Few people embark on mid-life career changes as dramatic and inspiring as Dr Barry Kirby AO.

Barry was a 40-year-old carpenter working in Papua New Guinea (PNG) when he witnessed the devastating preventable death of a woman who was outcast from her village.

He decided there and then that PNG needed more doctors than carpenters; that he needed to study medicine; and return as a rural doctor in PNG. It took 2 degree’s and 12 years and he kept his word.

Mothers having difficulty in childbirth is a challenge for rural doctor in PNG so Barry undertook a diploma in obstetrics and gynecology in order to be better equipped to deal with obstetric emergencies. He investigated over 30 past maternal deaths to see if they could have been prevented.

The knowledge and insight gained from this study was a watershed moment. He would form The Hands of Rescue (THOR) organisation to address the needs of rural women giving birth in remote health centres and prevent maternal deaths.

Barry’s approach to reducing maternal mortality is holistic. His safe motherhood program encompasses training staff in obstetric emergencies, encouraging mothers to give birth in their health centre through gifting of a birthing bundle, building waiting houses, and providing a flying doctor service for emergencies.

To address the poor treatment of women by men generally in PNG society Barry engaged a film director to produce a series of PNG dramas called It Takes A Village. ITAV aims to educate men on women’s needs during pregnancy, create new male role models and promote a shift away from women unfriendly cultural practices.

Clinically there isnt much Sam hasnt seen! From caring for noble folk in the United Kingdom as a specialist nurse, to winching from a helicopter and caring for some of the most critically injuried patients in challenging conditions.

In this episode we discuss Sam's global clinical adventures, how he came to tansition to the pre-hospital world, what makes for a good instructor and the challenges of such a large scope, and his newly minted position on the Aeromedical Society of Australasia's committee!

On this episode Paramedic Team Leader Simon Cradock discussess his obvious passion for special operations in particular the Road Crash Rescue space. Simon has been a pioneer in South Australia's Road Crash Rescue scene forming the first interservice South Australian team to compete in the Australasian Rescue Organisations Road Crash Rescue competition, and win it!

Simon discusses the importance of managing competing priorities between agencies and how a brief chat with a mate lead to the standardisation of road crash rescue proceedures across multiple agencies.