Diabetes in pregnancy is more common than many realise, and the consequences can last a lifetime. In the first episode of 2026 of The Round Up, host A/Prof Elissa Hatherly speaks with Dr Anna McLean, General Endocrinologist and Clinical Lead for Diabetes in Pregnancy at Cairns Hospital, about the rising prevalence and what it means for clinicians on the ground.

With 23% of births in Cairns affected by diabetes, Dr McLean unpacks the spectrum from gestational diabetes to pre-existing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. She outlines practical management strategies — from nutrition therapy and exercise as first-line treatment to appropriate use of metformin and insulin — and explains why early referral, preconception planning, and close monitoring are critical to preventing congenital anomalies, obstetric complications, and long-term metabolic risk for both mother and baby.

Whether you provide antenatal care, manage young women with diabetes, or want to strengthen your approach to preconception counselling, this episode delivers clear, evidence-based guidance to start the year strong.

Resources:

• ADIPS: GDM Diagnosis and Screening Guidelines

• Queensland Health Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Clinical Guidelines

Type 2 diabetes treatment is evolving fast—and the focus has shifted from managing blood sugar to preventing long-term complications early. In this episode of The Round Up, host A/Prof Elissa Hatherly speaks with Dr Luke Conway about the major paradigm shifts transforming diabetes care, from early diagnosis and aggressive therapy to the latest in medications and monitoring technologies.

Dr Conway explains how modern management now prioritises kidney and heart health, with SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists leading the way. He also explores the expanding role of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), the potential of oral GLP-1s, and what’s on the horizon in diabetes medicine.

Whether you regularly manage patients with diabetes or just want to stay across the “tsunami” of new treatments on the way, this episode offers practical, up-to-date insights to support better outcomes in every practice.

Resources:

• Rosenstock, J, et al. Orforglipron, an Oral Small-Molecule GLP-1 Receptor Agonist, in Early Type 2 Diabetes. The New England Journal of Medicine 393 (2025) 1065-1076.

• FreeStyle Libre CGM

• Dexcom CGM

• Conway, L. ABC Checklist for Screening in T2D. Diabetes Management Journal May 2023 30-31.

• National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS)

• NDSS: Australian Type 2 Diabetes Glycaemic Management Algorithm

What if simple lifestyle changes could help reverse chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease? In this episode of The Round Up, host A/Prof Elissa Hatherly speaks with Dr Sam Manger, GP and Academic Lead for Lifestyle Medicine at James Cook University, about the powerful role of lifestyle medicine in transforming patient outcomes.

From food and movement to mind-body health and social connection, Dr Manger explains how addressing the root causes of disease can improve longevity and quality of life. He also shares his personal journey with chronic pain, the evidence behind interventions like yoga and strength training, and the modifiable risk factors that can reduce dementia risk.

Whether you’re passionate about preventive care or curious how lifestyle medicine fits into daily practice, this episode offers practical, evidence-based insights you can apply with your next patient.

Resources:

• JCU postgraduate courses: Grad Cert, Grad Diploma, and Master in Lifestyle Medicine including social prescribing, health coaching and implementation science

• YouTube: Using lifestyle as medicine: A new era in chronic disease remission
• Three-week online microcredential in Lifestyle Medicine and Mental Health: Life and Mind 

• BrainHQ

• The GP Show

Hospital beds are under pressure across Australia—but what if care could come to the patient instead? In this episode of The Round Up, host A/Prof Elissa Hatherly speaks with Dr David Clark, Hospital in the Home (HITH) consultant, about how this model of care is improving outcomes, reducing costs, and helping patients recover where they feel most comfortable.

From post-operative care and infections to heart failure management, Dr Clark explains which patients are suitable for HITH and how remote monitoring, video consults, and nurse-led models deliver safe, high-quality care at home. He also shares insights on GP referrals, building trust in the program, and integrating HITH with services like RaSS and the Geriatric Evaluation and Management program.

Whether you’re a GP looking to keep patients out of hospital, or a health professional curious about how virtual care works in practice, this episode offers a practical guide to making HITH part of everyday care.

Resources:

• Hospital in the Home Society Australasia
• Hospital in the Home (HITH) - Community HealthPathways Mackay
• Rapid Access Clinics and Acute Home Care - Community HealthPathways Townsville
• Hospital in the Home (HITH) - Community HealthPathways Far North Queensland
• Hospital In Your Home - Bringing the Hospital to you

Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a health issue too. In this episode of The Round Up, host A/Prof Elissa Hatherly speaks with Canadian public health practitioner Hannah Mason, who studied at James Cook University, about how rising heat is reshaping health in North Queensland.

From a 13% jump in ambulance calls to spikes in ED presentations and hospital admissions, Hannah explains how heatwaves stretch health services, which groups are most vulnerable, and why public health strategies like preparedness planning and community education are critical. She also explores broader climate-linked risks—from disease outbreaks to environmental hazards—and what it means for the future of healthcare.

