Primary Care Update 2024

Presentation: Paramedicine hot tips for primary care clinicians

Norm has vast experience in relation to field operations (fire, rescue, aeromedical and ambulance), clinical education and Clinical Communication Service (CCS) Centres operations. These cross-functional emergency medical service (EMS) roles have enabled him to develop strengths and insights into planning, managing, leading, teaching and developing skills to enhance patient care.

Bio: Norm Wilkinson

Norm has accumulated 29 years of experience as a Critical and Intensive Care Paramedic. He has developed a rich and diverse repository of knowledge and experience in the ambulance and emergency medical service industry.

Presentation: Dermatology in skin of colour

Historically the speciality of dermatology arose from Northern European centres of learning whose population had predominately pale skin. However, there is increasing global awareness that dermatology in those of skin of colour is different. This short talk will discuss some of those differences and consequences.

Bio: Paul Jarrett

Paul is a dermatologist working at Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau and at The University of Auckland. He is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Universities of Auckland and Otago.
 

Presentation: Gastroenterology updates

What’s new in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Monoclonal antibodies, demystifying acronyms like MALS, understanding ultra-processed foods and other tips to help our awesome primary care whānau to gastro like a boss.

Bio: Zoë  Raos

Zoë ( Te Ātiawa) is a Gastroenterologist and GI Endoscopist at Te Whatu Ora Waitematā and in group Private Practice at Shakespeare Gastroenterology. She specialises in IBD, and is lead of the transition of young people with IBD from paediatrics to adult medicine. She is lead of MnM, has published clinical checklists in wide use and is involved with clinical quality, trials and governance. Zoë is the immediate Past President of NZSG, with ongoing contributions to its mahi including training, education and championing equity. She is an RACP clinical examiner, and has co-published a popular study pukapuka. Zoë loves her whānau (husband, two tamariki, one kuri and everyone else) skiing (fairly fast), running, tāniko (both slow and often painful) and her mahi (most days).
 

Presentation: Thinking about how we think

Art's talk will include a brief discussion of the dual process model of decision making, cognitive bias, and some concrete ways to improve your own clinical reasoning.

Bio: Art Nahill

Art has over thirty years of experience and a special interest in clinical reasoning, cognitive bias, and diagnostic accuracy. He was a co-host and producer of the popular podcast IMreasoning and has given talks and workshops throughout New Zealand, Australia, and the US.

Presentation: MGUS, Myeloma, CLL

Sean will discuss diagnosis and management of MGUS, myeloma and CLL in primary care, including appropriate monitoring and indications for referral. 

Bio: Sean MacPherson

Sean has a BSc (Hons), MB ChB (Hons), MRCP(Glasgow), FRCPath, PG Cert Med Ed.

He is a clinician/researcher with training in haematology and is involved in leukaemia research and medical education. His areas of clinical interest and titles include:

• General and malignant haematology
• Haemostasis and obstetric haematology
• Medical education
• Senior lecturer in Clinical Haematology for the University of Otago
• Consultant Haematologist at Canterbury Health Laboratories
• Research within the University of Otago, Christchurch

Presentation: Eye examination & acute eye

Justin will focus on practical tips that will be useful day to day, including assessing the red reflex in infants, the red eye and ocular trauma.

Bio: Justin Mora

MBChB, FRANZCO

Justin is an ophthalmologist working at the Greenlane Clinical Centre in Auckland, Whangarei Hospital and Auckland Eye. He has U.S. fellowship training in glaucoma and in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, is a Senior Lecturer for the Auckland Medical school and has authored papers in the fields of glaucoma, paediatrics and strabismus. He runs the paediatric ophthalmology fellowship training program in Auckland.

Justin was until recently a RANZCO Board member and the Censor-in-Chief (Dean of Education). In the latter role he oversaw major revisions of the trainee selection process and the vocational training program. He is Ngāi Tahu and Chair of the RANZCO Māori and Pasifika eye health committee. He is the clinical lead for RANZCO’s Vision 2030 and Beyond Aotearoa project.

He has helped with curriculum development and examinations in Fiji and Papua New Guinea and is involved in charitable work in Cambodia and Laos to train the region's first specialist paediatric ophthalmologists.

Presentation: Prescribing update

The status quo is only ever transient - and so it is with prescribing. This is a quick-fire session on prescribing updates that may require a change in prescribing habits.
 

Bio: Linda Bryant

MClinPharm, PhD

Linda is a pharmacist prescriber working at Newtown Union Health Service in Wellington. She has extensive experience in teaching postgraduate clinical pharmacy and working with PHO’s, initially as a clinical advisory pharmacist at East Health Trust PHO in Auckland and more recently as Pharmacist Lead at Tu Ora Health in Wellington.  

