The start to Dr Claire Demeo’s career was enriched by her willingness to seize any positive opportunity that came her way. And her association with BOQ Specialist has been no different. From a chance meeting at a conference in her first year, to bringing BOQ Specialist on as an event sponsor at a conference in 2023; Dr Demeo’s relationship with BOQ Specialist is one where everyone succeeds.
Discovering her path
With a degree in science under her belt, including a research component, it was Dr Demeo’s supervisor who had recommended clinical research as a career path, which would lead her to medical school to find her passion.
‘When I was an intern, I really loved all my rotations,’ she says.
‘During COVID, I was doing a regional rotation in Shepparton [Victoria], and I got a lot of exposure to lots of different paediatric presentations. Being a regional hospital, I got a broad scope of exposure to paediatrics, and it's probably from there that I decided that's what I wanted to pursue.’
Right place, right time
It was in her first year of medical school at The University of Melbourne where Dr Demeo came across BOQ Specialist at the MDSC Conference. She realised how they could help her on the long path to specialist registration. ‘I hadn't really thought about banking up until then, and [they were] really good at explaining all of my options,’ she says.
One of those options was signing up for a credit card with BOQ Specialist. ‘The salary packaging benefits and Qantas Points were really big incentives for me. The card also offers other opportunities like travel insurance, which I have used while travelling throughout my internship.’
The value of strong connections
Dr Demeo’s relationship with BOQ Specialist has had other benefits outside of banking – like event sponsorship. When the 2023 Academy of Child and Adolescent Health Conference (ACAH23) was being hosted in Melbourne, Dr Demeo was involved in the event, putting her hand up to find sponsors for the conference – her first thought was to reach out to BOQ Specialist. ‘I thought it was a good opportunity for BOQ Specialist to be involved, firstly because I had such a good experience with them, but also because there would be a different market there in terms of paediatricians, trainees, students interested in paediatrics, and consultants and more senior paediatricians.’
‘I certainly felt more comfortable reaching out and having someone familiar in the organisation compared to the big companies where I knew no one.’
Supporting future success
BOQ Specialist first met Dr Demeo when setting up her student banking package in her final year of university. ‘As a medical student about to transition into the workforce, we educated her around how to use the credit card and the overdraft facility. For many students, that’s their first real exposure to liaising with the bank.’ BOQ Specialist would also go on to sponsor the ACAH23 conference, which is all thanks to the relationship with Claire.
‘She reached out to us, to see if this would be something we're interested in, off the back of a really good experience that she had as a client.’
Support beyond banking
Whether you're studying, training or building your professional network, BOQ Specialist understands the unique journey of healthcare professionals.
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