Whether you’re a doctor, nurse, allied health professional, or simply curious about the intersection of climate and health, this episode offers clear, practical insights for protecting patients and communities in a hotter world.

Resources:

• JCU Master of Public Health: https://www.jcu.edu.au/courses/master-of-public-health
• Mason, HM, et al. The impact of extreme heat on mass-gathering sporting events: Implications for Australia and other countries. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 27 (2024) 515-524.
• Mason, H, et al. Systematic review of the impact of heatwaves on health service demand in Australia. BMC Health Services Research (2022) 22: 960.
• Mason, HM, et al. Determining the Impact of Heatwaves on Emergency Ambulance Calls in Queensland: A Retrospective Population-Based Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023), 20, 4875.
• Franklin, RC, et al. Heatwaves and mortality in Queensland 2010–2019: implications for a homogenous state-wide approach. International Journal of Biometeorology (2023) 67: 503-515.
• Matthew Agius. Half a year of dangerous heat beckons for parts of Australia in 1.8 degree warmer world. Cosmos Magazine, 26 August 2022.

Radiation therapy has come a long way—and for regional and rural patients, the impact is life-changing. In this episode of The Round Up, host A/Prof Elissa Hatherly speaks with Dr Tim Squire, a radiation oncologist based in Townsville, about the cutting-edge developments in cancer care that are improving access, tolerability, and outcomes.

From advanced techniques like IMRT and VMAT to hypofractionation that reduces weeks of treatment into just days, Dr Squire explains how modern radiation therapy is more precise, more effective, and easier for patients than ever before. He also shares insights into managing side effects, treating oligometastatic disease, and why radiation remains one of the most cost-effective therapies in the cancer space.

Whether you refer cancer patients regularly or want to stay updated on treatment options available in regional centres, this episode delivers a concise and practical overview of where radiation oncology is headed.

What does a culturally safe healthcare environment actually look like? In this episode of The Round Up, host A/Prof Elissa Hatherly is joined by Prof Shannon Springer, the incoming Clinical Lead for ATSICHS Mackay with experience in health education, and Dr Sarah Jane Springer, Senior Project Officer at CWAATSICH/QAIHC SEM and Director at Springer Health Consultants to discuss moving the cultural safety conversation from theory into practice.

They explore simple yet powerful steps healthcare providers can take—like displaying local Aboriginal art, using inclusive language, and involving Elders in environmental assessments—to make Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients feel genuinely safe and respected. The conversation also highlights the need for trauma-informed care, co-designed policies, and continuous quality improvement driven by community feedback.

Whether you're leading a rural clinic, part of a hospital executive team, or starting out in healthcare, this episode offers practical, community-led strategies to embed cultural safety into your daily work.

Resources:

• AIDA’s (Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association) Cultural Safety Training: https://aida.org.au/cultural-safety-program/what-is-cultural-safety/
• IAHA (Indigenous Allied Health Australia) Cultural Responsiveness Training: https://iaha.com.au/iaha-consulting/cultural-responsiveness-training/
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander faculty for GP: https://www.racgp.org.au/the-racgp/faculties/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health
• Cultural Safety: From Compliance to Commitment Report: https://abetterculture.org.au/news-resources/cultural-safety/

NAIDOC Week marks 50 years of strength, vision, and legacy—but how do we turn celebration into lasting change in our health systems? In this episode of The Round Up, host A/Prof Elissa Hatherly is joined by Dr Shannon Springer, the incoming Clinical Lead for ATSICHS Mackay with experience in health education, and Dr Sarah Jane Springer, Senior Project Officer at CWAATSICH/QAIHC SEM and Director at Springer Health Consultants, to explore the deeper meaning of NAIDOC Week and the challenge of embedding cultural safety in everyday healthcare.

Together, they reflect on the evolution of NAIDOC Week—from a national protest to a proud movement of black excellence—and this year’s theme, “The Next Generation". They unpack what true cultural safety means in practice, and why the burden of advocacy must shift from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clinicians to the system itself.

Whether you’re a supervisor, student, or frontline clinician, this episode is a call to action to engage, reflect, and take responsibility for building a culturally safe health system.

Resources:

• Cairns NAIDOC Week: https://cairnsnaidoc.com/
• Townsville NAIDOC Week: https://www.townsvillenaidoc.com.au/
• Mackay NAIDOC Week:
  • https://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/community/community_programs/aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-information/aboriginal_and_torres_islander_significant_dates
  • https://www.facebook.com/NAIDOCMACKAY/
• Mount Isa NAIDOC Week: 2025 NAIDOC Week Celebrations - Mount Isa | Facebook
• National NAIDOC Week: https://www.naidoc.org.au/
• The History of NAIDOC Posters YouTube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdUNxd2EIwA