Tributes pour in for Queensland rheumatologist Dr Alex Klestov, whose tragic death has shocked rheumatologists and left a large gap in Queensland regional rheumatology.
Tributes pour in for Queensland rheumatologist Dr Alex Klestov, whose tragic death has shocked rheumatologists and left a large gap in Queensland regional rheumatology.
Dr Klestov, 76, was travelling back to Brisbane from Rockhampton, where he had been seeing patients, when his car was swept away in floodwaters.
“His tragic death has been a shock to all rheumatologists,” said Dr Claire Barrett, ARA vice-president and fellow Queensland rheumatologist.
Reflecting on Dr Klestov’s important contribution to Queensland rheumatology, especially regional rheumatology, Dr Barrett said “Dr Klestov’s commitment to his patients saw him continue to work at 76 years old. His death leaves a gap in Queensland regional rheumatology care that will take some time to fill.”
Regional rheumatology in Queensland (and many, if not all, parts of Australia) is poorly serviced and Dr Klestov had been providing rheumatology services for more than two decades to regional locations, said Dr Barrett.
“When I was a registrar at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) in 1994 I recall him taking time off to travel to Bundaberg.
“When he left the RBWH in 2013 he continued to offer private rheumatology care both at Bundaberg and Rockhampton. He visited these regions regularly and was returning from a visit when he tragically drowned.”
In the last three years public outreach services have been set up in Rockhampton and the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service Region.
“These services may provide some local care options but there will still be many, many patients who will be unable to be seen locally and either not receive the relevant specialist care or have to travel to Sunshine Coast or Brisbane for care – a challenge for many at the best of times but more so with situations like the covid travel restrictions and weather issues.
“Dr Klestov’s death leaves one rheumatologist living locally in Bundaberg to provide all the care needed, and many patients will need to seek alternative specialist care,” she said.
Dr Laurel Young, president of ARA Queensland, described him as a very dedicated doctor and his regular visits to serve regional communities, working well into his seventies, is testament to that.
Patients and colleagues have also paid tribute to Dr Klestov, describing him as “an excellent person and doctor” and “an outstanding physician who provided dedicated service to patients across Queensland [and] also a mentor to a generation of medical students and junior doctors.”
Dr Ewen McPhee, past-president of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, said it was “a sad loss for regional patients and their GPs. Thank you for your service, you will be missed.”
We at Rheumatology Republic would like to extend our condolences to Dr Klestov’s family, friends and patients, and to all in the rheumatology community.
