Portrait – doc. MUDr. Jiří Gatěk, Ph.D.
10. March 2022Associate Professor Gatěk is a university lecturer at the Institute of Health Sciences at FHS, an internationally recognised specialist in oncosurgery and breast cancer, a traveller, and a recreational athlete.
He is also a member of the board of the Czech Surgical Society JEP, Chairman of the Mammology Section of the Czech Surgical Society JEP, and a member of the Oncology and Gastroenterology Society JEP. Additionally, he is a member of the International Society of Surgery and its Breast Surgery Section.
He graduated in General Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine at Palacký University in Olomouc. In 2003, he earned his Ph.D. from Masaryk University in Brno, where he habilitated in 2015 and was appointed Associate Professor. His connection to academia began during his medical studies, where he worked as a student research assistant. He continues to pursue professional development through participation in conferences, internships, and seminars. From 1990 to 2020, he served as Head of the Surgery Department at EUC Clinic in Zlín.
Before we move on to your profession: What do you enjoy doing in your free time? What is your life like when you take off the white coat?
My passion is travelling. With my wife, we have literally travelled the world with just backpacks on our shoulders. If I’m not travelling or at work, then it’s definitely sport. I have cycled the high alpine road Grossglockner Hochalpenstraße four times, and recently I’ve advanced in swimming – I don’t even mind swimming in icy water…
What career did you dream of when you were studying at medical school? What ultimately led you to choose your field?
The path to medicine was quite straightforward for me because my father was a pharmacist in the village, and my mother was a nurse, so illnesses and treatments were often the subject of family discussions. Surgery captivated me during my mandatory internship after the second year of medical school. I still remember tying a surgical mask for Professor Šerý and wishing to do similar work. In my field, my desire to contribute to the development of surgery for tumours and lymph nodes, helping women diagnosed with breast cancer, played a dominant role. I wanted not only to cure them but also to enable them to live comfortably without the consequences of surgery. I felt it was unfair for women to often undergo unnecessary mastectomies at that time, which I aimed to prevent through my intensive work and efforts to advance oncosurgery. Research and work in this area have always been deeply fulfilling for me and continue to be so. I have always strived to apply new knowledge, research findings, and methods acquired abroad to the Czech environment.
You are a recognised expert in the field of oncosurgery. Do you have any rituals before entering the operating theatre? What is your favourite moment during surgery? Do you remember your first operation?
I don’t have any special rituals, but as soon as I step into the operating theatre, I begin to focus entirely on the task at hand. Every surgery is preceded by thorough preparation. Of course, I remember my first operation. It was an appendectomy, which was entrusted to me during my sixth year of medical school by Associate Professor Skácel.
FHS is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. How do you remember the beginnings of your work at Tomas Bata University? How did this collaboration come about?
Working at FHS allows me to combine the demanding and exhausting work of a surgeon with academic activities, which I have always had a strong affinity for. During medical school, I worked in the Department of Normal Anatomy as a volunteer, demonstrator, and eventually as a part-time assistant. After entering clinical practice, I missed the academic environment, so I gladly accepted the opportunity to work at the university – it also gave me the chance to further my education.
My dissertation and habilitation were not driven by the goal of achieving a higher job title; they were my personal initiative, stemming from an interest in advancing surgery – specifically oncosurgery – and continuously educating myself and staying up to date with the latest knowledge. I still enjoy publishing and engaging in research to this day.
You work at the Institute of Health Sciences in the General Nursing study programme. Do you see nurses as assistants to doctors, or as independent professionals? What education and competencies do you think nurses should have?
The role of nurses in the healthcare system is irreplaceable. Modern medicine is increasingly a team effort, requiring various specialisations and personalities. Each team member has a specific task to fulfil with maximum dedication. Nurses hold a crucial position in the system, corresponding to their education, experience, and willingness to engage in the process – as well as to take responsibility. Greater independence always comes with greater responsibility. This applies to all team members, including nurses.
Could you compare today’s students with those in the past, in terms of their educational opportunities and academic abilities?
I have had the opportunity to observe bachelor’s students practically since the beginning of healthcare education at FHS UTB. In the past, it was clear that students wanted and intended to work in healthcare, so they were eager to absorb as much knowledge as possible for their future practice. Now, I feel that their primary goal is simply to obtain a bachelor’s degree.
There are currently more men among students training to become nurses. How do you view this trend?
Modern times bring new trends, not only in medicine. There are more men entering nursing, while women increasingly dominate medical school.
Do you agree with the opinion of some doctors that university-educated nurses are not necessary in practice?
