General information
I am a politician with right wing views and a keen social nerve. I am not afraid to speak my mind or defend my opinions if called to do so. My heart lies in health care, especially evidence-based medicine. I intend to fight for the equal accessibility to high-quality health care across the whole Estonia. I have shared my expertise on infectious diseases in most Estonian newspapers and magazines. I will continue to do so if necessary.
Parliamentary group:
Committee:
Delegation:
Electoral district:
E-mail:
Phone:
+372 631 6467
Seniority in days:
1258
Date of birth:
20.07.1954
Place of birth:
Räpina
Family:
Two children, four grandchildren
Education:
Räpina Co-Educational Gymnasium (former Räpina Secondary School) 1972;
University of Tartu, medicine 1978, Doctor of Medicine 1995
University of Tartu, medicine 1978, Doctor of Medicine 1995
Career:
Tartu Clinical Hospital, emergency room nurse 1975–1978;
Tallinn Children’s Hospital No. 1, doctor-intern 1978–1979;
Võru Regional Central Hospital, Head of Paediatrics 1979–1982;
Tartu Clinical Children’s Hospital, Deputy Chief Doctor on Medical Treatment 1982–1992;
University of Tartu: Children’s Clinic, Head of Infectious Diseases Department 1992–1995, Assistant, Head of Infection Block 1998–1999, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, Head, Professor of Medical Microbiology and Virology 2004–2016, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Head, Professor of Medical Microbiology 2016–;
University of Texas (USA) Southwestern Medical Center, Postdoctoral Fellow in Paediatric Infectious Diseases 1995–1998;
Pfizer Ltd. (UK), Clinical Project Manager in research and development 1999–2003, Head of Paediatric Programme 2003–2004
Tallinn Children’s Hospital No. 1, doctor-intern 1978–1979;
Võru Regional Central Hospital, Head of Paediatrics 1979–1982;
Tartu Clinical Children’s Hospital, Deputy Chief Doctor on Medical Treatment 1982–1992;
University of Tartu: Children’s Clinic, Head of Infectious Diseases Department 1992–1995, Assistant, Head of Infection Block 1998–1999, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, Head, Professor of Medical Microbiology and Virology 2004–2016, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Head, Professor of Medical Microbiology 2016–;
University of Texas (USA) Southwestern Medical Center, Postdoctoral Fellow in Paediatric Infectious Diseases 1995–1998;
Pfizer Ltd. (UK), Clinical Project Manager in research and development 1999–2003, Head of Paediatric Programme 2003–2004
Party affiliation:
Estonia 200 2023–
Membership in representative bodies:
15th Riigikogu (Deputy Chairman of the Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group 2025– )
Awards:
Order of the Estonian Red Cross, 2nd Class 2013, Order of the Estonian Red Cross, 1st Class 2021;
Estonian National Research Award (Annual Award in Medical Science) 1994, 2010, 2023;
European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) Fellowship Award 1995;
University of Tartu Grand Medal 2014, Medal 2019;
Estonian Academy of Sciences Karl Schlossmann Medal in medical science and related fields 2020;
Friend of Science Journalism Award of Estonian Association of Science Journalists 2021;
Citizen of the Year 2021;
Bill Marshall Award from the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) 2025
Estonian National Research Award (Annual Award in Medical Science) 1994, 2010, 2023;
European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) Fellowship Award 1995;
University of Tartu Grand Medal 2014, Medal 2019;
Estonian Academy of Sciences Karl Schlossmann Medal in medical science and related fields 2020;
Friend of Science Journalism Award of Estonian Association of Science Journalists 2021;
Citizen of the Year 2021;
Bill Marshall Award from the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) 2025
Other activities:
European Medicines Agency (EMA), Paediatric Committee 2007–;
European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), Member of Board 2010–2013;
Estonian Paediatric Association, Member of Board 1990–1995;
Estonian Society for Infectious Diseases, Member of Board 1998–1999;
Estonian Child Neurology Association;
Estonian Society of Pharmacology;
Estonian Science Foundation, Head of Expert Committee on Health Research 2006–2012;
Senate of the University of Tartu 2011–2019;
Estonian Research Council, Evaluation Committee 2012–2017;
Head of Scientific Advisory Board advising Government of the Republic on spread of the corona virus 2020–2021;
author of medical overview (Part 1) of the coronavirus pandemic analysis 2023;
over 180 scientific
articles in international peer-reviewed publications
European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), Member of Board 2010–2013;
Estonian Paediatric Association, Member of Board 1990–1995;
Estonian Society for Infectious Diseases, Member of Board 1998–1999;
Estonian Child Neurology Association;
Estonian Society of Pharmacology;
Estonian Science Foundation, Head of Expert Committee on Health Research 2006–2012;
Senate of the University of Tartu 2011–2019;
Estonian Research Council, Evaluation Committee 2012–2017;
Head of Scientific Advisory Board advising Government of the Republic on spread of the corona virus 2020–2021;
author of medical overview (Part 1) of the coronavirus pandemic analysis 2023;
over 180 scientific
articles in international peer-reviewed publications