Be An Awesome GP Podcast

Podcast host Chris interviews RACGP presidential candidate Dr Gavin Colthart, a Townsville GP originally from New Zealand who trained in the UK and has worked in management, healthcare IT consulting, the UK Parliament, medical education, and remote/rural/tropical medicine across North Queensland and Far North communities. 
He explains why he’s running for RACGP president now, arguing the college must move beyond incremental change to address emerging threats and ethical issues, including scope expansion such as pharmacy prescribing, corporatization of healthcare, freedom of speech concerns, and risks to women’s health access influenced by U.S.-style conservative policy. 
 
00:00 Podcast Intro Rap
00:31 Meet Dr Gavin Coulthard
01:35 From NZ to UK GP Journey
03:55 Australia Remote GP Work
05:35 Why Run for President
08:23 What RACGP Does Well
10:38 Where College Must Lead
14:30 Pharmacy Prescribing Response
20:17 Advice for GP Registrars
24:01 Burnout Money and Housing
27:35 Final Election Message

In this episode of Be An Awesome GP, Chris sits down with RACGP presidential candidate Dr. Anita Muñoz to discuss her path into general practice and her drive to defend the profession against political and media devaluation.
Drawing on her experience as a practicing GP, clinic owner, and medical educator, Dr. Muñoz breaks down her long-game strategy for the College and how to secure tangible wins for doctors.
We explore:
Her evidence-based fight against pharmacy prescribing, focusing on safety gaps, harm reporting, and economic arguments.
Major Victorian advocacy wins, including securing a payroll tax amnesty and a $40,000 registrar grant that was later adopted nationally.
Recent RACGP board decisions, navigating the backlash over member fee rises, and the need for more sensitive fee structures.
Critical funding priorities: restoring mental health and procedural item numbers, and why the College must maintain sustained pressure on the government without a "fallback" plan.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Podcast Intro Rap
00:39 - Meet Dr. Anita Muñoz
01:38 - Why General Practice?
04:01 - Board Wins and Lessons
07:19 - The Pharmacy Prescribing Fight
11:23 - Victorian Advocacy Wins
14:16 - Attracting GP Registrars
17:36 - Funding Priorities & No Fallback
20:33 - Closing Message and Farewell
 
Dr Munoz's campaign page can be found here

In this episode of Be An Awesome GP, Chris sits down with RACGP presidential candidate Dr. Ramya Raman to discuss her vision for the future of general practice. Drawing from her roots in rural NSW, Dr. Raman shares what motivated her to run, highlighting the urgent need to protect the profession against fragmented care and scope creep.
We break down her core "protect, build, focus" strategy, exploring:
Her six-point plan to counter pharmacy prescribing.
Recent advocacy wins for GP registrars, including the $30,000 pay parity measure and improved leave entitlements.
Ways to streamline GP training and boost funding for clinical supervision.
Major financial priorities, including an independent pricing authority, CPI indexation for MBS items, and tackling payroll tax risks.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Podcast Intro Jingle
00:39 - Meet Dr. Ramya Raman
02:20 - Her GP Origin Story
05:30 - Why Run for President?
09:02 - Board Wins and Lessons
12:08 - The Pharmacy Prescribing Plan
16:22 - Supporting GP Registrars
18:59 - Funding and Payroll Tax
21:39 - Wrap Up and Final Thanks
Dr Raman's campaign website is here

Slay Dragons, Live Better: New Book + Beyond Blue Fundraiser (Doctors & Dragons) Announcing my new book, “Slay Dragons, Live Better,” exploring the science of Dungeons & Dragons and how it can improve wellbeing, with links on Amazon.
This month we’re also raising money for Beyond Blue via our Tiltify fundraiser, Mass Healing Words (Doctors and Dragons/MDTTTRPG Fundraise for Beyond Blue), and donations support mental health.
Donors can access reward packages, including naming a character in our campaigns (e.g., Remington Burglebear, Gentleman Privateer, Boblin the Goblin) or naming a magic item like the Placebo Potion. We’ll be a little quiet this month while we focus on the fundraiser—be an awesome GP.
https://tilt.fyi/qBdECUzf7S

