Dr. Fritz Baumgartner is a cardiothoracic surgeon, educator, and medical ethics scholar based in Los Angeles. His career reflects a clear focus on patient care, technical excellence, and the deeper purpose of medicine.

Raised by immigrant parents who valued faith, discipline, and service, Dr. Baumgartner developed an early interest in medicine after a serious illness in his family. He went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude in Biology from Loyola Marymount University, earning the Karl Kadner Biology Award. He later completed his MD at UCLA School of Medicine, followed by surgical training at Harbor-UCLA and a cardiothoracic fellowship at the University of British Columbia.

In the mid-1990s, he served as Acting Head of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. There, he led complex surgical cases, including advanced cardiac procedures and high-risk trauma operations. His work in a county hospital setting exposed him to some of the most severe and advanced disease presentations.

Alongside his clinical work, Dr. Baumgartner has built a strong reputation in education. He has trained residents, fellows, and physician assistants, and received Preceptor of the Year honours in 2022. He also founded the Surgery 101 Technical Skills Boot Camp, offering a practical introduction to surgery for students.

His academic work focuses on the Hippocratic Oath and medical ethics. He continues to advocate for a patient-first approach, grounded in both science and moral responsibility.

Inside the Career of Dr. Fritz Baumgartner: Surgery, Ethics, and Purpose

Q: What first drew you to medicine?

I was about nine years old. My mother became very ill during pregnancy. I remember thinking that I wanted to help people like her. I made a promise to myself that I would spend my life helping the sick. That decision stayed with me.

Q: How did your upbringing shape your approach to your career?

My parents were immigrants. My mother grew up during the war in Germany. She told us stories about fear and survival. Faith was very important in our home. We were not wealthy, but we had strong values. That shaped how I see medicine. It is about service, not status.

Q: You trained at UCLA and Harbor-UCLA. What stood out during those years?

The intensity. At Harbor-UCLA, you see advanced disease and serious trauma. Patients often come in late. You have to act quickly and make difficult decisions. It forces you to focus on what matters most.

Q: You later became Acting Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery. What was that experience like?

It was demanding. We handled complex cardiac and thoracic cases daily. Aortic dissections, bypass surgeries, lung cancer resections. You are responsible for outcomes and for leading the team. It teaches discipline and clarity.

Q: Can you share a case that stayed with you?

One was a patient with a gunshot wound to the pulmonary hilus. That injury is often fatal. We were able to save the patient with a trauma pneumonectomy. It required quick thinking and teamwork. Those moments stay with you.

Q: You have also worked within the VA system. What did that involve?

I led the cardiac surgery programme at the Wadsworth VA for a period. I also directed a thoracoscopic surgery training programme. It was a chance to help develop surgical techniques and teach others.

Q: Education seems to be a major part of your work. Why is that important to you?

Medicine is passed down. You learn from those before you, and you teach those after you. I have worked with residents, fellows, and physician assistant students for many years. Teaching keeps you sharp and grounded.

Q: What led you to create the Surgery 101 Technical Skills Boot Camp?

I wanted to make surgery more accessible to students. Many programmes start with theory. I reversed it. Students learn hands-on skills first. That builds excitement. Then they are more engaged with the science behind it.

Q: You have written about the Hippocratic Oath. Why does it matter today?

It defines the purpose of medicine. It reminds us that the patient comes first. Modern systems can become complex. The Oath brings clarity. It is a moral anchor.

Q: How do you view the relationship between faith and science?

They are not in conflict. Truth is consistent. Science explains how things work. Faith helps guide why we do what we do. In medicine, both are important.

Q: What advice would you give to future surgeons?

Stay focused on the patient. Learn your craft well. Work hard. But do not lose sight of why you chose medicine. That purpose will guide you through difficult moments.

Operator

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Milestone Pharmaceuticals Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2025 Corporate Update Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. I will now turn the call over to your host, Michael Wood of LifeSci Advisors. You may now begin your conference.

Michael Wood
Lifesci Advisors, LLC

Thank you, operator, and good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Milestone Pharmaceuticals Full-Year 2025 Financial Results and Business Update Conference Call. Earlier this morning, the company issued a press release providing an overview of its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, and recent corporate highlights. The release can be accessed on the Investors and Media section of the company’s website, milestonepharma.com.

Before I begin, I’d like to remind everyone that some of the information presented on this conference call contains forward-looking statements under the securities laws. These forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual clinical programs, future results, progress, timing, performances or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

These risks and uncertainties associated with Milestone’s business and factors that could cause or contribute to such differences are described in detail in the company’s filings with the SEC, including in the Risk Factors section of the earnings report on Form 10-K

ADELAIDE, Australia — South Australians go to the polls Saturday, March 21, 2026, in a state election that pits the popular incumbent Labor government against a fragmented opposition, with national attention focused on the surprising surge of One Nation and the potential for a historic Labor landslide.

