The Cut

Curtin Surgical Students Association
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Step into the operating theatre of conversation with The Cut, the official podcast of the Curtin Surgical Students Association (CSSA)! Each episode, we scrub in with surgeons from a range of specialties to uncover what life is really like behind the scalpel. From career-defining moments to the challenges that shape surgical practice, we explore the the precision, passion, purpose and people behind surgery! Whether you're a medical student curious about surgical pathways or simply fascinated by the stories behind each specialty, The Cut offers a glimpse into the anatomy of surgical life!

Episodes

  1. Oct 9

    #12 - Anaesthesiology

    Dr Russell Clarke — Consultant Anaesthetist 💉 What does life as an anaesthetist really look like? And what happens when anaesthesia intersects with consciousness, death, and the body's most complex physiological responses? In this episode, we sit down with Dr Russell Clarke, Consultant Anaesthetist with a special interest in anaesthetic allergy, to explore the realities of anaesthesia, the pathway into the specialty, and the critical role anaesthetists play in the operating theatre. 🫁 From the fascinating field of anaesthetic allergy to high-yield clinical concepts, including the management of laryngospasm and thyroid storm, we cover a range of practical insights for medical students and aspiring anaesthetists. 🧠 Whether you're curious about pursuing anaesthetics, want to deepen your clinical knowledge, or have ever wondered about the relationship between consciousness, death, and the human body, this episode is for you! Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:06 Pathway into anaesthesia after medical school 08:11 What does the role of an anaesthetist involve in theatre? 11:09 What is something anaesthesia taught you about medicine that you don't think you would have learnt in any other specialty? 16:15 Consciousness, death, and the body 18:22 Allergy and anaphylaxis 20:29 How to get involved in research 23:31 What aspect of your practice took years of experience to truly understand? 24:54 Core principles of anaesthesia 32:27 Most memorable case 🎧 Tune in to The Cut for an inside look at the specialty of anaesthesia!

  2. Sep 9

    #11– Pathway into Surgery

    PGY2 Doctor & Aspiring Surgeon From Curtin med school to life as a junior doctor — in this episode, Dr Jack Jennings gives us a refreshingly real look at the years before surgical training actually begins 👀 🔪 What should you be doing after med school if you want to pursue surgery?🤔 How do you figure out whether surgery is actually the career for you?🌾 What does working rurally look like as a junior doctor?🍻 And how do you balance ambition, medicine, hobbies and having an actual social life? Jack graduated from Curtin Medical School in 2025, is a former CSSA President, and is currently working as a PGY2 doctor with his sights set on a career in surgery. If you want to hear about navigating junior doctor life, building your surgical CV, rural medicine, career uncertainty and finding a life outside the hospital — have a listen! 🤯🩺 Listen to The Cut to find out! ✂️🎙️ Visit our ⁠website⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram ⁠ and ⁠Facebook!⁠

  3. Aug 18

    #10 - Ophthalmology and Eye Surgery

    From microscopic surgery to restoring sight — in this episode, Ophthalmologist Dr Geoffery Chan gives us an inside look into the world of ophthalmology and eye surgery 👁️🔬 👀 What does a day in the life of an ophthalmologist actually look like? 🔬 What makes ophthalmic surgery so different from other surgical specialties? 🩺 What does the pathway into ophthalmology look like — and how competitive is it? 📚 How can medical students get involved in research early? Dr Chan completed a fellowship in complex cataract and glaucoma surgery at Cambridge University and currently works at the Lions Eye Institute. If you’d like to hear more about ophthalmology training, surgical life, research, career pathways and what makes operating on the eye so unique — have a listen! 🤯👁️ Listen to The Cut to find out! ✂️🎙️ Visit our ⁠website⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram ⁠ and ⁠Facebook!⁠

