A recent outbreak and rise of syphilis infections in the Perth metropolitan area is concerning and Western Australians from all backgrounds need to be cautious, the Australian Medical Association (WA) said.

AMA President, Dr Omar Khorshid, said a COVID-19 vaccination is likely to be the only way Australia will successfully be able to emerge from the Coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Rebecca Tynas on why junior doctors in WA must give the 2020 Hospital Health Check survey their time and attention.

Did you know AMA members get FREE access to the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) as a membership benefit?

In the upcoming edition of MJA being released on Monday 31 August, articles include:

1. Teletrials bring benefits for regional cancer patients;

2. COVID-19: a chance to build resilience into Indo-Pacific emergency departments; and

3. Leadership needed re complementary medicines policies.

As a doctor owned membership organisation, MDA National are alarmed at the number of COVID-19 cases in health care workers (HCW) across Australia, which now account for almost 15% of all infections in Victoria. With the majority of HCW infections being acquired in the workplace, the MDA National Mutual Board have penned an open letter to the Federal Government, State Governments and Hospital Employers detailing specific actions we believe will provide a safer working environment for all.

Research being conducted at ECU is looking at whether fibre provided to people with IBS, who are on a low FODMAP diet, will improve their gut, mental health and sleep. Participants will receive information on their health and sleep. The study has been approved by the ECU Human Research Ethics Committee.

Doctors in training are among the first people to care for us in hospital. The latest episode of the Taking care podcast takes us into their world for a look at our medical training system and culture.

As this year’s Medical Training Survey kicks off, the discussion is a timely look at junior doctors and the training system. 

Host Tash Miles speaks with Dr Hash Abdeen, Chair of the AMA Council of Doctors in Training, prevocational trainee Dr Ekta Paw, and Medical Board member Associate Professor Stephen Adelstein.

Listen to this important conversation that highlights the impact of COVID-19 on medical training and considers the culture of medicine in Australia today.