The Academic Senate of the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University chose the new dean at its mid-May session. It voted for Martin Bareš, the current vice-rector for academic affairs and vice-head for research and development at the First Department of Neurology of St. Anne’s University Hospital.
Bareš, who obtained 32 votes from the present members of the Academic Senate, is now waiting to be appointed by the MU Rector Mikuláš Bek. He will be the head of the faculty for four years, beginning in February 2018. His predecessor, Jiří Mayer, has been the dean for two terms of office and could not stand for the office again.
The new dean’s main goals include lowering the number of students per faculty member and building a simulation centre to support practical education of medical students at the Bohunice campus, which will be made possible through European funds.
Moreover, he wants to focus on the development of study programmes taught in English and on attracting talented students. He plans to improve the public image of the faculty and the communication with both students and graduates, and also to prioritize relationships with the faculty hospitals, which are key for the practical education of students at the Faculty of Medicine.