The newly established Department of Dermatology and Venereology offers a modern study process

On 28 October, the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of the Faculty of Medicine at the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) was opened in new, modern premises in the healthcare centre Veselības centrs 4 on Baznīcas Iela in central Riga. RSU students will now be able to learn using the latest technologies and simulations.

Opening the state-of-the-art department marks a new trend in the training of medical practitioners – an increasingly close collaboration with outpatient and primary healthcare facilities. Prospective physicians will also have extensive placement opportunities in outpatient healthcare.

The RSU Faculty of Medicine is staffed by 23 departments, most of them based at national medical facilities such as the Riga East University Hospital, Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, the Children's Clinical University Hospital, the Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopaedics and others. The restored premises of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology is located adjacent to the healthcare centre Veselības centrs 4, the Anti-Aging Institute and the Diplomatic Service Medical Center. ‘Being part of the primary- and outpatient health care network means that our students can be close to their patients. This will provide young professionals with more opportunities for growth in practical medicine already during their undergraduate studies. This change in the medical study system will ultimately also change the quality of treatment for patients,’ says Professor Guntis Bahs, the Vice-Rector for Health Studies at RSU.

Dermatology and venereology has become an area that is developing rapidly – the pathogenetic mechanisms of skin diseases are studied in much greater detail, new modern technologies have increasingly become part of the diagnostics and therapy of skin diseases and the range of available medicines is improving and extending. The process of training and research in dermatology and venereology must also be modern in order to keep up. 

Assistant Professor Elga Sidhoma,
Head of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology

As Prof. Sidhoma emphasises, one of the tasks of the department will be to implement an outpatient patient- and situation-based training format, of which modern technologies are an integral part.

‘We are delighted to have a great collaboration with the leading medical school – Rīga Stradiņš University – that opens up synergies and exemplary study opportunities. Such collaboration allows students to get to know a high-standard private medical work environment where they can not only observe the best medical performance and the latest technologies, but also good doctor-patient communication, as well as the atmosphere and organisation of this clinic,’ emphasises Māris Rēvalds, the Chairman of the Board of Veselības centrs 4, who has helped a lot in establishing the department.

The main activities of the department include organising qualitative and modern co-diplomas and further education in dermatology andvenereology, leading students' and residents' scientific research work, carrying out a doctoral studies programme, improving the qualifications of the academic staff, and cooperating with other structural units and professional associations at RSU.

RSU has just extended its students’ opportunities to learn practical medicine in an outpatient environment by concluding a cooperation agreement with the AS Veselības centru apvienība, which hosts a number of outpatient health care institutions. The agreement is expected to considerably extend placement opportunities for sixth year students starting from the next academic year.