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Young voters voted for young candidates. “It’s amazing,” says alumna Anežka Nedomová, a newly elected deputy

Mgr. Pavla Svítková — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:15:08 +0000

Young voters voted for young candidates. “It’s amazing,” says alumna Anežka Nedomová, a newly elected deputy Mgr. Pavla Svítková Wed, 04/01/2026 - 12:15

Anežka is 24 years old and recently became one of the youngest deputies in the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. Thanks to preferential votes from young people, as well as many women, Anežka, who is a graduate of the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy and is continuing her studies elsewhere, got a seat in the Czech Chamber of Deputies. What are her objectives? To open a debate on cryptocurrencies and introduce stricter penalties for domestic violence.

At the beginning of November, Anežka attended her first official post-election meeting of the Chamber of Deputies. Now she already knows her way around the Parliament buildings in Prague’s Lesser Town. Before the elections, getting elected seemed like a distant dream. She was the fifth-listed candidate on the STAN movement’s ballot, with many better-known and more experienced candidates listed above her. Despite such a position, Anežka, who majored in German Language at the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy of the 51�Թ��, stepped up to the challenge – and achieved a sort of election miracle, as she left her four higher-listed colleagues behind. Thanks to more than 3,000 preferential votes, she was elected as number one. When her colleagues congratulated her at the party’s venue for election night at Pernštýnské Square in Pardubice, she had not realised it all yet. On Monday, she saw her face in the newspaper and knew that it was a fact.

Calls that worked

Anežka believes she was successful thanks to calls to vote for 30 candidates below the age of 30 and a call to give preferential votes to 3 candidates below the age of 30, which made her more visible. “My photo was on a billboard in the Pardubice Region. When I was passing by in a car, it felt unbelievable,” says Anežka. The calls aimed to encourage voters to support young candidates below the age of 30 and make the Chamber of Deputies younger. The average age of deputies before the elections was 53, the second highest average in history. What also helped was that young people, as shown by Ipsos surveys, feel underrepresented in politics and want parties to better address their needs and issues such as affordable housing, mental health, innovations in the education system, or tougher punishments for sexual offenders. The campaign called “Circle Women” worked in a similar way and supported greater engagement of women from left to right. Her social media presence, especially on Instagram, also helped her catch the attention of young people and win their votes. This is consistent with the increasing tendency to mobilise young voters in the digital space.

Twelve young newcomers

In the end, there are 12 deputies in their twenties and a record-high number of female deputies. This is an enormous increase compared to the previous elections, when only three young politicians won a seat. “It is great that young voters are finally heard. It is a clear signal that they want more young deputies as well as a shift in direction. It is a new phenomenon – and really amazing, in my opinion,” says Anežka, who continues to study German Language and Literature in Brno after graduating in Pardubice. “I still have one more year of study ahead, but I will give priority to my work in Parliament,” she says decisively. She sees the new job as a challenge and looks forward to it very much. “Hello, my name is Anežka Nedomová and I will be your representative in the Chamber of Deputies in the following four years,” Anežka introduces herself with great enthusiasm.

Do you remember the moment when you learned that you had been elected?

I must admit that it is rather blurry for me. (laughs). I am realistic and pragmatic, so I did not think for a moment that I could jump ahead as a fifth-listed candidate and get ahead of all the experienced colleagues on our ballot, including the lead candidate for the Pardubice Region. When the results started to look promising for me, I called my best friend and asked her to come immediately and join me. When she arrived, I got overwhelmed by all the emotions and intense feelings of the past days, and I broke down. But my friend kept encouraging me and told me what a success it was.

What were your feelings over the election weekend?

Friday was quite normal, but from Saturday morning, people kept sending me messages: that they were keeping their fingers crossed for me, that they supported me, that they hoped I would get elected. I also got photos from the ballot rooms. Suddenly, I was tagged on Instagram much more often, and I kept getting new followers. My posts suddenly had 60,000 and later even 100,000 views. “Mum, come here now. There is something going on, this is crazy,” I kept telling my mother. (laughs) I had some 260 followers before the elections, which is not a crowd that gets you to Parliament. It is far from 3,176 preferential votes...

