Humans in Health Brooke Bullock & Jessica Weatherall

Dr Tiba Alhilal is an International Medical Graduate from Iraq currently living in Australia and searching for a role as a Doctor. 

Tiba bravely shred her journey so far: since fleeing Iraq when ISIS attacked her city in 2014, finishing her Internship in Baghdad,  living and working in Amman and Jordan for 6 years and then moving to Australia. 

Tiba shared her passion for Medicine, and frustrations faced as an International Medical Graduate trying to secure a job in Australia. She is bright, energetic and magnetic and it was a pleasure to hear her story.

Professor Trent Twomey is the National President of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia and shared with us his experiences navigating what have been some of the most challenging years in the history of community pharmacy.


We loved hearing about Trent's love of far north Queensland, and how his professional and personal supports aid his unwavering resilience. Trent passionately shared his mission to advocate for co-designed reform and his pride for the culture within the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.

What a pleasure it was to hear from Trent: who wholeheartedly wears his heart on his sleeve and whose kids allow his ego to remain in check.

Thank goodness for a shared diary..

What a pleasure to interview Xander Van Der Poll. Xander is a South African born, 24 year old medical student studying at Bristol University in the UK. In May 2018, Xander suffered a life-changing injury, leaving him paralysed from his waist down and reliant on a wheelchair for mobility. Despite his new challenges, he has continued with his career in medicine, having recently completed a placement in the Emergency Department at Gold Coast University Hospital. 
 Xander is also a keen athlete, currently training on the GB sprint canoe paralympic pathway. Outside of his work life, Xander and his fiancé love adventure and have just got back from a three-month trip around South Africa and Australia. 
 You can find out more about their journey on Instagram on @ourchaoticadventure

It was a pleasure to have Dr Bec Jenkinson on the podcast who is a maternity consumer advocate and researcher. After more than 10 years of volunteer work as a maternity consumer rep, Bec completed a PhD exploring refusal of recommended maternity care. She went on to co-lead the development of Queensland Health’s Guideline for partnering with the woman who declines recommended maternity care. 
Bec shared with us her personal journey as a consumer of obstetric and midwifery care: an experience many of our listeners will resonate with in some way, shape or form. We also heard of Bec's journey to find where she fits which has found her currently in her first "real research job" as a Qualitative Research Fellow with the Australian Women and Girls Health Research Centre at UQ. Bec provides clarity around how we can best have consumers as part of our conversations: an important viewpoint we must always seek to hear.

Dr Gerben Keijzers is adjunct Professor of Emergency Medicine. His research revolves around topics relevant to clinical practice in critical care, with special interest in sepsis, appropriateness of antibiotic use and respiratory medicine. 

We loved chatting with Gerben about what makes him so curious and how this has led to a research career testing how less can be more. Gerben explains what is behind his perceived direct feedback style.

Importantly, we also heard what makes Gerben tick, such as his love of his dogs and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Gerben explains how being an "Emergency Medicine" Doctor is the last thing he would introduce himself as.

An inspiring, curious and honest conversation, we hope you enjoy.

Books mentioned: 
 - Drive by Dan Pink
 - Bounce by Matthew Syed
 - The Discovery of Heaven by Harry Mulisch

Professor Ian Coombes and Doctor Judith Coombes are a Pharmacist Dream team from Brisbane, Queensland.

With professional career’s full of leadership, education and research and Personal lives filled to the brim with family, friends and adventure, it is Ian and Judith's long ties with Sri Lanka that we loved hearing about during this conversation.
Judith and Ian have worked tirelessly (and joyfully) over the last 15 years to build capacity within the Sri Lankan health care system: through education and research. These experiences are a true reflection on their passion for Pharmacy and Life. It's impossible not to be inspired and uplifted by their approach to moving their family to Sri Lanka whilst on long service leave and all the places that initial visit has taken them over the years.


We hope you enjoy hearing their story.