Dr Kaija-Liisa Koovit
Historian of Medicine and Medical Technology
With over a decade of experience as a medical historian, lecturer, and curator, I am dedicated to exploring and communicating the history of medicine and medical technologies—bridging past innovations with present and future developments. In 2024 I was awarded the Medical Humanities China-UK (MHCUK) Early Career Fellowship.
About me
I hold a PhD in the History of Medicine from the University of Leeds, where my research focused on the history of partial knee replacement surgery and the role of international arthroplasty registries. From 2017 to 2024, I served as a board member and research secretary for the Estonian Association for the History and Philosophy of Science.
My professional experience spans curation, teaching, and academic publishing. As a curator at the University of Tartu Museum, I managed and exhibited historical collections of medical instruments and devices, while also researching 19th- and early 20th-century medical case reports. I have also worked as a junior lecturer in the History of Medicine at the University of Tartu’s Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, where I taught medical students and dentists, integrating historical perspectives into their clinical education.
Beyond academia, I have been actively involved in academic editing, translation, and editorial assistance for books and journals in the History and Philosophy of Science. My expertise includes data curation, archives management, and academic writing, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives in medicine and science.
I am fluent in Estonian, English, and German and passionate about making medical history accessible and relevant to diverse audiences.