Do you know who voted for you?

I was supported mostly by young people and women. I did not need to carry out any special investigation after the elections, as the messages I got clearly showed this. About 80% of them were sent by women. And it is really lovely when women support women. We live in a patriarchal world: a man joins another man and they go have a cigar, and while doing so, they discuss what they need. And they tell us women to stay in the kitchen and get them coffee. But they do not want us to interfere. That’s not to be harsh about men; they also supported me. They told me to “give the others a thrashing.”

Why did you decide to run?

I want to live in a democratic country with the rule of law. Thanks to democracy, we can have the interview we are having. Thanks to democracy, we could elect young people as our deputies, and we can show everyone what people can do. I can draw comparisons since I lived abroad in the past; I spent a year in Germany thanks to the 51�Թ��, and also in other European countries. Having said that, I am back in the Czech Republic and I want to build a strong foundation for younger generations. It is a sort of mission for me.

Do you get support from your family?

I do, and I appreciate that. My family has supported me from the very beginning. However, I heard a lot of “buts” after the elections. But you will finish school, right? But you will not give up now? But education is important...

When did you become interested in politics?

It was when I was 14 or 15 that I started to understand what was going on in Czech politics. And it was not a rosy story. I was in the final year of primary school, and we started to discuss politics with my classmates. Then each of us went to a different grammar school, but we still kept in touch, and together we took part in a number of protests; they made me aware of the movement called Million Moments for Democracy, and I quickly understood that democracy is something that needs to be cherished and fought for.

Did you talk politics at home?

Regularly. It was mostly thanks to my grandpa, who made politics a common discussion topic for me. When I had lunch or breakfast at my grandparents’, my grandpa always discussed politics with my grandma and involved me as well. Even though he was not imposing his opinions, I appreciated them as I found them very insightful. My grandpa was born in 1950 and spent part of his life during communism. He experienced the change of regime and, after the Velvet Revolution, got involved in local politics. He served as a deputy mayor in Dašice, a village in the Pardubice Region, and later served three terms as mayor.

Did you want to follow his lead?

He made me realise that local politics is a little bit uncomfortable. People know you, keep watching your family, and you need to deal with many uncomfortable issues. But I was attracted anyway. My original plan was to run in the local elections to be held next year.

Instead, you jumped right into high-level politics...

It was a last-minute decision. Back in March this year, I joined an organisation called Mladí starostové, which is the youth wing of the STAN movement. Then I jumped at the opportunity when those who wanted to run for STAN went out to collect signatures to get support. I needed 400 signatures to be fifth-listed on the ballot. It felt like Survivor. I experienced first-hand what it was like to ask for someone’s signature; as part of that, I often heard what people thought of me, or got into a short discussion about why I wanted to get elected and what I wanted to change, and sometimes got recommendations on what I should focus on once elected.

Once you had the signatures, what were the next steps?

I took part in a regional meeting of STAN in Pardubice. For most of the members, it was the first time they had seen me and they asked, Who is she? or What does she want? But I won their votes with my speech and thus was listed fifth on the ballot.

And the intense face-to-face campaign started...

It was very tough. I faced many uncomfortable situations. I got many surprised, sometimes even unpleasant or slimy looks. Sometimes my appearance caught attention too. When I wore more visible make-up, I often heard people say things like, What will such a Barbie model do in politics... But there were also positive moments – such as discussions with secondary school students and young people. I really enjoyed that.

What topics do you want to work on in Parliament?

I have three main ones. The first is the prevention of domestic violence, including stricter penalties and better protection for children. It is a topic that I feel I owe to the women who voted for me. During the last term, my colleague Barbora Urbanová managed to legislate a list that will prevent those who have abused a child in the past from working with children. That is great progress, and we will join forces in other areas.

