Visiting with friends and colleagues in BiH

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The main reason I returned for my 25th Anniversary Tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina was to reconnect and catch up with folks that I met and taught and worked with there when I was part of the Queen’s Family Medicine Development Programme from 1998 to 2011.

In addition to wandering the familiar streets of Banja Luka, Tuzla, Sarajevo and Mostar I had lots of visits with past residents and translators when I returned to BiH in May. I even met some new ones at their Academic Half Days. In case you had not figured it out I am a “people person” and reconnecting with all these people was such a treat for me.

I am including photos here of these reunions, mainly as a remembrance for me, but also for my Canadian colleagues who will remember many of these delightful people. And for my Bosnian friends in these photos to reflect on our visits as well.

Saša Lonćar translated for me for several years and we became very close, he is now an interventional cardiologist. When he wasn’t driving me around last month he was putting in stents and saving lives.
It was a treat to meet his family – wife Sandra and two of his three daughters, Lana and Hana. I also met his older daughter Nastasija who is not in this photo. It was a delight to hang out with him once again!
In Banja Luka I had dinner with two “graduates” of our Family Medicine Education Programme, Irena and Brankica, whom I mentored several years ago.
It was a real delight to see Muharem Zildzic, who was a stalwart in helping us establish Family Medicine in Tuzla. And Nermin translated for me on several occasions – he is now a gastroenterologist and leader in the Tuzla internal Medicine Department.
These ladies were all “students”of mine and we connected regularly over several years. The Tuzla department was always enthusiastic and diligent and a pleasure to work with.
Having dinner with some of the Tuzla bunch.
I enjoyed seeing Elvir again! He also translated for me when he was a medical student and is now a Psychiatrist in Tuzla.
This was at the Academic Half Day in Tuzla. Familiar faces and current residents in their programme.
I made a special trip out to Gornja Tuzla. I always had a soft spot for this little Ambulanta and they are still going strong under Amila’s leadership.
Saša was with me for a whole week as I wended my way through the country. As in the past, we took opportunities to share local beers whenever we got the chance.
Zaim Jatic was one of our first Residents in Sarajevo and has been a leader in Family Medicine both locally and country-wide.
Muco and Aldina and Lejla took me back to my old hang out “Avlija” for lots of good food and good cheer. Hvala!
I was grateful to Branimir Vujica for taking the time to show me his village and practice in Kiseljak and then taking me to Zenica to connect with friends and new trainees there.
After the AHD in Zenica, Branimir, Larisa and Ibrahim Gledo and I had lunch. It happened to be Gledo’s last day before retirement so we had two things to celebrate.
After attending an Academic Half Day in Mostar, I went to dinner with some Mostar Family Medicine stalwarts. So nice to share this time with them.
And last but certainly not least… I had an evening with Adis Pasalić who was a young med student when we met. We spent a lot of hours together on the road and in the classroom and I was so pleased to reconnect with him in Split where he is based as a busy ophthalmologist.

I often reflect on how lucky I have been to have had the opportunity to work both in BiH and in Africa where I have met so many wonderful friends who have enriched my life immeasurably. I have a deep connection to both these places that are homes away from home to me.

2 thoughts on “Visiting with friends and colleagues in BiH”

  1. Coming full circle, and celebrating with your BiH colleagues… a unique opportunity to witness the development of family medicine in post war BiH. Great to see Melida and team in Mostar, along with many friends we met at Queen’s.

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