Officer of the Order of the Three Stars Andris Jumtiņš: Everyone Should Perform Their Professional Duties With Dedication

On 30 October 2020, the Chapter of Orders awarded the Order of the Three Stars and appointed as Officer of the Order Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Professor Andris Jumtiņš, Head of RSU Department of Orthopaedics of the Faculty of Medicine and Traumatologist-orthopaedist at the Spine and Joint Surgery Centre, Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopaedics. 

What do you love most about your work?

You should love everything about your work, otherwise you cannot do it well. Things that make me happy, however, are successfully treating a patient, seeing a student who is interested in orthopaedics and having a friendly and cohesive team within a department. I get the greatest satisfaction, however, from seeing ideas that we have worked hard on realised, to see hard work pay off. Work that has been carried out through uncertainty and endless discussions, by inspiring others and getting inspired by the ideas and work of my colleagues. 

The state decoration serves as proof that you have contributed to the growth and development of Latvia. What gives you most satisfaction? 
I am very happy to see the growth of my young colleagues, students and medical residents, and of the department itself. I can look back at my own experience and remember the time when my colleagues were shy students. I have witnessed them grow and seen their professional achievements, and this makes me really happy. I hope that the tiny bit that I have contributed to the development of Latvia are these brilliant specialists whom I have helped to choose orthopaedics as their specialty. 

What takes up most of your time and attention at the moment?

Communicating with RSU students requires a lot of time. We are all facing new challenges. There are a great deal of unknowns and we discuss a lot, and have weekly Zoom consultations to keep in touch. We had to change the routines we have had for years and now have to try to get used to distance learning. We have developed and implemented a remote and objectively structured clinical exam, for which we have received very good feedback from students, and we are preparing a database of various clinical situations.

RSU Research Week is scheduled to take place in spring 2021. Are you going to participate, and if so, how?

RSU Research Week is definitely an important event for our university. Last year’s Research Week went by smoothly, so we are aiming for excellence this time too. We orthopaedists are planning to have several meetings with rehabilitation specialists, sports and military doctors, and this requires a great deal preparation. We have invited brilliant visiting lecturers and thesis submissions are currently in progress. I believe that we will be successful! 

What should the people of Latvia take into account if they want to see flourish Latvia as a well-organised and a prosperous country?

Nothing too strenuous. If everyone performs their professional duties with dedication, Latvian achievements will be appreciated worldwide. People should be honest with themselves, with others and with our country, and then we will be able to see how rich we really are! People should love and be loved, then we will both grow personally as well as in number.

What gives you the strength and energy during difficult times?

My family and friends, team spirit and my colleagues’ appreciation. 

Christmas is approaching and so is New Year’s. What are your New Year’s wishes for RSU?

I wish for my university colleagues to have good health! Take care of yourselves and your loved ones! Only then will we be strong enough to achieve the goals we have set!

The Order of the Three Stars is the highest state decoration in Latvia and it is bestowed upon people for their outstanding contribution to national, local, public, cultural, educational, scientific, sports-related or economic activities.