My second topic is support for start-ups, aimed at young people and new initiatives. In Pardubice, we have a great organisation called P-Pink, which helps start-ups in the initial phase. I would like to approach them and start some cooperation. It may be an inspiration for another edition of the project called Have an idea? Come and show it to see how we can help.

The third area is cryptocurrencies, where I clearly trespassed onto my colleagues’ ground, as I already hear them say, Hey, you are a woman. Keep off crypto. (laughs) Still, I would like to create a legislative framework for cryptocurrencies and do away with the bad feelings left by the Czech Bitcoingate. I believe that there will be room for all of this in the opposition camp.

Do you plan to bring the Chamber of Deputies and its work closer to people?

Definitely. Many people have misconceptions and do not understand how the Chamber of Deputies works. I would like to open it up and keep people informed. I will be creating videos and showing what we do and how our procedures work.

Do you have a message for young people who think politics is not for them?

My main message would be: Be interested in politics – it is really important. Their future is at stake, and this is the only way to have some control. This is the country where they will live and bring up new generations. They must not be indifferent.

Your agenda is busier and busier... Do you still have time for your hobbies?

I do. Work-life balance is really important. I play the piano, so I devote my free time to music. But I am also a big fan of the Dynamo ice hockey team in Pardubice, so I like watching their games.

Bc. Anežka Nedomová (2001) is a Czech politician, German teacher and interpreter. She was born in Pardubice. She studied German Language at the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy of the 51�Թ�� and spent one year at the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität in Jena, Germany, as part of the Erasmus+ programme. She now studies German Language and Literature at Masaryk University in Brno. In 2025, she was elected a deputy to the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, foreign languages and meeting new people.

TEXT Zuzana Paulusová : PHOTOS Adrián Zeiner

This text is available in the exclusive edition of the 51�Թ�� magazine MY UPCE, in both print and online versions.

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With a restorer about the art of perceiving art

Mgr. Pavla Svítková — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:07:32 +0000

With a restorer about the art of perceiving art Mgr. Pavla Svítková Wed, 01/21/2026 - 09:07

Italy has long been intertwined with her life. Even during her studies, she was interested in the influence of Italian art on Czech art. Now, restorer Veronika Knedlíková Wanková is researching how the perception of art has changed at the University of Padua.

Can everyone perceive art?

I think everyone can do it in their own way. Some people just don’t know how to talk about it. They can’t express exactly what they feel because it’s complicated for them. However, we always experience some kind of feeling, whether negative or positive. Art can surprise us or, conversely, we may find something about it disturbing. A person’s perception of a painting may also depend on their mood. When looking at a negative image – for example, a severed head – but feeling in a good mood because they just bought an ice cream, they may not find the image cruel and may perceive it as beautiful. But if they are depressed, not doing very well, and don’t know what to do with their life, the same image may intensify their current state of mind and evoke negative feelings or evaluations. How we perceive our aesthetic experiences in the brain and which centres are activated during their processing is the subject of a rapidly developing field called neuroaesthetics.

Can such findings be used in the creation of exhibitions?

Definitely. Today's visitors often want activities that are not too complicated. It is therefore a great advantage to know how people approach a work of art and how they perceive it. Exhibitions can capitalise on this knowledge. For example, you can work more with light, incorporate various lighting effects, or create an exhibition that primarily features round or curved elements, because we know that viewers prefer them. This approach can help people develop a relationship with art and deepen their communication with it. Works that are just stored in a gallery and no one looks at are simply lost.

Is there a big difference between how a layman and an expert perceive a work of art?

According to the latest findings in psychology, we know that there is. When an uninformed viewer approaches a work of art, they perceive it based on their feelings. It can activate memory centres, causing them to recall a specific situation that reminds them of the same feeling. This celebration in the garden is like it used to be... They recall a particular experience that makes them appreciate the painting. For people who are not burdened with knowledge of the field, emotions are easier to examine. Unlike us experts, they do not worry about it being “correct” and why a particular motif is depicted in this way when it would have looked completely different at that time.

