ENG
At the last April meeting of the Academic Senate of the Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University (CU MED HK), Professor Petr Hejna was elected as the candidate for the position of Dean of the CU MED HK for the 2026–2030 term. What are the main tasks facing the new faculty management in the upcoming period? And who will make up the Dean's advisory board? These were some of the questions asked in this interview by Ctibor Bělohrad, a 5th-year General Medicine student and a member of the presidium of the Academic Senate.
Good day, Professor, thank you very much for accepting the invitation to this interview. I will start right away with a very complex question – who is Petr Hejna?
Good day, thank you for the invitation to the interview. To answer your first question: Petr Hejna is a former student of the Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, its alumnus, and currently a forensic pathologist. He has been working at the Department of Forensic Medicine of our university hospital and the faculty of medicine from 2003 to the present. At the same time, since 2018, he has been a member of the Dean's advisory board of the Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, where he holds the position of Vice-Dean for Research. Petr Hejna is a proud and satisfied resident of the Hradec Králové Region, or rather the former East Bohemian Region. He was born in 1979 in Chrudim and has lived practically his entire life in this beautiful region, especially in Police nad Metují, Jaroměř, and Hradec Králové. In addition to his professional activities, he is actively involved in popularizing topics related to criminology and forensic medicine, and has a long-term collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the Hradec Králové Region.
You already mentioned forensic medicine, which is undoubtedly your primary job description. Was a desire for justice what led to the decision to become a forensic pathologist?
I believe that at the very beginning, that wasn't the case. The idea of pursuing forensic medicine dates back to my childhood. Already in the upper grades of primary school, I began to realize that this could be a field for which I have certain prerequisites and perhaps even talent. It was precisely the opportunity to use these talents meaningfully that was my initial motivation. The values you mention – impartiality, a sense of justice, and fair play – only reflected into my thinking later on.
Forensic medicine is certainly a very broad field. Is there a part of this field that is your, let's say, professional hobby, which enjoys you the most and interests you the deepest?
I actually answered this question many years ago when I received an award in Hradec Králové for student creative and scientific activities. I think there are many interesting intersections between my profession and personal interests. One of the topics that has long fascinated me is the effect of physical extremes on humans – for example, the influence of low or high temperatures, changes in atmospheric pressure, or various forms of g-force. This specific issue is closely related to my hobbies, such as hiking or bushcrafting. In these activities, I have often combined professional knowledge with my personal experiences. It was similar in the field of sport shooting. Here, I could utilize knowledge of how firearms work, which relates to one of my professional specializations – forensic ballistics. To this day, I am not sure which came first: whether my leisure interests influenced the direction of my professional profiling, or whether my professional focus shaped my hobbies. I rather believe that both worlds enriched each other and naturally intertwined.
Detective stories and crime shows are a very popular genre with viewers. Is it even possible for a forensic pathologist to watch detective stories?
It seems strange, but it is possible, and in a way, it is sometimes even enriching. When watching detective stories or reading crime fiction, one automatically compares what is just a shortcut, what is unrealistic, and what was included in the plot primarily to increase its attractiveness. On the other hand, one also notices what truly corresponds to the reality of the daily work of forensic pathologists, criminologists, and other professions involved in solving crimes. So, I can say quite openly that it is a genre close to my heart. Besides relaxation, I also occasionally find inspiration in it, interesting food for thought, or a view of familiar things from a slightly different perspective.
Now I will shift slightly away from forensic medicine towards scientific research, which undoubtedly forms a significant part of your workload. You are the Vice-Dean for Scientific Activity at the faculty of medicine. Where do you see the main goals now, where should the faculty step up in science, or conversely, where are we doing well?
An immense opportunity for further acceleration of scientific performance is undoubtedly represented by the new campus. It might already sound like a cliché, but the physical connection of our two key institutions will remove a number of barriers, some of which were real and some perhaps only perceived due to their distance. I am convinced that bringing both institutions closer will bring greater immediacy, new dynamics, and more intense communication between individual teams to scientific cooperation. At the same time, it will be a significant source of mutual inspiration and motivation. Both the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty Hospital have a shared interest in developing science, research, and achieving quality results. They are naturally linked to one another, and their success is largely shared. I am glad that this fact is starting to be increasingly reflected not only in everyday cooperation but also in the results of the evaluation of creative and scientific activities.
