Pomegranate Health

the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Monthly

Pomegranate Health is a podcast about the culture of medicine. You'll hear clinicians, researchers and advocates discuss all aspects of professionalism and quality improvement in healthcare. This includes clinical ethics, diagnostic bias, better communication and more equitable systems. For a sampler of these diverse themes of professional practice take a listen to Episode 132 and Episode 125. If RACP is your CPD home, you can log time spent listening to each episode with the "Add activity to MyCPD" button. And if you're a Basic Physician Trainee, the [Case Report] series might help you prepare for your long case clinical exams. This is also the home of [IMJ On-Air], featuring authors from the Internal Medicine Journal sharing their latest research. Meanwhile, the [Journal Club] episodes give RACP members a place to talk through their research published in other academic journals. Feel free to send feedback and suggestions by email at podcast@racp.edu.au.  

  1. 1d ago

    Ep154: Delabelling penicillin allergy FAST

    Allergies to first-line antibiotics complicate care, and use of broad-spectrum alternatives is associated with prolonged hospital stays and increased rates of admissions to ICU. It also makes emergence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens more likely. Ten to 16% of adult patients are marked in the record as being allergic to penicillins but the majority of these labels are applied inaccurately or have become outdated over time.  While skin-prick testing is a safe and reliable way to delabel patients who can tolerate penicillin, it is resource-intensive and requires trained allergists on-site. In this podcast we describe a decision tool called PEN-FAST that helps to quickly identify patients suitable for direct oral challenge in almost any setting. Guests include two of the leading academics behind the validation and scale-up of this algorithm.  Guests Prof Jason Trubiano FRACP FAAAAI‍ (Austin Health, Director of Infectious Diseases; Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity) Prof Suran Fernando FRACP FRCPA PhD OAM (recent!) (Royal North Shore Hospital; University of Sydney) Dr Fionnuala Fagan FRACP FRCPA (Dunedin Hospital; Otago University)  Chapters 10:42   PEN-FAST tool 22:23   Multi-site testing of PEN-FAST 28:27   Non allergist-led testing 32:42   System-wide outcomes Production Production by Mic Cavazzini DPhil. Music licenced from Epidemic Sound includes ‘The Bayou’ and ‘Feels like I’m going Crazy’ by Tigerblood Jewel. Feedback on this episode kindly provided by Dr Marion Leighton, Dr Robin Sia, Dr Aidan Tan, Dr Hugh Murray, Arnika Martus and Paul Cooper PhD. Image courtesy of Thirteen of Clubs at Flickr. Visit the Pomegranate Health web page for a transcript and supporting references. Add educational activity to MyCPD. Subscribe through any podcasting app or our email alerts list.

    Ep154: Delabelling penicillin allergy FAST

  2. Aug 3

    REWIND Medical fitness to drive

    This popular episode was first published in 2019. Australia and NZ are made up of sprawling cities and far-flung towns and driving is often viewed as a fundamental freedom. It can be hard for clinicians to challenge that freedom with patients who they consider unfit to drive safely. And harder still to deal with the consequences if a patient does have a crash.   There are diagnoses that should raise red flags for driving fitness in various specialty areas, and a clinician can be drawn into the issue by two main pathways. The more straightforward is when a patient presents with a medical assessment form. It's the Driver Licencing Authority in each state which ultimately issues the driving permits and may require the recommendation of a medical professional. The other way is when the clinician detects a new or worsening condition in a patient who is already licenced. They are expected to warn their patients off driving and in some jurisdictions to report them to the DLA if this advice isn't being heeded. Chapters 7:48     Legal expectations on a practitioner 17:20   Medical conditions affecting to fitness to drive 24:48   Considering age in driving performance 35:28   Approaching driving ‘retirement’ 45:28   Updates to national standards Guests Dr Genevieve Yates FRACGP (Principal Medical Educator RACGP, MDA National's Education Services Advisory Group, Black Dog Institute) Prof Roy Beran FRCP FAFPHM FRACP FRACGP FACLM (University of UNSW) Marilyn Di Stefano PhD (Victorian Department of Transport and Planning) Serge Zandegu (Victorian Department of Transport and Planning) Production Written and produced by Mic Cavazzini DPhil. Recording assistance in Melbourne from Sam Loy of Human/Ordinary. Music courtesy of Free Music Archive; 'John Stockton Slow Drag' and 'What True Self? Feels Bogus, Let's Watch Jason X' by Chris Zabriskie, 'Noir' by Daniel James Dolby, 'Hélice' by Monplaisir. Music licenced from Epidemic Sound includes ‘Knowledge is Power’ by Matt Large.  Visit the Pomegranate Health web page for a transcript and supporting references. Add educational activity to MyCPD. Subscribe through any podcasting app or our email alerts list.