Premier Peter Malinauskas seeks a second term after a strong first four years marked by major infrastructure wins and event coups, while the Liberal Party grapples with leadership changes and collapsing support. Polls indicate Labor is on track for a commanding victory, but the real intrigue lies in One Nation’s rise and what it means for the future of conservative politics in the state.

Here are five essential things to know about the 2026 South Australian state election:

1) Election Date and Voting Details The election is set for Saturday, March 21, 2026, to elect all 47 members of the House of Assembly and 11 of the 22 seats in the Legislative Council. The South Australian Electoral Commission reports record early voting turnout since it began March 14, with more than 450,000 early votes cast in the first week — a sharp increase from previous elections as restrictions on in-person early voting were lifted.

Key dates include writs issued Feb. 21, nominations closing March 2, and polling day running from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voters can cast ballots at designated centers, with postal, mobile and overseas options available. The commission emphasizes that every vote counts in what could be a high-turnout contest.

2) Labor’s Path to a Landslide Victory Premier Peter Malinauskas, who led Labor to power in 2022 by defeating one-term Liberal Premier Steven Marshall, enjoys sky-high approval ratings in the 60-67% range across multiple polls. Recent surveys from Newspoll, YouGov, Resolve and Roy Morgan show Labor’s primary vote between 35-44%, with two-party preferred leads of 59-41 or higher against the Liberals.

Malinauskas has campaigned on housing affordability, health infrastructure, cost-of-living relief and major projects like the North-South Corridor, Torrens to Darlington upgrades and securing events such as LIV Golf, Gather Round and MotoGP. Labor holds 29 seats and appears poised to retain them all while making gains, potentially sweeping metropolitan Adelaide and expanding into regional areas.

3) Liberal Party in Crisis The Liberal opposition, led by relatively new leader Ashton Hurn since late 2025, faces a potential wipeout. Polls place the Liberals at 14-20% primary support — a catastrophic drop from 35.7% in 2022. Leadership instability has plagued the party, with multiple changes since Marshall’s 2022 defeat, including stints under Vincent Tarzia and David Speirs (who faced legal issues unrelated to politics).

The Liberals have pushed tax relief, stamp duty abolition for first-home buyers and spending cuts, but internal chaos and federal-level disruptions have eroded voter confidence. Analysts warn the party could lose most or all metropolitan seats, leaving a diminished rural presence.

4) One Nation’s Dramatic Surge The biggest story of the campaign has been One Nation’s polling explosion, with primary support reaching 19-28% in surveys — far ahead of the Liberals in many cases and second only to Labor. Led nationally by Pauline Hanson and featuring former Liberal Cory Bernardi as a key figure in SA, the party has capitalized on dissatisfaction with major parties, promising affordable energy via coal and nuclear policy reversals, lower immigration and cost-of-living measures.

Federal figures like Barnaby Joyce have boosted One Nation’s profile, predicting strong results. While unlikely to win many lower house seats due to preference flows and concentrated support in rural areas, One Nation could secure multiple Legislative Council spots and influence outcomes through preferences. Experts call it a “major scare” for both major parties and a test of populist politics in Australia.

5) Key Issues Shaping the Vote Cost of living, housing affordability and health system pressures top voter concerns, according to polls and campaign focus. Labor has emphasized building more homes and infrastructure investment, while avoiding heavy emphasis on past issues like ambulance ramping. The Liberals target economic management and incentives, but struggle to cut through.

Other factors include environmental concerns (such as algal blooms), though they rank low. One Nation’s energy and immigration stances resonate in regional areas, where Liberal support has eroded. The campaign has been relatively calm, but the protest vote against the major parties could reshape the parliament long-term.

As polling day arrives, the caretaker period is in effect, and all eyes are on turnout and preference distributions. Labor’s dominance seems assured, but One Nation’s performance could signal broader national shifts. Results will begin flowing Saturday evening, with counting continuing into following days.

South Australia’s 2026 election, once expected to be routine, has become a barometer for voter disillusionment and the viability of populist alternatives in a two-party system under strain.

A California jury on Friday concluded that Elon Musk misled Twitter investors ahead of his $44 billion acquisition of the social media giant in 2022.

Jurors in federal court in San Francisco found on Friday that Musk intentionally misled Twitter shareholders when he tweeted the social media network, which was later renamed X, had too many fake accounts and tried to back out of the deal.

Musk has on multiple occasions chosen to battle shareholders in court rather than settle, including in a 2023 trial concerning his electric car company Tesla and litigation over his $139 billion Tesla pay package.

He won both cases. Musk is now also in talks to settle a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission civil lawsuit accusing him of violating federal law by waiting too long in 2022 to disclose his initial purchases of Twitter so he could scoop up more before investors caught on.

