Date and place of birth
14 July 1954, Jõhvi
Education
1987 Candidate of sciences (PhD) in medicine, Moscow N. Burdenko Institute of Neurosurgery
1979 University of Tartu, Faculty of Medicine
1973 Nõo Secondary School
Academic degree
1987 Candidate of sciences (PhD) in medicine
Professional career
2018 – … University of Tartu, Rector
2018–2023 Tartu University Hospital, consultant neurosurgeon
2016–2018 University of Tartu, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Head of Department
2012–2018 University of Tartu, member of the Council
2000–2009 University of Tartu, Faculty of Medicine, Dean
1996–2016 University of Tartu, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Head of Department
1995– ... University of Tartu, Professor of Neurosurgery
1988–1989 Tohoku University, Institute of Brain Diseases (Japan), Research Fellow
1989–1995 University of Tartu, Neurology Clinic, Associate Professor
1979–1989 University of Tartu, Neurology Clinic, Assistant
1979–2018 Tartu University Hospital (previously Tartu Maarjamõisa Hospital), neurosurgeon
Main fields of research
Cerebrovascular diseases, surgical treatment of cerebral artery aneurysms. Functional surgery, deep brain stimulation. Pathomorphology and epidemiology of brain tumours, development of a new approach for the treatment of malignant gliomas. Functional magnetic resonance imaging. He has authored more than 200 research publications. To promote academic research in the field, he has participated in the editorial boards of the journals Eesti Arst, Acta –Neurochirurgica, The European Journal of Neurosurgery and Acta Neurologica Scandinavia.
Supervised dissertations
12 doctoral theses, one master’s thesis
Research-administrative and other duties
2022–2024 President of the Universities Estonia
2021–2023 Member of the Rectors' Advisory Group of Coimbra Group of Universities
2020– … Board of Directors of the Guild of European Research Universities
2018– … Member of the Board of the Universities Estonia
2018–... Member of the Board of the CELSA University Alliance, 2022–2023 President of CELSA
2018–... Member of the Research and Development Council advising the Government of the Republic of Estonia
2018–... Member of the Council of the Estonian Employers' Confederation
2014–… Member of the Board of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and Head of the Division of Biology, Geology and Chemistry
2011−... Member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences
1990–... Member of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS); since 2000, member of EANS Training Committee, 2011–2015 Vice President
1990–... Member of the board of the Baltic Neurosurgical Association (BNA); 2006–2009 and 2014–2018 President of BNA
1989–... Member of the Estonian Medical Association
1989–... Member of the Estonian Society of Neurologists and Neurosurgeons, 1996–2021 Vice President
European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), member of the executive body of theSection of Neurosurgery
Member of the Estonian Movement Disorders Society
Member of the Neurology Commission of the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs
Member of the steering committee of the European Brain Council
Honours and awards
2024 Finland Order of the White Rose
2023 Swedish Royal Order of the Polar Star Commander First Class
2019 Latvian Cross of Recognition, 3rd class
2014 University of Tartu Grand Medal
2013 Order of the Estonian Red Cross, 1st class
2011 Special recognition diploma of the World Cultural Council
2009 Badge of Honour of the Estonian Medical Association
2009 Medal of the University of Tartu Faculty of Medicine
1997 Tohoku University Medal