    REWIND Medical fitness to drive

  3. Jul 12

    [Contagious Conversations] Approaching HIV elimination

    This is the second episode of in the series, [Contagious Conversations] from the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases. Expert guests in this series will come from right across the interface of research, clinical care and public health. In today’s episode we look at the immense progress that has been made over three decades in the management of HIV. Once a fatal diagnosis, the disease can now be completely controlled by anti-retroviral therapy. Access to prophylactic treatment has also made a huge impact on rates of transmission in the community although barriers still remain to equitable access. Guests Professor Sharon Lewin OA FRACP PhD (Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Director; University of Melbourne; Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics, Director) Professor Dato’ Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman FRACP FASc (Monash University Malaysia, President & Pro Vice-Chancellor; Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS). Richard Keane (Living Positive Victoria, CEO) Host Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayake FRACP (Canberra Hospital; Australian National University) Production Production supported by Mic Cavazzini DPhil, and the Viral Hepatitis and HIV Special Interest Group particularly Dr Emma Paige and Dr Sushena Krishnaswamy. Thanks also to Inge Meggitt, events coordinator at ASID. Music licenced from Epidemic Sound includes ‘Exploring the Lake’ by View Points and ‘Emerlyn’ by Valante. Image copyright ASID (2026). Visit the Pomegranate Health web page for a transcript and supporting references. Add educational activity to MyCPD. Subscribe through any podcasting app or our email alerts list.

    [Contagious Conversations] Approaching HIV elimination

  4. Jun 30

    [RACP LIFT] What you need to know about metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease

    This episode is a teaser for RACP LIFT 2026, a series of in-person events to promote Learning, Innovation and Forward Thinking. Coming up on the 1st of August in Melbourne there will be a Rapid Fire Clinical Update on Respiratory medicine, infectious diseases and critical illness. And on the 20th In Brisbane another one themed around Palliative medicine and also population health. In March, the Sydney RACP offices hosed a meeting on cardiometabolic and vascular health, and the talk shared here covers everything a generalist needs to know about metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.  The seminar was presented by Professor Jacob George, Director of the Storr Liver Centre at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, and author of over 1300 peer-reviewed papers. He explains why fatty liver disease is a "canary in the coal mine" for metabolic health more generally, how to diagnose using scans and bloods, and the use of the FIB-4 index. Professor George also describes how patients can be stratified and managed for risk of more complex liver disease and reviews outcomes from the latest pharmacological interventions.    Guests Professor Jacob George FRACP PhD FAASLD (The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Centre Director; University of Sydney) Chapters 3:09     MAFLD is a positive definition 4:29     How common are MAFLD and MASH? 5:58     How do you define metabolic health? 9:02     Mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with T2D 10:07   MAFLD in primary care guideline 12:40   Current and future therapies for MAFLD / MASH 15:24   Management algorithm for MAFLD 16:50   Test your knowledge Production Rapid Fire Clinical Update developed by LIFT advisory group and hosted/recorded by RACP Events team and. Podcast production by Mic Cavazzini DPhil. Music licenced from Epidemic Sound includes ‘Kryptonite’ by Blue Steel and ‘Simmering Anxiety’ by Christian Andersen and ‘Little Liberty’ by Paisely Pink.  Visit the Pomegranate Health web page for a transcript and supporting references. Add educational activity to MyCPD. Subscribe through any podcasting app or our email alerts list.