Is it harder to attract people to art today?

It’s hard to compare. In the past, a single painting in a church was a rarity. The world was visually cleaner. Today, we are inundated with images of all kinds, and our brains process one image after another very quickly. It is more challenging to capture people’s attention. When an exhibition opens, attendance is often perceived as a sign of a certain social status, so I attend because everyone else is, and I want to show that I am also educated. Then there is the group that is genuinely interested in art, but it is not that large. And then, there are the rest of the potential visitors who are not interested in art, and we need to work with them and try to appeal to their interests.

So how does one find their way to art?

Probably by visiting galleries and museums. It is essential to focus on children from an early age and provide them with opportunities to engage with art. Various creative programmes, workshops, and art-focused summer camps are important. It is essential to realise that you don’t need to be an expert, but you do need to have a relationship with art and understand why it is important to you. Researchers at the University of Rome, studying the influence of art on emotions, concluded that after visiting a gallery, a family’s overall emotional state improved, and everyone was immediately in a better mood. Other studies also show that art is vital for a person’s mental well-being. Therefore, its greater connection with therapeutic centres or involvement in the study of depression is being considered. The connection between art and the study of the human psyche, therefore, has greater potential than we can currently foresee.

Can art appeal to me even as an adult?

It definitely can. It is important not to be afraid of art and to try visiting different types of exhibitions. There are events such as the Venice Biennale, where everyone can find something that interests them. Various installations are very popular, even in outdoor spaces. Street art is a highly effective strategy for attracting young people to the arts. In Padua, there is a map of imaginative murals, i.e., large-scale paintings on walls in public spaces, where you can take photos and share them. Contemporary art gives us freedom, which should make it attractive to us.

What was the last exhibition you went to?

I was in Venice at an exhibition on the depiction of the human body in the 16th century, so there were drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, for example. I really enjoy attending exhibitions, but it’s very time-consuming for me, as I would always prefer to visit each one twice. First, I examine the works themselves, and then, the second time, I read the accompanying texts or use an audio guide. I struggle to focus on the artwork and absorb additional information at the same time.

What are you doing in Italy?

I have my own research project there. Because of it, I got a position at the University of Padua, which is nothing short of a miracle. (laughs) The Italian university environment is highly competitive, and there are limited opportunities for young researchers, making it challenging to secure a place.

What is your project about?

I’ve always been interested in the Italian influences on Czech art, especially at the end of the 16th century, which hasn’t been studied extensively. Works created in the Czech lands were considered of lesser quality and therefore uninteresting, while the Italians who came to the country significantly elevated the local culture. I realised that even if the painting was not of high quality, it still hung somewhere in a remote village church and was probably of great importance to the locals. And so, I came up with the idea of researching how people actually perceive a work of art and what value it has for them. I then developed this idea into my project and approached a professor at the University of Padua who specialises in the psychology of art perception. I asked him if he would be my supervisor, and he agreed. My project ultimately received funding.

Is that why you’re now working at the psychology department?

With the project approved, I secured a great job as an assistant professor there. I have three years to work on my project, titled ‘A Miracle: From Mind to Canvas and Back.’ I'm really looking forward to it.

Does your favourite Italian-Czech artistic thread come into play in the project?

Yes, it’s research into intercultural communication. Artists from the Czech lands travelled to Italy in the 16th century, stayed there, studied, and then returned with the knowledge they had acquired. I’m interested in how their travels transformed art and how they were reflected in the perception of “ordinary” people, what they appreciated in the paintings. I’m looking for records of these feelings in the archives. They may have mentioned that it was a beautiful painting they saw somewhere on their travels, that it seemed very vivid to them, or that it reminded them of something – these are precisely the valuable impressions that art brings to people. And so are the various emotions it evokes in them.

Are you also interested in the views of people today?

