Clinical Conversations

In this episode, Professor Eylem Levelt and Dr Marilena Giannoudi discuss the early stages of cardiometabolic disease, its asymptomatic challenges, and key risk factors. They cover how junior doctors can protect at-risk patients and the prevalence of diabetes and weight issues among those diagnosed. Reflecting on trends over the past decades, they share insights into improving patient outcomes. Lo...

This week Dr Ben Warner interviews Professor Tom Fardon on the topic of asthma. Through a case study, Prof Fardon discusses how to assess and treat a severe exacerbation of asthma and what needs to be considered when discharging patients. Tom and Ben also discuss diagnosing asthma and the treatments available to patients. Professor Fardon is a Consultant Respiratory Physician at NHS Tayside and Ho...

In this brief episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi, Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members’ Committee, gives an overview of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh's podcasts relevant to doctors-in-training. These include: this podcast, 'Clinical Conversations'; 'Career Conversations' including the new 'Demystifying PACES' series; and the Recently Appointed Consultants' Committee's podcast, 'Consulta...

What happens at the Inherited Cardiac Conditions clinic? In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi and Dr Anshu Sengupta discuss Inherited Cardiac Conditions (ICCs) and the ICC clinic, including who makes up this multi-disciplinary team. They discuss the approach to patients with ICCs covering investigations and management including guideline-led treatment, monitoring, risk assessment and exercise ad...

In this episode, Dr Kat Ralston chats to Dr Matt Lambert about hyperacute stroke. They discuss a targeted approach to first assessment, including how to utilise your team effectively in a time-pressured environment. They explore the evidence behind different treatment options and share practical tips on thrombolysis and thrombectomy. Dr Lambert is a consultant in Stroke and Medicine for the Elderl...

In this episode Dr Ben Warner discusses multimorbidity, also known as multiple long-term conditions, with Professor Frances Mair. They discuss what multimorbidity is, how the concept differs from frailty and how the burden of treatment and health inequalities impact patients with multiple long-term conditions. Professor Frances Mair is the Norie Miller Professor of General Practice, Head of Genera...

In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi and Dr Vidhya Nair discuss orthogeriatrics, including frailty and fragility fractures, osteoporosis, and falls risk assessment, and the importance of a multi-disciplinary (MDT) team throughout patient care. Dr Vidhya Nair graduated from Newcastle University in 2002 and moved down to Leeds in 2003. Dr Nair became a Consultant in Elderly Medicine specialising i...

In this episode, Dr Kat Ralston chats with Dr Emma Phillips about clinical debriefing. They talk about what clinical debriefing is (and isn’t) and why we should be incorporating this into our everyday work. They explore when and how to facilitate a clinical debrief and share tips on how we can embed clinical debriefing into our practice. Dr Phillips is an Anaesthetic Registrar working in South-Eas...

In this episode, released to coincide with World TB Day 2024, Dr Ben Warner discusses pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) with Dr David Connell. Dr David Connell first explains his personal interest in TB. They then discuss pulmonary TB in depth, including: epidemiology; pathogenesis, immune response, and transmission (a 'lymphatic disease with respiratory spread'); how TB presents and differential diagno...

This week Dr Marilena Giannoudi focuses on the topic of Frailty with Dr Sean Ninan. They discuss recognising frailty, the different ways to measure the severity of frailty and the importance of adapting treatment for frail patients. Dr Sean Ninan is a Consultant Geriatrician and Clinical Lead for Dementia and Delirium at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Dr Ninan is also Course Director of Leeds...

This week, Dr Kat Ralston takes a fresh look at the geriatric giants with Dr Clare Bostock. They explore frailty syndromes using the “5M’s” approach (matters most, mind, mobility, medications, and multi-complexity) and discuss the importance of a detective mindset to make the diagnosis. They share practical tips on the assessment and management of patients with frailty at the front door. Clare Bos...

In this episode, Dr Kat Ralston talks to Dr Sam Hopkins about growth mindset. They talk about what growth and fixed mindsets are, and why thinking about your mindset is critical to successful learning and development as doctors. They discuss practical tips on ways to influence your mindset and the mindset of others around you, including effective ways to seek and give feedback and the power of rol...

