When you see certain people, you can tell that they really love their job. And in order to support it, they might even enter politics to be able to push their field's agenda. Politics to them is a means to do good, not their life's goal or desire. Julius Špičák is just such a person.
You ran for the Senate and later for the Chamber... Why did you actually decide to go into politics?
It is rather simple. I feel that it gives me a certain opportunity to realize my – let's call them – ambitions, in my field. They are very reasonable, I certainly do not wish to become a full-time politician... But it simply gives me a chance to promote certain ideas in the field of medicine, science, and research. A better chance than if I was not in politics.
And have you been successful in promoting these ideas?
I feel that it has been going rather well, especially regarding the issues under my jurisdiction – the efficiency of research, distribution, and the related funding. It is also true that you cannot do a whole lot in four years, time goes by too quickly. So I am running for reelection in the upcoming term as well.
If you were to be offered a very high rank in politics that would mean having to limit your current work, what would you choose?
I will never get an offer like that... [laughs] But I know that I would not give up my work.
IKEM is a facility known beyond Czech borders. Would you say that the gastroenterological department is on par with the world's best?
It depends on the way you look at it. I am convinced that it is, if we are talking about the scope and quality of the basic, as well as specialized, care that we offer, which is the most important part after all. It is definitely on par in terms of the range of specialized operations we perform, transplantations for instance – it is rather surprising because the budget compared to the volume of surgeries is much lower than in neighboring countries such as Austria or Germany. Sadly, it does not quite match up in the aforementioned fields of science and research.
Do we have fewer scientists here or not enough funding for science?
I think that the right kind of motivation is what is really missing. Let me simplify things by using a sports analogy, a football one specifically – we have learned that we cannot play at the top of our game with only local players. Slavia, for instance, has more foreign than Czech players. And science is the same. Therefore, if we cannot ensure that we have foreign experts on our national scientific team, we will have a hard time moving forward.
Are they better? Or is their approach different?
It has been proven that people coming fresh from different countries are more motivated. Locals not as much, it makes sense too. For example, in America, it is common to not have a single native in a research lab. I believe that the US branch of the Max Planck Institute has around 75 percent of foreigners, and 38 percent of the managerial staff is from abroad.
Why do you feel it makes sense that local people are not as motivated?
People from other countries do not have a background here, they do not have any “childhood buddies”, they do not socialize as much. They work. And due to being foreigners, they have that much more to prove and achieve.
When your sixtieth birthday was approaching, the legend in your field, Dr. Kotrlík, said the following about you, “He likes to travel to exotic places, play volleyball, and ski. He has a number of friends, but he can come across as a little closed-off sometimes. I remember Professor Wurbs, who was very positive when describing Špičák, but he said that he should smile from time to time.” Have you learned to smile since then?
I sure did, I like to have fun. But I also enjoy being on my own, I am a bit of an introvert. I have no issues with communication, however. And Dr. Kotrlík was a great example of a very extroverted person, so he saw things in his own way.
That must have been something, an introvert and an extrovert meeting...
We were completely different, but we had a great amount of respect for one another, and our collaboration was always highly efficient. We managed one great thing together, among others – to organize a European congress in Prague that saw twice the number of attendees than the previous one or the one that followed in Copenhagen. It brought a lot of economical profit as well, it was a truly momentous occasion and leading authorities from all over Europe called it the best congress in a long time for many years afterward. All of that mainly due to the efforts of Dr. Kotrlík. I have very fond memories of him.
You specialize in gastroenterology. Do Czech people suffer from a lot of digestive system issues that could be prevented? Perhaps through a change in lifestyle?
We could definitely do better. To put things simply – yes, Czech people are not exactly first-class when it comes to a healthy lifestyle.
Your father is a well-known pediatrist and allergologist, your wife is also a doctor. One of your sisters also works in medicine, the other one in education. Your brother is a seismologist and volcanologist, as well as the director of the Institute of Geophysics of the CAS. It almost looks like a “non-scientist” would be lost in your family...
Not at all... I generally try to not sequester myself in any sort of bubbles so I am sure it would be just fine. I feel very good around people in general so I would certainly not have an issue with it.
When you have a family get-together, does it not look a bit like a science convention?
Definitely not. From time to time, I meet with my extended family and it is just like any other family gathering. I have to add that I have so much great professional feedback at work that I very much like to take a break in my personal life, also through talking to people from completely different lines of work. It is inspiring.
Since you like to travel to exotic locations, has the Covid pandemic thrown a wrench into your plans?
Into every single one so far! Also due to the fact that I am not your everyday tourist. To get off a plane in Yangon or Laos, grab my backpack, hail the first cab I come across, and just see where life takes me – that is a feeling I truly love. And Covid has taken that from me.
Is that really how you normally travel?
Yes, and it works perfectly for me. Because the taxi driver is usually very motivated and has an interest in arranging things for you, they make good money out of it. That is if you are not extra unlucky and come across a goon of some sort. I have not experienced that yet, though.
So you get to know the countries you go to in a very different way than a regular tourist...
Exactly. What's more, when you are there on your own, you are forced to talk to the locals. And in so doing, you get to know them in a very different light.
What places do you want to visit when it becomes possible again?
I have been thinking about Central America – Costa Rica is a favored destination nowadays. I went with my neighbor to Ecuador once, it was incredible. So unless the Far East opens up to travellers, I will be heading to the Carribbean.
Professor Julius Špičák, M.D. C.Sc. (born June 10, 1952, in Prague), is a gastroenterologist and head of the Hepatogastroenterology Department of the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM) in Prague. He has been an MP for the ANO 2011 movement since October 2017.
He graduated from the First Faculty of Medicine of the Charles University. He earned his gastroenterological postgraduate certificate in 1992, and has taken many other educational courses abroad. He has been at the IKEM since 1995. He works mainly in digestive endoscopy, pancreatology, and liver transplantation. He is a member of several scientific societies, recipient of many different awards, and author of a number of scientific papers.
In 2017, he was elected as MP for the ANO 2011 movement in the Central Bohemian Region, where he is now running for reelection.
He is married, his wife Marie is also a doctor. They have two daughters – Tereza (43) is a teacher, and Kateřina (38) lives in Spain and is a physician.
Both of Julius Špičák's parents also worked in medicine. He still keeps fit, by playing beach volleyball twice a week for instance.
Vaccinations
Julius Špičák has been vocal on several occasions about supporting Covid-19 vaccinations. He even mentioned the possibility of the vaccines being mandatory one day. Would he vote yes for it being mandatory then? “I am a proponent of vaccines. As regards it being mandatory... That is something we will start talking about based on how the pandemic develops,” he says. “The entire situation is not something we are in charge of. The doctors are not in charge, or the politicians, it is the pandemic holding the reigns. So it is definitely not a priority at this moment, but we shall see. We cannot predict how it will develop.”
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