From student to lifesaver: Ivans Mirzojans’ unwavering drive to help

Linda Rozenbaha,
RSU Public Relations Unit

For Ivans Mirzojans, a fourth-year student at the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Faculty of Medicine, an ordinary evening walk with his dog recently turned into a life-changing event. Upon noticing a gathering of people on the street and a bystander attempting chest compressions on an unconscious man, following instructions from an emergency medical dispatcher, Ivans immediately rushed to assist. He was able to apply the skills he had acquired at RSU and honed while working as a medical assistant for the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) to precisely execute this critical procedure. There was never a question of whether to help outside of working hours—he simply had an inner drive to act.

Meet our active and determined student, who takes pride in representing RSU, Ivans Mirzojans! You will also have the chance to see him at RSU Research Week, where he will be presenting his research.

Administering lifesaving aid in slush 

‘It was a complete coincidence,’ Ivans recalls, reflecting on the evening that he helped save a life. ‘I had taken my dog out for a walk to meet my mother, who lives nearby and was coming toward me with her own dog. About 200 metres ahead, I noticed a car and two women quickly pulling out a man. In the dim light, I saw them stop a passing jogger and I realised that something had happened. I rushed over and saw that an older woman was attempting to perform chest compressions following the instructions from an EMS. However, as an untrained bystander, perhaps with only a long-forgotten first aid course, she was struggling to do it effectively—for example, she was trying to perform compressions while standing. 

I identified myself as an EMS worker and took over the resuscitation efforts. We informed the dispatcher on the phone that we could manage the situation and were waiting for the paramedics. While waiting, I performed chest compressions, and the woman administered rescue breaths.’

Upon later reviewing the patient’s medical records, Ivans discovered that he had performed chest compressions for 13 minutes—an exceptionally long duration, even for a seasoned professional. ‘I was drenched in sweat from the exertion, and everything was happening in the slush.

 When I started feeling tired, I quickly glanced around for someone to take over. There was a jogger nearby—he looked strong, so I asked if he could replace me. But he admitted he was too afraid. That was a little disheartening, though I understood his fear. Fortunately, within a few minutes, the resuscitation team arrived. It turned out to be a crew I frequently work with in Imanta,’ Ivans recalls, describing how he handed the patient over to the team.

Meanwhile, what happened to Ivans’ dog? ‘I handed him over to the other woman who was with the patient. She took him a bit further away, around the corner. When my mother arrived for our planned walk, she spotted a woman holding my dog and then saw the crowd gathered around someone lying on the ground. Her first thought was that I had been hit by a car during my walk,’ Ivans shares, recounting his mother’s moment of panic.

Ivans' parents recognised his passion to help others at an early age

It was Ivans’ mother who first sparked his interest in medicine. ‘Even as a child, I felt a strong drive to help others. My parents, especially my mother, noticed this and encouraged me towards medicine from an early age.

Before I even started school, we would visit the RSU café, and my mother would point to the students, saying, “Look, you could study here one day.” Back then, it felt almost unreal, but now, I can invite my mother to RSU for a coffee,’ Ivans says with a warm smile.

His interest in medicine grew even stronger over time. ‘In high school, when I had to decide on my future studies, I attended the education fair Skola. Only RSU’s stand caught my attention. That’s when I realised how incredibly diverse the medical field is. That’s when I realised the incredible diversity of the medical field. The students and staff at the RSU booth were incredibly knowledgeable about the various career paths in medicine. At that moment, I was certain—medicine at RSU was my only choice!

'Medicine offers a vast range of opportunities. Some fields, like radiology, require little patient interaction. Others, like emergency medicine, are fast-paced and dynamic. Some specialties involve constant patient interaction. For me, the most important factor was the desire to do something altruistic,'v the medical student shares.

Weighing two medical specialties

Ivans is currently considering two specialties for his future career. “The first is anaesthesiology and intensive care—it feels like a bridge between heaven and earth. The second is cardiology, which is less acute but just as fascinating.”