At the same time, we are getting into closer contact with other important partners and institutions operating in this location. Alongside the Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, with which we will share the new campus, there is the Military Faculty of Medicine of the University of Defence, the campus of the University Hradec Králové, but also the base of the Emergency Medical Service of the Hradec Králové Region. This creates an exceptionally inspiring environment that offers space for new forms of cooperation, sharing experiences, and the creation of interdisciplinary projects. Each of the mentioned institutions possesses specific strengths and research backgrounds. We can inspire each other, learn from one another, and develop areas where we have the potential to achieve even better results together. This synergy can be one of the greatest benefits of the new campus.
I think that in recent years, we have succeeded in significantly deepening the cooperation between theoretical disciplines at the faculty of medicine and clinical departments. Fields such as medical biophysics, biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, anatomy, histology, or preventive medicine are finding more and more common topics with clinical teams across the hospital. For instance, cooperation is developing very well in the fields of oncology, neurosciences, immunology, hepatology, cardiology, pneumology, radiology, or stomatology. I am convinced that this trend will grow even stronger in the coming years. Some clinical departments will have their own research bases in the new campus, and others will be closely linked with the teams of theoretical institutes. This will create even better conditions for the emergence of joint projects, faster transfer of knowledge into clinical practice, and the development of modern biomedical research.
Another area where I perceive a significant shift is the reorientation of scientific research outputs toward quality. Step by step, we are managing to promote the principle that the main goal is not the highest possible number of publications, but primarily their professional level, international relevance, and publication in prestigious scientific journals. This shift is also supported by the science evaluation system in both institutions. The same philosophy is reflected in the reward system for scientific results, as well as the criteria used in academic proceedings or the evaluation of doctoral studies. I also consider it important that the scientific research strategies of the faculty of medicine and the faculty hospital are being aligned increasingly better. Today, both institutions act as partners with shared goals in this area. Instead of mutual competition or parallel activities, an environment based on cooperation is emerging, which benefits both science itself and the further development of both institutions.
If I were to mention areas where we can improve further, it is primarily our success in securing external grant funding and financial support from national and international sources. Although we have introduced a number of mechanisms in recent years that support the preparation of grant projects and reward even well-prepared proposals that ultimately did not receive funding, we must continue to look for ways to motivate our teams to be more active in this area.
The second significant challenge is the further development of international cooperation and internationalization across both the faculty of medicine and the faculty hospital. Nowadays, top-tier science is increasingly based on international partnerships, sharing experiences, and involvement in extensive research networks. Doctoral studies are also closely related to this. Our goal is not only to support the quality of doctoral projects but also to create conditions for doctoral students to complete their studies within a reasonable timeframe. It is one of the most important investments in the future of science at our faculty.
You already mentioned the construction of the new campus. Of course, it will not only bring improvements in cooperation on scientific activity and at the scientific level. We will get to that later. However, one of the reasons we are doing this interview today is that you were recently elected as a candidate for the position of Dean of the CU MED HK. This undoubtedly brings a whole range of new tasks that cannot be solved by an individual, but requires a team. Have you already thought about the composition of your future advisory board?
Of course, this is a topic that accompanies me practically every day now and is gradually maturing. It is clear that the team that will care for our faculty of medicine and create conditions for studying, scientific research, and the daily functioning of the institution must be assembled very thoughtfully. It should consist of personalities from various fields with experience from both purely academic and clinical environments. At the same time, it must function as a well-communicating and cooperating unit that will worthily represent the faculty towards our closest partners, the management of Charles University, and other academic institutions. My personal vision, which I presented during the election campaign, is based on a model of a broader board with a larger number of vice-deans. This is quite common at medical faculties, after all, because the scope of activities and responsibilities is exceptionally wide and requires a high degree of expertise in individual agendas.
A very important area is studying. Given the number of study programs, it is logical that several vice-deans must operate here. Prof. Jakub Suchánek, should be responsible for the field of Dentistry; Prof. Otto Kučera for the teaching of pre-clinical disciplines; Dr. Pavel Póczoš for teaching in clinical disciplines; Dr. Eva Vachková for non-medical study programs; and Prof. Martina Řezáčová for doctoral study programs. I would like to entrust the area of specialization and lifelong learning to Assoc. Prof. Stanislav Plíšek, who currently holds the position of Chairman of the Coordination Council for Specialization Education.
