Mastering Intensive Care – Details, episodes & analysis

The guest on this episode is Dr Forbes McGain, who speaks about what sustainability really means in healthcare, and why it's inseparable from good medicine. Drawing on his clinical work, research, and experience during COVID-19, Forbes explores how everyday ICU decisions carry environmental consequences, how "less is more" can benefit both patients and the planet, and how sustainability can align with patient safety, staff wellbeing, and cost. The conversation moves from bedside practice to hospital systems and innovation, while also reflecting on communication, mentorship, and what it means to be a thoughtful, humane intensivist.

Forbes is an intensivist, anaesthetist, researcher, and one of the leading voices in sustainable healthcare in Australia. He works clinically at Western Health in Melbourne and is also an Associate Professor of Critical Care and the Associate Dean of Sustainable Healthcare at the University of Melbourne.

In this episode, Forbes speaks about:

• How growing up on a farm shaped his connection to nature and medicine
• His pathway through anaesthesia and intensive care, and why he still practises both
• What sustainability really means in healthcare
• Why every decision made on an ICU ward round has an environmental footprint
• Thinking in life cycles rather than single-use devices
• Practical examples of sustainable practice at the bedside
• The principle of "less is more" in intensive care
• Micro, meso, and macro approaches to creating change
• The central role of nurses in the ICU
• Hospital energy use and the case for fully electric hospitals
• Innovation during COVID-19, including the McMonty isolation hood
• What sustains him personally, and advice for trainees interested in systems change

I hope you enjoy listening to this inspiring conversation with Associate Professor Forbes McGain.

Andrew Davies

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About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to work, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.

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Relevant links

A/Prof Forbes McGain on LinkedIn

Healthcare Carbon Lab

Climate CATCH Lab

Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA)

McMonty Hood

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Andrew Davies on X (Twitter): @andrewdavies66

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Audio Producer Chris Burke

Burke Sound & Media

The guest on this episode is Dr Nhi Nguyen, who as a six-year-old escaped Vietnam by boat. Today, she is an intensivist, a healthcare leader, and a voice for purpose and compassion in medicine.

Dr Nhi Nguyen is the Clinical Director of Intensive Care NSW and served as the state's ICU Clinical Advisor during the COVID-19 response. She is closely involved in the Single Digital Patient Record program and is the clinical lead for the Nepean Hospital Redevelopment. Nhi serves on the Boards of the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District and the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM).

In this conversation, Nhi shares her remarkable journey - from refugee beginnings to senior leadership in Australian intensive care. She reflects on her family's escape, her early determination not to stand out, and the irony that she now holds these major roles with NSW Health, the CICM and a major hospital redevelopment.

Nhi speaks about the mentors who opened doors, the pivotal choices that shaped her career, and the clarity she has found in defining her purpose. She also recalls her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she helped coordinate intensive care responses across New South Wales under extraordinary pressure.

What shines through is not only Nhi's capability, but her humanity — her focus on compassion, cultural identity, and lifting up those whose potential might otherwise go unseen.

Nhi's is a story of courage, resilience, and humility. And a reminder of what it truly means to be an intensivist.

Thank you for listening.

Andrew Davies

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About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to work, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.

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Relevant links

Dr Nhi Nguyen on LinkedIn

Piece on Dr Nhi Nguyen about major award

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Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane

Andrew Davies on X (Twitter): @andrewdavies66

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Audio Producer Chris Burke

Burke Sound & Media

This is the 8th episode of the "Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta" series and if you've been listening to the previous ones, you'll know that this episode is coming out after the four day stage race that fellow intensivist Ed Litton and I set ourselves the challenge of running many months ago.

Two Intensive Care doctors, both novices at trail running, looking for something moderately hard, something we could do together, and something we could talk about on the show to hopefully inspire you and other listeners to go for a run or to set yourself your own exercise challenge.

We've had regular conversations in the lead up to the event, held from August 24th-27th, on the spectacular Larapinta trail, near Alice Springs in the red centre of Australia, and now it's time to tell you how it all played out.

Did we make it? Were there obstacles? How hard was it? And did it measure up to our expectations?

Thanks for listening.

Andrew Davies

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About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.

