Contents: November 2005
Front cover (large)
Contents page (PDF)
Editorials
The International Virtual Medical School: no science fiction
Frank Sullivan and Ronald Harden explain why the
International Virtual Medical School could be an important
contribution to the establishment of a global academic
partnership
Laboratory tests: proper communication reduces error
Sanjay A Pai argues that improving communication between
clinicians and pathologists is a way to reduce the number of
laboratory mistakes
News
News Bites
Earthquake in
Pakistan disrupts medical education
Education
Ayurveda: the knowledge of life
Thuli Whitehouse describes how the principles of ancient Ayurvedic
practice are applicable to 21st century medicine
Malnutrition
Chibuzo Odigwe and David Kalu Ejibe take us through the
medical science and the therapeutic and public health approaches behind the
treatment of
malnutrition
ABC of asthma Methods of delivering drugs
This article is adapted from the 5th edition of the ABC of Asthma in Adults,
which will be published at the end of the year and will be available from
www.hammicksbma.com
An unusual cause of breathlessness
Picture quiz Part 1
An unusual cause of breathlessness
Picture quiz Part 2
From medical student to junior doctor: the "scripted" guide to patient clerking
In the second article of our series to help medical students make the leap
to budding doctors, Richard Beasley and coauthors explain how you can
improve
your patient clerking skills and impress your consultant
Careers
The ideal
job
The number of medical students choosing family medicine as a
career has steadily declined in the past decade. Rural practice has seen
a similar trend. Yasmina Dadi investigates why today’s medical
students find hospitals and cities more appealing
So you want to be an Aussie doctor?
Do you fancy working overseas as a doctor? Staff shortages, good
working conditions, and a high quality healthcare system, and an
outstanding quality of life and standard of living make Australia a tempting prospect. Stephanie Gapper investigates what it takes to set up as a doctor down under
An international health guru
Marc Mitchell has worked in 38 countries and has developed a prolific career
in international health and health management dedicated to the improvement of
health care of developing countries. Irina Haivas caught up with the
Harvard professor who has plans to change the world.
The road to research
Research is an essential aspect of medicine and a rewarding career
path for medical graduates. Sundip D Udani and K R Haylett explain
what research is all about
and what opportunities exist for medical students and qualified doctors
Illumination rounds
Ric Price has travelled to war zones around the world learning about and
researching tropical medicine. Victoria Nowak spoke to him about his work
in Somalia
and Thailand
Papers
Diagnostic tests of pulmonary
embolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis
The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is often missed, so it is
important to request the appropriate diagnostic tests. Antonio Vaz
Carneiro takes us through this systematic review, which compares
diagnostic tests for pulmonary embolism
Life
WHO are you again?
Megan Crofts had always wanted to work for the World Health
Organization. After an internship there, she got a reality check that
made her reconsider her career plans
Providing nomadic people with health care
The Kenyan government and medical charities are fighting hard to deliver
good health care to the people of Kenya. Deborah Cohen looks at the
particular difficulties involved in providing care to the nomadic people of Turkana, in the north west of the country
Achieving food security in vulnerable populations
Communities that rely on raising livestock are most vulnerable to hunger
when drought or other disaster strikes. How can aid organisations provide
effective help? Deborah Cohen investigates
Indigenous health in Australia
Australia has considerable health disparities between its non-indigenous
population and its Aboriginal communities. Victoria Nowak explains the
research that aims to narrow the gap
Reaching out
Peter MacPherson swapped clinical medicine for a career in
public health. He explains how studying for a degree in public health changed
his perception of medicine and life
Letters
Do people expect too much?
Cash for kidneys is likely to complicate matters
“Student doctors” are studying to become doctors
Student doctors not “masquerading as doctors”
Reviews
Murderball
Directed by Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro
Gender and extracurricular passions
Reasons for working abroad
Asthma
Child and maternal health
Eyespy
