AMD eBulletin – 6 May 2022
A message from your President
Greetings to all.
I write this post from the Northern Territory where I have been working for the past three weeks as a general physician at Alice Springs Hospital. Unfortunately, a few of the registrars in the hospital have come down with COVID-19. Who knew karaoke could be so dangerous? Fortunately, they have not been severely affected and have recovered uneventfully. Meanwhile the patients are now coming down with influenza. Please get yourselves vaccinated urgently – this is going to be a tough winter.
RACP Congress 2022 commences in Melbourne next week and I look forward to catching up with many of you in person. I extend my sympathies to our colleagues in Aotearoa New Zealand who are unable to deliver their Congress sessions face-to-face due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19.
I would like to acknowledge and highlight the efforts of all those involved in the organisation of the Melbourne, Aotearoa New Zealand and online Congress programs. In particular I would like to extend my gratitude to Dr Sharmila Ramessur Chandran in her role as the AMD Lead for the Congress Program Committee (CPC). We are extremely grateful for her time and contribution in AMD and across wider College activities and Committees as well.
Following Congress, I will hand the baton over to the very capable Professor Graeme Maguire and wish him well in his term as AMD President.
To reiterate the sentiments in my last post, I would like to thank AMD Committee Members, Fellows, trainees, AMD Secretariat colleagues and the wider AMD community for your support and hard work during an extremely challenging two years.
If you would like to discuss any of the above, I encourage you to reach out to me via the AMD secretariat at adult.med@racp.edu.au or on the ROC.
Best wishes
Professor Don Campbell
Adult Medicine Division President
AChSHM President’s Post
I would like to congratulate the new members of the Committee who were successful at the recent College election and will commence their positions following the College’s AGM in mid-May.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our community for the support shown to our Committee during the past two years. It has been my privilege to serve our community and this Committee. I would personally like to extend my thanks to the members of the Committee who, despite this global pandemic, have worked so effectively together. The Committee’s achievements throughout this time have occurred without a single 5am taxi ride to the airport or airline flight — and very much lower greenhouse gas admissions. The costs to the College have also been very substantially reduced without any reduction in effectiveness or efficiency.
Thank you to all our members — Fellows and trainees — who have worked so effectively in various ways throughout the pandemic response. We have all shown resilience and compassion for each other, our families and friends, our work colleagues, and our patients. I am sure this will continue into the future.
As this is my last President’s post, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Dr Massimo Giola for his support as the President-elect, and I wish him every success as the new President.
Additionally, I would like to draw attention to three Chapter prizes which are open now or will open shortly. I encourage you to apply for these prizes, or forward the link to someone else who would be eligible to apply.
- The Research Entry Scholarship was developed to assist Fellows and trainees who are at the start of their research careers and/or enrolled or about to enrol in a Masters, PhD, or equivalent research higher degree. Applications will open on Tuesday, 3 May 2022 and close on Monday, 18 July 2022.
The next AChSHM Committee meeting will take place on Friday, 22 July 2022. 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.
I would like to end by emphasising the importance of our College and the Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine in shaping health care systems, policy, research, education and training and clinical responses in Australia.
Professor Kit Fairley
Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine President
AChPM President’s Post
The changeover in office bearers across the College will take place at the College’s AGM at RACP Congress in mid-May 2022. It is with great pleasure that I welcome Professor Peter Poon to the presidency.
I would like to take this opportunity in my last report as President of the Chapter to acknowledge the hard work of the Chapter Committee members and Chapter staff over the past two years. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you all and performing the role of AChPM President and Chair of the Committee. In what I am sure is a common experience, very little of any plan that I had for the last two years survived intact. However, with the support of the Committee and staff, I am proud that we continued to provide advocacy for the Chapter Fellowship and for our patients, often working closely with other Palliative Care peak bodies.
I would also like to acknowledge all our members — Fellows and trainees — for all that has been done over the last two years. A global pandemic was not something any of us foresaw. We have seen many changes to what was “the norm”, and at times it has been very challenging on both personal and professional levels. Despite this, we continued to show compassion to ourselves, our peers and colleagues, our families and friends, and our patients.
Lastly, I would like to bring your attention to two AChPM Awards that are currently open and closing on 30 June:
The next Chapter Committee meeting will take place on Friday, 22 July 2022 via videoconference.