  4. Jul 30

    #9 - Breast and General Surgery

    From the evolution of breast cancer surgery to life after hanging up the scrubs— retired Breast and General Surgeon Dr Diana Hastrich joins us on The Cut to reflect on a career dedicated to breast cancer care 🎀🔪 🎀 What is breast surgery actually about?🩺 How do surgeons approach the diagnosis and management of breast cancer?🇦🇺 How has breast surgery in Australia changed over the years?🌅 And what does life look like after retiring from surgery? From the development of breast cancer surgery to the realities of a career in general and breast surgery, Dr Hastrich shares her experiences, insights and reflections from years in the field. Would you like to know?Listen to The Cut to find out! 🎙️ Visit our ⁠website⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram ⁠ and ⁠Facebook!⁠

  5. Jul 23

    #8 - ENT Surgery

    🎙️ Endoscopes, ear canals… and all those cranial nerve foramina?! 👂👃 In this episode of The Cut, we step into the world of ENT surgery with Dr Jafri Kuthubutheen, an ENT surgeon working across Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth Children’s Hospital and WACHS Kimberley. From busy metro hospitals to specialist work in rural and remote WA, we get into what life as an ENT surgeon actually looks like — and what it takes to get there. 👂 What does a week in the life of an ENT surgeon actually involve?🧠 How high-yield is it really to learn all the cranial nerve foramina?🌏 What does specialist ENT work look like rurally?🩺 And what does the pathway into ENT actually look like? Whether ENT is already on your specialty shortlist or you’re still trying to work out what an otolaryngologist actually does, this episode gives you a glimpse behind the scenes of the specialty, its training pathway and life on the job. 👇👇 Visit our ⁠website⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram ⁠ and ⁠Facebook!⁠

  6. Apr 29

    #7 - Craniomaxillofacial Surgery

    🎙 From complex facial trauma to intricate reconstructions — in this episode of The Cut, we’re joined by craniomaxillofacial plastics and reconstructive surgeon Dr Tim Hewitt, who breaks down what life in max fax & plastics is really like 🦴✨ 🔪 What actually comes under cranio-maxillofacial & reconstructive plastics (it’s more than you think)🦷 The anatomy and skills that are actually high-yield for max fac👨‍⚕️ How to stand out on plastics & max fax surgical placements🧵 What the pathway into plastics and craniofacial surgery really involves💡 Real insights from working across SCGH, PCH, and RPH If you’re curious about facial trauma, reconstruction, and the artistry behind plastics — this episode is packed with practical advice, honest insights, and a behind-the-scenes look into one of the most fascinating surgical fields 🤯 💙 Listen now on Spotify — The Cut, brought to you by Curtin Surgical Students’ Association 💙 🔗 Link HERE: https://open.spotify.com/show/4a21MHQTWY4Qt5o17lCJ5x?si=UgRqOEMHQsqR1_RuA57Smw

  7. Apr 17

    #6 - Surgical Placement

    🎙 From navigating the wards to surviving your first time in theatre — in this episode we’re joined by beloved ex-CAMS President and Year 5 medical student Sanjeev Singh, who shares the real talk on smashing your surgical placement! 🔪📚 👨‍⚕️ How to actually stand out (for the right reasons) on surg🩺 What consultants and registrars really notice📋 Tips for preparing before your placement even starts⏰ Balancing long theatre days with study and life💡 Lessons learned from one of CAMS’ most loved student leaders If you're about to start your surgical rotation or want to make the most of time in theatre, this episode is packed with practical advice, honest insights, and plenty of relatable moments! 🤯🤯 Visit our ⁠website⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram ⁠ and ⁠Facebook!⁠

  8. 08/24/2025

    # 5 - Paediatric Surgery

    🎙️ Tiny scalpel, huge stories… straight out of PCH 🏥 In this episode, we scrub in with Dr Helen Buschel, paediatric surgeon based at Perth Children’s Hospital 🏥. From tiny patients to big challenges, Helen takes us inside the weird, wonderful (and sometimes chaotic) world of paeds surgery. Would you like to know? 🚴‍♀️ How to cheat at Strava (yes, surgically approved!) 👨‍👩‍👧 The art of handling parents when the stakes are high 👶🔬 What in-utero surgery is being used for today If you’ve ever wondered what paediatric surgery really looks like—the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hilarious side notes—this one’s for you! 👇👇 Visit our ⁠website⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram ⁠ and ⁠Facebook!⁠ ⁠Transcript for this episode Thank you to MDA National for sponsoring this episode 💙

