One year of The Specialist GP

12 Sept

One year ago, The Specialist GP began with a simple idea: good clinical education should be practical, have equity as a core principle and be evidence-based and relevant to what happens in the consulting room.

Today, The Specialist GP is one year old.

What started as an idea has grown into an independent platform for medical education, mentoring and clinical governance, with the podcast at its heart. It has been a busy, rewarding and sometimes challenging year, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of it.

Why The Specialist GP?

After many years working in medical education, I wanted to create something that reflected how I believe clinicians learn best.

The Specialist GP was built around a simple principle: better practice comes from better education.

That means moving beyond simply knowing the guidelines. It means asking the practical questions. What does this look like in general practice? What should I do when the presentation isn't textbook? When should I investigate? When should I refer? What does the latest evidence actually mean for the patient sitting in front of me?

And importantly, how can we make that learning accessible to busy clinicians?

The podcast was designed to be part of that. Your clinic, your commute, your clinical classroom.

Each episode takes a clinical question, case or area of uncertainty and explores it with someone who brings genuine expertise to the conversation. The aim is not to overwhelm you with information, but to leave you with practical clinical pearls that you can use.

A year of learning

Over the past year, we have covered a remarkably broad range of topics.

We have talked about osteopenia, suicide risk assessment, adolescent sexual health, perimenopause, decompression illness, eyelid lesions, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, skin treatments, mastitis, GLP-1 medicines and eye health, vitamin D in pregnancy and infancy, antibiotics and the developing microbiome, clinician burnout and adolescent health.

We have explored both common problems and areas where Specialist GPs may encounter something less frequently but need to know what to do when it appears in front of them.

And we have been incredibly fortunate to have some outstanding experts join the conversation.

One of the things I have enjoyed most is that these conversations often go beyond the obvious clinical question. They make us think about how we practise, how we communicate, how we make decisions and how we support our patients and colleagues.

That is exactly what I hoped The Specialist GP would become.

More than a podcast

Although the podcast has been the most visible part of The Specialist GP, the business was always intended to be broader than podcasting.

The Specialist GP brings together medical education, mentoring, clinical governance and practical training, with a particular focus on helping clinicians develop confidence, capability and better clinical practice. We have been working with NZ Doctor, BPAC, RNZCGP and the private hospital sector also.

My own work has always sat across these areas. I am a Specialist GP, medical educator, mentor, clinical governance lead and LARC trainer, and I have spent many years working in education and clinical leadership. Before establishing The Specialist GP, I spent eight years as the voice of the Goodfellow podcast and as the deputy director.

The Specialist GP has given me the opportunity to bring that experience together in a way that is independent, practical and focused on what clinicians actually need.

Keeping equity in the conversation

Another important part of The Specialist GP is the belief that clinical education should contribute to more equitable healthcare.

Aotearoa New Zealand has significant health inequities, and education cannot be separated from the context in which we practise.

That means thinking about who benefits from our healthcare system, who may be missing out, and how our clinical decisions can either reduce or reinforce inequity.

Where appropriate, we explore that equity lens alongside the clinical discussion rather than treating it as something separate.

Thank you

A business like this is never really built by one person.

Thank you to the experts who have generously shared their time and knowledge.

Thank you to the clinicians who have listened, sent feedback, suggested topics and shared episodes with colleagues.

Thank you to those who have trusted The Specialist GP with their education, mentoring, training and governance work.

And thank you to everyone who has simply pressed play.

Every listen, message, conversation and piece of feedback has helped shape what The Specialist GP is becoming.

What comes next?

One year in, I am even more convinced that there is a place for independent, practical and evidence-based medical education.

There are plenty of topics still to explore, more experts to talk to, more clinical questions to unpack and more ways to support clinicians in practice.

The next year will see The Specialist GP continue to grow beyond the podcast, while keeping the same focus that started it all: practical education that helps clinicians feel more confident, make better decisions and provide better care.

So, happy first birthday to The Specialist GP.

Thank you for being part of the first year.