The Medical Journal of Australia

This week is NAIDOC week and the MJA is publishing a special collection of articles that are Indigenous led and authored.   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 Wangal people. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.   My name is Sally Block, the MJA ’s news and o...

This year marks the 90th anniversary of Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council. From its official inception in the 1930s, the NHMRC has had a rich history from protecting Australia from diseases like polio and tuberculosis to making sure it backs high quality research that is ethical, rigorous and focused on community benefit. "The MJA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Cust...

Breastfeeding is encouraged worldwide – it also has particular benefits for mothers in warzones.    To speak about this and other interesting facets about breastfeeding is Dr Mariana Gutierrez Popoca. She is a Paediatrician with Medicine Sans Frontiers and visited the Australian Breastfeeding Medicine Conference recently.   “The MJA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on...

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.”   The MJA has recently...

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.”    Today we will be talk...

Today we are exploring Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion or LAAO Therapy.    We explore the clinical rationale, patient selection, referral pathways and key considerations for LAAO. and aim to understand the therapy as an option for patients who are unsuitable for long term anticoagulation therapy.  This is a sponsored podcast. A/Prof Pankaj Jain is an academic interventional cardiologist with appoi...

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 neu...

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 Wangal people. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.”   This week the MJA has published a supplement called Cure asthma – it’s a collaboration between keen Austral...

Australia now has its first Male Infertility guidelines.   The Guidelines are featured today as an Online First ahead of their official publication in MJA later this year.   “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 E...

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 Austral...

Today we are exploring cardiac surgery in elderly patients. This podcast is sponsored by Macquarie University Hospital, part of Macquarie University Health – a trailblazer in healthcare, education and research. Professor Michael Vallely is a leading cardiothoracic surgeon who has clinical and academic interests in minimising the invasiveness of cardiothoracic surgery and is a world authority on to...

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,...

Today we are exploring advances in glaucoma and age-related macular disease.  This podcast is sponsored by Macquarie University Hospital, part of Macquarie University Health – a trailblazer in healthcare, education and research. Dr Helen Do is an ophthalmic surgeon with a specialising in medical retina and cataract surgery with a focus on diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration at Macquarie...

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 here The Chief Medical Officer...

The likelihood of a man or woman dying of coronary heart disease is much less than it was half a century ago with better treatments and a reduction in smoking.   However, as our special guests will explain today, the overall burden of coronary disease continues to grow and it still remains the single leading cause of death in Australia.    Professor Will Parsonage is Clinical Director at the Austr...

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, L...

It’s NAIDOC week and the MJA’s – special issue on Indigenous Health   “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 Wangal people and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.”   Associate Professor Paul Saunders is a proud Biripi man whose family comes from the mid north co...

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 sponsore...

  In this episode we are exploring advances in pulmonary hypertension as well as symptoms, treatments, and its connection to rheumatological patients and much more. This podcast is sponsored by Macquarie University Hospital, part of MQ Health – a trailblazer in healthcare, education and research. Associate Professor Martin Brown is a cardiologist specialising in advanced heart failure, complex str...

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."

The Menzies School of Health Research is celebrating its 40th anniversary. It’s Australia’s leading medical research institute for improving health outcomes for First Nations people and its reach now extends beyond our shores to the Asia Pacific region. To commemorate this milestone, Menzies has chosen a collection of papers published in the MJA to highlight their research. Professor Alan Cass AO...

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...

Today we are exploring Respiratory Syncytial Virus in infants including its spread, its treatment and impact on families. This podcast was created with the support of our sponsor Sanofi.  Dr Rama Kandasamy is a paediatrician working at the Sydney Childrens Hospital network and the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance.

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 Tr...

It’s coming up to this year’s International Women’s Day, and today’s guests will talk about continuing gender in equality in health.   In an article published today in The MJA’s InSight+,  PhD candidate Rachel Mather who is a committee member of Women in Global Health Australia and Associate Professor Meru Sheel who is chair of the organisation state that women occupy 70% of frontline health posit...