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Relevant links

Image Credit: James Tudor from Forktail

Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton

Ed Litton at University of Western Australia

Ed Litton on Strava

Andrew Davies on Strava

Run Larapinta Stage Race

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 1

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 2 

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 3

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 4

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 5

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 6

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 7

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Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66

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Fellow intensivist Ed Litton and I signed up for a big challenge 10 months ago when we registered to run in the Run Larapinta, a 4-day stage race in central Australia. We've both completed many endurance events, however neither of us have done any serious trail running nor have we ever run 130km in 4 days on a rocky and mountainous trail like the beautiful Larapinta trail in the Northern Territory of Australia.

It's now only a week away so Ed and I had a conversation to update each other on our recent training before answering 5 questions we thought were worth asking each other at this final stage of our preparations.

• What's worked well in our preparations?
• What's not worked well in our preparations?
• What's the focus of the remaining time?
• What have we learned from taking on this challenge?
• What is exciting us about the upcoming challenge?

We hope you'll enjoy listening to the conversation, and that it might inspire you to get out for a run or for any type of exercise that suits you.

Thanks for listening.

Andrew Davies

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About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.

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Relevant links

Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton

Ed Litton at University of Western Australia

Ed Litton on Strava

Andrew Davies on Strava

Run Larapinta Stage Race

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 1

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 2 

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 3

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 4

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 5

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 6

Mastering Intensive Care podcast

Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook

Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane

Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66

Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66

Andrew Davies on LinkedIn

Email Andrew Davies

Audio Producer Chris Burke

Burke Sound & Media

To help Ed Litton and I get really prepared for the Run Larapinta stage race we are only a few weeks away from competing in, today we bring a seasoned ultra trail running doctor on to the podcast to share her advice.

In this sixth episode of the Mastering Intensive Challenges series, we welcome Dr Cheryl Martin, who is an Emergency Medicine specialist, a podcaster and has huge experience in trail running, including ultra marathons.

Cheryl's podcast, the Mind Full Medic podcast, explores health, wellbeing, optimal performance and professional fulfilment, with a focus on doctors and healthcare. I love listening to it, and the best bit for me is that Cheryl has interviewed a bunch of endurance athletes including several high performing ultra runners.

Today we thought we'd ask Cheryl lots of questions about our training and our preparations including heat adaptation, nutrition, footwear and other aspects that will hopefully help us to complete this event successfully.

We hope you'll enjoy listening to the conversation, especially if you are a trail runner yourself. If not, hopefully it might inspire you to get out for a run or for any type of exercise that suits you.

Thanks for listening.

Andrew Davies

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About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing

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Relevant links

Dr Cheryl Martin on LinkedIn

Cheryl Martin on Twitter: @mindfullmedic 

Cheryl Martin on Instagram: @themindfullmedicpodcast 

Cheryl Martin on Strava

The Mind Full Medic podcast

The Mind Full Medic podcast - Episode with Dr Kellie Angel

Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton

Ed Litton at University of Western Australia

Ed Litton on Strava

Andrew Davies on Strava

Run Larapinta Stage Race

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 1

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 2 

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 3

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 4

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Mastering Intensive Challenges - Run Larapinta - Episode 5

Mastering Intensive Care podcast

Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook

Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane

Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66

Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66

Andrew Davies on LinkedIn

Email Andrew Davies

Audio Producer Chris Burke

Burke Sound & Media

This is the fifth episode in the Mastering Intensive Care - Run Larapinta series. Ed Litton and I are back on opposite sides of Australia, and neither of us has had the perfect three weeks since we last chatted.

There are now less than seven weeks until the event starts, so we chat about our training, then swing over to what we are each thinking about the logistical challenges we will be presented with.

We hope you'll enjoy listening to the conversation, even if you prefer the couch to your running shoes. If we can inspire you to get out for some exercise, that would be even better.

Thanks for listening.

Andrew Davies

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About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.

--------------------

Relevant links

Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton

Ed Litton at University of Western Australia

Ed Litton on Strava

Andrew Davies on Strava

Run Larapinta Stage Race

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 1

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 2

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 3

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 4

Mastering Intensive Care podcast

Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook

Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane

Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66

Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66

Andrew Davies on LinkedIn

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Audio Producer Chris Burke

Burke Sound & Media

Here is another episode in the Mastering Intensive Care - Run Larapinta series. For this one, I travelled to Perth to meet with my Run Larapinta co-participant Ed Litton and to head out for a few runs together over a three day weekend.

We also set up the microphones to update each other with our preparations and to discuss our perspectives on the social aspects of exercise, mainly endurance sport. We talked about group training, family support, and even using the social media platform Strava to share inspiration.