He is already gaining hands-on experience in both fields through his work. For the past two years, he has worked at the Emergency Medical Service (EMS), currently on a quarter-time schedule, completing a 12-hour shift once a week. Additionally, he holds a similar part-time position as a medical assistant in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital. “Working at EMS is exciting, but I also want hospital experience. Emergency medicine is just the pre-hospital phase—our main goal is to stabilise the patient and get them to the hospital alive. The actual treatment happens in the hospital,” he explains. Balancing part-time jobs at two workplaces allows him to focus fully on his studies as well.

Ivans joined EMS two years ago, eager to gain first-hand experience in emergency medicine. 'I quickly realised I really enjoy this work and could see myself doing it in the future. As a medical assistant, I’m essentially the second person in the ambulance crew, assisting under the supervision of certified personnel—within the limits of what they trust me to do. Of course, I’m expected to have solid basic knowledge and skills, like quickly inserting a peripheral catheter in an acute situation. If something goes wrong, my colleagues will step in. At least in the Imanta unit, where I work, the team is incredibly close-knit! This is a fantastic way to gain practical experience so that by my sixth year, I won’t be completely ‘green’ in medicine,' Ivans says with appreciation.

Cardiac emergencies make up a significant part of his daily work, and the case he assisted with that evening was no exception. 'Heart failure, arrhythmias, heart attacks, high blood pressure—these are the most common reasons for emergency calls. Trauma cases, especially in winter, are the second most frequent, followed by alcohol-related health issues—which often overlap with trauma cases. I’m also pleased that the issue of palliative care has finally been addressed at the national level. Previously, we had many such patients but no real means to help them. Now, a different support system has been put in place,' Ivans notes, welcoming the improvements in medical care.

Aicina uz RSU Zinātnes nedēļas Starptautisko studentu konferenci

Invitation to the RSU Research Week Student Conference
Ivans is excelling in his studies at RSU: ‘Thank God, I have no problems. Of course, sometimes things go up, sometimes down, but if a person is truly interested in helping others, all doors are open.

In my opinion, RSU is the most modern university with the best education programme. I can compare, as I have friends studying elsewhere. RSU offers practical training, various medical procedures, the unparalleled Medical Education Technology Centre, newly renovated facilities, and excellent lecturers! It is the best place to study medicine!

Of course, no one will put knowledge into your head for you, but RSU has taught me time management—everything can be planned and completed on time. People often wonder how I manage to do everything, but it’s all about good management! If time is allocated properly, there is enough for studies, work, and free time,’ Ivans says.

He will also participate as a presenter at the RSU Research Week student conference, the International Student Conference 2025. 'My presentation will be on cardiology, while my poster will focus on microbiology. In the presentation, I will analyse the prescription and effectiveness of antiarrhythmic drugs after cardioversion in emergency departments, evaluating hospitalization rates and treatment strategies. The research supervisors are cardiologists Dr. Alberts Bērziņš and Dr. Kaspars Kupics, with co-author Sergejs Čapulis.

Meanwhile, the poster is dedicated to the study of bacterial colonization: how Staphylococcus aureus colonization develops, its antibiotic resistance, and biofilm formation, emphasising the importance of infection control. The research supervisor is Associate Professor Ingus Skadiņš, with co-author Juta Nikiforova.

Both studies address pressing clinical issues and have the potential to influence treatment approaches and infection prevention strategies,' the student explains.

Ivans encourages all students to attend RSU Research Week: ‘I highly recommend it to everyone—it helps generate research ideas, provides inspiration, and motivates further academic and professional growth.

I definitely plan to attend Medical Wrestle 2025 and the ultrasound (ECHO) workshop, which I strongly recommend to other students as it provides valuable practical skills. I also want to listen to student presentations in the internal medicine and anaesthesiology/reanimatology sections.’

* Thank you to Ivans Mirzojans and his colleagues from EMS teams 143 and 191—Līga Laizāne, Anda Hmeļņica, Konstantīns Kuzņecovs, Viktors Cunskis, and Andris Wolfs—for giving someone a second chance at life!