    [RACP LIFT] What you need to know about metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease

  5. Jun 14

    REWIND Drug Interactions and deprescribing

    Adverse drug events cause 5-15% of admissions to hospital and drug-drug interactions make up about a fifth of these. Most common are pharmacodynamic situations where two drugs have a similar outcome thereby overdoing the intended outcome. Pharmacokinetic interactions are more complicated to understand as they’re more indirect. For example, while medications are cleared by oxidative metabolism in the liver and gut, there are many drugs that interfere with the function of the cytochrome enzymes responsible. This can result in clearance of the first drug at too fast or too slow a rate. Polypharmacy has become more frequent over the decades with more than half of people over the age of 75 on five or more prescriptions. This episode examines some of the systems that have led to current rates of polypharmacy, and strategies for deprescribing safely in a given patient. We're REWINDing it nine years after it was first published to celebrate the career of Professor Ric Day who has just retired after sixty years of service at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. He has been a much-appreciated clinician and prolific research academic with several hundred published papers that have been cited more than forty thousand times. Chapters 0:50 Prevalence of drug interactions 5:52 Pharmacodynamic vs pharmacokinetic interactions 9:25 Cytochrome enzymes 17:33 ACE inhibitors and more 26:48 Strategies for deprescribing Guests Professor Richard Day AM MBBS, FRACP (St Vincent’s Hospital; UNSW), Professor Sarah Hilmer AM PhD FRACP FAAHMS (Royal North Shore Hospital; Kolling Institute/ USyd).   Production Produced by Mic Cavazzini DPhil. Music courtesy of FreeMusicArchive includes ‘Flying Pea’ and ‘Cherry Blossom’ by Daddy Scrabble and “Manly Nunn Steps Out” by Doctor Turtle. Music licenced from Epidemic Sound includes ‘Train Ride’ (Instrumental) by Alex Kehm and ‘Yellow Leaf’ by Autohacker. Image adapted for RACP Add educational activity to MyCPD as educational activity or visit web page for a transcript and references. Key References Life-threatening drug interactions: what the physician needs to know [Internal Medicine Journal] Polypharmacy in older people: when should you deprescribe? [Medicine Today]

    REWIND Drug Interactions and deprescribing

  6. Jun 1

    Ep149: Could it be syphilis?

    Syphilis is often thought of as a disease from the historic literature, but in August last year, it was declared a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance by Australia’s Chief Medical Officer. Case numbers have grown year on year since it became a notifiable disease in 2004, peaking at around six and a half thousand in 2023.  Syphilis is sometimes described as ‘the great imitator’ because it can have so many different presentations. And it can hide away for years before revealing itself in one system of the body or other. In this podcast we’ll go over the neurologic, ophthalmic and nephrotic symptoms that can eventuate, and also some worrying examples of congenital transmission seen today. Today’s podcast will expand your library of differential diagnoses and give you confidence to go down the pathway of testing, treatment and contact tracing. It has been promoted with financial assistance from ASHM and the Australian CDC. Guests Clinical Professor Louise Owen FRACGP FAChSHM MBBS(Hons) (Statewide Sexual Health Service in Tasmania, Director; University of Tasmania) Dr Janet Towns FRACP FRACGP AChSHM PhD (Melbourne Sexual Health Centre; Monash University) Dr Nele Legge FRACP PhD (Liverpool Hospital) Production Produced by Mic Cavazzini DPhil. Music licenced from Epidemic Sound includes ‘A Forest Melody’, ‘Time Traveller’ by Tellsonic, ‘Reconstruct’ by Amaranth Cove and ‘Beat Street’ by VV Campos. Music courtesy of FreeMusicArchive includes ‘Namaste’ by Jason Shaw. Historic poster courtesy of the US Library of Congress Archive. Editorial feedback kindly provided by members of the Doctors Aidan Tan, Courtney Dowd, Marion Leighton, Lauren Gomes, Rahul Barmanray and Rachel Murdoch. Dissemination of this podcast was supported by ASHM and campaign to Stop Syphilis. Add educational activity to MyCPD as educational activity or visit web page for a transcript and references.

    Ep149: Could it be syphilis?