We hope you'll enjoy listening to the conversation, whatever exercise you choose to do.

Thanks for listening.

Andrew Davies

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About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.

--------------------

Relevant links

Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton

Ed Litton at University of Western Australia

Ed Litton on Strava

Andrew Davies on Strava

Run Larapinta Stage Race

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 1

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 2

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 3

Mastering Intensive Care podcast

Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook

Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane

Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66

Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66

Andrew Davies on LinkedIn

Email Andrew Davies

Audio Producer Chris Burke

Burke Sound & Media

This is a follow on episode as Ed Litton and I continue our discussion about the Run Larapinta Stage Race we will be participating in soon.

Ed and I tell each other how our running training is going. Then we talk about our general views on nutrition and sleep, especially as we lead into a multi-day endurance event.

One of us has picked up a little niggle. And each of us has a different approach to what we consume during long runs.

It might not be what we talk about on regular episodes of Mastering Intensive Care but we hope you'll enjoy listening to the conversation, whether you run, walk, cycle, hike, workout in the gym, or do whatever is your style of physical activity.

Thanks for listening.

Andrew Davies

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About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.

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Relevant links

Book "Community" (by Hetty McKinnon)

Book "Eat & Run" (by Scott Jurek)

Rich Roll podcast

Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton

Ed Litton at University of Western Australia

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 1

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 2

Run Larapinta Stage Race

Mastering Intensive Care podcast

Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook

Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane

Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66

Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66

Andrew Davies on LinkedIn

Email Andrew Davies

Audio Producer Chris Burke

Burke Sound & Media

This episode features the wise perspectives of an Advanced Trainee in Intensive Care Medicine, Dr William Bonavia.

The discussion covers:

• Why he chose medicine and Intensive Care
• His training journey and his learning strategy
• What makes a good ward round
• Learning from colleagues
• The principles of good communication and collaboration
• The value of work being fun
• Making mistakes
• Dealing with the pressures of the job
• His thoughts on sleep, exercise, resilience and burnout
• Gender inequity in training
• The future of his career
• Tips for fellow trainees

Will Bonavia is an Intensive Care Trainee at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and has previously worked at Peninsula Health ICU. He has an interest in teaching, having previously played a role in tutorial, simulation and workshop environments, as well as coordinating a training program for ICU trainees sitting the CICM first part examination. He is also interested in staff welfare and has worked as a trainee representative within his intensive care department at Peninsula Health.  

Will has an interest in the long term outcomes of ICU patients and has published research in the area of delirium prediction models. He is currently working on research in the area of persistent critical illness and long term outcomes of critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19. Outside of work, Will enjoys a rotating roster of hobbies but is currently an avid squash enthusiast. 

Will has a highly compassionate and careful communication-focused approach. Whether you are a trainee, a fully fledged consultant or someone else involved in the practice of Intensive Care, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr Will Bonavia.

Andrew Davies

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About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.

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Relevant links

Life In The Fast Lane

Book "One Billion Years to the End of the World" (by Arkady Strugatsky & Boris Strugatsky)

Mastering Intensive Care podcast

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Mastering Intensive Care at Life In The Fast Lane

Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66

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Audio Producer Chris Burke

Burke Sound & Media

In this second of a different style episode, Ed Litton and I continue our discussion about the Run Larapinta Stage Race we will be embarking on in August 2023. 

Ed and I talk about our preparation and then tell each other why we run, and what we get out of it.

Ed is a multi-sport endurance athlete whose reasons for getting out in nature are deep and truly inspiring.

We hope you'll enjoy hearing this conversation, whether you run, walk, cycle, hike, work out in the gym, or do whatever is your style of physical activity.

Thanks for listening.

Andrew Davies

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About the Mastering Intensive Care podcast: The podcast aims to inspire and empower you, through conversations about the human side of Intensive Care, to bring your best self to the Intensive Care bedside, with a focus on compassion, collaboration and personal wellbeing.

--------------------

Relevant links

Ed Litton on Twitter: @ed_litton

Ed Litton at University of Western Australia

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 40 with Ed Litton

Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Run Larapinta - Episode 1

Run Larapinta Stage Race

Mastering Intensive Care podcast

Mastering Intensive Care page on Facebook

Mastering Intensive Care page on Life In The Fast Lane

Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66

Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66

Andrew Davies on LinkedIn

Email Andrew Davies

Audio Producer Chris Burke

Burke Sound & Media