Professor Sandra Lejniece receives the European Order of Merit as the only recipient from Latvia

We are very proud and delighted to announce that Sandra Lejniece, Professor at the Department of Internal Diseases at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) and Head of the Chemotherapy and Haematology Clinic at Riga East Clinical University Hospital, has been awarded the European Order of Merit. This was announced in Strasbourg on 10 March by Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament (EP), according to the national portal LSM.

Latvia's Sandra Lejniece alongside U2 as recipient of new European award

Prof. Lejniece is the only recipient from Latvia.

Wise doctor, professor and leader

The professor is also a member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences and President of the Latvian Association of Haematologists. She has played a significant role in the implementation of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan in Latvia.

Owing to her initiative, professionalism, and organisational skills, a tremendous amount of work was carried out to enable the launch of stem cell transplantation in Latvia.

Prof. Lejniece has been a professor at the RSU Department of Internal Diseases for 20 years. In this position, she has carried out significant work and has been involved in various RSU processes and projects. She has trained the next generation of doctors in the field of haematology.

She has served as Dean of the RSU Department of Doctoral Studies and developed a new model of doctoral studies at RSU. The professor supervises the research of doctoral students, develops haematology study programmes, and actively participates in the training of early-career researchers.

She has received many prestigious awards and is the author of numerous scientific publications.

In her work with students, she has not only passed on her knowledge but also the wisdom of a doctor. In a former interview with rsu.lv, Professor shared:

‘It is, of course, important to pass on theoretical knowledge to students, which is a fundamental pillar of medicine, but it is also important to teach them that a doctor must be compassionate and talk with people. A doctor must be willing to help, including in situations when you know that the outcome will not be good. A doctor must help until the very end, as much as possible.’

Colleagues describe Prof. Lejniece as a person with a broad vision and deep empathy who not only treats patients but also fights for their rights and for the quality of healthcare.

Her colleagues emphasise that she is a “doctor with a heart” who teaches students to be compassionate and to help until the very end, even in difficult situations.

Her work is highly appreciated at the European Union level. Prof. Lejniece regularly participates in conferences and initiatives on equality in cancer treatment in Eastern European countries, including congresses of European oncology patient organisations, advocating for patient rights at an international level.

Who are the recipients of the European Order of Merit

According to the information available on the EP website, the Order was launched on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which is regarded as the starting point of European unity. It is the first European distinction of its kind granted by EU institutions and it complements national distinctions and decorations by recognising efforts that strengthen Europe as a whole.

Roberta Metsola said: ‘Europe has always been built by people. Bridging divides, breaking barriers, overthrowing dictatorships and overcoming crises for a better future for our continent.’

Metsola also stressed that this European commitment deserves to be celebrated. With the European Order of Merit, we honour those who did not simply believe in Europe, but who helped build it.

Lejniece was nominated for this award by the Speaker of the Parliament Daiga Mieriņa (Union of Greens and Farmers). Among the recipients of the new order are former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the British rock band U2, led by its frontman Bono.

The official conferral ceremony will take place in Strasbourg in May.