Chris interviews Dr Kerry Jewel, a Melbourne-based nuclear medicine physician and writer, about her debut novel A Little Unwell (Hachette), a darkly funny medical drama following junior doctor Amy and drawn from real clinical experiences while protecting patient confidentiality through “scrambled” stories.
Jewel outlines her path to traditional publishing: years of drafting, joining writing communities (Writers Victoria, Australian Society of Authors), writing short stories, entering the Richell Prize (Hachette/Emerging Writers’ Festival) where she was shortlisted in 2020, then completing the manuscript, seeking a literary agent during her own breast cancer treatment, and navigating structural and copy edits before publication.
The conversation also covers the realities of Australian book sales, the importance of supporting local writers and independent bookstores, and Jewel’s message that all doctors should advocate for stronger, sustainable general practice.
 
Hachette book info: https://www.hachette.com.au/kerry-jewell/a-little-unwell
Website: https://www.kerryjewell.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkerryjewell/
 
ASA: https://www.asauthors.org.au/
 
State Writing Centres:
https://writersvictoria.org.au/
https://writingnsw.org.au/
https://queenslandwriters.org.au/
https://www.ntwriters.com.au/
https://writerssa.org.au/
https://www.writingwa.org/
https://taswriters.wildapricot.org/
https://www.writerscentre.com.au/
 
00:00 Show Intro Theme
00:20 Meet Dr Kerry Jewel
02:00 What We Will Cover
03:48 Writing Roots And Medicine
05:56 Why She Wrote The Novel
09:58 Replacing House Of God
11:08 Art Versus Medicine Reality
14:21 Drafting And Word Counts
17:14 Finding A Writing Mentor
18:32 Book Sales And Shelf Life
24:31 Joining Writing Communities
28:24 Why Community Matters
29:41 Finding Your Writing Community
31:19 Richell Prize Breakthrough
34:19 Finishing the Manuscript Years
36:19 Cancer Diagnosis and Work
38:14 Searching for a Literary Agent
42:11 Signing with Hachette
43:07 Editing and Tropes
46:09 Australian English and Markets
48:02 Promoting the Book
49:02 Advocating for General Practice
52:26 Where to Buy the Book
54:26 Final Wrap and Farewell
 
 

Chris reunites with former Royal Tweed Hospital intern colleague Dr Nelson Herbert, now a GP at Cotton Tree Plaza Medical Center, to discuss supervising new registrars and the philosophy of general practice. Nelson outlines his diverse path including three years of obstetrics and gynecology additional skills and years as a medical educator across GP Synergy and RACGP, and explains why teaching improves his clinical work. 
They contrast abundant guidelines, webinars and exam resources with the higher value of learning GP “art” such as listening, tailoring feedback, safety-netting, continuity of care, and planning follow-up. They discuss career satisfaction, flexibility, part-time work, generalism versus subspecialty interests, and concerns about fragmented care. The conversation also covers patients using ChatGPT, clinician AI tools like Heidi, risks around MBS item suggestions and skills attrition, and practical tips for handling undifferentiated presentations.
 
00:00 Diagnose With Style
00:13 Meet Dr Nelson Herbert
01:50 Why Teaching Matters
04:47 Beyond Webinars
06:18 The Art Of GP
07:25 Reddit Reality Check
08:53 Is GP A Great Career
13:20 Generalist Vs Special Interests
16:37 Tips For New Registrars
18:21 First Day GP Shock
18:37 Calling Your Supervisor
19:46 Better Questions in Consults
20:20 Let Patients Talk
22:13 Dr Google to Dr GPT
23:41 AI Scribes and Data Risks
24:43 Heidi and AI Overload
27:52 Undifferentiated Patient Approach
31:55 Humanizing General Practice
33:03 Farewell and Outro
 
See more of Nelson at https://www.youtube.com/@absolutestreaming
 
#generalpractice #registrar #familymedicine

Transforming ADHD Diagnosis and Care: A GP's Journey and Innovations (it's just me today gang!)
 
