Päivi Hietanen becomes first woman to receive Finland’s arkkiatri title

President Alexander Stubb has granted the title of arkkiatri to docent and doctor of medicine and surgery Päivi Hietanen, making her the first woman to hold the honour, Yle reported.

Hietanen is a specialist in oncology. The Finnish Medical Association said in a statement that the new arkkiatri emphasised physicians’ special societal responsibility and the ethical foundation of medicine. She noted that the basic values of medicine are not self-evident but require constant nurturing, especially under the pressures of healthcare.

The association described Hietanen as a respected colleague known as a communication trainer and a wise, warm, and empathetic person.

The arkkiatri is the highest title awarded to a physician in Finland. Only one person holds it at a time. Although the role carries no official duties, the holder is expected to represent and unite the medical profession.

The previous arkkiatri, Risto Pelkonen, served for three decades from 1995 to 2025. The title is reportedly used only in Finland and in the Vatican, where the archiater is the pope’s personal physician.

Medical organisations received nearly 200 proposals for the new arkkiatri. Their nomination cited Hietanen’s long-term, exceptional merits and broad impact in medicine, research, and healthcare development.