Egita Pole, Chairperson of the RSU Alumni Association, shares her vision for collaboration and the future

Egita Pole recently became the new Chairperson of the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Alumni Association. She has extensive experience, a clear vision, and a genuine passion for strengthening the bond between the University and its alumni. This interview is an opportunity not only to get to know Pole better, but also to understand why she accepted this position, what she wants to accomplish and how every RSU alumni can get involved in the community.

What does the word “community” mean to you personally and how do you see it in the context of the RSU Alumni Association?

Essentially, the community is a group of like-minded members of the Alumni Association who are already united by their belonging to RSU. Everyone has their own reasons for having chosen RSU as their university. There are not many places in Latvia for healthcare professionals to get an education, but when it also comes to lawyers, communications specialists or political scientists, it shows their particular interest to study at RSU, and this is a sign of quality. This quality is also what unites us.

In your opinion, what is the greatest value that the Association can give to its members?

The Association’s greatest value is to strengthen the sense of belonging to their alma mater over years and even decades. Deep down, we believe that nothing ends with the graduation ceremony – we think we will keep seeing each other, remain friends and peers for life, but in reality, of course, life throws us into a whirlwind of events, and we do not always find time to meet up. Sometimes, we get together with our group mates or even friends from our study course, yet it is the Alumni Association that can make sure that we do not forget one another. It can provide opportunities for lifelong learning and growth, and for each age group to have its own events, ways to meet and, of course, something valuable to gain from it.

The board of the Alumni Association together with Executive Director Paula Jumīte. From the left: Haralds Plaudis, Ieva Šlēziņa, Liene Ņikitina-Zaķe, Egita Pole, Ilze Konrāde, Paula Jumīte, Ruta Siliņa

What is your vision as to how the Alumni Association will develop in the next five years?

There are three main directions. First and foremost, we should think about attracting new members and how to engage them.

Second, once alumni are engaged, we need to decide how to involve them, how to let them interact. The board of the Alumni Association sees three directions according to age groups. These can include various types of engaging, supportive, or growth-oriented events (such as the Intelligence Academy) which aim to broaden members’ horizons, to provide new knowledge and, most importantly in my view, to create opportunities for alumni from different age groups to come together, network, build new connections, and form lasting friendships. We are all part of one community, one tribe – Rīga Stradiņš University – so our mission is to unite and connect alumni across all generations.

And third, by spending time together and networking, we not only benefit personally, but most importantly, through these events and processes, we do our best to contribute to increasing the recognition of RSU both in Latvia and abroad. Alumni are the ones who are able to promote the RSU name and to strengthen the University through their knowledge. After graduation, our duty is not just to take, but to also give back. 

Is there a special story or a moment during your studies at RSU that makes you smile?

Like for any medical student, my first years of study were the most eventful, especially when we started studying anatomy. When I was a student, we learned exclusively on samples of human origin. I especially recall the colourful lecturer Kaminskis, whose not-entirely-serious teaching approach helped us learn the study material.

Studying for the anatomy exam was an emotional time. It was the time of the Barricades in the 1990s to regain Latvian independence. Studies were suspended and some of the young men from our course went to the Riga Dome Cathedral, ready to defend our newly regained independence and build barricades. It was a deeply emotional experience! It was in January. We were in our second year of studies and had to take the anatomy exam. Knowing that the Anatomical Theatre was not far from the Riga Dome Cathedral, was not helpful in writing the exam. The uncertainty of what would happen next will probably stay with me for the rest of my life.

Another memorable experience was studying at the Linezers Clinic, where we were already able to step into the role of doctor. Our group was one of the first four groups to go through this experience. It was a fascinating team building event. The entire study period was intense, but beautiful!

You have had an impressive journey at RSU – from graduating from the Faculty of Medicine to working in the field of public health. How have these different stages shaped you as a person and a leader?

It has been a continuous path of learning and development and, yes, perhaps life has not led me down the traditional path of classic medical practitioner. The journey has been very slow and gradual. At the same time, it is the path of a doctor – a lifetime of learning, possibly in many different directions. As we know, there are many doctors who have also studied law, economics and business management, and this is one of the ways in which we can grow. For me, this growth has happened through my administrative work. While working at the Ministry of Health, studying at the Faculty of Public Health and going deeper into issues related to public health and epidemiology seemed like a logical step. It was a way of broadening my perspective, and it led me to pursue a master’s degree in public health.