  9. 08/13/2025

    #4 - Cardiothoracic and Transplant Surgery Pt.2

    🎙️ Scalpel, suction… and a set of donor lungs?! In Part 2 of our cardiothoracic & transplant surgery special, we head back into the high-stakes world of the operating theatre with Dr Agneta Geldenhuys and Dr Oyinda Orundami from Fiona Stanley Hospital. 🫀🫁 This time, the stories go deeper, the stakes get higher, and the hearts (and lungs) are literally in their hands. From the operating theatre to the ICU, we unpack everything from surgical precision to life-saving teamwork — and even a few unexpected tips along the way: 🍞 Why oats + chia might just beat toast as your pre-surgery fuel 🩻 What’s really going on with the new lung cancer screening program 🦾 How surgeons manage a 540° rotation without breaking their necks If you’re curious about what cardiothoracic and transplant surgery actually involves, the highs and lows, training pathway and lifestyle balance, this one’s for you! 👇👇 A big thank you to MDA National for sponsoring this episode! 💙 Visit our ⁠website⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram ⁠ and ⁠Facebook!⁠ ⁠Transcript for this episode

  10. 08/04/2025

    #3 - Cardiothoracic and Transplant Surgery Pt. 1

    🎙 Scalpel, suction… and a set of donor lungs?! In this heart-stopping episode (literally), we dive into the high-stakes world of Cardiothoracic and Transplant surgery with a leading surgeon (and future leading surgeon) at Fiona Stanley Hospital. 🫀🫁 🪡 What’s the most CABGs they’ve ever done on a patient? 📸 Why taking a picture (VATS 😏) definitely makes the stitches last longer! 👯‍♂️ What’s involved in a double lung transplant? If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to operate on someone’s chest — or what it feels like to hold a beating heart — you won’t want to miss this one!! 🤯🤯 A big thank you to MDA National for sponsoring this episode! 💙 Visit our ⁠website⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram ⁠ and ⁠Facebook!⁠ ⁠Transcript⁠ for this episode

  11. 05/27/2025

    #2 - General and Colorectal Surgery

    🎙 From Celine Dion bans in theatre to the realities of colorectal clinics — in this episode, we’re joined by a General & Colorectal Surgeon, Dr Mary Theophilus, who gives us the unfiltered scoop on life in one of the most diverse surgical specialties! 💩🔪 🫃 What is a fundoplication (and why might your stomach thank you for it)? 🧻 Why talking about poo doesn't have to be awkward 🩺 How to impress on your general surgery rotation 🎶 And yes… why Celine Dion is strictly off the theatre playlist If you’re curious about what gen surg actually involves, the highs and lows of colorectal work, training pathway and lifestyle balance, this one’s for you! 👇👇 Visit our ⁠website⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram ⁠ and ⁠Facebook!⁠ ⁠Transcript⁠ for this episode

  12. 05/05/2025

    #1 - Vascular Surgery

    From R&B in theatre to life-saving endovascular surgery— in our first episode Vascular Surgeon Dr Nish Altaf gets candid about the real anatomy of surgical life 😷 🩸 What is the point of the aorta? 🩺 How not to fail your peripheral vascular exam? 🦵 How do you amputate for nec fac? If you’d like to know more about the pathway to vascular surgery, international training, rural pathways, the pros and cons of the job, work-life balance and some interesting cases take a listen! 🤯🤯 Visit our website and follow us on Instagram and Facebook! Transcript for this episode

  • 12 Episodes

About

Step into the operating theatre of conversation with The Cut, the official podcast of the Curtin Surgical Students Association (CSSA)! Each episode, we scrub in with surgeons from a range of specialties to uncover what life is really like behind the scalpel. From career-defining moments to the challenges that shape surgical practice, we explore the the precision, passion, purpose and people behind surgery! Whether you're a medical student curious about surgical pathways or simply fascinated by the stories behind each specialty, The Cut offers a glimpse into the anatomy of surgical life!

Information

  • Creator
    Curtin Surgical Students Association
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Curtin Surgical Students Association
  • Show Website
    The Cut