Purple Pen Podcast

Kristin was joined by Prof Sam Berkovic, Laureate Professor in the Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, and Director of the Epilepsy Research Centre at Austin Health. They discuss the diagnosis, treatment and management of epilepsy, including emerging therapies. Visit Prof Berkovic's University profile or the Epilepsy Research Centre's website for a list of his research.

Kristin chats to Professor David Kissane about psycho-existential symptoms in Palliative Care. David is a consultant psychiatrist in psycho-oncology and palliative care at Monash Health and the Department of Psychiatry at Monash University. We talk about: the current state of palliative care in Australia why patients are are often scared of commencing palliative care Differences in palliative care patient experience in the context of oncology An exploration of the terms psycho-oncology and the existential approach the role of pharmacotherapy in psycho-oncology

Today we talk all things oral health with Mark Schifter with a particular focus on Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and antibiotic use in dentistry

We welcome back Simon Lewis, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, who talks to Kristin about dementia. They discuss the multiple types of dementia, as well as established and new treatment options. You can learn more about Prof Lewis and his research at his website

Jane talks to Karlee Johnston, a pharmacist and PhD candidate at the Australian National University in Canberra. We talk about Karlee's recently published paper: Burnout and the challenges facing pharmacists during COVID‑19: results of a national survey (International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-021-01268-5) Keep an eye out for the repeat survey through our social media channels and your professional organisation. If this episode raises any issues for you or someone that you care about, contact: Pharmacists Support Services: https://www.supportforpharmacists.org.au/ Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Kristin spoke with Dr Eli Dabscheck and Dr Johnson George about all things Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) including: Risk factors Management Exacerbations of COPD and the issues around the appropriate use of antimicrobials in this situation The Therapeutic Guidelines and COPD-X Guideline recommendations Asthma and COPD overlap The benefits of medication reviews and COPD action plans

Kristin and Dan caught up with Associate Professor Vincent Lee for a discussion on all things Chronic Kidney Disease. You can visit Vincent's Uni website here

Dan and Jane spoke to Dr Amy Bohren about recruitment for early career graduates. Amy is the Principal Consultant and Director of Red Careers Australia. We asked Amy for some tips to help interns and early career pharmacists navigate the recruitment process. We discussed: Where to look for your dream job Whether you should directly call an employer about a job? How long an application letter and CV should be Tips for a successful interview Our favourite fonts (!) If you'd like to contact Amy for some more advice or access the articles we discussed, you can contact her via https://redcareersaustralia.com/. You can mention the podcast for a special rate.

In our second episode for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2020, Dan and Kristin spoke to Dr Brendan McMullan. Brendan is a Paediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist and Microbiologist, working at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, and a Conjoint Senior Lecturer in the School of Women's and Children's Health at UNSW. We discuss: the reasons why choice of antimicrobial can be different for children special considerations for paediatric antimicrobial use why kids get more infections than adults strategies for explaining a decision not to prescribe an antimicrobial how Kristin ruined her kindergarten Christmas play

In a bumper episode for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2020, Jane and Kristin spoke to Tony Lai. Tony is the Senior Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist at Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney. Here's a list of the medicines that Tony discussed (and Jane and Kristin struggled to pronounce): cefidericol eravacycline rezafungin ibrexafungerp MAT2203 (Oral Ambisome)