This year’s Lecturer of the Year selections for each study programme of the Faculty of Medicine at Vilnius University (VU MF) took place 17–27 April. Students in the Faculty’s bachelor’s, integrated, and master’s study programmes were invited to take part in a vote, organised by the Study Department, to provide their opinion on which of their favourite lecturers should be chosen as Lecturer of the Year. Students were asked to indicate their study programme, the full name of the lecturer they were voting for, and to briefly explain the reason for their choice.
The results of the voting showed that a total of 470 students took part: 361 students studying in the Lithuanian language and 108 studying in the English language. Out of the 668 lecturers at the VU MF, 115 (17%) received votes.
The distribution of the students in the English language across the study programmes was: Medicine – 80, Dentistry – 22, and Systems Biology – 6.
The distribution of the students in the Lithuanian language study programmes was: Medicine – 176, Nursing – 40, Public Health – 33, Physiotherapy – 28, Pharmacy – 17, Optometry – 15, Dentistry – 11, Public Health (Master's) – 10, Advanced Nursing Practice – 9, Medical Biology – 5, Art Therapy – 5, Rehabilitation – 5, Occupational Therapy – 4, and Medical Genetics – 3 students. In the programmes for Medical Genetics and Rehabilitation, no selection took place due to the shortage of votes.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laura Nedzinskienė, Vice-Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the Faculty of Medicine, the work of a lecturer requires not only a vocation for performing scientific research – having curiosity or a thirst for knowledge – but also the ability to communicate with students, conveying knowledge and experience to them in a comprehensive, clear and understandable way.“ A lecturer not only offers guidance to students to help them to avoid getting lost in the labyrinth of science, but their own personal qualities also provide a role model and inspiration. Achieving this, is not as easy as it may seem – you often have to sacrifice not only your free time, but also open your heart, to show all your capabilities and ingenuity, to keep abreast of the latest developments in science, and to understand and adapt to the ways of the younger generation,” explained Prof. Nedzinskienė, who was voted Lecturer of the Year in the Faculty of Medicine several years ago. According to the professor, the accolade is an important award, which encourages lecturers to improve in their own field, to seek the best relationship with students, and avoid inertia or falling into a rigid routine.
The selected Lecturers of the Year from the Faculty of Medicine will receive their awards at the graduation ceremony of the study programme in which they were selected. They will also be invited to give lectures at next year’s Student for a Day event.
LECTURERS OF THE YEAR AT THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE
Bachelor’s study programmes:
- Occupational Therapy: Lecturer Rūta Jonaitienė
- Physiotherapy: Inga Muntianaitė, PhD
- Optometry: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saulius Galgauskas
- Nursing: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Agnė Kirkliauskienė
- Public Health: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Agnė Kirkliauskienė
Integrated study programmes:
- Pharmacy: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Asta Mažeikienė
- Medicine: Prof. Dr. Renata Šimkūnaitė-Rizgelienė
- Dentistry: Lina Džiaugytė-Eyeberdiyev, PhD
Master’s degree programme:
- Advanced Nursing Practice: Oksana Misiūnienė, PhD
- Medical Biology: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rėda Matuzevičienė
- Art Therapy: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marija Jakubauskienė
- Public Health: Jelena Stanislavovienė, PhD
Study programmes in English:
- Medicine. Dr. Vaida Baltrūnienė
- Dentistry: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saulius Drukteinis
- Systems Biology: Prof. Dr. Aidas Alaburda
Congratulations to all the selected lecturers from the Faculty of Medicine 2022/2023!