Dr Ben Reeves is a paediatric cardiologist in North Queensland. He’s one of only three paediatric cardiologists you’ll find north of Brisbane. Between 30-40% of Dr Reeves workload is related to rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a type of childhood heart disease.
RHD was common in Australia’s big cities in the 1950s and 1960s. Since then it’s largely been eradicated in white populations in our major cities. However, rates of RHD persist in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, immigrant and South Sea Islander communities in Australia. Unlike congenital heart disease, we know exactly what causes RHD, so why are children within these communities still contracting it?
Ben’s dream is to one day see no more patients in his waiting room with RHD. Ben talks about RHD in Australia, remote health care, his path to paediatric cardiology, and more in this eye-opening episode.
