Prof. Vladimír Komárek's four-year period as Dean of the Faculty is coming to an end. How was it? Is the current Dean going to stand for re-election? What did he do, and what surprised him the most?
How do you rate your current position as head of the faculty?
Looking back is not easy. Evaluating what was a success and what failed is definitely better with a greater distance. Mostly, we will see this with time. However, I have the feeling that two-thirds of what I proposed in my election program has been achieved. One of the main tasks was the extensive reconstruction of the dilapidated Motol lecture halls. Which was successful thanks to the efforts of Prof. Pavel Kolář, who managed to convince the leadership of key ministries and hospitals to get the necessary funding. According to the latest information, there is hope that with the new academic year, on 2 October, we will be holding the opening ceremonies. Hopefully, this year's freshers and everyone else will be able to learn in the beautiful new premises.
What's next in the field of investment?
Reconstruction continues in Plzeňská. Currently we are at the third stage, the demolition of the old building, and at the beginning of October we could lay the ‘corner stone’ of the rear tract ‘Žížala’, where we will have our own autopsy rooms and other spaces for the teaching of theoretical disciplines. We have advanced to the fourth stage, we have filed a request for building permit and a certain chance to finish the so-called Žížala header in the OP3V project. It is not very easy to implement a plan to build a multifunctional building (MFB) in the area of Motol University Hospital, where there should be a high-quality department for the deanery, spaces for clinical research of doctoral students and, last but not least, a dedicated simulation medicine floor. We have signed a memorandum with the Motol University Hospital management since 2015, and hence the promise of acquiring the right to build on the land of the hospital – specifically west of the southern gatehouse – but other legislative steps are lengthy and complicated. What is important is that we have the support of the Rector of Charles University, Prof. Tomáš Zima, who included our project in the investment plan of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. We are in negotiations with the deputy director of Motol University Hospital, Dr. Budínský, and Minister of Health, JUDr. Ing. Ludvík. I believe that our faculty will not end up in the unsatisfactory premises of the current deanery, but it will have a dignified background, similar to the other faculties of Charles University. The last sore point is the cultivation of the whole area on Plzeňská. I have repeatedly discussed this with the Rector of the Czech Technical University, prof. Konvalinka and on 27 September I will inform the ČVUT Academic Senate about the inconvenient situation. I introduced the problem to the current Minister of Education Prof. Štech, which could help to connect our ideas about the form of the Plzeňská area with the ideas of the CTU and the UK Rectorate.
How was the change from being a doctor and teacher to becoming a manager of large buildings and investments? Did you anticipate the magnitude of your dean's work?
When I was sitting in the first selection boards for designers or construction companies and I started to argue that this or that is not logical, I was told by the competent people literally: ‘Forget the logic, Dean, because here you have to follow this procedure…’ So, for me, as a neurologist (and a chess player), I found it difficult to imagine – my whole life had been based on strictly logical principles in solving problems, and so bureaucratic absurdities baffle me. I'd rather go back to the clinic for patients and students.
In the long run, you are trying to cultivate the curriculum. How is this progressing?
We have made some minor changes and shifts in teaching, but the main plan is the harmonization of the syllabi of subjects in each year, the extension of practical and simulation lessons, as well as the improvement of teaching quality and pedagogical skills of teachers. We are working together with Prof. Marusič, in cooperation with the vice-rector of the Vienna Medical University, and now also with prof. Sarah Leupen (more information here). Currently we have negotiated with Prof. Kachlík and Dr. Uhlík a project of maximum coordination to synchronization the teaching of anatomy and histology. In the field of specialized education, our faculty (especially the Vice-Dean Dr. Havlas) participated in the implementation of a new law, which will contribute to the improvement of postgraduate education for everyone, not only of our graduates.
What about your plans for the future?
If I'm nominated, I'll compete for re-election and on 8 November I will present my plans to the academic senate. If the senators elect me, I would like to finish the elaboration (not only investment) of projects that have been successfully started, but great efforts will be needed to complete them. I have the motivation and strength to take up another term in the leadership of the faculty. And I also have more time since I handed over the management of the Pediatric Neurology Clinic to my successor in January this year.
I handed over the clinic in good shape at the end of last year
After a quarter of a century, you stepped down as head of the Clinic of Pediatric Neurology at the end of last year. What did you do and how do you see the future of the clinic?
