RSU Annual Awards presented

Rīga Stradiņš University has a tradition of celebrating achievements and outstanding performance by expressing gratitude to the best students, staff members and structural units who have significantly contributed to research, academic affairs or to the popularisation of RSU. Last Saturday, 6 April, RSU presented its Annual Awards in nine categories. Special prizes were also awarded by the RSU Student Council and the Alumni Association.

• The award in the category Student of the Year was presented to 6th year medical student Stav Brodsky for his outstanding academic performance, active engagement in the International Student Association and his contribution to attracting prospective international students.
  23 candidates were nominated in this category.
• The annual award in the category Master’s Student of the Year went to Lāsma Ķite who is a graduate of the study programme Clinical Pharmacy (winter 2019 graduation). She received the award for her outstanding academic performance and active engagement in research.
  Two candidates were nominated in this category.
• The annual award in the category Resident of the Year was presented to Signe Šetlere, a 4th year medical resident of the Faculty of Continuing Education, from the Residency in Medicine study programme and the paediatric neurologist speciality for her outstanding academic performance, active engagement in research and her academic work. 
  Seven candidates were nominated in this category.
• The annual award in the category Doctoral Student of the Year was awarded to the 3rd year student of the Doctoral Study Programme Medicine Jānis Zariņš. According to the scientific advisor of his doctoral thesis, Prof. Māra Pilmane, Jānis is 'a determined and inquisitive young researcher, who understands the value of time, does not fear criticism and constantly improves himself.'
  Four candidates were nominated in this category.
• The annual award in the nomination Lecturer of the Year went to the Lecturer of the Department of Morphology of the Faculty of Medicine Zane Vitenberga. Students highly appreciate her ability to make complex topics understandable, act professionally within e-environment and assist in finding solution to any problem.
  19 candidates were nominated in this category.
• The annual award in the category Researcher of the Year was presented to Klāvs Sedlenieks, Assistant Professor of the Department of Communication Studies of the Faculty of Communication. Klāvs manages several projects both at local and international level, is actively engaged in events aimed to popularise research and is an author of several publications. He is an opinion leader in Latvia and actively involves young researchers in research.
  Seven candidates were nominated in this category.
• The annual award in the category Structural Unit of the Year went to the Student Services for their invaluable support in organising the admission process, supporting good-fellowship and for their willingness to resolve any problem.
  11 candidates were nominated in this category.
• The annual award in the category Employee of the Year was presented to Rolands Bļujus, the E-studies Manager of the Study Process Quality Analysis Unit of the Centre for Educational Growth. He was recognised for his long-standing contribution to the development of the e-environment with responsiveness and enthusiasm.
  26 candidates were nominated in this category.

• This year, eight candidates were nominated in the category Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented to four long-standing employees of RSU:
  • Acting Lecturer of RSU Language Centre Aija Rubene, who has been working for RSU since 1967;
  • Researcher of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health Dagmāra Sprūdža, who has been employed at RSU since 1967;
  • Professor at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Faculty of Dentistry Andrejs Skaģers, who has been working at RSU since 1977;
  • Professor at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine Maija Eglīte, who has been employed at RSU since 1967.

Every year the RSU Student Council presents its partnership success award to one of the university's structural units that it has been co-operating with. This time around the award went out to the Communication Department.

This year the RSU Alumni Association Award was presented for the first time to express appreciation to outstanding RSU graduates who are active in supporting their Alma mater after graduation. The RSU Alumni Association Award was presented to Reinis Joksts, Chair of the Board of the Daugavpils Regional Hospital, for his contribution to fostering the development of RSU by establishing the first teaching hospital in Latvia within the Daugavpils Regional Hospital. Reinis Joksts graduated from Riga Medical Institute in 1982.