The current trial in San Francisco began on March 2. The lawsuit covers investors who sold Twitter stock between May 13 and Oct. 4, 2022.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Reuters contributed to this report.

SYDNEY — Netflix viewers in Australia are binge-watching a diverse mix of new releases and returning favorites in March 2026, with prehistoric documentaries, live-action anime adaptations, heartfelt romances and period dramas topping the charts.

As of mid-March, streaming data from Netflix’s official Tudum rankings, FlixPatrol daily trackers and industry reports highlight five standout series dominating the Australian Top 10 TV list. These shows reflect a blend of fresh premieres that landed early in the month and evergreen hits boosted by new seasons or renewed interest.

Here are the five most popular Netflix series in Australia right now, based on viewership trends, days in the Top 10 and audience buzz through late March 2026:

1) The Dinosaurs: Season 1 This four-part Netflix documentary series, which premiered March 6, has surged to the No. 1 spot on Australia’s TV chart in recent days. Narrated with stunning CGI recreations, it explores the rise, dominance and extinction of dinosaurs, appealing to families, science enthusiasts and fans of natural history content.

The series quickly climbed rankings after launch, holding strong positions on FlixPatrol and Tudum data for the week of March 9-15. Viewers praise its educational yet entertaining format, with high rewatch value for younger audiences. It’s part of Netflix’s push into high-production documentaries this month, and its top ranking underscores Aussies’ appetite for informative programming amid a busy streaming slate.

2) ONE PIECE: Season 2 The live-action adaptation of the iconic anime returned with Season 2 on March 10, rocketing to No. 2 on the Australian chart. Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat crew continue their Grand Line adventures, facing new foes like Marine Captain Smoker in this candy-colored pirate epic.

Critics and fans lauded Season 1’s faithful yet accessible take on the source material, and early buzz suggests Season 2 delivers even bigger set pieces and character moments. Its rapid ascent reflects strong loyalty from anime and adventure fans Down Under, where the franchise has a dedicated following. Days in the Top 10 continue to climb as word-of-mouth spreads.

3) Virgin River: Season 7 The long-running romantic drama dropped new episodes March 12, propelling it to No. 3 on Australia’s most-watched list. Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson) navigate love, loss and small-town life in this comforting series based on Robyn Carr’s novels.

Season 7 picks up after major life changes, with familiar faces returning amid fresh storylines. Its consistent performance highlights the show’s enduring appeal as cozy escapism, especially popular among viewers seeking emotional, character-driven stories. It has held steady in the Top 10 for weeks, benefiting from binge-watch momentum.

4) Bridgerton: Season 4 The Regency-era sensation remains a powerhouse at No. 4, with the latest season (including recent additions) drawing massive audiences. Focused on new leads amid the ton’s scandals, balls and romances, Bridgerton continues to captivate with lavish production, steamy moments and sharp social commentary.

Though not a March premiere, fresh episodes and ongoing cultural buzz keep it in heavy rotation. Australian viewers, who have embraced the series since its 2020 debut, contribute to its global dominance. Tudum data shows it racking up high view hours, cementing its status as a perennial favorite.

5) Vladimir: Limited Series This new romantic dramedy, starring Rachel Weisz as a professor entangled in an obsessive crush on colleague Vladimir (Leo Woodall), premiered March 5 and quickly landed in the Top 10. Blending humor, tension and psychological depth, it draws from Julia May Jones’ novel and features strong supporting turns from John Slattery and Jessica Henwick.

Its fresh premise and acclaimed cast propelled it into rankings shortly after release, with viewers praising Weisz’s nuanced performance. As a limited series, it offers complete viewing in one go, making it ideal for March binge sessions. It rounds out the top five with strong early momentum.

Other notable mentions in the broader Top 10 include “Dynasty: The Murdochs” (a buzzy four-episode docuseries released March 13), “Mark Rober’s CrunchLabs” (family-friendly science content), “Heartland” (long-running Canadian drama) and “The Night Agent” (thriller holdover).

March’s lineup has been packed, with additions like “Heartbreak High” Season 3 (Australia’s own teen drama finale, arriving later in the month), “War Machine” (a high-profile film but boosting related buzz) and various reality and docuseries. The month’s releases — from pirate adventures to dino deep dives — have kept subscribers engaged amid autumn weather encouraging indoor viewing.

Netflix Australia’s charts show a healthy mix of originals, returning hits and niche favorites, with family-oriented and escapist content leading the way. Data from FlixPatrol and Tudum (covering periods like March 9-15 and daily snapshots) confirm these five as the clear standouts in viewership.

As March progresses, expect shifts with upcoming finales like “Heartbreak High” Season 3 and any late-month surprises. For now, dinosaurs, pirates and Regency romance rule Australian screens, proving Netflix’s broad appeal continues to thrive Down Under.

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