Clinical Conversations

In this episode, Dr Angus Sinclair speaks with Dr Jonathan Malo about dyslipidaemias. They discuss the different types of dyslipidaemias, the treatments (including some new ones) and the types of cases that should be referred.

Dr Jonathan Malo is a consultant chemical pathologist at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry in NHS Lothian. And is the clinical lead for the Lipid Clinic at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. He currently chairs a Scottish network of lipid clinic specialists, and is involved in a Scottish government group tasked with improving CVD prevention.

Dr Angus Sinclair is an Internal Medical Trainee in the East of Scotland. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2018 and since then has worked across Scotland and as a medical registrar in a rural district general hospital in New Zealand. He has been actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, as well as in clinical governance and resident doctor leadership.

Recording date: 20 March 2026

--Links--

Assessment of adverse effects attributed to statin therapy in product labels: a meta-analysis of double-blind randomised controlled trials, The Lancet, 2026; 407, 689-703.

Effect of statin therapy on muscle symptoms: an individual participant data meta-analysis of large-scale, randomised, double-blind trials, The Lancet, 2022; 400, 832-845.

N-of-1 Trial of a Statin, Placebo, or No Treatment to Assess Side Effects, NEJM, 2020;383:2182-2184. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc2031173.

Statin treatment and muscle symptoms: series of randomised, placebo-controlled n-of-1 trials. BMJ, 2021;372:n135. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n135

SIGN 149: Risk estimation and the prevention of cardiovascular disease (2017) - https://www.sign.ac.uk/assets/qrg149.pdf

NICE Guideline 238: Cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification (2023) - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng238/resources/cardiovascular-disease-risk-assessment-and-reduction-including-lipid-modification-pdf-66143902851781)

AHA guideline - https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001423

ASSIGN/QRISK score calculators - https://www.heartuk.org.uk/educational-content/risk-calculators

-- Follow us --
https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees

-- Upcoming RCPE events --
https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events

-- Become an RCPE Member --
https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college

Feedback: [email protected]

This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi talks with Rebecca Howard and Bruce Cruickshank from Guide Dogs UK, one of the UK's leading sight loss charities. They discuss some of the small acts and considerations that medical professionals can practice to help their patients with sight loss.

Rebecca Howard is a Sighted Guide Trainer with Guide Dogs UK.

Bruce Cruickshank is a volunteer with Guide Dogs UK and is a guide dog owner.

Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members & Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD.

Recording date: 9 March 2026

-- Links --

Guide Dogs UK - https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/

Guide line services - https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/contact-us/#guide-line-services-support-and-dog-related-queries

Sighted guide training - https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/sighted-guide-training/

-- Follow us --
https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees

-- Upcoming RCPE events --
https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events

-- Become an RCPE Member --
https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college

Feedback: [email protected]

This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi chats with Dr Heeraj Bulluck about preventive cardiology. They discuss the little habits that can make a big difference in preventing heart disease and the importance of taking care of yourself as a doctor as well as the patients you see.

Dr Heeraj Bulluck is a UK-based interventional cardiologist with a keen academic interest. Alongside his clinical work, he recently developed an interest in cardiovascular prevention - helping individuals understand and act on risk long before disease develops. He is the author of Heart Reset 40, where he translates clinical insights into practical, sustainable changes for long-term heart health, particularly for busy professionals.

Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members & Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD.

Recording date: 2 February 2026

--Links--
Heeraj Bulluck, Heart Reset 40 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heart-Reset-40-Cardiologists-Science-Backed-ebook/dp/B0G8N4YBPC

The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) has not quality checked Heart Reset 40 and is not endorsing this resource. A link is provided for reference only.

2025 Update on ESC/EAS Guidelines for management of dyslipidaemias - https://www.escardio.org/guidelines/clinical-practice-guidelines/all-esc-practice-guidelines/dyslipidaemias/

ESC Essential Resources for Preventive Cardiologists - https://www.escardio.org/topics/risk-factors-and-prevention/

-- Follow us --
https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees

-- Upcoming RCPE events --
https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events

-- Become an RCPE Member --
https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college

Feedback: [email protected]

This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

In this episode Professor Tom Fardon returns to Clinical Conversations to discuss updates in asthma diagnosis and management from the joint BTS/SIGN/NICE guideline on Asthma. Prof Fardon and Dr Ben Warner discuss the changes to practice since the guidelines were released and the evolving role of biologics in asthma treatment.

Professor Fardon is a Consultant Respiratory Physician at NHS Tayside and Honorary Professor at the University of Dundee. They are also the chair of the Scottish Severe Asthma Group within the Centre for Sustainable Delivery.

Dr Ben Warner is a Respiratory Medicine Specialty Registrar with clinical and academic experience of global public health. He is currently undertaking a PhD in multimorbidity in Malawi as part of the Wellcome-funded Multimorbidity PhD Programme for Health Professionals with the University of Glasgow.

Recording Date: 9 December 2025

--Links--
BTS/SIGN/NICE guideline on Asthma - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng245
Asthma Pathway - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng244
Algorithm A: Objective tests for diagnosing asthma in adults and young people (aged over 16 years) - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng245/resources/bts-nice-and-sign-algorithm-a-summary-of-objective-tests-for-diagnosing-asthma-pdf-13556516365
Algorithm C: Pharmacological management of asthma in people aged 12 years and over - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng245/resources/algorithm-c-pharmacological-management-of-asthma-in-people-aged-12-years-and-over-bts-nice-pdf-13556516367
‘Optimising inhaled therapy for patients with asthma’- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2024-080353
Asthma+Lung UK website Inhalers resource - https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/living-with/inhaler-videos
‘Greener Practice’ asthma care toolkit (free registration required)- https://www.greenerpractice.co.uk/asthma-toolkit/
'Greener Practice' Device Choice video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRJGD48bryI
Asthma Guidelines (Plain Language Version) - https://www.sign.ac.uk/patient-public-involvement/plain-language-versions-of-guidelines/asthma/

-- Follow us --
https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees

-- Upcoming RCPE events --
https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events

-- Become an RCPE Member --
https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college

Feedback: [email protected]

This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

This is a co-release with our sister podcast, Career Conversations.

In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi talks with Dr Manav Sharma about the specialty, Aerospace Medicine. They discuss the pathways which lead to the specialty and some interesting cases.

Dr Manav Dutt Sharma is an aerospace medicine physician, former Indian Air Force flight surgeon and human factors specialist with over 23 years of experience at the intersection of aviation and healthcare. He has led an award‑winning primary healthcare centre in the Air Force, works on safety, service quality and systems improvement in hospitals, and has authored a forthcoming book, From Runways to Recovery Rooms, on what healthcare can learn from aviation.

Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members & Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD.

Recording Date: 12 December 2025

--Links--
JRCPTB Specialty - https://www.thefederation.uk/training/specialties/aviation-and-space-medicine

Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment - https://www.phstrecruitment.org.uk/

-- Follow us --
https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees

-- Upcoming RCPE events --
https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/events

-- Become an RCPE Member --
https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/membership/join-college

Feedback: [email protected]

This podcast is from the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).