Recognising RSU colleagues awarded Latvia’s highest state honours

On 20 May, several Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) staff members were honoured and congratulated for having received the highest state awards and presented with the Annual Awards in Medicine by the Latvian Medical Association. The ceremony took place in the RSU Senate Hall.

This year, 34 RSU colleagues were presented with various state awards.

‘These awards symbolise personal achievements and our shared journey towards excellence.

Each of you is shaping the future of our university and our country through your work!’

RSU Rector, Prof. Aigars Pētersons, congratulated his colleagues and noted: ‘RSU’s excellence is characterised by our talented staff. Today, we celebrate colleagues from various fields – from healthcare to research and education – who contribute every day to building RSU as a research university, with more than 1,200 lecturers and researchers.

Your achievements are a source of inspiration not only for our more than 11,000 students, but also for the entire academic field in Latvia. Your accomplishments demonstrate that the RSU community is an integral part of the country’s development.

Thank you for your contribution, which not only helps RSU to maintain excellence, but also to develop new initiatives and proves that our university is the hub of growth and innovation in Latvia.

Your achievements are a source of pride for RSU, and we are confident that your work will lay the foundation for many future successes.’

May these awards serve as motivation to continue your work with even greater energy!

Latvia's highest state awards have been conferred to:

• Prof. Valda Staņēviča, the RSU Department of Paediatrics Faculty of Medicine, has been appointed Officer of the Order of Three Stars;
• Māris Rēvalds, RSU Honorary Doctor, Member of the Convent of Councillors, has been appointed Officer of the Cross of Recognition;
• Anda Laķe, Lecturer at the RSU Department of Doctoral Studies, has been appointed Officer of the Cross of Recognition.

Certificates of Recognition from the Ministry of Health have been awarded to:

• Prof. Anda Brinkmane, Head of the Dental Clinic of the RSU Institute of Stomatology, Head of the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Oral Health of the RSU Faculty of Dentistry;
• Elīna Aleksejeva, Lecturer at the RSU Department of Paediatrics;
• Asst. Prof. Dzintars Mozgis, RSU Institute of Public Health;
• Asst. (acting) Inta Višņevska, RSU Department of Nursing and Midwifery;
• Ineta Roziņa, Organiser of the RSU residency process at the clinical learning centre;
• Elita Meļķe, Lecturer at the RSU Department of Nursing and Midwifery.

Letters of Gratitude from the Ministry of Health have been awarded to:

• Kristīne Karlsone, Lecturer at the RSU Department of Rehabilitation;
• Olga Kožinova, Lecturer at the RSU Department of Rehabilitation;
• Karīna Cacivkina, Lecturer at the RSU Department of Nursing and Midwifery;
•  Toms Karasevs, Lecturer at the RSU Red Cross College.

Letters of Commendation from the Ministry of Education and Science have been awarded to:

• Prof. Dr. habil. paed. Tatjana Koķe, Member of the RSU Council, Lead Researcher;
• Asst. Prof. Dr. paed. Ilze Avotiņa, Head of Department of Athletics and Swimming of the RSU Latvian Academy of Sport Education;
• Prof. Dr. habil. paed. Jānis Lanka at the RSU Latvian Academy of Sport Education;
• Prof. Dr. paed. Viesturs Lāriņš at the RSU Latvian Academy of Sport Education;
• Prof. Dr. med. Inese Pontaga at the RSU Latvian Academy of Sport Education.

Letters of Commendation from the Ministry of Culture have been awarded to:

• Zane Zilberte, Conductor of the RSU Mixed Choir Rīga.

Medals of Honour of the Second Level from the Ministry of Justice have been awarded to:

• Assoc. Prof.  Dr. iur. Aldis Lieljuksis at the RSU Faculty of Social Sciences;
• Asst. Prof.  Dr. iur. Ivars Kronis at the RSU Faculty of Social Sciences;
• Visiting Assoc. Prof. Jānis Neimanis at the RSU Faculty of Social Sciences

The Annual Awards in Medicine from the Latvian Medical Association have been awarded to:

• The award for Lifetime Contribution to Medicine was presented to Prof. Em., Dr. habil. med. Romans Lācis, Head of the RSU Residency specialisation in Cardiac Surgery;
• The award for Lifetime Contribution to Medicine was presented to Anita Lapiņa, Project Manager of Fundamental and Applied projects at RSU;
• The award for Person of the Year in Medicine 2024 was presented to Mārtiņš Malzubris, Lecturer at the RSU Department of Orthopaedics;
• The award for Event of the Year in Medicine 2024 was presented to Assoc. Prof. Ģirts Šalms, Lecturer at the RSU Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Medicine, Chairperson at RSU Institute of Stomatology;
• The award for Doctor Specialist of the Year 2024 was presented to Jānis Osītis, RSU lecturer, Head of the Spine Surgery Residency;
• The award for Lecturer of the Year 2024 was presented to Santa Kursīte, Lecturer at the RSU Department of Morphology;
• The award for Nurse of the Year 2024 was presented to Iveta Bērziņa, Lecturer at the RSU Department of Nursing and Midwifery;
• The Olpha special Inspiration award was presented to Prof. Oskars Kalējs at the RSU Department of Internal Diseases, Lead Researcher at RSU Department of Rehabilitation;
• The Olpha special Inspiration award was presented to Prof. Māris Taube, Head of the RSU Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy;
• The JSC Grindeks D.H.Grindelis award was presented to Prof. Ilze Konrāde at the RSU Department of Internal Diseases, Head of the Medicine Subprogramme of the Health Care Doctoral Programme at the Department of Doctoral Studies;
• The Ievas Veselība magazine's special award was presented to Lead Researcher and Assoc. Prof. Ieva Ziediņa at the RSU Department of Internal Diseases;
• The Latvian Medical Association’s special award was presented to Researcher and Assoc. Prof. Jeļena Storoženko at the RSU Department of Infectology.