I would like to entrust the admissions process for study programs taught in English, which require extensive international presentation of the faculty and years of experience with student recruitment, to Prof. Emil Rudolf. However, in my opinion, caring for international students during their studies cannot rest on just one person and must naturally be divided among multiple members of management who are directly connected to individual study programs and know their daily needs and specific problems. I also attach great importance to the area of student care across all study programs, working with alumni, and supporting our employees. Prof. Hana Langrová should be in charge of this agenda.
In the area of strategic development and internationalization, I would like to cooperate with Assoc. Prof. David Astapenko. In my view, the area of IT, digitalization, and artificial intelligence should be spearheaded by Prof. Jan Kremláček. I would like to entrust the position of Vice-Dean for Research to Prof. Jan Laco, and the area of external relations, academic qualifications, and simultaneously the role of statutory deputy dean to Prof. Viktor Chrobok. I also see a significant role for the current dean, Prof. Jiří Manďák, who, as a member of the advisory board, could focus particularly on matters connected with the new campus. I consider the experience he gained during the period of preparation and implementation of this extraordinary investment to be highly valuable.
Naturally, the board of the dean will include the chief administrative officer, Dr. Milena Hudská, and the director of the University Hospital Hradec Králové Dr. Aleš Herman. It is also my wish to involve student representatives in the work of the board, ideally a representative of the Student Chamber of the Academic Senate of the CU MED HK, and another representative from the leadership of the Academic Senate. I am convinced that the faculty management should listen to all groups that make up its academic community.
From the students' perspective, certainly a crucial issue ahead of us is the new curriculum. The curriculum is, let's say, also a tool that can serve the faculty well as a PR tool. Do you consider the creation of the new curriculum to be a fundamental step awaiting your team?
Definitely yes. The first, or rather the "zero" task that we must manage, is moving into the new campus, settling in, bringing it to life, and getting it fully operational. At the same time, it will be necessary to set up the conditions for our shared functioning with our sister Faculty of Pharmacy. Regular meetings between the managements of both faculties are therefore already taking place, where the rules of coexistence are being gradually established. It is important that after moving in, we don't have to deal with basic questions regarding campus operations, shared services, or financing its running.
The first big task after mastering this stage will be the new curriculum. This is a priority area on which an enormous amount of work has already been done. The first discussions and proposals began to emerge even before the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to create a curriculum that corresponds to the current development of medicine, the needs of society, and at the same time is competitive compared to other medical faculties at home and abroad. Today, the curriculum is also, to some extent, a showcase of the faculty. Applicants are interested not only in the school's reputation but also in the way teaching is designed. I remember that when I applied to medical school many years ago, I noticed very progressive changes in the curriculum at the 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University. Yet, I chose Hradec Králové and never for a single moment doubted that it was the right choice. But at the same time, I know that similar changes can catch the attention of applicants and can be one of the factors influencing their decision-making.
I think that in the following period, it will be necessary to communicate the prepared changes even more intensively with all coordinators of teaching, utilize the experiences of our students and graduates, and seek the broadest possible professional consensus. At the same time, we must accept the fact that the new curriculum will require a certain degree of change from all of us. We cannot demand changes from others and at the same time stubbornly insist that our specific subject or field will remain untouched.
I am also convinced that one of the goals must be a certain condensation of teaching, especially in the first years of study. The workload on students was often extraordinary in the past and frequently delayed their contact with clinical medicine. The new curriculum should help create a better balance between theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Equally important will be the further integration of theoretical and clinical disciplines. Topics whose importance in modern medicine is growing should be more prominently reflected in the curriculum, such as palliative medicine, oncology, psychosomatic medicine, emergency medicine, and other areas that have not yet had space corresponding to their significance.
I consider it a missed opportunity that a graduate profile for medical faculties has not yet been clearly defined on a national level. This profile should be the fundamental guide when creating a curriculum and should clearly state what knowledge, skills, and competencies a medical graduate should possess. Even without such a guide, however, we can define our own vision of what kind of graduate we want to raise. And it is towards fulfilling this vision that the new curriculum should aim.
With your permission, I will follow up with a question that is to some extent related. One of the fundamental issues that should be addressed within the new curriculum is the practical skills of graduates. When we look, for example, at the website pomedine.cz, where questionnaire evaluations of graduates from various medical faculties took place, it is often mentioned regarding our faculty that graduates lag behind precisely in those practical skills. Will this be considered within the creation of the new curriculum, meaning an accentuation of really those practical skills of graduates?