Later, when I became the Director of the State Blood Donor Centre, which was essentially an administrative position, it seemed important to me to understand transfusiology (the science of blood transfusions) from a doctor's perspective. This, in turn, brought me closer to medicine, and I completed my residency in transfusiology. I am now qualified as transfusion specialist, as well as the head of the institution. These two professions and positions allow me to see the administrative side and to practise medicine at the same time. It gives me a great sense of security in these turbulent times.

In your opinion, what is it that builds strong bonds across different generations of alumni?

I think it is the name of the University, its traditions, the sense of community. We are connected by the place of our graduation – formerly the Rīga Medical Institution, then the Medical Academy of Latvia, and currently Rīga Stradiņš University. I must say that I see and feel that my peers from the social sciences – political scientists and journalists, public relations specialists and lawyers – also feel like part of a tribe, a community. I believe that this is the unifying factor, because there is an instant sense of connection when we find out that we have graduated from the same university. We start communicating in a completely different way and it brings about an indescribable feeling. I can say that we, the RSU alumni, recognise one another even without saying that we graduated from the same university. It is a connection that simply cannot be broken. 

Egita Pole (right) together with painter, art teacher Alexejs Naumovs and Executive Director Paula Jumīte at the RSU Alumni Association XIII Intelligence Club meeting

How can those who want to contribute get involved if they are not sure where to start?

We are reaching out to our final year students. We were present at the graduation ceremonies to demonstrate that you can remember your alma mater by completing just one step. We will explore what we can offer after graduation and perhaps what can alumni can give to us. It is quite understandable that we cannot expect alumni to give back in the first years after the graduation, when young people are busy building their careers, their personal lives, but by the time you reach your 30s, the urge to return to your roots often becomes stronger. Our role is to define what we can offer. That is the task of the board of the Alumni Association. We are actively working on formulating a clear strategy and vision for what we want to achieve over the next five years. What are our goals? What is our message? This summer, we will be working intensively to finalise the strategy, so that by September, we can share it with a wider audience. We need to identify the key factors that truly engage alumni so that they want to return and not only participate in events but also feel inspired to create them.

You also head the State Blood Donor Centre. How do you balance this great responsibility with your new role in the RSU community?

It is not easy [laughs]. There has been a lot said about time management, but that really is the key. It requires greater discipline and careful scheduling. Sometimes, the workload alone can create stressful situations, but overall, I believe that anything a person truly wants to do is achievable. It always comes down to priorities. If something is not working well, and it feels like you cannot manage it, it is worth reflecting on whether you truly want to do it. 

What is the role of your family and friends in your life? Are they also part of your RSU experience story?

Absolutely, family plays the most important role in my life. I would say I am quite traditional in that sense, because my family was actually created at RSU. My husband and I studied together in the same group. In fact, three couples from our group ended up getting married, and we are all still very close friends, which is not something you see very often. I can say that they are some of my most important companions and friends in life, whom I have known since I was 19; we have shared the most important moments of each other's lives – from the beginning of our studies to the weddings of our children. That's why studies are of such an importance to me. Always remember to take time to nurture these relationships. If it has been a while since you last met someone – just call and invite them for coffee. I am usually the one who takes the initiative to remind others and make time to reconnect. Organising meetings, events, or even a party is just in my blood. These things are part of life. Life is meant to be celebrated – it really is very short (laughing). You do not always realise it during your studies, but as you grow older, it becomes clearer: you should call your friends, you should go to that party, and you should organise that event.

What do you wish you had known as a first-year student that you only understand now, with experience?

As strange as it may sound, probably nothing. Even if someone asked me whether I would like to go back in time, I would probably say no, because every stage in life has its own beauty. In fact, I would even say that at the age of 20, you should not know what I know now. When it comes to mistakes, I would like to think there were not too many, and the ones that were made suited the knowledge, understanding, and context of that time. Every phase of life, knowledge and experience has its own unique beauty, and I do not feel the need to go back. Nor should we dwell too much on how things were. They truly were beautiful and good. 

Do you see potential for international cooperation within the RSU Alumni Association?

Absolutely! Given that RSU has a very strong focus on international students, it is important to strengthen the bond of international alumni with their alma mater, even as they live and work in their home countries across the world. Of course, it is not as straightforward as reaching out to alumni who live and work here in Latvia, or those of Latvian origin abroad. I must say that the board will return to this question to better understand the most effective ways to reach our international alumni, as this is one of our key priorities.

Participants of the RSU Alumni Association's XIII Intelligence Club

What message would you like to share with all RSU alumni – both those who are already actively involved and those still looking for a way back to their alma mater?

Be active and open to everything new! Embrace everything interesting and find time to live and celebrate life! The Alumni Association is a place that offers life celebrating moments, so stay tuned, jump in with us, and enjoy!