It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of Professor Maija Eglīte, Emeritus Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Rīga Stradiņš University, on 22 May 2026.
Professor Eglīte was an outstanding physician, scientist, teacher and colleague. She made an invaluable contribution to the development of occupational and environmental medicine, medical education, research and professional practice, not only in Latvia but also at European level.
For many years, from 2009 to 2024, Professor Eglīte served as the Latvian delegate to the UEMS Occupational Medicine Section. Throughout this time, she actively participated in the activities of the Section, always providing important, thoughtful and constructive contributions to our common work. In 2014, she organised the Section meeting in Riga, an event that all colleagues who attended still remember with great appreciation.
During her long academic career at Rīga Stradiņš University, she played a leading role in the development of occupational medicine and actively promoted scientific and professional collaboration with colleagues and organisations across Europe. Her expertise was also recognised at European level, including through her participation in the expert group that contributed to the European Commission publication Information notices on occupational diseases: a guide to diagnosis in 2009.
Professor Eglīte remained professionally active until her last days. Among other activities, she was working to complete a new and updated edition of her book Occupational Medicine in Latvian and continued to provide valuable feedback to the activities of the Occupational Medicine Section. These examples testify to her extraordinary dedication, intellectual vitality and commitment to occupational medicine.
Her dedication, wisdom and long-standing work have left a lasting impact on colleagues, students and the wider occupational medicine community.
The UEMS Occupational Medicine Section remembers Professor Eglīte with profound respect and gratitude for her outstanding professional achievements, her humanity and her commitment to our field.
On behalf of the whole Section, we express our sincere condolences and sympathy to her family, colleagues, students and all those who knew and worked with her.