As part of the psychological component of the project, we are developing a specialised questionnaire that will assess whether and how paintings affect us today and what emotions they evoke in us. We are interested, for example, in whether we appreciate realistic scenes more, or, on the contrary, if the scenes are rather emotional, even expressive ones, and whether we can describe them. The questionnaire will be administered to people in both Italy and the Czech Republic. We also want to find out whether the Czechs prefer art in the Czech Republic and the Italians in Italy. We assume that thanks to today’s interconnectedness of cultures, we will no longer see this difference between countries. On the contrary, we may find out whether we react more positively to expressive scenes, for example, because they have a strong effect on us and evoke clear emotions.

How did you end up in Italy?

I have to blame my husband for that. Almost seven years ago, he wanted to continue his scientific career with a postdoctoral fellowship, so he looked for a suitable place and discovered Padua. I didn’t know the city very well, unlike Venice or Florence, where I had spent some time during my master’s studies. That’s how I learned Italian. So, I immediately agreed to the move. We had a six-month-old son, with whom I was on maternity leave, and the opportunity to live in my favourite country, Italy, presented itself, so there was no reason to hesitate. Moreover, shortly after arriving in Italy, I had an unexpected job offer.

Tell us about this interesting offer?

Shortly after moving, a colleague from the Faculty of Restoration contacted me. She had been awarded a research project on Renaissance stucco. She asked me if I would like to get involved, as I had been working on the stucco decoration at Bučovice Castle, which even resulted in a publication called ‘Perla Moravy’ (‘Pearl of Moravia’). So, I was very tempted to continue working on this topic.

From Italy?

Yes, it was about deepening my knowledge from my previous research. So, working remotely didn’t bother me at all. I didn’t have to physically be in Bučovice, as I had already done that in the past. (laughs) The faculty was in no hurry for the results, and it was up to me to decide if and how I could juggle everything. Of course, I took it as a challenge, so I went for it.

And you could stay in the field even during maternity leave, and even in Italy …

Yes, I realised that I couldn’t just stay at home with my son, that I had to do something “of my own”. I got a small job at the National Gallery in Prague and did restoration work at home. Maintaining a genuine connection with works of art remains very important to me today.

Who supplied you with works of art at that time?

One art collector had me restore a large part of the estate of the painter Anna Zemánková. She was an artist who ranks among the world’s most renowned creators, and her work has been exhibited in Venice, New York, Paris, and other locations. The paintings, created on paper, depict various floral compositions, often rendered in embroidery or relief. The artist liked to use a combination of different techniques and materials. This diversity suited me perfectly when restoring her works.

Do you still do restoration work?

I have less time for restoration now, which I regret. Since I restore items at home, I’m limited to working on simpler projects. In any case, I would like to revisit it in the future. I enjoy challenges and appreciate the entire restoration process, particularly the opportunity to keep the work in good condition. Moreover, I am delighted when someone else enjoys my work.

How do you like living in Padua?

Padua is a great place to live. It’s very green, has good public transportation, and is home to a university, making it quite lively. It’s more authentic, and you can really experience typical Italian life here. It’s a city that doesn’t primarily live off tourism, and you can really tell. There are no crowds of tourists, and even a regular coffee costs a normal price. Of course, everyone who comes to visit us must see Venice. Nothing can compare to it.

Is there anything that surprised you in Italy?

How strictly the siesta is observed here. It starts around 1:30 p.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m. Fortunately, it’s not an issue at work, unlike at home, where we live. There, you’re supposed to be really quiet, ideally resting, and definitely not doing any noisy household chores, such as vacuuming. According to our Italian neighbours, you’re not supposed to do anything at all during this time.

Are you planning to return home?

Our plan has always been to return. We originally planned to spend two years in Italy, but we’ve been here for six years now and have another three years ahead of us. It’s hard to say if we’ll want to move, because our older son has started school here. But we visit the Czech Republic quite regularly. This autumn, I will be giving a lecture at the Faculty of Restoration. I believe it’s very important for today’s students to be in regular contact with art, to understand it from different perspectives, and to be aware of the process that accompanies its creation. Plus, it’s beneficial to hear someone else discuss it. Passing on knowledge and ideas makes a great deal of sense to me.