Do you have a question for your Chapter committee? We welcome any feedback or comments, so please feel free to contact us through the Chapter secretariat at PallMed@racp.edu.au.
Dr Michelle Gold
Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine President
This will be my last report as the President of our Chapter; a role I have thoroughly enjoyed being in for the past two years. I have had the strong and unwavering support of the fantastic members of the Chapter Committee and our colleagues at the College. Who could have predicted a global pandemic would have occurred? I certainly did not when I was nominated for President-elect! It has brought challenges to our specialty, however, it has also brought opportunities.
Our President-elect, Professor Adrian Dunlop, will take over as President following the AGM on 13 May 2022. I wish Adrian every success in this important leadership role; one that will provide him with a wonderful opportunity to engage in and influence all manner of important clinical, public health, and public policy matters.
Additionally, the AChAM Nghi Phung Research Project Prize is awarded annually to the best Advanced Training Research Project on addiction medicine. The award includes a cash prize of $1,000 and a certificate formally presented at the APSAD Conference. Applications open on Wednesday, 1 June 2022 – see the website for more information.
Lastly, I thank the College and I thank you all for your support over this past two years, and I look forward to witnessing continued strong leadership and momentum from within our Chapter in the future.
The AChAM Committee will next meet on Friday, 22 July. If you have any feedback, questions, or comments for the Committee, please get in touch through our secretariat at AddictionMed@racp.edu.au.
Professor Nicholas Lintzeris
Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine President
Expressions of Interest (EOIs)
All Expressions of Interest
The Foundation's Chapter awards, scholarships and prizes
An update from AChSHM
RACP AChSHM Research Entry Scholarship
Apply now for a RACP AChSHM Research Entry Scholarship worth up to $45,000, offered by AChSHM through the RACP Foundation. Fellows and trainees of the AChSHM are also eligible to apply for many others awards offered through the Foundation. Visit the RACP Foundation webpage for full details and to access the online application form.
Opening soon: AChSHM Award for Best Postgraduate Thesis in Sexual Health Medicine
The AChSHM recognises the importance of training its workforce in research. This award acknowledges an AChSHM Fellow or trainee for their outstanding postgraduate work, and the recipient will be formally acknowledged at the AChSHM ASM. Self-nominations are accepted. Nominations open on Wednesday, 1 June 2022.
An update from AChPM
AChPM Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Discipline of Palliative Medicine
Nominate a Fellow for their outstanding contributions to palliative medicine. The award includes a cash prize of $500 and a certificate formally presented at the ANZSPM Conference. Nominations close on Thursday, 30 June 2022.
AChPM Best Trainee Research Project Award
This award is for the best research project submitted for assessment during Advanced Training in Palliative Medicine each year. The award includes a cash prize of $1,000 and a certificate formally presented at the ANZSPM Conference. Applications open on Thursday, 30 June 2022.
An update from AChAM
Opening soon: AChAM Nghi Phung Research Project Prize
The Nghi Phung Research Project Prize is awarded annually to the best Advanced Training Research Project on addiction medicine. The award includes a cash prize of $1,000 and a certificate formally presented at the APSAD Conference. Applications open on Wednesday, 1 June 2022.
RACP Endorsement of the Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) Australia - Health Professional's Statement on the situation in Ukraine
Following consultation with relevant College bodies, the College has formally endorsed the MAPW Australia’s Health Professional Statement on the situation in Ukraine. This statement is intended to bring attention to the medical and humanitarian dimension of the crisis in Ukraine and to unite trusted medical voices in a call for peace.
The content of this statement aligns with a previous MAPW statement urging Australia to join the UN Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons which the College endorsed in 2018, and it also reflects the recent RACP President’s message about Ukraine.
We would also encourage individual members to sign the statement in their individual capacity and to promote it to their networks.
Applications are now open for 2023 RACP Research Awards
Over 50 awards with a total value exceeding $2.5 million are available across the different categories:
RACP Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) Research Establishment Fellowship is a new award which is offered to assist a current or future RACP Fellow in establishing a career in diabetes research. Research may relate to any form of diabetes and be from any domain, including basic, clinical, epidemiological, health services or translational research.
Visit the RACP Foundation webpage for information on specific eligibility requirements for each award and to access the online application form.
