We have a departure from normal programming with an episode from our friends at TopMedTalk. Andy Cumpstey spoke to Joe Alderman at the RCoA's Anaesthesia Research 2025 event about the challenges of AI in healthcare in an episode first released in February 2026.

Dr Alderman started his career in cell biology and immunometabolism and is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Anaesthetics and Postdoctoral Researcher in AI and Digital Health.

Joe gives a nuanced and thoughtful perspective on why and how AI can fail to benefit patients, and how to address this gap. This TopMedTalk interview is a fascinating insight into a fast-moving and very current topic.

Useful Links:

• TopMedTalk episode page
• Evidence-based perioperative medicine (EBPOM)
• Anaesthesia Research 2026
• Dr Joe Alderman staff page (University of Birmingham)

In this episode Dr Eoin Dore discusses wellbeing at work with Society of Occupational Medicine President Professor Neil Greenberg, and RCoA Wellbeing Lead Dr Ramai Santhirapala. They discuss the definition of wellbeing, how it relates to work, parallels between mental health in the military and civilian life, 'moral injury', and much more.

This interview follows the publication of the College's recent report on wellbeing, burnout and retention - an analysis from the 2025 census.

Useful links:

• Wellbeing, burnout and retention report (RCoA)
• Society of Occupational Medicine
• RCoA wellbeing hub

Welcome to this series of podcasts devised by the RCoA Heritage and Archives Committee. In this episode, Pierre Foex and Helen Higham talk to Maria Rollin about their work together, the importance of good mentoring and Pierre's 50 year association with the College and 66 years association with anaesthesia.

They also talk about the success of the Cardiac Disease and Anaesthesia Symposium, which has now been running for over 20 years.

In this episode, Dr Eoin Dore speaks to Miss Rachel Hargest following her presentation at the Winter Symposium 2025, where she delivered the Webb Johnson Oration Award lecture: Challenges and Opportunities for Surgeons and Anaesthetists in Global Emergency, Critical and Operative Care.
Miss Hargest shares what it really takes to deliver safe, effective surgery in low‑resource settings. From inventive problem‑solving and ethical challenges to strengthening anaesthetic and surgical training worldwide, this episode uncovers the realities, opportunities and big global health questions shaping care today. A fascinating conversation for anyone interested in global surgery, anaesthesia, and building sustainable healthcare systems.

Recorded Friday 21 November 2025

Related information:

• RCS England-LSE Global Surgery Policy Unit - LSE
• Miss Rachel Hargest Webb Johnson Oration 2025 presentation

In this episode, Dr Andrew Vaughton, former Consultant Anaesthetist at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation, shares his experience following his 2021 Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis and subsequent medical retirement. Andy now focuses on MND awareness, fundraising, and promoting health and community support.

He’s joined by his wife Dr Susanne Vaughton, a former GP who left medicine after Andy’s diagnosis to become a full‑time writer. Known to readers as Susie Tate, she now balances authorship with advocacy and family life.

Together, Andy and Susie discuss their projects, their commitment to supporting MND charities, and how they’re using their time and platform to create meaningful impact. This episode highlights purposeful action, the strength of partnership, and a shared commitment to making a meaningful difference.

Recorded Friday 21 November 2025

Related information:

• Guinness World Record: Longest Beach Touch Rugby Game | £100k Raised for MND
• My Name’5 Doddie Foundation
• Andy’s Army fundraiser for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation

• Sycophancy in GPT-4o: what happened and what we’re doing about it: https://openai.com/index/sycophancy-in-gpt-4o/
• Update that made ChatGPT 'dangerously' sycophantic pulled https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4jnwdvg9qo

• Association of Anaesthesia: New blocks on the kids: core basic nerve blocks in paediatric anaesthesia

• OxSTAR - Helen Higham
• Lectureships | The Royal College of Anaesthetists