TEXT Zuzana Paulusová : PHOTOS Veronika Knedlíková Wanková’s archive

This text is available in the exclusive edition of the 51�Թ�� magazine MY UPCE, in both print and online versions.

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On a mission you make friends for life

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 13:34:29 +0000

On a mission you make friends for life Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/04/2023 - 14:34

His territory is an operating theatre in a war zone. Karel Odložilík, an OT nurse in the army and a Faculty of Health Studies graduate, has experienced base attacks, and many wounded and losses on eight foreign missions – memories that will remain with him for the rest of his life. But he made friends and gained valuable experience.

What is the job of a perioperative or OT nurse?

A perioperative nurse works in the operating theatre and cares for the patient before, during and after surgery. Before the operation, together with the porter and the anaesthetic nurse, the OT nurse receives the patient and checks the name, date of birth, type of operation and, if necessary, the side to be operated on. He then makes a mark on the correct side with a permanent marker. He also checks the allergy history. During the operation, the nurse is either a surgical technologist who assists the operating group or a so-called circulating nurse who unpacks the sterile material and is the liaison between the sterile group and the surrounding area. At the end of the procedure, he transports the patient to the recovery room or intensive care unit.

You're a perioperative nurse in the army. What was your first mission?

The first mission is, of course, unforgettable. It was 20 years ago. In the autumn of 2002, I landed at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, and found myself in a completely different world. As I was transported from the airport to our base, where the field hospital was located, I observed the locals, the Afghan architecture, and the wildness of the traffic. It was impressive and very different from what we are used to.

Were you in any danger there?

Because we also provided humanitarian care in our field hospital, we had no shortage of work, and we were quite popular with the locals, which was very convenient from a security point of view. During the three months I spent there, there wasn’t a single attack on our base, so we felt safe there.

Did you ever experience an attack on the base on other missions?

There were some attacks from time to time, but fortunately, nothing terrible happened. When nothing happens, you don't see it as dramatic. You accept it as part of the job, and you have to get over it, trying not to let it derail you.

You have to keep cool and calm in the operating theatre. How do you detach from what's going on around you?

Every OT nurse has to deal with stressful situations and work under pressure in the operation theatre at a regular hospital, so I was prepared for this. I didn't see a fundamental difference there. Moreover, a field hospital is usually located at the back, where the danger is not as enormous as when leaving the base.

What does it take for a perioperative nurse to go on a mission?

In addition to adequate education, one of the prerequisites is physical fitness and knowledge of the English language. Another requirement is good health and mental resilience. Every soldier must undergo a thorough medical examination and psychological testing before deployment. The whole group goes through an intensive and comprehensive training before departure, tailored to the place of deployment. It is adapted to the location to which they are going, the nationalities that live there, and also, for example, geographical conditions or epidemiological situations.

How many missions have you been on?

I have taken part in eight foreign operations. The first time I went, I was stressed and imagined all the things that could happen. When I was about to go for the eighth time, I realised that I perceived the missions as less dangerous. I've been through enough, so few things surprise me. But it always depends on where we operate, the security of the base, and the local political situation.

What is your strongest positive and negative experience from a mission?

When I was leaving for my first mission, my colleague told me something I will not forget: "Charlie, you make friends for life on a mission." I can confirm that. The mission experience is intense, and you get to know people much more because you spend 24 hours a day with them. So, considering the positive, it's the new contacts and friendships I made there. As for the negative experiences, we often dealt with serious injuries, and saving lives in the operating theatre was very emotional and dramatic. You never forget that.

What is the ratio of women to men in this physically and mentally demanding profession?

