effectively use AI in clinical decision support.
Guests
- Associate Professor Clair Sullivan MBBS FRACP FACHI FAIDH CHIA (Director, Queensland Digital Health Centre; University of Queensland)
- Professor Enrico Coiera MBBS PhD FACMI, FACHI (Director, Centre for Health Informatics, Australian Institute of Health Innovation; Macquarie University).
Digital competencies for the next generation of physicians
This engaging webinar will cover what the future of digital health entails, and where technology is leading the national health system.
Join members of the RACP’s Digital Health Advisory Group to find out what the College is doing to meet these exciting and evolving technological trends. Plus, listen as experts discuss digital competencies for the next generation of physicians, as well as the challenges of integrating digital health into the training curricula.
Date and time: Wednesday, 26 July 2023 from 5pm to 6.15pm (AEST)
Register to attend
Save the date: The 37th World Congress of Internal Medicine 2024
The 37th World Congress of Internal Medicine 2024 (WCIM 2024) will take place at the Prague Congress Centre in the Czech Republic from 30 October to 2 November 2024. The Congress will feature keynote speakers from around the world who will share their knowledge and experience of clinical challenges and case studies, as well as guidelines and developments across the spectrum of internal medicine. It will provide a great opportunity to network and learn more about the experience of practising internal medicine which remains the cornerstone of every national healthcare system.
Read more
Appraisal by the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) meeting
See the scheduled agenda items for the Evaluation Sub-committee (ESC) of the MSAC meeting on 5 to 6 October 2023.
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’
The ROC homepage is getting a new look
We are excited to announce that we launched a new-look homepage on Monday, 5 June 2023. The new ROC homepage is more intuitive and easier to navigate and will include a range of new features for you to explore.
The new homepage also includes a link to our ‘ROC Tips’ - which features detailed information about how to access, navigate and utilise the ROC. Our ROC tips are frequently updated to ensure that you have all of the information you need in one single location.
Log into the ROC
The Member Advantage EOFY sale is on!
This June, save on all your tax-time purchases with Member Advantage. Log in to discover new savings, discounts, and prizes every week including a Weber BBQ, sponsored by The Good Guys Commercial.
Available online, 24/7. That's your Member Advantage. *Terms & Conditions apply.
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