From Latvia to Indiana: Program brings doctors to IU Health

By Charlotte Stefanski, cstefanski@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburban Region

This May, Dr. Ilze Punka and Dr. Kaspars Vaivods visited IU Health North from Jelgava, Latvia. Their goal was to learn how to advance their care with new procedures and the latest innovations and to build relationships with IU Health physicians.

This May, IU Health North had two special visitors from more than 4,000 miles away.

Dr. Ilze Punka, a neonatologist, and Dr. Kaspars Vaivods, a general surgeon, visited Carmel all the way from Jelgava, Latvia, for two weeks.

While at IU Health North, their mission was to understand where modern healthcare is and how IU Health integrates learners into the field, to learn how to advance their care with new procedures and the latest innovations in healthcare and to build relationships with IU Health physicians.

Both doctors had a personal connection to healthcare, which inspired them to become doctors.

“My father is surgeon, my mother is a nurse, my stepbrother is a surgeon and my stepsister is also a physician. I didn’t have a choice,” Vaivods jokes as he explains his connection.

“My experience with medicine came to me very early in my childhood,” Punka adds.

Pictured from left to right: ISR President Doug Puckett, Dr. Ilze Punka, Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam, Dr. Kaspars Vaivods and Andris Berzins

Punka and Vaivods spent time in several of the hospital’s departments, including Maternity and Pediatric units, the Emergency department and Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Surgical Services. The doctors also visited the team of IU Health providers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It was Vaivods’ second time in America and Punka’s first, but IU Health North was new to both of them. The doctors explain the first week allowed them to get familiar with the facility.

“Both weeks are amazing. This was a new place for us,” Vaivods says. “The last three days were the most interesting for me because I got the opportunity to be in the operating rooms. I wish I could stay longer.”

Bringing two countries together

The visit was all made possible by the sister-cities partnership between Carmel, IN, and Jelgava, Latvia. The partnership was created by former Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard and Andris Berzins, honorary consul for the Republic of Latvia to state of Indiana.

“I think it's very rewarding to see this project come together. It's been wonderful having them here in Carmel,” Berzins says. “They're wonderful guests. They're wonderful representatives.”

Latvia is a country in the Baltic region of northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states and has a population of 1.9 million.

Pictured from left to right: Dr. Ilze Punka; Elizabeth Grimes, interim practice manager of Orthopedics at IU Health Saxony; and Dr. Kaspars Vaivods visiting IU Health providers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The goal of the partnership is to connect the two cities through governments, public services and education. Last year, Carmel and Jelgava exchanged two police officers (two from Latvia visiting Carmel and vice versa) to learn about each other’s communities and functions of their respective police departments.

The doctors note there are many differences in healthcare between the United States and Latvia.

Both countries have a completely different approach to their healthcare and insurance systems and there’s also a difference in technology.

“America has the latest technologies and you have enough opportunities to do everything that’s possible in the world,” Vaivods says. “In Latvia, we have struggles with financial issues. It's nice to see how medicine can be used.”

“I noticed that at IU Health North, everything is very well organized. Everybody knows their role in the work, so the organizational part is one thing we can learn from you,” Vaivods adds.

As for the knowledge they’re taking home, there’s many things the doctors are looking forward to implementing in Latvia.

Pictured from left to right: Andris Berzins, Dr. Ilze Punka, Elizabeth Grimes and Dr. Kaspars Vaivods

The visit went great. They were wonderful physicians—inquisitive and eager to learn about the American healthcare system,” says Rocky Singh, chief medical officer of IU Health North. “I learned they have to find ways to optimize healthcare delivery, managing limited resources to serve a large population that needs medical care. Our physician and team members also enjoyed interacting with the physicians and learning about their background and culture and the way they practice medicine.”

As part of the partnership, Berzins adds there may be an upcoming opportunity for two team members at IU Health North to visit the hospital in Jelgava soon too.

The doctors would like to thank Singh and the hospital's team members and physicians; Elizabeth Grimes, interim practice manager of Orthopedics at IU Health Saxony; Doug Puckett, president of the IU Health Indianapolis Suburban Region; and Berzins for the opportunity.

“Without them, it wouldn't be possible. I think both sides will get something from this,” Vaivods says.

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