It must be. I also notice certain shortcomings or unfulfilled expectations in the area of graduates' practical skills. But I don't think this is solely a problem of our faculty. Strengthening practical teaching is a clear trend across all medical faculties today. It is related to the development of simulation medicine, changes in teaching methods, and efforts to increase the attractiveness of studies. At the same time, we live in an era where information is more accessible than ever before. In a way, we are in a post-information age. Practically any student can obtain quality information from various sources, including verified ones. Therefore, our main task is no longer to be merely presenters of information. We should rather be guides, mentors, or coaches who help students navigate what is truly important and lead them towards a competency-based method of education. One in which they encounter real-life situations as much as possible and have the opportunity to test their practical skills.
I think that if we want to succeed in this area, everyone has to start with themselves. each of us should ask ourselves how we can enrich our teaching with practical aspects and what specific skills we can offer to students. Only the awareness of this certain deficit and the willingness to look for ways to improve are prerequisites for us, as a faculty, to agree on how to further transform teaching.
At the same time, in my opinion, it is also a matter of a certain identity or brand of the faculty. We must answer the question of what we want to be characteristic for and how we want to present ourselves outwardly. Personally, I believe that one of the main pillars should be precisely high-quality clinical preparation of students. Early clinical experience, emphasis on practical skills, and readiness for real medical practice. Alongside this, we should maintain an emphasis on scientific research activities for those students who are interested in this path. And of course, let's add to that studying in an ultra-modern campus, the facilities of a top-tier university hospital providing extraordinary conditions for teaching and research, and all of this set against the backdrop of the beautiful city of Hradec Králové.
So we will strongly hope that your team manages to push all of this through. It is clear that one could certainly talk for a long time about the topic of the curriculum and the new campus. However, in conclusion, to lighten things up a bit, and you also hinted at it at the beginning, tell us how you spend your free time?
There is never enough free time, and I must say I don't get much of it. In a way, it is one of the fundamental laws of leadership – the law of sacrifice. If a person has a certain vision, ambition, or an inner calling to build something and move it forward, achieving professional and academic goals is usually connected with certain personal sacrifices. On the other hand, I don't think it's good to sacrifice absolutely everything. A person should always have room left for the most important thing they have in life, and that is family. Therefore, family forms the most important part of my free time. I try to return at least a part of what my loved ones have been giving me my whole life, and I value every opportunity to spend time together – whether on trips, visits, or during ordinary everyday moments.
At the same time, I feel, and it is also a necessary part of psychological hygiene, that it is good to be alone sometimes and stay in an environment that heals a person a bit and restores their energy and strength. For me, that place is the forest. Aimless movement through the landscape, when I don't have to compete or communicate with anyone, helps me get distance from everyday duties and recharge my batteries. Usually, our gundogs accompany me on these almost daily wanderings. They are loyal companions who require nothing more than time spent together. I have been dedicated to their upbringing and training continuously since 1993, and working with them remains one of my greatest lifelong hobbies. I am also a long-time fan of non-fiction as well as classical literature, and I am also interested in foreign languages, but I no longer have the energy or time left for further progress in studying them.
At the very end, because you graduated from a faculty of medicine, you know firsthand what it's like to be a medical student. What message would you leave for medical students?
The Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové is, in my opinion, an extraordinary institution. It offers studies in the setting of a beautiful historical city and at the same time maintains a friendly, welcoming, and to a large extent even family-like atmosphere. It is precisely this combination of a quality academic environment and close interpersonal relationships that I consider to be among its greatest advantages. The faculty is also a place where many exceptional personalities operate. Many of them are united by a common goal – to help students grow, develop their potential, and contribute to their future success.
In conclusion, I would like to tell the students to approach their studies with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a certain amount of passion. It would be a shame to view studying merely as a series of duties that need to be fulfilled. Sooner or later, it will transform into their profession and often into their calling. I am convinced that the way a person approaches their studies largely foreshadows their future professional path. At the same time, it is often reflected in other areas of life. A simple rule applies: how a person approaches things today is usually how they will approach them in the future. Therefore, it obviously makes sense to study honestly, with respect, and with genuine interest right from the very start.
Thank you very much, thank you for the interview, and we keep our fingers crossed that you and your team succeed in achieving and carrying out all those tasks that undoubtedly lie ahead of you. And thanks for today's interview.
Thank you for the lovely interview, and I look forward to further cooperation.