Internal Medicine Journal – April 2022 edition now available
The April 2022 issue of the Internal Medicine Journal is now live. This month’s Editor's Choice is an original article titled 'Diabetes in ischaemic stroke in a regional Australian hospital: uncharted territory'.
Key highlights from the issue include:
- Subacute thyroiditis secondary to COVID-19
- Framework for opioid stewardship programs
- HIV – the changing paradigm
- Direct oral coagulants and predictors of bleeding
- Early oesophageal adenocarcinoma in Barrett oesophagus
- VEXAS syndrome: lessons learnt.
View the latest issue
RACP Congress 2022 is less than a week away
Hear from expert voices, receive clinical updates, and make the most of catching up with friends and colleagues.
Join us from 12 to 14 May for RACP Congress 2022: A Climate for Change. There are still plenty of opportunities to join us, either in-person or online. Attend for the full two and a half days, or a single day, or purchase a virtual ticket to watch the streamed sessions. All tickets have access to recorded sessions for six months to watch in your own time.
Explore the ticket options and the full Congress program.
Joining us in-person? Have you registered for your workshops?
For those of you joining us at Congress in Melbourne, time is running out to secure your place in the range of workshops.
From Media spokesperson essentials to the Supervisor Professional Development Program (SPDP), these in-demand sessions have limited places so make sure you secure your seat when you register. If you need to secure your seat, email the RACP Congress Events Team.
Kids COVID Catch Up Campaign – sign the petition
Following the successful launch of the Kids COVID Catch Up Campaign in February, we are now asking members to sign the petition calling on our political leaders to commit to a package of policy measures to help children and young people catch up from the setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether it is the loss of education from missed face-to-face teaching, the emotional impact of reduced social connection with their peers, or the lack of access to sport, recreational, and cultural activities, the COVID-19 pandemic has overturned many parts of children’s lives.
The impacts have also not been equal. COVID-19 has amplified existing inequalities across our communities, impacting children from low socio-economic backgrounds, First Nations children, children from culturally diverse backgrounds, children with disability and children experiencing family violence.
Sign the petition
The Campaign has six key asks:
- Establish a National COVID-19 taskforce to lead a recovery plan
- Appoint and fund a National Chief Paediatrician
- Fund and implement the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
- Increase funding for school students with additional needs, such as disability or learning difficulties
- Implement universal access to early education programs for all three-year-old children
- Restrict marketing of unhealthy diets to children and young people
By signing the petition you will strengthen our voice and help us send a message to our leaders: it is time to focus on our kids and help put their futures back on track to achieve their potential.
Join the College Curriculum Advisory Group
The Curriculum Advisory Group, which oversees the Curricula Renewal project, is seeking a new member. Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are welcome from Fellows and trainees, with a deadline of Friday, 20 May 2022.
Submit an EOI
New Digital Health CPD Primer
The new Primer of CPD Activities in Digital Health has been developed by the RACP’s Digital Health Advisory Group to help you earn CPD credits in the fields of digital health and clinical informatics. The Primer provides a range of digital health activities across the three CPD categories:
- Educational activities
- Reviewing performance
- Measuring outcomes.
Browse the primer for examples of how to meet your CPD requirements in digital health.
Specialist Training Program applications - now open
Applications for new Specialist Training Program (STP) positions are now open and will be available until Friday, 13 May 2022. The Specialist Training Program supports training positions in regional, rural and remote areas, and in private facilities. This helps to improve the skills and distribution of the specialist workforce by giving participants experience of a broader range of healthcare settings. Please visit the Department of Health website for more information.
All queries regarding the new STP position process should be directed to postgraduate.training@health.gov.au.
Don’t forget to download the RACP Online Community (ROC) app
Did you know that RACP members can access the ROC via an app? The easy-to-use mobile app will help you get the most out of your online community and connect you with other members. The app can be used to initiate discussions, find other members, read the latest posts, and share your expertise. Download the ROC app from the App Store or Google Play, or login via MyRACP.
Pomegranate Health Podcast: Healthcare in a Volatile Climate
Ep80: Healthcare in a Volatile Climate
The globe has already warmed by more than one degree Celsius over pre-industrial levels, and is on track to exceed two degrees by the end of the century.
