Doctors Safe Train

The foundation Doctors Safe Train was established in 2013 jointly by two Latvian universities – the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) and the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU).

The name, Doctors Safe Train, indicates that the training of the staff should be safe, without harm to patients – in conditions that imitate real activities in the operation room, using live tissues. When medical professionals start working in a hospital, they are supposed to be trained so well that all stages of various manipulations and operations are performed without a hitch.

We offer

• Modern operation rooms that allow working on live tissues in real life conditions;
• Highly qualified experts from Latvia and other EU countries

Summary of Doctors Safe Train

• In 2024, Doctors Safe Train expanded its training programmes to include the use of small animals—the rat model—enabling the teaching of microsurgical vascular suturing techniques to both Latvian and foreign specialists.
• After obtaining the necessary permits, Doctors Safe Train began developing a military medicine training unit in 2024, which will facilitate the practical training of both Latvian and foreign military medicine specialists.
• RSU residents continue their live tissue training. In the 2023/24 academic year, 38 RSU residents in general surgery, family medicine, gynaecology, and urology received training.
• June 2023 marked the 10th anniversary of Doctors Safe Train. During this time, the foundation has built up a wealth of experience and credibility.
• During the 2022/2023 academic year, residents in general surgery, paediatric surgery, family medicine, gynaecology and urology were successfully trained in using live tissue. During the training, the residents upgraded their theoretical knowledge and had a unique opportunity to acquire new practical skills using live tissue.
• In cooperation with RSU, Doctors Safe Train actively participates in the development of military medicine training in Latvia – an exchange trip to Germany was organised (to the Akademie der Unfallchirurgie GmbH, Acute care in trauma), during which the necessary contacts were established to successfully implement this significant training.
• Doctors Safe Train has a wealth of experience in organising international training in both laparoscopic surgery and interventional radiology and is open to new offers for organising both local and international training using live tissue.

Authorised representatives and experts

Prof. Dr. habil. med. Jānis Gardovskis

Chair of the Senate
Head of Department, Department of Surgery
Academic Staff, Department of Surgery
Member, Convent of Councillors

Prof. Andris Jumtiņš

Head of Department, Department of Orthopaedics
Academic Staff, Department of Orthopaedics
Member of RSU Council

Asst. Prof. Armands Vekšins

Academic Staff of Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Council Member, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies

Ilvita Švāne

Head of Lifelong Learning Centre, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies