RSU Professor and Heart Surgeon Pēteris Stradiņš Is This Year’s Pauls Stradiņš Award Winner

Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) and the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) have announced that the winner of this year’s Pauls Stradiņš Award in Medicine has been awarded to heart surgeon Pēteris Stradiņš (pictured), an RSU Professor and LAS Corresponding Member. Prof. Stradiņš has been given the award for his outstanding contribution to the development of heart surgery, as well as for his significant contribution to preserving the intellectual legacy of the Stradiņš family. The decision has been approved by the RSU and LAS Senates.

Prof. Stradiņš is a professor at the RSU Department of Surgery at, the Head of the Cardiac Surgery Centre at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital (PSCUS) and a member of the PSCUS Medical Council.

Prof. Stradiņš has performed many unique heart surgeries using a multidisciplinary approach, including the first hybrid heart valve surgery in Latvia in 2009. He has introduced acute cardiac surgery services and established an outpatient cardiac surgery service, as well as a state-of-the-art heart valve reconstruction surgery programme. Prof. Stradiņš performs a wide range of heart surgeries on a daily basis, including on adults with congenital heart disease. He has trained and guided a new generation of cardiac surgeons.

Prof. Stradiņš’ contribution to studying and researching cardiac surgery is significant. He teaches courses in general, cardiac, and thoracic surgery and has supervised five doctoral theses. The professor has been involved in nine research projects of national importance, including overseeing three national research programme sections. He is the co-author of two inventions and five books, has authored and co-authored more than 100 scientific articles, and contributed to four professional guidelines. The professor is a member of 12 professional organisations, some of which he also runs. Prof. Stradiņš is also a Latvian Council of Science expert in biology, medicine, and surgery.

Heart surgeon Pēteris Stradiņš (in the foreground) during surgery

In addition to his work in heart surgery, Prof. Stradiņš has made a significant contribution to preserving the intellectual legacy of the Stradiņš family. In 2020 and 2021, he organised readings of works by academician Jānis Stradiņš (1933–2019). He also actively participates in preserving and developing the cultural and historical values of the Selonia region, which is where the Stradiņš family comes from: he organised the 10th Congress of Selonia and is a board member of the Stender Society. The aim of the Stender Society is to promote the intellectual legacy of the great Enlightenment theologian and writer G. F. Stender (1714–1796), to preserve the legacy of the Stender family, the Sunākste Church, and the rectory park as a cultural and historical monument. The professor organises and participates in annual clean-up events in the Sunākste rectory park: two hiking trails, Bilžu ābeces taka and Augstas gudrības taka, were created during these clean-up events, and the historic linden avenue has been restored. 

The Pauls Stradiņš Award created by sculptor Jānis Strupulis

The Pauls Stradiņš Award is awarded for outstanding achievements in practical medicine and science. Traditionally, the winner is announced publicly in January, Pauls Stradiņš’ (1896–1958) birthday month, and the award ceremony takes place.  The Pauls Stradiņš Award was established in 1983 and named in honour of the eminent surgeon, oncologist, Professor Pauls Stradiņš, the founder of the hospital that bears his name, a museum, and a nursing school.