In this case, the numbers are no different from civilian health care, where non-medical health care staff are primarily women. It is the same in the army. Women also have to manage dangerous missions simply because there are not many male nurses. At our 6^th Field Hospital, about 60% are women, and 40% are men.

What is a typical day like for an OT nurse on a mission?

A typical day is similar to that of a standard perioperative nurse in a Czech hospital. Even after managing the scheduled surgeries for a particular day, the team must always be on call. If necessary, we have to run to the workplace immediately and be able to operate on acute cases. A specific feature is the mass admission of the wounded, in which the entire hospital is immediately activated. All workplaces must be ready to receive large numbers of wounded within a predetermined time limit. So even when we're off duty, we must be on the radio 24/7.

And what's your day like after you get back from your mission?

After returning from a mission, we work in internship facilities, which are also civilian hospitals. I work in the orthopaedic and trauma wards of the hospital in Přerov, where there is always much to do. Especially now, after the pandemic, when waiting times have increased and we're behind with operations. My day starts with discussing who will do what over the surgery plan for the day. The surgery schedule is followed by cleaning, restocking the OTs, and ordering materials we’ve used. We then prepare the theatres for the next day's surgery, and the serving team awaits any acute operations. On top of that, we still meet the schedule of the day. For example, we sterilise materials, prepare disinfectants, or provide transport of biological material.

You also served in a field hospital for Covid patients. What was your role there?

I served as the senior nurse of this backup facility and was there as a specialist for the non-medical staff. We prepared a field hospital for 500 patients within a few days. They were going to be placed there when the capacity in conventional medical facilities had been exhausted. We were prepared for patients that were no longer in critical condition and those with a milder course. Fortunately, the hospital didn't have to be used in the end.

What did the field hospital look like?

There were huge, heated halls at the Prague Exhibition Centre, where we created several sectors of 50 beds each with mobile screens. The halls were connected by filters with facilities for all the staff.

Can a field hospital be equipped to meet the standards we know from a conventional hospital?

It all depends on the place of deployment: whether you build the hospital in tents or brick buildings, and whether there is heat, light, water, waste pipes, electricity, etc. It's challenging to ensure hygienic epidemiological standards in such improvised conditions. We can never come close to conventional brick buildings, where there is filtering equipment, entrance filters in which the operational group changes clothes, and so on. As far as the equipment and materials are concerned, it is already the same as in a regular hospital. But we were part of an international hospital with the British, for example, where there were tents, and a soldier would come in his uniform, wash his hands, throw on his surgical gown, and go into the operating theatre. In short, it always depends on what's available.

After 20 years of service, you're going to leave the army. Why the change?

The reasons are purely personal. Our Military Medical Agency is located in Hradec Králové, and I live near Olomouc. As a soldier, I spend a lot of time away from home, which I want to change. I want to be at home with my family more. It's time for me to prioritise them.

And will you keep your job?

I'm returning to the operating theatres at the hospital in Přerov, where I started 25 years ago and where I still come to help. I know all the staff. It is a place that is not foreign to me, and the work is close to my heart.

Let's go back in time. Why did you attend the Faculty of Health Studies all those years ago?

When I was studying, the 51�Թ�� was the only one offering a master's degree in perioperative care. Moreover, I had positive reviews from my niece, who had previously studied perioperative care in Pardubice.

How do you remember your studies?

I remember it fondly. I expanded my knowledge and skills, but also my contacts. I met many inspiring professionals, and even after 25 years of practice in operating theatres, the study was still beneficial for me. I also appreciated the lectures on management and statistics, which I now draw on in my position as senior nurse with a team of 60 people under me.

The Faculty of Health Studies invests in professional equipment and has acquired, for example, a laboratory that simulates an operating theatre…

That's excellent news because I know from experience that practical teaching of perioperative care is the most beneficial. Not only do you see what it looks like in the operating theatre, but you can imitate and practise various activities. Students can also see the instruments and devices, which gives them more than just a picture in a book.