Modern medicine introduces many changes to previously well-established and unchanging procedures. As in other fields, promoting new ideas in medicine is often not straightforward and involves overcoming numerous obstacles. The rigid structure of auxiliary staff, nurses, and doctors is a thing of the past. New positions are emerging that require appropriate education, and the line between nurses and doctors is no longer as sharply defined. Due to economic and social pressures in healthcare, accompanied by a shortage of doctors, procedures are emerging that do not strictly need to be performed by a doctor but are complex enough to require a university-educated nurse. A nurse should therefore have competencies corresponding to their level of education, which also relates to their professional role.
What role does family and marriage play for healthcare professionals? What kind of support does a healthcare worker need from their partner and family?
Working in healthcare places significant demands on understanding patients’ struggles, which often leaves little energy to fully address family concerns. Without support and understanding at home, it is impossible to provide high-quality healthcare.
What is your opinion on the workload of students in qualification studies (practice and theory) and writing bachelor’s theses for healthcare students?
Clinical practice is undoubtedly an essential part of the curriculum. During my studies, we had three weeks of practice after the third year, and six weeks after the fourth and fifth years – always during the summer holidays. We accepted it as part of the process. Now, it is less. Working in hospital departments during studies is crucial for both medical and nursing students. The balance between clinical practice and theoretical teaching should be maintained to ensure students are academically educated, familiar with hospital workflows, and aware of the demands they will face.
I do not consider bachelor’s theses in their current form to be beneficial. They are overly formal and fail to fulfil their intended purpose. At the bachelor’s level, I believe it would be sufficient and more beneficial for students to focus on a selected healthcare topic, demonstrating their ability to work with literature. I would reserve research-based work for master’s level studies.
What is your opinion on publishing by academic staff in healthcare professions What kind of professional experience should they have?
Clinical practice is essential for publishing in healthcare professions. Without it, publishing becomes very difficult and often of little value to clinical practice.
How can one avoid burnout in medicine?
I believe rest is essential, as well as being passionate about the work, which should bring joy and fulfilment.
Who did you look up to or still admire? Who is your critic or mentor? Is there anyone like that?
Before I became a department head, I was mentored by two senior consultants – Chief physician Rathauzský and Chief physician Grossman. Both were tremendous sources of experience and significantly shaped my growth as a surgeon. Later, during my study stays in the Czech Republic and abroad, I encountered exceptional figures in Czech and global surgery. These encounters always inspired me to keep working and to absorb as much as possible from their knowledge, experience, advice, and perspectives.
In the penultimate question, we return to the beginning of the interview – to travelling. How has it enriched you, what has it brought and continues to bring to your life? Which country left the biggest impression on you, and which one is still just a plan?
My travels abroad can be divided into three areas, with the driving force always being the desire for further knowledge – not only of the countries themselves but also in the field of medicine. The first purpose of my travels was attending congresses, where I always participated actively. These allowed me to strengthen my publishing and scientific activities. Next were professional placements, which gave me the opportunity to observe the work of colleagues in places like Washington, Tampa, Sydney, Houston, Tokyo, Seoul, and elsewhere. I spent entire days in clinics, leaving little time to appreciate the beauty of these cities. The sole objective of these visits was to gather as much information as possible. On other occasions, I combined exploration with tourism. For example, in New Zealand, I contacted a clinic in Auckland to ask if I could observe their work. I combined this visit with travelling around New Zealand and gaining insight into their way of life. Placements always motivated me in my work and pushed me further in my efforts to implement the knowledge I had acquired into practice at home. In the U.S., for example, I experienced programmes with a strict schedule. I was given the opportunity to look into every aspect I wished to see and learn – and there was a lot I wanted to know. I realised there that the foundation of quality work lies, first and foremost, in having data from one’s own work. Quality assessment of any activity cannot be based on feelings. Thanks to correspondence with the distinguished and internationally recognised Professor Sasaco, an expert in gastric cancer, I was able to visit an oncology clinic in Japan where he worked. Along with gaining knowledge of modern gastric cancer surgery, I also forged a lasting friendship with such an important figure – another benefit of many trips abroad. I have made several such friends, and many of them, including Prof. Sasaco, have lectured in Zlín.
Finally, I travelled with my wife for holidays, as I mentioned, independently with a backpack. Even during these trips, I always found time to visit clinics, university hospitals, and private clinics – for example, in the Philippines, Chile, Peru, and Mexico – allowing me to gain insight into the standard of medical care in those countries. At each clinic I visited abroad, I learned something valuable, compared their methods and approaches with those in the Czech Republic, and evaluated what could be applied back home.
All these experiences led me to realise that not everything I admired could be applied in our country, given the unique conditions of each place.
During my travels, I experienced wildfires in Australia, landslides in the Philippines, and an earthquake in Peru. These experiences boosted my confidence and made me realise that we can cope with difficult situations. All these activities had one goal – to grow as a person and as a professional.
Do you know what you would do if you weren’t a doctor?
I can’t imagine not being a doctor. It’s my calling – a job that brings me joy and makes me happy.