Clinic of Children’s Diseases Celebrating 100th Anniversary

On 30 June, an official celebration ceremony of the 100th anniversary of the Clinic of Children’s Diseases (VLK) of the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University (VU MF) titled “At the Turn of the Centuries of the History of the Clinic of Children’s Diseases of VU MF” was held. During the ceremony, the history of VLK was remembered, achievements of recent years were discussed, and attendees were invited to reflect on future plans and opportunities.

A Look into the Past of the Clinic of Children’s Diseases

The celebration, which took place in the Great Hall of the Faculty of Medicine, started with a presentation by Prof. Vytautas Usonis on the history of the Clinic of Children’s Diseases. Prof. Arūnas Valiulis delivered a presentation titled “May they draw the strength from the past ... The cradle of the Clinic of Children’s Diseases in Antakalnis”. According to the speakers, there was no department of children’s diseases in the Faculty of Medicine of the old Vilnius University but some researchers studied children’s health problems.

For instance, Prof. Andrius Sniadeckis wrote the book Notes on the Physical Education of Children (1805), Prof. Joseph Frank founded Vilnius Medical Society in 1805; founded the Vaccination Institute in Vilnius in 1808 and organised smallpox vaccination; he also set up the Maternity Institute in 1809. In 1811, he wrote and published a multi-volume Practical Medical Advice, which included a chapter on infectious diseases in children. Meanwhile, Jokūbas Šimkevičius published the first original paediatric textbook in Lithuania in the Polish Science of Children’s Diseases in 1810.

In 1922, the Clinic of Children’s Diseases was established in VU and was headed by Prof. Vaclovas Jasinskis. In 1944, 22 years later, Assoc. Prof. Petras Baublys set up the first Lithuanian Clinic of Children’s Diseases in VU. In 1962, under the management of the associate professor in this department, the first textbook in Lithuanian, Children’s Diseases, was published. Later, the department was headed by Prof. Liudmila Steponaitienė, Prof. Pranas Šimulis, Prof. Algimantas Raugalė (he held the managing position for 32 years), Prof. Vytautas Usonis, and since 2019 – by Prof. Augustina Jankauskienė. From the very foundation of the paediatric clinic, in addition to student training, the most pressing children’s health problems of the time were addressed, and paediatric science was developed.

According to Prof. Usonis, the Clinic of Children’s Diseases' work gained momentum after Lithuania regained its independence. The clinic was modernised, a paediatric residency system that meets the requirements of the European Union was established. Changes have also been made in the clinical base and scientific areas.

Clinic of Children’s Diseases Today

The head of the Clinic of Children’s Diseases Prof. A.Jankauskienė presented the accomplishments of recent years in her presentation “VLK at the Start of the Second Centenary of its History”. She noted that the Clinic of Children’s Diseases had 49 staff members in 2022. Most of them participate in international projects, carry out biomedical and clinical research and are members of various international researchers’ groups. For example, in 2021, it was estimated that 32 employees of the clinic had prepared 114 WoS publications.

The staff of the Clinic of Children’s Diseases have also earned some significant awards in recent years. Prof. Augustina Jankauskienė was awarded the VU Rector’s Research Prize (2018) and the St. Christopher Award (2022), Prof. Arūnas Valiulis was awarded the VU Rector’s Research Prize (2020 m.), Prof. Vaidotas Urbonas was awarded the Cross of the Knight of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, and Assist. Prof. Karolis Ažukaitis – Rector’s Science Award for Young Researchers (2019).

Prof. A. Jankauskienė also said she was delighted with the collaboration between the Clinic of Children’s Diseases and universities as well as university hospitals in Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the USA.

Anniversary Greetings Galore

At the 100th anniversary celebration of the Clinic of Children’s Diseases, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Algirdas Utkus, in his speech of congratulations said: “Strengthened and toughened by the challenges of the time, the staff members of the Clinic of Children’s Diseases continuously keep pace with innovation and successfully adapt scientific discoveries to the needs of today. It is thanks to their significant contribution that we can be pleased that today, as scientists and specialists in the field of paediatric medicine, you can be equal partners in the international arena”.

On behalf of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania and the Minister and Vice-Minister, Danguolė Jankauskienė congratulated participants on this important anniversary. In her congratulatory speech, she wished specialists continued strength in the face of life’s changes and hardships. They expressed the hope that the Faculty of Medicine would remain competitive both in Lithuania and worldwide. During the celebration, other staff members of VLK shared their experiences and memories of the clinic. Later, junior assistant Ieva Adomaitė and Assistant Professor Karolis Ažukaitis shared their thoughts on their vision for future paediatricians.

At the end of the event, Prof. A. Jankauskienė, Head of the Clinic of Children’s Diseases, congratulated the paediatric residents, who were awarded their residency study certificates on 27 June. “Stay strong, work hard and diligently, and appreciate what you have. I urge you not to forget your Alma Mater Vilnensis, you are always welcome here!”, said the professor congratulating the young specialists in children’s diseases.