Interview with Anna Poledňáková, a sixth-year General Medicine student at the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, who received the Rector’s Award for Outstanding Academic and Scientific Achievement during Dies Academicus 2026. She was among 24 individuals recognized for their exceptional contributions to the advancement of science, education, teaching, the arts, and public life. The ceremony also included the presentation of four Masaryk University Gold Medals, four Silver Medals, and one Bronze Medal, highlighting the university’s commitment to knowledge, collaboration, and social responsibility.
What does this award mean to you at the end of your studies?
Receiving the Rector’s Award of Masaryk University is an immense honour for me. From the moment I received the nomination, I felt great joy and considered it a major achievement in itself. Honestly, I never expected that, in such a strong competition of outstanding individuals from across the university, I would be the one to receive the award. At the same time, I feel that the recognition does not belong solely to me, but should be shared among the circle of wonderful people around me. I am thinking mainly of my family and my partner, who have always supported me in my work and studies, my supervisor, who inspired me to pursue science and research, and last but not least, my classmates from Group 1, thanks to whom I can truly say that I thoroughly enjoyed my studies.
What do you consider the key to your academic success?
I would say it is probably a combination of my diligence and perfectionism, my genuine enjoyment of medicine, and the fact that I was fortunate enough to meet inspiring people along my journey, as well as opportunities that appeared and that I was able to take advantage of at the right time.
What led you to study General Medicine?
I first started thinking about studying medicine thanks to my grandmother, who worked her whole life as a paediatrician. Because of that, I was never afraid of doctors as a child, and the hospital environment felt natural and welcoming to me. Later, at grammar school, when I began to focus more on science subjects than the humanities, my decision to apply to medical school gained a rational dimension as well. I have never regretted that decision.
Which area of medicine interested you the most during your studies, and why?
I do not think it is necessarily common for specialisations to be “inherited” in medical families, but I have always been most drawn to paediatrics. I started my first year with the vision of becoming a paediatrician, and although I developed an interest in other fields during my studies, I am finishing them still committed to paediatrics. My decision was further confirmed by studying in a paediatric-focused group from the fourth year onwards. At the same time, my work at the Department of Physiology sparked my interest in neuroscience. Neurology appealed to me mainly because of the wide scope for research and investigation, something I would not want to give up even while practising clinically. In the future, I would like to combine these two interests and become a paediatric neurologist.
How have your perceptions of medicine changed during your studies?
When I started my first year, I had a rather general idea that medicine was mainly about doctors treating patients in hospitals or in their own practices. While that was not entirely wrong, studying at the Faculty of Medicine at MU showed me a much broader perspective. In my third year, thanks to Associate Professor Markéta Bébarová, I was introduced to preclinical medical research, and two years later, also to teaching younger students in physiology practicals. I greatly enjoyed both roles and promised myself that I would do everything possible to become not only a clinician, but also, at least in part, a researcher and a teacher.
How did you choose your specialisation and employer?
When looking for a job, it was essential for me to begin specialist training in paediatrics, or later paediatric neurology, while also having the opportunity to engage in research and contribute to teaching at the Faculty of Medicine. After six wonderful years in Brno, I am returning to my home region and will be starting at the Children’s Clinic of the University Hospital in Olomouc in August.
What has studying at the Faculty of Medicine MU given you?
In addition to high-quality education and opportunities for scientific and teaching development, the Faculty of Medicine has given me a life partner, many wonderful friendships, valuable contacts, and allowed the seed of my interest in medicine to grow into a strong tree that will hopefully soon begin to bear fruit.
How would you evaluate the faculty’s facilities and environment?
Our faculty has a beautiful campus with modern facilities and a Simulation Centre that ranks among the most advanced of its kind in Europe. SIMU was one of the reasons I chose to study medicine in Brno. Other advantages include the possibility of studying in specialised groups, such as the Programme for Motivated Students of General Medicine with scientific training (P-Pool) and the paediatric track, which I personally experienced. I am pleased to say that at MUNI I always encountered a fair approach from lecturers and strong support for any student effort beyond the curriculum. My work at the Department of Physiology is a good example of this. Among extracurricular medical activities, I would highlight IFMSA Brno and the Medical Students’ Association of the Faculty of Medicine MU, which allow students to engage in preventive and educational activities, connect with other students, and undertake scientific or clinical placements abroad. I was a member of the IFMSA “Save a Life” section for three years, where we trained the public in first aid. This experience broadened my horizons and enabled me to complete a four-week clinical placement in neurosurgery in Sumatra.
Who or what influenced or inspired you the most during your studies?
From the very beginning, I looked up to academic authorities—professors, clinicians, and older students who had already passed demanding exams. I most admired those whose enthusiasm for their field was so evident and infectious that they could inspire an entire seminar room. Encounters with such individuals stayed with me for a long time and motivated me to one day work in a field that fulfils me, helps patients, and allows me to pass on enthusiasm to future generations. I found this same approach in the research group “Excitability and Its Disorders” led by Associate Professor Markéta Bébarová. I will always be grateful that I happened to take my physiology exam in her office, and that, alongside passing the exam, I was also offered the opportunity to join research at the department. From my third year onwards, I became part of the neuroscience section of the group, focusing on research into the effects of miRNA expression inhibition on the electrical activity of hippocampal neurons, with potential clinical applications in treating drug-resistant epilepsy. I learned laboratory electrophysiology techniques, data analysis, scientific reading, and presenting research at conferences. It was an entirely new and wonderful experience, and I am deeply grateful to Dr Bébarová and her team for their time, patience, and knowledge.
What would you recommend to younger students aiming for similar achievements?
There is no simple universal formula. The key is to find something in medicine—or a particular field—that genuinely interests and motivates you. With that kind of motivation, studying becomes much easier. It also requires perseverance and a willingness to devote time to your studies or research, supported by understanding people around you, with whom you can share both the joys and challenges of being a medical student.
What do you do outside of medicine? What helps you maintain balance?
Since primary school, I have played the piano. In my free time, I also enjoy baking and cooking, although during my sixth year I had very little time for these activities. I also like travelling and discovering new places with my partner, both at home and abroad. Since secondary school, I have worked part-time as a guide and dispatcher at the Zbrašov Aragonite Caves, where we have had the opportunity, during study trips, to explore both accessible and inaccessible caves across the Czech Republic.
Despite the heatwave, many interested visitors made their way to the Medicinal Herbs Centre during the 64th Medicinal Plant Exhibition. They were drawn by the blooming botanical garden and a panel exhibition titled Poppy, Cannabis, Drugs: Helpers and Tempters of Humanity.
Ten guests and inspiration spanning a wide range of disciplines. The second season of Breakfast with a Scientist once again brought together researchers, students, teachers, and clinicians. The third season of this unique series of informal gatherings will begin on 22 September.
