The Good GP

In this episode, Dr Julia Rawlinson is joined in this two-part series by Dr Emma Turner, Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at Perth Children’s Hospital, and Dr Erin Horsley, GP Anaesthetist with a special interest in gastroenterology and lived experience parenting a child with coeliac disease.

Providing practical advice for GPs on recognising and investigating coeliac disease in Australian children.

Key points discussed:
Prevalence and Risk: Coeliac disease affects about 1 in 70 Australians, with 80% undiagnosed. First-degree relatives have a 10-20% risk depending on family history.
Clinical Presentation: Symptoms can include iron deficiency, growth failure, pubertal delay, abdominal pain, and altered bowel habits. Less obvious presentations might be behavioural issues, sleep problems, mild elevation of liver enzymes, dental enamel defects, and recurrent mouth ulcers. Diagnosis should still be considered in children who are growing normally or are obese.
Testing Approach: The recommended initial tests are tissue transglutaminase IgA (TTG-IgA) and total IgA. Gluten intake must be adequate for accurate results. There is no current recommendation for population screening, but GPs are encouraged to maintain a low threshold for testing symptomatic children.
Diagnosis and Specialist Involvement: Non-biopsy diagnosis can be considered for children with TTG-IgA >10× upper limit of normal plus confirmatory endomysial antibody testing, but all cases require confirmation by a paediatric gastroenterologist. Early gluten-free diets before testing complicate diagnosis and may require a supervised gluten challenge.
Screening Relatives and Genetic Testing: All first-degree relatives should be screened, ideally at the time of index case diagnosis, and re-tested every 2–3 years if negative. HLA genetic testing is useful only to exclude coeliac disease, not to confirm it.

Part 2 will focus on managing coeliac disease long term and practical advice for GPs and families.

Links & Resources:
https://coeliac.org.au/health-professionals/gluten-challenge/
Health professionals - Coeliac Australia
Ongoing management - Coeliac Australia
https://coeliac.org.au/health-professionals/ongoing-management/

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to thegoodgp@gmail.com. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode of The Good GP, Dr Krystyna De Lange is joined by Dr Hayden Cain, a GP, rural generalist and clinical ambassador for Movember's Men in Mind to discuss men’s mental health. They explore why men’s mental health is a critical issue for GPs, including the higher rates of preventable death and suicide among men, and the role of social and clinical barriers to help-seeking.

Dr Kane outlines the significance of men's mental health as a clinical issue. Despite many men engaging with healthcare providers in the year prior to suicide, barriers such as stigma, socialisation, and negative experiences remain. Dr Kane also addresses the impact of masculine stereotypes, not only for patients, but also in the unconscious bias clinicians may bring to consultations.

Alongside the impact of social media and online communities, he highlights both the risks and opportunities for engaging men, noting that men often present with physical symptoms and may have engaged with healthcare before suicide, stressing the need for vigilant, empathetic care.

Discussing practical strategies for GPs to foster connection and trust, such as asking open-ended questions, building rapport through personal interest, and providing clear pathways for ongoing care. Dr Kane also recommends resources such as the Movember Men in Mind program to support effective engagement with male patients.

Link & Resources:
Movember Men in Mind training - https://meninmind.movember.com
Resource on suicide and language: https://psychology.org.au/publications/inpsych/2013/february/beaton

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to thegoodgp@gmail.com. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode of The Good GP, Dr Sean Stevens speaks with Dr Terri-Lynne South, GP and medical director of Lifestyle Metabolic, for a focused discussion on the practicalities of prescribing GLP-1 medications. Dr Terri-Lynne shares her experience with increasing GP interest in GLP-1s, outlining both established and new indications such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease prevention, metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), chronic kidney disease, and obstructive sleep apnea.

Dr Terri-Lynne provides clear, evidence-based guidance on dose titration, emphasising the importance of starting low and progressing gradually to minimise side effects, with schedules tailored to individual patient response. She recommended baseline and follow-up monitoring, including the use of the Bristol stool chart for baseline gastrointestinal assessment.

Examining physiological effects and timelines following the discontinuation of GLP-1 therapy, with typical patterns of weight regain and metabolic reversal.