Presentation: Māori mental health

Mark will discuss his personal views of the challenges facing Māori mental health and the complex interface between primary and secondary care. 

Bio: Mark Lawrence

Mark completed his medical training in Aotearoa New Zealand at the University of Otago school of medicine before receiving his fellowship in 2009. He has whakapapa (genealogical) links to Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri and Ngā Puhi iwi. He works as a Consultant Psychiatrist in the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga. 

He is a recipient of the Henry Rongomau Bennett Memorial Scholarship (in memory of the first Māori Psychiatrist), the inaugural recipient of the RANZCP Pirika Taonga (recognising noteworthy contributions in Māori mental health and addiction in Aotearoa New Zealand), and proudly the 9th Māori RANZCP Fellow.

Mark has been involved in multiple advisory groups including Māori health workforce development, Māori health scholarships and Māori leadership role at Tauranga district health board, as well as being an Executive for Toi Mata Hauora (Association of Salaried Medical Specialists). His interest includes Māori mental health development, teaching, advocacy, and policy development. He has a particular interest in improving structures and systems to achieve equity. 

Mark is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland School of Medicine teaching and examining the undergraduate students in psychiatry. He is also an Affiliate member for the University of Otago school of Medicine, Wellington campus. 

Mark was elected to the RANZCP Board in May 2022 for a two-year term and was re-elected for a further two-year term in May 2024.
 

Presentation: Functional neurological disorders

FND (functional neurological disorder) is an interesting and challenging diagnosis, which is also very common. Especially over the past 10 years, it has gained wider recognition and better understanding.

We will cover the definition and overview of the diagnosis and its spectrum, predisposing factors and comorbidities, associated stigma from patients, family and health staff, and learn about practical clinical exam findings that can help to make a positive diagnosis that is more than “by exclusion”.

We will also discuss treatment approaches, how the diagnosis is best communicated with the patient and their whanau, and when a (re)referral to a specialist clinic is warranted.

Bio: Julian Bauer

Julian is neurologist at Auckland City Hospital, covering general neurology, neurophysiology (nerve conduction studies, EMG), MND clinic, and visits to  North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals for inpatient consults and clinics. He has a special interest in FND and MND.
 
He graduated from Medical School (University on Mainz) in 2002, gained “doctoral degree” (PhD) via dissertation in 2004, and completed his vocational training in Germany in 2009. He moved with his family to New Zealand in 2017.

Presentation: Weight loss medications

James will cover the use of weight loss medications currently available in New Zealand.

Bio: James Shand

I am an endocrinologist working in the Te Mana Ki Tua specialist weight management service run by Counties Manukau Health. I trained at various sites around New Zealand and previously worked as a GP in South Auckland for 2 years. My research interests include the role of precision medicine in obesity management and I have recently begun the process of undertaking a PhD in this area.

Presentation: Genetic & familial cancers

All cancers are genetic - how do you distinguish the sporadic from the hereditary cancers? This talk will highlight some of the more common and not so common hereditary cancer syndromes, how to identify them, and when to refer them to the genetic service. The talk will also touch on the genetic assessment and provide practical tips on what to include in the referral and for ongoing management.

Bio: Suretha Erasmus

Genetic Counsellor, MSc, MSc Med, FHGSA

Suretha has a passion for supporting individuals who are affected by or concerned about a genetic condition. She completed her training in South Africa and had a private genetic counselling practice for 9+ years before moving to New Zealand in 2019. She then joined the Genetic Health Service, Health NZ as a genetic counsellor, first in Auckland and is now based in Christchurch.

Presentation: Polycystic ovarian syndrome

Elizabeth will outline the initial investigation and diagnosis of PCOS in primary care, referring to the most up to date guidelines. She will cover the initial management strategies in primary care and when to refer to secondary care, as well as fertility treatment options and cover long-term health sequelae of PCOS, using cases to illustrate this.

Bio: Elizabeth Glanville

Elizabeth obtained her medical degree from the University of Bristol, UK, and has trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the UK and New Zealand.

She has completed further training as a subspecialist in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (CREI) and works as a Fertility Specialist at Fertility Plus, Te Toka Tumai; and Repromed, Auckland.

Elizabeth is also an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Auckland.

Presentation: Reminders not readily available in guidelines

This session contains brief snippets and reminders based on questions relating to everyday prescribing issues that do not tend to be readily available in guidelines.

Bio: Professor Bruce Arroll

Bruce Arroll is a medical graduate from the University of Auckland and spent a year at McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario, 1981-2 training in general practice. His current research interest is in rapid non-drug treatments of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

He spends two days per week in clinical practice working at the Calder Clinic at the City Mission 140 Hobson Street after being in Manurewa for 32 years. The rest of his time is spent at the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care at the School of Population Health at the University of Auckland.

He became the director of the Goodfellow Unit in 2014.