Medicine, motherhood, and tap dancing: the many roles of Jarmila Heissigerová
Today, seeing female specialists perform life-saving surgeries or lead ground-breaking medical research feels entirely natural. However, not long ago, women faced significant obstacles in entering the field. It was only in 1902 that the first woman, Anna Honzáková, received a medical degree from Prague’s Charles University. More than a century later, Jarmila Heissigerová is among the many women who have followed in her footsteps—she heads the largest teaching eye department in the Czech Republic and is a professor at Charles University.
At just 16, Jarmila Heissigerová was diagnosed with what doctors initially believed to be an incurable eye disease that could lead to blindness. Though the diagnosis turned out to be incorrect, the experience may have had an impact on her career choice, as she recalls:
“It was just before graduation. I was terrified I wouldn’t finish high school because, overnight, I lost vision in one eye. I could only see peripherally, but wherever I looked, there was a huge black spot. Worse, the sick eye was affecting my vision in the other eye.
“They sent me to the teaching hospital—coincidentally, the same clinic I run today—where doctors noticed changes in my ocular background. They diagnosed me with a congenital retinal disease and warned it could later affect my other eye."
Fortunately, the doctors were wrong, and within three months, her sight returned completely, she says:
“Whoever arranged it, I am grateful that I got my vision back. It was an incredibly intense experience and may have influenced my career choice, though I can’t say for sure.”
After finishing medical school, Mrs. Heissigerová spent a year working at the General University Hospital’s eye clinic before receiving an opportunity to study in Scotland as part of her PhD research into ocular immunology. Thanks to a collaboration between the Prague department and Professor John Forrester’s team in Aberdeen, she was able to spend over a year there.
“Two years later, Professor Forrester reached out again with an even better opportunity—this time, not just research, but hands-on clinical experience. I would work in the clinic, assist in surgeries, participate in rounds, and contribute to clinical studies on ocular immunology. It was a tough decision, but I accepted the offer and ultimately stayed in Aberdeen for another two years. The work was pioneering, providing me with a strong foundation in scientific research while also giving me insight into the local healthcare system.”
Today, Mrs. Heissigerová leads a department at Prague’s Teaching Hospital, overseeing 120 employees, including more than 60 nurses and around 50 doctors.
“When I took over as head of the eye clinic on February 1, 2016, I thought management would mostly involve financial and economic decisions. But in my first week, I quickly realized that, for the next nine years, I’d be dealing with people more than anything else. Now, when someone tells me they’re considering a leadership role in another clinic, I always warn them, ‘Be careful. This job is mainly about dealing with people!’”
Despite her administrative and surgical workload, Mrs. Heissigerová remains committed to scientific research. Alongside her colleague Petra Svozílková, she helped establish the first model of ocular inflammation in the Czech Republic.
“We adapted a successful model from Aberdeen, originally developed in the US. For the past 13 years, we have been researching it. Our first small grant came unexpectedly, but it led to a series of further grants. Eventually, we focused on the role of the microbiome in eye diseases and ocular inflammation.”
While she has never personally felt discriminated against in her profession, Mrs. Heissigerová acknowledges experiencing bias during her studies in the 1990s.
“Some professors, especially in surgery and orthopaedics, clearly favoured male students. During state exams, they even asked female students about cooking dumplings. I don’t think that would happen today.
“But when I joined the clinic, my mentors—Professor Martin Filipec in Prague and Professor Forrester in Aberdeen—were incredibly open to collaboration and gave me every opportunity.”
Despite her positive experiences, she recognizes that female representation in leadership remains low.
“Not long ago, the scientific board of the 1st Medical Faculty had 57 or 58 members, but only seven were women. This imbalance isn’t due to a lack of willingness from deans or rectors—on the contrary. It’s often because women enter high-ranking academic positions later, partly due to family commitments.”
Balancing a demanding career with raising three children hasn’t been easy, but she credits her family’s unwavering support.
“When I was pregnant with my second child, I was encouraged to write my habilitation thesis. My entire family rallied around me, helping with my one-year-old so I could focus on my work. Later, when I was offered the chance to audition for head of the clinic, I consulted my family first. By then, I already had three children, the youngest of which was five. But not everyone is lucky enough to have such support.”
Beyond medicine and family, Mrs. Heissigerová has a lifelong passion for tap dancing, which she teaches alongside her husband. At one point, she even considered making it her career.
“During my second year of medical school, I received many offers to teach and compete. Medical school was incredibly demanding, and at one point, I seriously considered pursuing tap dance professionally. But during an internship in Germany, I was reminded of my passion for medicine. I’m glad I chose this path, but tap dancing remains a beloved hobby that brings me joy.”
When asked which historical physician she would like to meet, Mrs. Heissigerová had no doubt it would be Anna Honzáková, the first woman to graduate from Charles University’s medical school in 1902.
“She must have been not only intelligent but truly extraordinary to fight against deep-rooted prejudice and push through barriers that seemed insurmountable. When I look at my own career today, I know that women like her made it possible. For that, I am deeply grateful, and I am speaking for all women here.”
Anna Honzáková – The first Czech female doctor who chose medicine over family life
As one of six children of progressive physician Jan Honzák, Anna Honzáková developed an early interest in medicine. Born in Kopidlno, in the Hradec Králové Region of today’s Czech Republic, she excelled academically, graduating from Prague’s first girls’ grammar school. However, despite her achievements, gaining access to a formal medical education remained a challenge.
At the time, medical exams were open to the public, and whenever Anna sat for an exam, she attracted large crowds of classmates eager to watch. During the practical portion of her final examination, the auditorium was said to be packed to capacity.
Despite the obstacles she faced, she persevered. On Monday, March 17, 1902, Anna Honzáková became the first woman to earn a medical degree from Prague's Charles-Ferdinand University (the former name of today’s Charles University between the 17th century and 1918). Though this was a ground-breaking moment, it received little recognition outside of women’s magazines.
After graduation, Honzáková was required to complete three years of unpaid clinical practice. Finding paid work proved just as difficult as her studies had been. In 1905, she took matters into her own hands and opened a gynecology practice in the heart of Prague. Women from all walks of life sought her care—her patients ranged from National Theatre stars and businesswomen to impoverished women, whom she treated free of charge.
Honzáková was an active member of Minerva, an organization that ran a girls’ grammar school, and worked alongside Františka Plamínková in the Czech Women’s Club and the Committee for Women’s Suffrage.
She advocated for responsible family planning, helping to advance education on contraception. However, she opposed abortion as a substitute for effective contraception, a stance that drew heavy criticism from left-wing activists.
Due to health issues, she was forced to close her practice in 1939. She passed away in Prague on October 13, 1940, just a month before her 65th birthday.
Related
-
Czech female pioneers and their modern successors
Discover the inspiring stories of women who have made it in 'traditionally male' professions, and learn about the female pioneers who first paved the way.