Finally, highlighting the evolving role of GLP-1s as disease-modifying agents and flags upcoming advances such as dual and triple agonists and new oral medications. Dr Terri-Lynne concludes by advising GPs to set realistic patient expectations and understand the long-term management necessities of chronic disease.

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to thegoodgp@gmail.com. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!
Mentioned in this episode:
Build the Career and Lifestyle You’ve Been Looking For, in the Vines.
Tired of traffic, long commutes, and feeling stuck in the grind? The Mudgee Region is calling.

The Doctors 4 Mudgee Region initiative is working to attract and support GPs and registrars looking to build rewarding, sustainable careers in one of NSW’s most sought after regional destinations, just 3 hours from Sydney. With financial incentives of up to $45,000 for fellowed doctors and lifestyle concierge support for all relocating practitioners, there’s never been a better time to make the move.

Learn more at www.doctors4mudgee.com.au
Doctors 4 Mudgee Region

In this episode of The Good GP, Dr Krystyna de Lange speaks with Dr Samantha Peden, vascular surgeon with appointments at the Royal Brisbane and Womens' Hospital, Wesley Private Hospital in Brisbane and Friendly Society Private Hospital Bundaberg, about the identification and management of aortic pathology in general practice. They focused on the increasing incidence of incidentally noted aortic dilatation and aneurysms due to greater use of CT chest imaging.
Dr Peden explains the key differences between normal, ectatic, and aneurysmal segments of the thoracic aorta, including considerations based on sex, patient size, morphology and aetiology. She outlines how to approach incidental findings, including further imaging options such as CT angiogram, MR angiogram, and imaging of other potential aneurysm sites, along with the importance of physical examination.
Dr Peden provides guidance on when to refer patients for non GP specialist review and how surveillance intervals are decided, particularly in the absence of formal Australian guidelines. She also covers best medical management, risk factor modification, and updated intervention thresholds for aneurysms in different vascular territories.
The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network
If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to thegoodgp@gmail.com. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!
Mentioned in this episode:
Build the Career and Lifestyle You’ve Been Looking For, in the Vines.
Tired of traffic, long commutes, and feeling stuck in the grind? The Mudgee Region is calling.

The Doctors 4 Mudgee Region initiative is working to attract and support GPs and registrars looking to build rewarding, sustainable careers in one of NSW’s most sought after regional destinations, just 3 hours from Sydney. With financial incentives of up to $45,000 for fellowed doctors and lifestyle concierge support for all relocating practitioners, there’s never been a better time to make the move.

Learn more at www.doctors4mudgee.com.au
Doctors 4 Mudgee Region

In this episode of This Could Save Your Life podcast, Dr Catherine Bourke is joined by Dr Jack Bourke, clinical immunologist and immunopathologist, to discuss the fundamentals of the immune system.
Dr Jack explains the core functions of the immune system, including defending against pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi, as well as identifying and removing abnormal or cancerous cells. The distinction between the innate (rapid, broad-acting, present from birth) and adaptive (specific, develops over time, retains memory) components of immunity is outlined.
Describing the diffuse nature of the immune system across the body, incorporating white blood cells, bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, adenoids, skin, and mucosal surfaces. The implications of removing structures like tonsils, adenoids, and especially the spleen are discussed, noting that only loss of the spleen is associated with significant immune deficiency and additional infection risk.
Dr Jack addresses the misconception that the immune system is only active during illness. Reviewing the role of lifestyle factors on immune health, alongside the lack of evidence for most over-the-counter “immune-boosting” products outside correction of proven deficiencies.
Key evidence-based interventions to support immune health include vaccination, healthy diet, physical activity, adequate sleep, and chronic disease management.
This Could Save Your Life Podcast is under The Good GP podcast, a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network
If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to thegoodgp@gmail.com. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!
Mentioned in this episode:
Build the Career and Lifestyle You’ve Been Looking For, in the Vines.
Tired of traffic, long commutes, and feeling stuck in the grind? The Mudgee Region is calling.

The Doctors 4 Mudgee Region initiative is working to attract and support GPs and registrars looking to build rewarding, sustainable careers in one of NSW’s most sought after regional destinations, just 3 hours from Sydney. With financial incentives of up to $45,000 for fellowed doctors and lifestyle concierge support for all relocating practitioners, there’s never been a better time to make the move.

Learn more at www.doctors4mudgee.com.au
Doctors 4 Mudgee Region