ŽALIŪNAS REMIGIJUS, an academician, professor, habilitated doctor (biomedical sciences, medicine), full member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Rector of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Head of the Department of Cardiology at the Medical Academy of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Chairman of the Kaunas Region Society of Cardiology, former President of the Lithuanian University Rectors’ Conference, former President and Chairman of the Council of the Association of Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions LAMA BPO, former President of the Lithuanian Society of Cardiology, former member of the Commission of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania – the Strategic Council for Research, Development and Innovation, member of the European University Association, the Lithuanian Society of Cardiology, the Lithuanian Medical Association, the European Society of Cardiology, and the American College of Cardiology, President of the Lithuanian Tennis Union of Physicians, member of the Executive Committee of the Lithuanian Student Basketball League, member of Kaunas City Council of Academic Affairs, member of the Board of the Association Santaka Valley, Chairman of the Managerial Committee of Integrated Cardiology Healthcare appointed by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania, doctor honoris causa of Moldova State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Nicolae Testemitanu”, an Honorary Consul of France in Kaunas and Doctor Honoris causa of Odessa National Medical University.

Remigijus Žaliūnas was born on 2 July 1961 in Alsėdžiai, Plungė District.

During 1968-1971, he attended Alsėdžiai Secondary School, and during 1971-1979, Plungė Secondary School No. 4. During 1980-1982, he studied at the Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, and in 1986, he graduated from Kaunas Institute of Medicine. During 1988-1990, he was a postgraduate student at Z. Januškevičius Research Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathology.

In 1986-1987, he was an intern of internal medicine at P. Jašinskas Clinic, and since 1987, a cardiologist at P. Jašinskas Clinic (at present the Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Klinikos). During 1990-1991, he was a chief research worker at Z. Januškevičius Research Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathology, during 1991-1993, an assistant at the Department of Cardiology of Kaunas Academy of Medicine, and during 1993-1998, a chief assistant at the Department of Cardiology of Kaunas Academy of Medicine. During 1996-1998, he was an assistant of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Kaunas Academy of Medicine, during 1998-2000, an associate professor at the Department of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, and since 2000, a professor. During 1998-2002, he was the Vice-Rector for Studies at Kaunas University of Medicine. During 2000-2002, he was the President and the Chairman of the Council of the Association of Lithuanian Higher Education InstitutionsLAMABPO. In 2001, he became the Head of the Department of Cardiology. During 2002-2010, he was the Rector of Kaunas University of Medicine, and since 2010, the Rector of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. In 2011, he became a full member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. In 2013, he was awarded the title of doctor honoris causa at Moldova State University of Medicine and Pharmacy ‘Nicolae Testemitanu’, in 2015, he was appointed an Honorary Consul of France in Kaunas and in 2018, Doctor Honoris causa of Odessa National Medical University.

He defended his doctoral thesis in 1990 and his habilitation thesis in 1995. In 1996, he was awarded the degree of an associate professor, and in 1999, the degree of a professor.

He is the author of 267 scientific publications, co-author of 8 textbooks and 7 teaching books. Of these, the most important ones are textbooks ‘Basics of Cardiology’, ‘Internal Medicine’, ‘Cardiac Diseases’, and ‘Treatment of Cardiac Diseases (Algorithms and Schemes)’, ‘So Speak Cardiologists’ . He delivers a course of lectures ‘Relevant Issues of Ischaemic Heart Disease, Cardiac Arrhythmias and Conduction Disorders’ for medical students, doctoral students, cardiologists, and internists improving their skills at the Department of Cardiology. He also consults and treats patients with cardiovascular diseases.

He has made presentations at international conferences and congresses in Argentina, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, the Republic of South Africa, France, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Germany and Ukraine.

Leisure time: lawn tennis.

Motto: persistence, determination and health are almighty.

Marital status: married; his wife Dalia is an ophthalmologist, daughter Rūta (born in 1985) is a resident physician and son Balys (born in 2002) is a schoolchild.

Languages: Lithuanian, English, Russian, Spanish and French.