RSU Resident of the Year 2018 – Olga Zemļanuhina

Olga Zemļanuhina is 4th year medical resident of the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Faculty of Continuing Education, study programme Residency in Medicine in the speciality: anaesthesiologist, reanimatologist. Olga is active in expanding the boundaries of knowledge offered by the university and has demonstrated excellence when participating in various national and international conferences, for example: the 7th International Baltic Congress of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, where her presentation was recognised as second best.

Olga also actively participates in different social activities for medical residents, being the voice of anaesthesiology residents of Latvia on the residents’ committee of the European Society of Anaesthesiology.

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Olga Zemļanuhina at the RSU Annual Awards Ceremony, RSU Academic Ball, Latvian Society House, Rīga, 24 March 2018

Describe yourself. I am a responsible, hard-working and goal-oriented person. I try to be honest with myself, others and particularly with my patients. At times, I might be slightly stubborn. I believe that one can learn and be taught a lot, the only thing you need is the desire. Unfortunately, I also have such a negative trait as laziness, which in fact is the disease that I am persistently treating.

Three important things you have accomplished so far. It is hard to single out three specific things, as there are plenty of them. I would put the ability of overcoming oneself and the fight with “inner demons” at the top, as it is much harder and more complicated as it seems at first glance. In order to move forward, you have to step outside your comfort zone. One of the most important accomplishments is gaining an education and finding my place in life, in my profession, speciality and in research. Nevertheless, I am just starting out on the road and there are so many things to be accomplished.

Studies at Rīga Stradiņš University. When I recall my studies at RSU, I have very positive emotions and good memories. Certainly, it is hard, thinking of the sleepless nights, colloquia and the tension before them. However, it helped me to become the person I am today. The most vivid memories, certainly, are associated with leisure and parties. 

Olga Zemļanuhina (in the first row, second on the left) RSU Faculty of Medicine graduation ceremony

Teachers in your life. We meet people who teach us lessons throughout our lifetime. Some inspire us because of their qualities and achievements; some teach us life’s bitter lessons.

Parents lay the foundations and I am grateful to them. During the school years, our teachers of life are our school teachers and I was very lucky to have outstanding teachers: Naļa Hohlova and Valentīna Kozule – who believed in me at the time when I was not aware of my abilities. At the university, I had competent academics who helped me to understand complicated things and friends who taught me valuable lessons.

I would like to express my gratitude to lecturer Oļegs Sabeļņikovs for his support, the time and knowledge invested in me both during my residency and elaboration of my thesis.

Studies are a constant lifelong process and I am convinced that the number of my teachers for life will only grow.

Values: my family, work and my friends. Things that bring happiness and make me feel happy. Being honest towards yourself and others. 

What should be done to make the world a better place? Change the attitude towards yourself, work, friends. Try to find positive emotions every day. Read, travel a lot. Learn something new every day and of course, smile more.   

Where do you see your place in Latvia’s development?  The most important thing is to continue growing, without stopping at what has already been achieved. I am a junior specialist and I understand that I have to learn a lot and work hard to attain an outstanding reputation of a professional of the field.