Jan Marek (left) receiving the award from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Lipavský. Photo origin: MZVČR
This year, eight individuals and one organization received the Gratias Agit award, which is awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for upholding the good name of the Czech Republic abroad. Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský presented them on 19 October 2023 in the Czernin Palace.
Prof. MUDr. Jan Marek, Ph.D., FESC, graduated from the Faculty of Paediatrics, worked at the Children's Heart Centre at Motol University Hospital (1985–2005) and since 2005 has been the leading cardiologist-consultant at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. He specialises in paediatric and prenatal cardiology and cardiac imaging. He also introduced the methodology of ultrasound examination of children's hearts in the United Kingdom, and is an advocate of linking Czech and British healthcare and cultural relations. He participates in a number of charity events and missions within the Chain of Hope foundation, and is involved in the Srdíčkáři and BeCharity foundations uniting parents of children with congenital heart defects. Marek’s life and career are captured in the biographical book interview Srdce napůl (Vyšehrad, 2023) (Heart in Half, ed. note).
Selected from Czech media:
- Ze světa do Prahy přijelo osm osobností. Převzali cenu Gratias agit za šíření dobrého jména Česka (Česká televize, 19. 10. 2023)
- Cenu za šíření dobrého jména ČR v zahraničí obdrželo osm osobností a organizace (Český rozhlas, Radio Prague International, 19. 10. 2023)