It doesn’t sound like a lot, but this will have profound effects on human health — with Australia being particularly vulnerable. If this were to happen, Australia’s biggest cities will become furnaces in summer with of heat-related mortality rates more than doubling. The rising temperatures will also increase frequency of the climate oscillations that delivered us record-breaking temperatures and bushfires in 2019 to 2020, followed by historic rains and floods last summer.
In this podcast we discuss the effects of this increasingly volatile climate on the health of Australians, from infectious disease to respiratory and even mental health. Professor Lynne Madden explains how the health system can become more resilient to these demands and what measures the RACP is asking the Federal Government to commit to in preparation for this.
Find out more about the "Health Climate Future" campaign.
Guest
- Professor Lynne Madden FAFPHM (University of Notre Dame)
Subscribe to email alerts or search for ‘Pomegranate Health’ in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, or any podcasting app. RACP Fellows can claim CPD credits for listening and learning via MyCPD. For a transcript and further references please visit our webpage.
HSANZ PhD Scholarships and Clinical Fellowships now open
The Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ) and its charity partners offers a range of HSANZ funded or co-funded PhD Scholarships, Clinical Fellowships, grants, and awards annually, biennially and triennially. HSANZ also presents annual awards and grants associated with the Annual Scientific Meeting – Blood.
In 2022, it is offering:
- three (3) x HSANZ / Leukemia Foundation PhD scholarships
- one (1) x HSANZ / Maddie's Vision PhD Scholarship
- Up to two (2) x HSANZ Clinical Fellowships
- Albert Baikie Memorial Medal and Award
- HSANZ / Snowdome Foundation Mid-Career Blood Cancer Research Grant
For more information, visit the HSANZ and Blood websites.
Paxlovid® for the treatment of COVID-19
Paxlovid® will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme(PBS) from Sunday, 1 May 2022, as a treatment for COVID-19.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee has advised that this medicine should be listed on the PBS for adults who have mild to moderate COVID-19 confirmed by a PCR or medically verified RAT and who can start treatment within five days of symptom onset, can be prescribed PBS-subsidised Paxlovid® by their doctor or nurse practitioner if:
- they are 65 years of age or older, with two other risk factors for severe disease (as increasing age is a risk factor, patients who are 75 years of age of older only need to have one other risk factor); or they identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin, and are 50 years of age or older with two other risk factors for severe disease, or
- they are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
Paxlovid® is not recommended for use in pregnant or breastfeeding women and in women of childbearing potential not using contraception. TGA product information on Paxlovid® is available here.
To prioritise Paxlovid® for patients at highest risk of developing severe COVID-19, prescribers are requested to prescribe Paxlovid® only in accordance with the PBS eligibility criteria; and prescribers and dispensers are strongly discouraged from providing it via private prescription.
For more information please read the PBS factsheet available here.
Handbook of Clinical Pancreatology Second Edition
The Second Edition of the Handbook of Clinical Pancreatology, an educational resource developed under the auspices of GESA, is now available. The Handbook has been developed as an up to date, succinct guide rather than a definitive textbook. It is a resource medical practitioners can refer to in the lecture hall, hospital ward or consulting room.
Three new chapters have been added to complete the scope of the Handbook: Paediatric Clinical Pancreatology, Cystic Fibrosis and the Pancreas and Diabetes of the Exocrine Pancreas. Each chapter is co-authored by an Australian and international expert. Further information is available on the GESA Clinical resources page.
Let’s celebrate Mum… with Member Advantage
This May, we bring you a series of special offers to reward that special person in your life – Mum. With so many online options to choose from, Mother’s Day shopping has never been easier.
Here are some of the great deals on offer:
Save on electronics with JB HiFi
Does Mum need a new phone? Or a pair of in-ear headphones to listen to her favourite tunes? With your exclusive access to the JB Hi-Fi Corporate Benefits program, you can save big on tech and electronics at Australia’s largest retailer of consumer electronics.
Gourmet food and wine to delight
Reward Mum with delicious gourmet food, paired with exclusive wines from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and France. Save up to 10% on Mother’s Day gift hampers and choose from the extensive range at StellaRio or build your own to suit Mum’s taste.
Give Mum the perfect eGift
Not yet sure what to get Mum? Spa treatments, shopping experiences, so many choices! Discounted eGift Cards provide you with great savings and are the perfect gift for Mum.
Log in today to start shopping or call 1300 853 352 for more information.
*Terms and conditions apply.
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