CHARLES UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF MEDICINE IN HRADEC KRALOVE, CZECH REPUBLIC
The oldest university in central Europe, the Charles University was founded on April 7, 1348 by Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia.
From its foundation it was devoted to studia generalia and the emperor endowed it with all the privileges enjoyed by older European universities. In accordance with medieval conceptions of the academic range of a complete university, the newly established university had four faculties - Theology, Law, Medicine and Arts.
Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove started its educational activities on November 25, 1945 as the first university faculty in East Bohemia. Initially, the Hradec Kralove faculty was established as a part of the Prague Faculty of Medicine. Due to their co-operation and assistance it was immediately possible to establish both a high quality teaching staff and an effective departmental structure in Hradec Kralove. The first post-war Czechoslovak president, Dr. Edvard Benes, confirmed this successful development during his visit in 1946. Because of the "Cold War", the faculty was transformed into a Military Medical Academy for a short time. However, in September 1958, the Faculty returned back to Charles University. For its entire 57 years of existence, the Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove has been among the top Czech university institutions.
The clinical instruction for General Medicine and Dentistry students takes place in the University Hospital.
Scientifically and pedagogically the University Hospital closely co-operates with the Faculty of Medicine.
The University Hospital was founded on the basis of one of the most advanced district hospitals at the same time as the Faculty of Medicine (in 1945). It can be proud of being a leader in many aspects of medical development. For instance the first operations on the heart, performed in Hradec Kralove in the years of 1947 - 1951 by the academician Jan Bedrna, were the start of Czech cardiosurgery. In the year 1952 Prof. Rudolf Klen founded the first tissue bank in Hradec Kralove. In the same year the academician Rudolf Petr is credited with originating the first neurosurgical clinic in the Republic. Starting in 1958 Prof. Jaroslav Prochazka was one of the first to use extracorporeal circulation during open heart surgery. In the year 1967 Prof. Josef Erben began the regular use of haemodialysis - also as the first in this country.
