Pathologically Speaking

Bedbugs, ticks, maggots and mozzies. Sounds like the holiday from hell, right? Not for Stephen Doggett. The medical entomologist based at NSW Health Pathology’s Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead spends every working day with these tiny creatures and loves his work. In this episode, Stephen explains why bedbugs are making a comeback worldwide, what really happens when a tick bites, how maggots can help heal the most stubborn wounds and even how to appreciate the unexpected beauty of mosquitoes.

Meet Gayle Warnock – NSW Health Pathology’s Associate Director for Point of Care Testing.

As one of the largest providers in Australia, NSW Health Pathology has more than 850 Point of Care Testing devices in use at rural, regional and metropolitan hospitals around the state. Gayle talks about how this incredible technology is being used to help deliver pathology services 24/7 even when there’s no local laboratory, and to improve workflows and deliver instant results when an urgent diagnosis is needed, such as suspected heart attack and sepsis.

Gayle discusses her science journey, which began in rice g...

Meet Daniel Arnold, an early career scientist who has gone from collecting pathology samples at our Wagga Wagga laboratory to researching virology and pandemic preparedness at Oxford University in the UK. We chat with Daniel about growing up in regional NSW, studying at a local university during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking his studies overseas and eventually landing a once-in-a-lifetime scholarship worth $270,000 to study at Oxford. He discusses his plans to study bird flu and other emerging viral threats and his ambition to start his own research lab here in Australia. An inspiring conversation that proves big dreams can start...

In this episode, NSW Health Pathology mycologist Dr Catriona Halliday shares her insights into the fascinating and sometimes dangerous world of fungi. From life-saving antibiotics to life-threatening infections, fungi play a complex role in human health.

Dr Halliday discusses emerging fungal threats like Candida auris, the challenges of diagnosing fungal infections, and why immunocompromised patients are particularly vulnerable.

With decades of experience in medical mycology, she offers a compelling look at how these often-overlooked organisms are becoming increasingly relevant in clinical settings.

Ever wonder how DNA is actually used to crack cold cases? Dr David Bruce is a forensic DNA specialist and the Cold Case DNA Casework Coordinator at NSW Health Pathology’s Forensic & Analytical Science Service (FASS).

He talks about the remarkable advances in this field over the past few decades, takes us behind the scenes of some high-profile cases that police have solved thanks to DNA breakthroughs and looks back over the highlights of his 40 year career in science.

We're back with a new season of Pathologically Speaking!   It's the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of the science, the stories, and the people powering NSW Health Pathology.   We’re kicking things off on International Pathology Day with our first episode featuring forensic DNA specialist Dr David Bruce, who explains how our experts help police to crack cold cases using the latest in DNA robotics.   Still haven't caught up on all our season 1 episodes? Check them out now wherever you get your podcasts.    Real stories. Real science. From the people finding the answers that matter. Season 2 of Pathologically Speakin...

A landmark cancer treatment program is underway in Australia. Known as Prospect, the study is opening up new, potentially life-saving treatment pathways for 23,000 Australians with advanced, incurable or an earlier diagnosis of poor prognosis cancers.

We talk to Prof Rob Lindeman and Louise Carey about the vital services NSW Health Pathology is providing for Prospect, from genomic sequencing to blood collection and supply of diagnostic tissue.

We also hear from Matthew Webster, an engineer whose life was changed forever 10 years ago when he was diagnosed with a rare cancer, who explains how personalised cancer treatment...

Edwin Kirk is a genetic pathologist and clinical geneticist at NSW Health Pathology and Sydney Children’s Hospital. Over the years his work has focused on rare childhood diseases, reproductive genetic carrier screening and cardiac genetics. He is the co-lead of the Australian Government funded project Mackenzie’s Mission.

Edwin talks about what sparked his interest in genetics, explains the science of genetics and the power of modern genetic sequencing, and how ocean swimming and the odd saxophone solo keep him going outside of the laboratory.

From being the first in the family to go to university to creating a virtual hospital service treating hundreds of thousands of patients during the COVID pandemic, Vanessa Janissen has carved out an incredible career in the health sector spanning more than 25 years. Ms Janissen was appointed Chief Executive of NSW Health Pathology in 2023.

Here she shares her leadership secrets, and her plans for transforming health services and creating laboratories of the future at NSW Health Pathology, taking advantage of the latest technologies in genomics, virtual care and precision-medicine and investing in its most important asset, its...

The importance of our statewide public pathology service has never been more evident than during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the beginning, NSW Health Pathology has been at the forefront of our public health testing response.

Meet the people who were on the frontlines of our pandemic response, from growing the live virus, sequencing its genome, delivering millions of results to patients and even travelling to China to investigate the origins of COVID-19.

Virologists, microbiologists, scientists, couriers, data analysts, information technology engineers and all types of support staff were vital in keeping our community safe. These...

Susi Guinane is a midwife. She loves her work and is good at her job. In 2019 she was named NSW Midwife of the Year.

But when she meets new people, she thinks twice before deciding whether to tell them what she does. That’s because she’s ‘not that kind of midwife’.

Susi works for NSW Health Pathology’s statewide Perinatal Postmortem Service, assisting parents through one of the hardest experiences of their lives - the loss of a baby.

⚠ Trigger warning: this episode discusses issues surrounding birth trauma and stillbirth.

Associate Professor Cameron Webb is a medical entomologist at NSW Health Pathology’s Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR) at Westmead.

His specialty is mozzies – catching them, counting them (yes, thousands of them!) and testing them to see if they are carrying the pathogens that make us sick.

Cameron’s work helps to keep all of us safe from dangerous mosquito-borne diseases.

When he’s wading in wetlands, Cameron also dabbles in creating beautiful soundscapes that reflect the stunning environments he works in.  

Professor Richard Scolyer is a world-leading pathologist who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma.

He and his colleagues have used immunotherapy to revolutionise the treatment of melanoma and are now applying that knowledge to treat Richard’s own brain cancer, after he was diagnosed in 2023 with incurable glioblastoma.

Richard and his oncologist colleague Prof Georgina Long were named Joint Australians of the Year in January 2024 for their ground-breaking work on melanoma and are on a mission to try to change Australia’s tanning culture. 

Sarah Dimmock is the Hospital Scientist in charge of NSW Health Pathology’s Blood Transfusion laboratory at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital.

It’s a daunting job, managing blood supplies not only for the state’s busiest trauma hospital, but also for the smaller regional hospitals across the Hunter New England.

Sarah talks about what led her to a career in a laboratory, why she developed a love of travel early on, and how being a proud Kamilaroi woman continues to shape her life. 

Sairita has been a forensic pathologist for more than 15 years.

Originally from South Africa, she now works in one of Australia’s busiest forensic medicine facilities at the Forensic Medicine and Coroner’s Court Complex in Sydney.

She’s passionate about finding answers for families and wants to inspire a new generation of forensic pathologists. 

He became the public face of pathology services during the COVID-19 pandemic and was the only Australian selected by the World Health Organisation to travel to China to investigate the origins of the virus.

Prof Dwyer retired in 2023 after more than 40 years dedicated to researching, diagnosing and treating infectious diseases.

Here Dominic speaks about his most rewarding work and how working in western Sydney changed his perspective on public health.