First RSU medical resident completes Erasmus+ mobility at leading Italian university hospital

The first RSU medical resident has successfully completed an Erasmus+ mobility at the prestigious San Raffaele University Hospital in Milan. This mobility was based on a recent Erasmus+ agreement signed by RSU and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University.

Kaspars Rībenieks (pictured), medical resident in urology at RSU’s Faculty of Continuing Education, reflected upon his experience, “Since the very first day, I had the opportunity to participate in and assist with surgeries, and observe and learn from leading Italian surgeons. During my training period, I acquired knowledge about robotic surgeries. Many surgeries at San Raffaele are robot-assisted. I observed and participated in types of urological surgeries that currently do not happen at university hospitals in Latvia. My workday at San Raffaele’s Department of Urology began with patient visits at 7:30 a.m. that were followed by coffee in the hospital cafeteria and then surgeries in the operating room. Towards the end of my exchange visit, Italian specialists encouraged me to actively engage in various procedures by assisting them or doing certain tasks by myself, thus, extending my workday to 7 p.m. In summary, during my Erasmus mobility at San Raffaele I acquired knowledge and experience that would not be possible to obtain at clinics in Latvia or by enrolling in expensive professional courses abroad. My family and I also enjoyed the possibility of getting to know another country.”

The State Education Development Agency in Latvia has recognised the initiative of RSU’s Erasmus Office to assign Erasmus+ study mobilities to the training of medical residents. Last academic year the Agency’s evaluation of Erasmus+ mobility at RSU emphasised the University’s success in facilitating the implementation of new and innovative treatment methods in Latvian healthcare institutions. The State Agency acknowledged the long-term nature of RSU’s medical resident mobility and its contribution to the University’s internationalisation efforts. The training of RSU’s medical residents at Erasmus + partner institutions significantly strengthens the study process because many of them are also part of the University's teaching staff.

Vita-Salute San-Raffaele is one of the leading medical schools in Italy. At its university hospital, San-Raffaele hosts several world-class research centres. Beside medical studies in Italian, the University also offers a highly-competitive International MD.

“Our medical programme provides future doctors not only with in-depth knowledge about medicine, but also with a comprehensive understanding of philosophy and human psychology. Human beings are complex. Medical professionals must understand the various aspects involved in treatment. To truly help a patient, medical professionals must acquire a modern, high-quality and internationally-oriented education,” said Paulo Rotelli (pictured), president of San Donato Group, that also includes Vita-Salute San-Raffaele.

RSU collaborates with San Donato – the third largest healthcare group in Europe since 2016 when Mr. Rotelli and representatives from various San Donato institutions visited Riga. A delegation of San Raffaele scientists visited RSU in 2017 (pictured below). The same year Mr. Rotelli was a keynote speaker at a conference on internationalisation titled Innovative Approaches to Internationalisation, hosted by the RSU International Department.

“It is a great privilege to collaborate with such an internationally renowned educational institution as Vita-Salute San Raffaele. I am very impressed by Mr. Rotelli’s and his colleagues’ progressive worldview on higher education. This worldview successfully combines professional knowledge with a multi-faceted understanding of the human condition, creates synergy between education, science and innovation, in addition, is always inclusive of the international dimension in education. Mr. Rotelli’s accomplishments in healthcare and medical education administration have been recognised by the international business publication Forbes that has included him in its list of 30 under 30 most successful Italian entrepreneurs,” notes Baiba Pētersone, Director of RSU’s International Department.

RSU will continue its Erasmus+ collaboration with Vita-Salute San Raffaele in the future. It is planned that Emanuele Galli, a faculty member at the Italian partner institution, and two Italian students will complete mobilities at RSU next academic year.