In this episode, Dr. Chris shares his transformative journey after discovering his brother's missed ADHD diagnosis. As a General Practitioner in the Sutherland Shire, he created ADHD @ Your GP to address systemic issues in ADHD diagnosis and management. This was his project from the Future Leaders Program run by the RACGP. The project focuses on making ADHD care accessible, affordable, and effective within primary care settings. He discusses the streamlined processes, collaborative networks, and innovative tools developed, including an enhanced intake procedure and integrated care pathways. Dr. Chris highlights the importance of national consistency, training funding, and research to further improve ADHD management in general practice.
 
00:00 Introduction: A Personal Story
00:26 The Future Leaders Project
00:42 Challenges in ADHD Diagnosis and Care
02:18 Developing the ADHD Clinic
02:54 Stakeholder Engagement and Solutions
04:53 Achievements and Future Directions
05:51 Call to Action

In this episode, Dr. Christopher Timms hosts Dr Bhavya Balasubramanya, a public health physician and GP, to discuss her unique journey from India to Australia. They explore her background in community medicine, the challenges and experiences of international medical graduates, and Dr. Balasubramanya's advocacy work. Learn about the pathways, licensing, and the importance of diversity in the healthcare system.
 
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:20 Meet Dr. Balasubramanya
01:07 Journey to General Practice
06:10 Challenges and Triumphs of an International Medical Graduate
13:02 Advocacy and Future Leaders Project
17:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
 
Opinions are our own and not necessarily representative of any organisations. Not a medical advice podcast, please consult your own doctor for medical advice. 

Revolutionizing ADHD & Neurodiverse Care: Dr. Katherine Holzhauser's Journey
 
Join Dr. Christopher Timms as he interviews Dr. Katherine Holzhauser from the Kaleidoscope Clinic, discussing her profound impact on ADHD and neurodiverse care.
 
Key Discussion Points:
 
Dr. Holzhauser's Background and Career (00:47): Learn about Dr. Holzhauser's journey, starting from her background in general practice.
Establishing Upward Life Family Practice (01:43): Discover the origins and establishment of the Upward Life Family Practice, a significant step in her career.
Challenges and Achievements in Rural Practice (02:45): Dr. Holzhauser shares insights into the unique challenges and notable achievements encountered during her time in rural practice.
Applying for the Future Leaders Program (03:10): Hear about her experience participating in the Future Leaders program and how it has shaped her professional development.
ADHD Management in Queensland (06:11): Gain insights into the current landscape of ADHD management specifically within Queensland.
Challenges in ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment (07:30): Dr. Holzhauser sheds light on the significant challenges faced in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.
Future of ADHD Care in General Practice (10:36): A forward-looking discussion on the evolving role and future of ADHD care within general practice.
Final Thoughts and Encouragement (11:39): Dr. Holzhauser offers some concluding remarks and encouragement, emphasizing the importance of maintaining clinical curiosity in general practice.
 
Resources and Further Information:
 
Upward Life Family Practice: https://www.ulfp.com.au/
Kaleidoscope Clinic: https://kaleidoscopeclinic.com.au/
RACGP Future Leaders Program: https://www.racgp.org.au/education/professional-development/programs/future-leaders-program
Important Note: This podcast is intended for educational purposes for GPs and does not constitute specific medical advice. Please consult your own GP for medical concerns and your state's legislative requirements for practice.

In this insightful episode of "Be an Awesome GP," host Chris is joined by psychologist Dr. Shaun Prentice, an expert on burnout with a keen focus on general practitioners. Together, they delve into the complexities of burnout and explore how aligning personal values with professional life can significantly impact a GP's well-being.
Dr. Prentice shares his valuable research findings, highlighting the link between values fulfillment and thriving in the medical field. They discuss the importance of strong support networks, including colleagues and mentors, in maintaining mental health. Tips on reframing challenges and the significance of external perspectives are also covered, offering practical advice for GPs to manage stress and burnout effectively.
Join Chris and Dr. Prentice as they unravel the subtleties of burnout and offer strategies to keep GPs informed, connected, and thriving in their demanding roles.
Research Gate Profile for Dr Prentice: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shaun-Prentice
Drs needing help can visit https://www.drs4drs.com.au/
https://www.amansw.com.au/doctors-for-colleagues/
*Not for specific medical advice, views are those of the individuals and not necessarily those of any affiliated institutions.