The strengths and shortcomings of empathy in medicine
Every day medical students and doctors are faced with challenging, ethical, and moral dilemmas. Caring for patients can be draining and bearing witness to their suffering can often take a …
Opening the “die-logue” about palliation
He was just about my age, but his face was pale, his cheeks cavernous, and there was a weariness in his every movement; he was too weak to speak or …
The changing face of cancer in Australian medical schools
A multitude of changes are revolutionising the study and practice of oncology worldwide. Despite the undeniable importance of cancer education, there is currently no consensus amongst Australian medical schools as …
Perspectives on Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a commonly encountered pa ent case by medical students. However, many students struggle to see the person beyond the disease. This essay o ers a di erent …
Assessing cardiac output in the perioperative patient
Cardiac output (CO) is an essential component in the evaluation of the critically unwell hospitalised patient’s physiological state. As an estimated measure of cardiac function, CO is of high clinical …
Forget everything you thought you knew: how your assumptions are impacting the health outcomes of your patients.
Modern health professionals are well versed in the value of person-centred care for their patients. However, the way we are taught to view our patients through a problem-based lens is …
Indigenous health: what they don’t teach you in medical school
Indigenous health education is an important part of the curriculum for medical students. However, there are limited opportunities within the course for students to interact with patients from an Indigenous …
Stopping the silent epidemic: my summer internship with the WHO
Viral hepatitis has been historically under-recognised and under-addressed in the global health community. This is despite causing a serious disease burden worldwide due to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver …
Opening up the gate on suicide prevention for young Victorians through gatekeeper training
VicHealth released its Bright Futures report in December 2015 identifying youth suicide as a problem facing young Victorians over the next 20 years. Youth suicide rates have fallen in Australia …
The role of general practitioners in the management of, and advocacy for, newly resettled refugees in Australia: an overview
“You have to understand That no one puts their children in a boat Unless the water is safer than the land” – Warsan Shire Across the world, millions of …