Valdis Zatlers at TEDxRiga 2015

You would expect the former President of a country to speak about politics, right? But in his TEDxRiga talk, Valdis Zatlers brings up a different topic: one that many consider a taboo — death. Moreover, Mr. Zatlers is sure that death can have a positive impact on your life. Watch his talk to find out how. Valdis Zatlers is a Latvian politician and the former President of Latvia (2007-2011). He had a long career as a physician prior to his presidency.

Valdis Zatlers studied to be an orthopedic surgeon at the Riga Institute of Medicine, Yale University and Syracuse University. He has held the position of director at the Latvian Traumatology and Orthopaedics Hospital and later was chief of its board. Valdis Zatlers has received honors and prizes for his engagements, such as the Order of the Three Stars of the 4th rank for his contributions to the medical field in Latvia. He won the Latvian presidential election on May 31 in year 2007 and became the President of Latvia on July 8 in 2007.

Mr. Zatlers left office on July 7, 2011. In July 2011, he founded the Reform Party. In his book “Who am I?”, Valdis Zatlers tells about his work as President of Latvia and the state of things behind the scenes.

.