April 5, 2022

BEES, BEERS & WHEELS WITH DR VERA SISTENICH

DR VERA SISTENICH IS ONE OUR MOST CHERISHED AND LONGEST-SERVING LOCUM DOCTORS, SO IT WAS A GIVEN WE WERE GOING TO INCLUDE HER INCREDIBLE STORY ON “BLUGIBBON BITES”

Vera has seen and experienced it all, growing up in Hong Kong, studying in England and interning in Scotland before working in South Africa then heading to Australia in 2003.

ONE OF HER BIGGEST PASSIONS IS BEEKEEPING.

As a child spending summer holidays in Germany she remembers an elderly neighbour keeping bees. Many years later in Coogee, Sydney, she started a hive that produced its own honey and created Coogee Bees for Congo . This social enterprise helps fundraise for one of her other endeavours, the Emergency Medicine Education Project, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which she leads through the NGO, HandUp Congo .

BLUGIBBON HAVE SUPPORTED HANDUP CONGO’S INITIATIVE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

It was created by the Hobgood sisters to make a difference to the health and well-being of their Congolese community in the Democratic Republic of Congo – a country that ranks at the bottom of the United Nations Human Development Index. Vera made headline news for her efforts.

Through the charity, Vera has brought Emergency Medicine education , skills, training, and integration of EM practice into the healthcare system of the DRC and has energetically championed this ongoing. Back on the shores of Australia, Vera has worked in rural and remote areas as a locum through Blugibbon, but has also acted as a Clinical Director and educator for a number of bespoke and exclusive projects such as a telehealth program and a government contract. Her knowledge, communications skills and unflappable nature has meant professionally and personally, she is held in the highest regard by all that have the privilege of meeting and working with her. When not pursuing making the planet a better place, Vera enjoys her craft beers, so much so she has the BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) App on her phone which she refers to during tastings.
What she enjoys even more is being a devoted mother to her two young children. Cars too have been her “babies”, her first, a 1969 Mini Mayfair that she drove for four years in the UK until in true Mr. Bean-style, the head gasket exploded when pushed a little too far!
Later in life when she met her husband, Stephen discovered he was passionate about cars with near encyclopaedic knowledge, they revelled in a trip to Cuba witnessing the abundance of colourful classics. These days they are deliberately “green”, owning and driving a Tesla, as well as conserving vintage cars which they also love driving.
If you are looking for a Medical Recruitment agency that is a partner for life, get in touch with Blugibbon today on 02 8960 6445.