I was lead to make a promise that the faculty will come before the clinic as well as the leadership of the faculty, and that I educate the pupils so that they will outgrow their teachers – an outstanding clinic, teachers and Professor Pavel Krška. So, as the head, I talked with the Dean and he outlined the selection procedure (smile). I delivered the clinic in good shape at the end of last year, and finally saw the completion – after 7 years, of the modernized station in part 3B. I see the future of the clinic mainly in the further intensive development of international activities and in the even wider connection of clinical research with the basic procedures. At present, we are a recognized international center for pediatric epileptosurgery and for nerve-related diseases of childhood.
The Clinic of Pediatric Neurology celebrated 45 years since its conception last year. Since when did you work at the clinic and have you been the head of your clinic since?
The clinic was founded on 19 January 1971 by Professor Ivan Lesný, and I did my neurology exam in the same year. In 1972, I worked as an auxiliary scientific force in an electrophysiological laboratory. I mostly remember how I did a pneumo-encephalographic examination, a so-called PEG, with Associate Professor Brachfeld. From the point of view of today's neuroradiology, the insertion of the heads via lumbar pathway is like something from the deep Middle Ages. After graduation, I had to go to North Bohemia and I returned to the clinic in 1984. I became a head on 1 May 1991.
Why did you choose child neurology?
Neuroscience combines both science disciplines and psychological-philosophical aspects. From 1963 to 1967 I studied at the Grammar School in Štěpánská. There was a fresh intellectual spirit there; we had great cantors and, above all, the excellent teaching of biology by Professor Tesařík. Probably this was the main reason why I went into medicine, where I was most attracted to neurology in all disciplines, perhaps to the fascinating secrets of the interactions of spirit and matter, respectively. brain and mind. And why child neurology? Because the child was lectured by charismatic Professor Ivan Lesný. Until today, I have his slim underlined script, which was in some ways thrilling because he always accompanied me with interesting case reports. That's what I've learned from my lectures, when I try to combine the dry facts with the specific ‘juicy’ stories of the patients.
What did you follow in your clinic?
Lesné Clinical of Child Neurology was extended by Prof. Lehovský into a variety of electrophysiological methods – including EEG and EMG and evoked potentials of all modalities. I joined the clinic after a longer stay at the best European epileptological center and therefore introduced a long-term video-EEG monitoring according to the Dutch model, and together with Dr. Faladová and colleague Kršek we started an epilepto-surgical program for uncontrollable childhood epilepsy. And then, after Lesný and Lehovský, the excellent Head Dr. Kocura took over, who was systematic, careful, he had wonderful neurological logic thinking, and it was definitely a great gift for which I am grateful to this day.
What has most changed in the last 45 years in the field of paediatric neurology, resp. epileptology, in which you are most engaged in the clinic?
An amazing jump in neuroradiology – from invasive and low-yielding pneumo-encephalography to painless and completely reliable magnetic resonance. The display of relatively discrete brain abnormalities combined with the introduction of invasive intracranial monitoring makes it possible to precisely locate the source of pharmacologically untreatable epilepsy and, thus, highly effective surgical solutions. The result is a child patient, in whom we finally get rid of seizures, as well as restoring health and eliminating need for lifelong prescriptive drugs. These children are returned to a quality of life comparable to their healthy peers. The second miraculous moment for childhood epileptology is the search for the genetic basis of epileptic encephalopathies (EE). Of the more than three hundred genes responsible for EE, we can examine half and explain the cause of their severe illness in 60% of patients. In addition to the epileptology mentioned above, there is a fascinating shift in the care of children with previously untreatable neuromuscular diseases, and most recently, diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases.
In what proportion have you, until now, been working as a dean in the management of the clinic and head of the faculty? What do you find most fulfilling? Are you able to work on scientific work and clinical medicine?
This ratio cannot be fully expressed. Every day is a bit different. I'm definitely going to the deanery and the clinic several times a day. And do I find most fulfilling? Certainly clinical work. When I visit or am in an outpatient department and I see healed or improved patients, it is the greatest joy, and I think that no managerial or scientific success can ever replace direct work with patients. Scientific work, thinking about hypotheses, searching for literature or writing lectures or articles are usually done at home or on weekends. In the past, I was deeply absorbed in epilepsy research, but thanks to my pupils in epileptology – Pavel Kršek, Martin Kudr, Alena Jahodová and Katalin Štěrbová – I can now deal with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders and dysphasia. Thanks to a grant, we are currently examining the differences in brain connections in children with these disabilities.
Do you still teach and lecture?
Yes, I am very fond of teaching and I enjoy the lecturing. And maybe it's fun for the students.
