Department of Internal Diseases

The Department of Internal Diseases is one of the largest units of RSU. Students from all medical fields, from the 2^nd through to the 6^th academic year, study internal diseases at the department.

Clinical bases

The department has established clinical bases in several medical institutions in Riga:

• the Riga East Clinical University Hospital;
• the Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital;
• the Latvian Maritime Medicine Centre;
• the ORTO Clinic;
• Gastro Centrs.

Our people

Since 2001, the department has been led by full member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) Prof. Aivars Lejnieks. All in all, 71 people work in the department, of which 18 are professors and associate professors, 10 are academic teaching stuff (assistant professors), 2 are lecturers, 31 are assistants, and 10 are administrative staff members. Anita Laizāne leads the Administration Department.

The department's academic staff is actively involved in scientific research and clinical projects. the department hosts and presents promotional papers in several fields of internal diseases: cardiology, pneumonology, endocrinology, haematology, oncology, nephrology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, medical communication, etc.

Everyone at the department is well-versed and open to any questions and problems that may arise during the study process.

Studies

The department's academic process is based on a module system:

• Medical communication – resp. of doc. Vladimirs Voicehovskis;
• Clinical and physical examination (propaedeutic) – resp. of dr. Sergejs Babikovs;
• Cardiology – resp. of prof. Oskars Kalējs;
• Gastroenterology – resp. of prof. Juris Pokrotnieks;
• Endocrinology – resp. of assoc. prof. Ilze Konrāde;
• Nephrology – resp. of prof. Aivars Pētersons;
• Pneumonology – resp. of assoc. prof. Inga Stuķēna;
• Haematology – resp. of prof. Sandra Lejniece (LAS correspondent member);
• Oncology – resp. of assoc. prof. Iveta Kudaba.

From the first day of studies, we offer students the ability to take part in the scientific process of the department by applying for scientific groups in therapy, oncology, or cardiology. We host the “Cor Nostrum” and “The Golden Stethoscope” Student Olympic competitions every year, the latter hosted in the name of prof. J. Anšelevičs. Many members of our department are experts at the Latvian Academy of Science. They are successful in scientific research co-funded by the European Science funding initiatives. The Department of Internal Diseases communicates with universities, scientists, professional science groups, and research and teaching internationally, and takes part in EU mobility programmes (Erasmus, experience exchange, “shadowing”).

Research

Our research results are available in scientific publications. The academic staff of our department holds many international and Latvian patent rights. Over the last few years, we have published medical and study guides and monographies for various specialities.

The department's priority research areas:

• Cardiovascular diseases, primary and secondary prevention, risk assessment;
• Diabetes mellitus, complications;
• Arterial hypertension;
• Metabolic syndrome;
• Quality of life;
• Dyslipidaemia;
• Endothelial dysfunction;
• Kidney injury, Renal replacement therapy;
• Joint, musculoskeletal, connective tissue disorders;
• Mechanisms of viral pathogenesis in rheumatic disease;
• Chemotherapy;
• Breast cancer.