Embassy of the United States

Riga, February 28, 2007. – On Tuesday, February 27, a team of nursing professors from the Lansing School of Nursing at Bellarmine University began their week-long visit to Latvia. The team, chaired by Dr. Sue Davis, Dean of the Lansing School of Nursing and also consisting of Dr. Linda Cain, Dr. Sherill Cronin and Professor Mary Pike, will be in Riga to ensure the continuation of nursing exchange activities.

During their time in Riga, the team will work on a number of specific objectives, including reviewing Bellarmine’s use of technology for distance learning, learning about nursing practices, nursing education and health care delivery in Latvia. The team will also work with representatives of Riga Stradins University to assist the Latvian faculty with enhancements of their undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.

The team will have meetings with U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, Catherine Todd Bailey, Rector of the Riga Stradins University, Janis Vetra, and representatives of the Latvian Nursing Association. They will also visit Pauls Stradins Clinical Hospital, as well as meet with doctors and municipal officials in Daugavpils to discuss the implementation of a distance learning program in Daugavpils district.

On March 2, 2007, the Lansing School of Nursing team will meet Latvian Minister of Health, Vinets Veldre, as well as the Ministry’s State Secretary Uldis Likops.

The visit is yet another event in the ongoing nursing exchange, funded by a charitable foundation in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. The Riga Stradins University team visited the Lansing School of Nursing in July 2006 as a direct result of the October 2005 visit by a team of Louisville health experts who assessed Latvia’s health care system at the request of Ambassador Bailey.

U.S. Embassy, Riga, Public Affairs Section
Smilšu iela 7
Rīga, LV 1050
Phone: 371 750-9022
Internet: http://riga.usembassy.gov
Media specialist’s e-mail: dilanes@state.gov