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Mgr. Karel Odložilík (1975)

In 2011, he graduated from Vysoká škola zdravotníctva a sociálnej práce sv. Alžbety (St. Elizabeth College of Health and Social Work) in Bratislava.
He completed his master's degree in perioperative care at the Faculty of Health Studies of UPCE, where he graduated in 2020.
He has more than 25 years’ experience from operating theatres in civilian and military hospitals.
He has been on eight overseas missions as a perioperative nurse in the army.
He served as a senior nurse at the Letňany field hospital for 500 coronavirus patients.
He enjoys spending his free time with his family, in the garden or riding his bike.

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A book written in two weeks, now ready for reviews

Ing. Lenka Krejčíková — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 09:50:12 +0000

A book written in two weeks, now ready for reviews Ing. Lenka Kre… Thu, 10/01/2020 - 11:50

Ladislav Slezák, a graduate of the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy of the 51�Թ��, who has been shortlisted for the Jiří Orten Award for his book called Mount Anne, describes last year as a creative one. He adds that he has never written anything in such a short time. Even though he did not win the award in the end, he sees the actual shortlisting as success, since it brought attention to his work.

What does it mean for you to be shortlisted?

I follow the Jiří Orten Award every year. When a book is shortlisted, it is a sign of high-quality literary work irrespective of which book ends up winning the award. That is why I really appreciate being shortlisted since it brought attention to Mount Anne.

What are the reasons behind the success of your book? What makes it special?

The strength of Mount Anne lies in its authenticity. In fact, it was not written to published. It was meant as a personal poetic story. I felt free and calm when writing it. I did not think about anything and just kept writing. I finished it in two weeks. Then I shared the manuscript with three friends and adapted it according to their comments. Never before had I written a text in such a short time or had opened myself so much in a text. That is the strength of the book, which may help some readers find out what really is important in the world.

Did you follow what literary critics wrote?

I would, but there is not much to follow. There are many books of poems appearing these days and their quality varies a lot. This makes it difficult for the critics and reviewers to choose a book for review. I have been following current Czech poetry for a long time and I actually teach a special subject about it at a secondary school.

It is extremely difficult to find your ways, and therefore reviews are scarce. I believe that I will be able to read a review of my work thanks to being shortlisted for the award. But let’s face it, you do not write books because of reviews. Mount Anne is dedicated to all who have lost themselves. If it helps anyone to get back to their self, then the book was not written in vain. And the number of reviews is irrelevant in this respect.

Will the fact of being shortlisted for this award serve as motivation for further writing?

Generally speaking, last year was extremely creative for me. I wrote a lot, and I have not stopped polishing it yet. Being shortlisted was, in a way, a sign of appreciation telling me that it makes sense to keep writing and that I have something to share with my readers. At the same time, it taught me that there is nowhere to run or nothing to push for. If you write a good text, it will attract some attention.

Do you have any favourite authors among the Award winners?

Since my MA degree, I have read all the shortlisted titles and I choose my own personal winner every year (and this year was no exception in this respect). My personal preference lies with poetry; my favourite authors include Ondřej Buddeus, Ondřej Hanus, Jan Těsnohlídek Jr., Jan Nemček. Two years ago, I loved the work of Ondřej Macl. Last year, the work of Anna Cima appealed to me.

Mgr. Ladislav Slezák (1990)

A graduate of the History of Literary Culture at the 51�Թ��. At the moment, he works as a secondary school teacher. His focus lies with education and didactics of humanities. He made his debut with a poem entitledNoc s klaunem (In English: Night with a clown, 2013). This was followed by a collection of poems calledMonotónně znějící samoty (In English: Monotone solitude, 2015) and a poem called Hořký letopočet (In English: Bitter year, 2017). He published a poem in prose called Mount Anne (2019), for which he has been shortlisted for Jiří Orten Award. He published in magazines including Host, Dobrá adresa, Tahy, Partonyma, Plž.

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TEXT: Věra Přibylová/PHOTO: Zuzana Martínková - Cena Jiřího Ortena

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