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"I was a pilot in the New Zealand Air Force for 5 years and then spent 31 years with Trans Australia Airlines. In 1989 I retired - I’d had enough of flying and being away from home for days at a time. One of my three children has followed in my footsteps and is now a pilot too. If I could give advice to the younger generations, I would say be true to yourself."

💭 Monday Mantra, TPCH Cardiac patient Leo. ...

If you`ve ever felt you can`t possibly get up for work, or you feel out of sync with when you`re most sleepy, you`re not alone! Many people struggle with their chronotype not matching up with life`s schedule. 😴

Chronotypes are the body`s natural preference to sleep and wake at certain times, and it`s not uncommon for night owls and morning larks to find themselves beside each other - or find themselves in a job that doesn`t align with their preference. ☀️🌙

"We often see teenagers and young adults fall in the night owl category, which means they are fighting their body clock to get up or concentrate at school," Dr Deanne, Director of the TPCH Sleep Disorders Centre said.

"As we get older, many people naturally wake earlier, so early birds become more common - this is biological, but also environmental, with many parents to young children finding they are woken up regardless of their body clock.

"There is a third type of rare chronograph, known as free running, where people have no pattern. This can affect people who may have loss of sight, as melatonin production in the brain is suppressed by light.

"About 50 per cent of people say they are always tired, so while we suggest strategies to manage your sleep quality including reducing stimulus and blue light before bed, if you`re struggling to get through daily tasks, you might need to come see us for some extra support." 💤 ...

From working in a 14-bed cottage hospital in Scotland to leading nurse-run hepatology clinics at Metro North, Val is always dedicated to the patient experience, no matter where she is. 👩‍⚕️

Val’s day to day at TPCH consists of coordinating care pathways and referrals, collaborating with gastroenterology and pharmacy and leading nurse-run hepatology clinics that manage approximately 140 patients per month to support timely diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment initiation.

“What matters most to me is that patients can access scans, diagnosis, prognosis information, and treatment plans without unnecessary delays,” Val said.

“It’s important that every patient feels informed, supported, and understood.”

Having completed her Master of Nurse Practitioner at the end of 2025, Val is looking forward to some more free time outside of work.

👏 Shoutout Saturday to Val and her fantastic work in TPCH Hepatology. ...