From the medical editor

Dr Roger Sexton

Ihave been reflecting recently on the good and not-so-good role models in my career and their influence on my personal and professional life. I am sure you have a list of your own role models –diverse in time and space and sector – each of whom has influenced you towards a new way of thinking, living or working.

My Glaswegian soccer coach in grade five used ‘profound disappointment’ to describe what he perceived as a lack of effort on the pitch as a powerful motivator. It worked. ‘I canna believe it!’ has remained on my hard drive.

My grade seven teacher was an outstanding, interested, energetic, innovative teacher. One day he turned classroom disarray into a learning opportunity when, during his temporary absence from the classroom, a noisy squabble between groups of classmates developed. Upon his return, he brilliantly and unforgettably turned this into a trial by jury. I was found not guilty.

In medical school, the wisdom of hospital consultants at the bedside was so instructive. The trusting faces of patients told a story of hope as the doctor sat on the bed. I have discovered the power of that calming bedside manner.

My student elective in rural general practice exposed me to the art and power of comprehensive general practice. This was an unforgettable fork in the road for me. I witnessed the importance of calmess in a crisis, clear communication, patience, and prescribing a tincture of time.

Patients’ illness behaviour has taught me so much. Every patient is a tutorial and role models are everywhere. The bravery of the dying patient and the embarrassing puerile behaviour of mildly unwell adults teaches us how and how not to behave.

Engagement with non-medical friends and events exposes us to exciting and informative ‘parallel universes’ within society of which we can be otherwise totally unaware. This is where we can be exposed to and learn from the refreshing, distilled experience of outstanding others, for our own good.

Negative role models define our practice and behaviour, too. My overseas obstetric training experience exposed me to an angry and dangerous colleague and forged a much stronger awareness of patient vulnerability, ethics and professionalism. That was a seriously powerful career fork in the road for me towards doctors’ health, medical regulation and indemnity, and risk education.

Over time, we learn from a lifetime exposure to a range of role models. This helps us all manage ourselves and our relationships, the career choices we make and a wide range of personal and professional situations.

I invite you to reflect on this as you read this edition of medicSA

Adelaide to host world POTS specialist

One of the world’s leading researchers into mast cell disease and its links to postorthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and, most recently, Long COVID, will speak live in Adelaide in late March.

Dr Laurence Afrin has been invited to speak in Adelaide by the Australian POTS Foundation. He will deliver lectures in the SAHMRI Auditorium on North Terrace and at a dinner at Marryatville on 30 March. He will also participate in a webinar on 29 March

Adelaide cardiologist and POTS specialist Associate Professor Dennis Lau says that with increasing international evidence of exacerbated and new POTS symptoms among people reporting Long COVID symptoms, the POTS Foundation hopes to increase knowledge and awareness among South Australian clinicians of mast cell disease and POTS.

Dr Afrin has practised as an internist and haematologist/oncologist at the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of Minnesota, increasing his focus on mast cell disease over the past decade.

Since 2017, he has been developing an institute in New York for advancing care, research, and education in mast cell disease. He has published highly accessed articles about mast cell activation syndrome and a popular book in the field.

Dr Afrin’s visit to Adelaide follows his online participation in the POTS Foundation’s POTS Unmasked conference in October 2022.

Registration is not required for the SAHMRI event. Limited tickets to the dinner are free by registering here

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