In this brief episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi, Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members’ Committee, gives an overview of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh's podcasts relevant to doctors-in-training. These include: this podcast, 'Clinical Conversations'; 'Career Conversations' including the new 'Demystifying PACES' series; and the Recently Appointed Consultants' Committee's podcast, 'Consulta...

In the second of two episodes on Long COVID, Dr Hannah Preston discusses Long COVID and ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) with Dr Binita Kane. Long COVID, also known as Post-Covid Syndrome, is further explored. Dr Preston and Kane discuss Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS), immune dysregulation, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), the impact of Long COVID on women's...

In the first of two episodes on Long COVID, Dr Hannah Preston discusses Long COVID and ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) with Dr Binita Kane. Long COVID, also known as Post-Covid Syndrome, is explored in depth, including prevalence, risk factors, symptoms and impact, pathophysiology, and management. Dr Kane also busts some common myths about Long COVID. Dr Binita Kane i...

Dr Kat Ralston and Dr Sarah Bartlett discuss free e-learning on the '10 things a doctor can do to combat climate change' initiative from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh's College Advisory Forum on the Environment (CAFE). This initiative has featured in The BMJ, the College's journal JRCPE and in Scotland's Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report. Dr Sarah Bartlett is Co-Chair of RCPE's...

This week Dr Kat Ralston discusses sustainability in healthcare with Dr Shauna Golden. They explore why striving for individual perfection isn't the answer, and discuss the importance of using your sphere of influence to drive change. They share practical tips on how you can improve sustainability where you work, including projects that are 'win-win' - saving the planet, saving money and improving...

This week Dr Jonathan Bardgett discusses how to manage patients with a red hot painful swollen foot with Dr Callum Mutch. Jonathan and Callum discuss diagnostics, treatment and examples of different case presentations. Dr Mutch is an infection doctor working in Edinburgh with his time split between the microbiology lab and the infectious diseases ward. He has recently undertaken a medical educatio...

In this episode Dr Marilena Giannoudi discusses the approach to patients with peripheral neuropathy with Dr Louise Davidson. Dr Davidson first covers the basic anatomy and function of the peripheral nervous system and describes lower motor neurone signs. They discuss different peripheral neuropathy presentations and types. Dr Davidson emphasises the importance of a thorough history before moving o...

In this episode Drs Dáire O'Shea and Sarah Clifford discuss what the acute medic needs to know about HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) with Dr Jonny Bardgett, including the patient journey following diagnosis, opportunistic infections, advances in diagnosis and management, treatment side effects, and use of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) to reduce transmission...

In this episode, Dr Libby Sampey interviews Dr Catriona Kyle about adrenal insufficiency and steroid replacement. They discuss the different types of adrenal insufficiency and relevant physiology before exploring recognition, investigations and diagnosis, and links to other autoimmune diseases. They go on to discuss management including ‘sick day rules’, and patient follow-up. Dr Catriona Kyle is...

Today Dr Marilena Giannoudi discusses treating diabetic patients on the wards with Dr Evgenia Foteinopoulou. Dr Evgenia Foteinopoulou is a Consultant in Endocrinology & Diabetes at NHS Lothian with a special interest in Diabetic Nephropathy and Diabetes classification. Dr Foteinopoulou is also involved in Undergraduate and Postgraduate medical teaching. Dr Marilena Giannoudi is the T&MC Podcast Le...

This week Dr Marilena Giannoudi interviews Professor Mahmood Adil on data, how it can be used in healthcare and what opportunities are available for healthcare workers interested in medical data. Professor Adil has over 25 years of medical, public health, executive management and policy experience and delivered on key senior positions in the UK & USA including; Medical Director (Public Health Scot...

This week, Dr Libby Sampey interviews Ian Lee on impromptu teaching on the medical ward. Ian discusses the importance in facilitating teaching on the wards and how to recognise and overcome challenges, as both educators and learners, to provide good quality training in a clinical setting. Ian Lee is a Lecturer in Medical Education and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy who works mainly...

In this episode Dr Sampey discusses with Dr Gurney what QI is. Why it is beneficial in a healthcare setting. How it affects patient outcomes and helps to deliver patient centred care. Dr Gurney is Lecturer on MSc Clinical Education at the University of Edinburgh & Co-leader of a 40 credit course on Quality Improvement in relation to Clinical Education within the MSc. Additionally she clinically wo...