  7. May 4

    [Contagious Conversations] Responding to vaccine hesitancy

    Contagious Conversations is a new series brought to you by ASID, the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases. Once a month, these podcasts will explore evolving evidence and real-world challenges for the practice of ID medicine. The hope is that you’ll come away with practical knowledge to support your clinical confidence and continuous learning.    Expert guests in this series will come from right across the interface of research, clinical care, and public health. Today we start with a paediatrician from Melbourne and a clinical nurse from the Sunshine Coast, who both make an important contribution to Australia’s National Immunisation Program. As we’ll hear today, public adherence to the NIP has been declining in recent years. In today’s conversation we hear about some of the reasons for vaccine hesitancy in parents and ways to reinspire confidence.  Guests Professor Margie Danchin FRACP, PhD (University of Melbourne; the Royal Children’s Hospital; Murdoch Children’s Research Institute) Wendy Tout (Public Health Unit, Sunshine Coast Health Service) Host Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayake FRACP (Canberra Hospital; Australian National University; University of New South Wales) Production Production supported by Mic Cavazzini DPhil, the ASID Vaccine Special Interest Group chaired by Dr Archana Koirala and staff support from Inge Meggitt. Music licenced from Epidemic Sound includes ‘Exploring the Lake’ by View Points and ‘Emerlyn’ by Valante. Image copyright with ASID (2026). Add educational activity to MyCPD as educational activity or visit web page for a transcript and references.

    [Contagious Conversations] Responding to vaccine hesitancy

  8. Apr 21

    REWIND Genomics for the generalist

    In Pomegranate > we go back to some classic episodes from the last ten years that have stood the test of time. The first throwback takes us back to 2017 with episodes 20 and 21 titled “Genomics for the Generalist.” While there’s been a flood of genomic discoveries since this story was first published, it’s still a good primer on fundamental concepts and everyday challenges for the physician advising a patient. The expert guests include a genetic pathologist, a clinical geneticist, a genetic counsellor and a medical oncologist. The podcast covers the different roles for single gene tests and whole genome sequencing, which has become much more accessible. We tackle question of disease risk and how to present uncertain predictive diagnoses to consumers. This is particularly relevant to using genome-wide association studies, which re finding more and more markers with very small associated risks of disease. This increases the likelihood of picking up diagnoses incidental to the ones a clinician might be looking for. The ethics of consenting patients to genome screening and informing them of incidental findings are also discussed. Chapters 3:04 Mendelian vs multi-gene diseases 6:42 Whole genome sequencing 10:09 Prenatal testing 12:38 What do physicians need to know? 17:07 Pharmacogenomics 19:52 Genetic counselling 22:40 Funding of genetic tests 33:46 Incidental findings 39:13 Consent and privacy issues Guests (2026 affiliations) Professor Leslie Burnett FRCPA, FHGSA, FCAP (University of New South Wales; Virtus Health) Professor Michael Gabbett FRACP (Queensland University of Technolgy; Mendel Genetics) Associate Professor Kristine Barlowe-Stewart FHGSA (University of Sydney; Children’s Cancer Institute) Prof David Thomas FRACP PhD (University of New South Wales; Omico) Production Produced by Mic Cavazzini DPhil. Music courtesy of FreeMusicArchive includes, 'Cloud Line' by Blue Dot Sessions, 'Is That You or Are You You?' by Chris Zabriskie, First Holes’ by Cory Gray, ‘Brand New World’ by Kai Engel. Music licenced from Epidemic Sound includes ‘Abyss’ by Luwaks. Image customised for RACP.  Editorial feedback for 2017 podcast provided by members of the podcast editorial group Dr Pavan Chandrala, Dr Tessa Davis, Dr Rebecca Grainger, Dr Michael Herd, Dr Paul Jauncey, Dr Joseph Lee, Dr Marion Leighton, Dr Anutosh Shee and Dr Ellen Taylor, and Advanced Trainee Dr Katrina Gibson. Add educational activity to MyCPD as educational activity or visit web page for a transcript and references.

    REWIND Genomics for the generalist
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Pomegranate Health is a podcast about the culture of medicine. You'll hear clinicians, researchers and advocates discuss all aspects of professionalism and quality improvement in healthcare. This includes clinical ethics, diagnostic bias, better communication and more equitable systems. For a sampler of these diverse themes of professional practice take a listen to Episode 132 and Episode 125. If RACP is your CPD home, you can log time spent listening to each episode with the "Add activity to MyCPD" button. And if you're a Basic Physician Trainee, the [Case Report] series might help you prepare for your long case clinical exams. This is also the home of [IMJ On-Air], featuring authors from the Internal Medicine Journal sharing their latest research. Meanwhile, the [Journal Club] episodes give RACP members a place to talk through their research published in other academic journals. Feel free to send feedback and suggestions by email at podcast@racp.edu.au.  

Information

  • Creator
    the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    154
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pomegranate Health
  • Show Website
    Pomegranate Health

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