Purple Pen Podcast

Purple Pen Podcast

Education and news for pharmacists, with a focus on Australian clinical pharmacy practice. Hosted by Kristin Xenos and Natalie Tasker, we provide CPD and news for pharmacists, especially those interested in Australian clinical practice. Created by Jane Booth and Dan Guidone.

Episodes

July 11, 2026 38 mins

PPP 194 – Sport and Exercise Pharmacy with Alison Hooper

In this episode, pharmacist and former physiotherapist Alison Hooper joins us to discuss the expanding role of pharmacists in sport, exercise, and active living

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    Gastroenterologist and three-time guest Dr Kostas Brooks returns for a discussion on colonoscopy, bowel cancer screening, and best practice care in Australia.

    In this episode, we cover:

    Home bowel cancer screening

    • The role of home-based faecal occult blood tests in early detection

    • How the program works in practice

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    In this episode of Myopia Progression and the Role of Atropine in Managing Myopia, we speak with Dr Loren Rose about one of the fastest growing challenges in children's eye health. We explore emmetropisation, the natural process by which a child's eyes develop towards clear vision, and what happens myopia. Dr Rose explains key concepts including hyperopic reserve, what a dioptre actually measures, and why both genetics and environm...

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    In this episode, we're joined by Dr Mariya Farah Kitson, Consultant Rheumatologist at the Osteoporosis Refracture Prevention Clinic at Royal North Shore Hospital, for a deep dive into the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. We explore why osteoporosis remains significantly underdiagnosed, current recommendations for ...

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    April 11, 2026 29 mins

    In this episode, dermatologist Dr Francis Lai joins us to unpack everything you need to know about scabies — what it is, how it spreads and why some communities are more at risk. We break down diagnosis, treatment options, common myths and what to expect during recovery. Practical, evidence‑based advice for clinicians, parents and anyone dealing with this incredibly itchy but entirely treatable conditi...

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    Kristin speaks with two pharmacists working in menopause care:

    • Bo Kim, clinical pharmacist and founder of EmpowHer Menopause in Perth

    • Jarrah Anderson, Clinical Lead at MedCast and member of the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance

    In this episode

    • Read more

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    This International Women's Day (IWD) we a focused on women's health. In this episode, Kristin speaks with Professor Susan Davis, AO, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, FAHMS, Head Monash University Women's Health Research Program, Endocrinologist, leading menopause researcher. Prof Davis is Director of the Women's Health Research Program in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Melbourne. She is a cons...

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    In this episode, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) pharmacists Clarissa Rentsch and Sheridan Rodda break down the essentials of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, from diagnosis and treatment options to the expanding role of monoclonal therapies. We explore Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, therapeutic drug monitoring and how pharmacists can optimise care for people living with IBD. A clear, practical conversation for clinicians and anyon...

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    January 22, 2026 28 mins

    In this episode, I'm coming to you live from NAPSA Congress, the National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association's week-long flagship event that brings together pharmacy students from across Australia. The Congress is packed with education sessions, workshops, social events, networking opportunities, and a vibrant trade exhibition, and this episode captures the energy of being right in the middle of it all.

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    Listen in to our latest episode as Kristin chats with Josh Schiller, a Accredited Practising Dietitian, about navigating the world of nutritional supplements and vitamins in pharmacy practice. Josh breaks down which products he would recommend, the key interactions between diet, vitamins, and prescription medicines that you need to know about and the age old question, do you really need that multi...

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    We talk to Gary Bain (AKA the wound guy) about the integumentary system, the stages of wound healing, the advantages of good old fashioned clean water for wound cleaning, guiding principles of dressing changes for inflammatory phase vs proliferation phase, when to use different types of dressings e.g hydrocolloid, the benefits...

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    We talked with, Dr Eleni Yiasemides (board-certified consultant Dermatologist specialist from Sydney) about

    *Inappropriate indications for topical corticosteroids (cortisones) like perioral dermatitis when less is usually more

    *The verdict on combination products corticosteroids + anti fungal creams and when to use them

    *Busting myths on topical corticosteroids like "appl...

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    November 18, 2025 50 mins

    We're marking World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week 2025 with an episode dedicated entirely to antibiotics, the medicines we rely on every day and the ones we need to protect.

    We're joined by Caroline Chen, a senior antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist and project officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, for a deep dive into all things antibioti...

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    November 15, 2025 49 mins

    Listen in as Kristin chats with Dr Angela Kwong, a Sydney-based General Practitioner with a special interest in medically supervised weight management, about the use of GLP-1 agonists.

    Dr Kwong serves as the NSW State Lead for the RACGP Specific Interests Group in Obesity Management and works closely with colleagues across disciplines to improve care for people living with obesity. She...

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    October 11, 2025 46 mins

    We talk with Prof Pete Smith, an allergist from Queensland about

    • Why rhinitis shouldn't be sneezed at (sorry we had to), including the consequences of allergic rhinitis being un/undertreated
    • The recommended method to use intranasal sprays - hint "if you can taste it, you're wasting it"
    • How to discuss concerns patients might have about intranasal corticosteroids
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    Listen in to round out our conversation about anticoagulation, by hearing from two Anticoagulation Stewardship Pharmacists - Hadley Bortz from the Alfred in Melbourne and Julianne Chong from Concord Hospital.

    Find out more about ACS programs in Australia and overseas and the benefits that these programs can bring to your health service.

    Anticoagulant patient care plan

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    Join us as we talk with Prof Prash Sanders about the role of anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), learn when patients should be screened for AF, how to perform a stroke risk assessment and strategies to reduce the risk of bleeding. 

    This podcast is in collaboration with Medcast and the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance, a provider of health professional educ...

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    Naloxone has been available in Australia without prescription since 2022 (after pilot programs through 2019-2021, analysis showed this trial saved 3 lives per day). Join us as Kristin and Nat talk naloxone with Pharmacist Emily Turkovic. Emily shares her personal story and why she is passionate about ensuring that naloxone is widely available in our community. Listen in for tips and t...

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    Listen in as Kristin chats with Dr Ian Heslop about the health care needs of travellers, covering topics such as traveller's diarrhoea, altitude sickness and more. Listen until the end to find out what Ian brings in his travel medicine kit!

    Ian is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Newcastle and has a strong background in Hospital Pharmacy and in academi...

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