Breaking Barriers and Balancing Roles: The Inspiring Journey of Assoc. Prof. Hanka Tomášková

Scientist, academic leader, and mom

Hana Tomášková emerges as a remarkable woman-scientist, balancing multiple roles in her professional and personal life. We shed some light on her diverse achievements, ranging from being an associate professor in information technology to serving as the chair of the Academic Senate. To the first question on the secret behind her success, she replies quite simply.

"There's no secret. I just have a passion for challenges, and I do what I love. I also relax by working. That makes things a lot easier."  

Hana Tomášková's journey into the field of science faced early trials, such as being the only girl in her high school class pursuing physics and mathematics. However, she navigated these obstacles with determination, eventually becoming the sole female student to complete her high school diploma in physics that year. As a woman in a predominantly male environment, she recognizes the existence of some apprehension among her male colleagues, acknowledging the additional responsibilities and expectations placed on women in her field.  

Despite the potential conflicts, she finds a unique synergy between the roles of a scientist, an academic leader, and a mother. Her family provides inspiration and energy rather than hindrance. Her experiences as a mother and her leadership roles contribute to her understanding and tolerance in various communication contexts, emphasizing the importance of being flexible and open-minded.  

She smiles when I ask about her ideas for her children's future careers, maybe following their mother's footsteps.

"I hope they will pursue paths that bring them fulfillment, irrespective of whether that'll be in science or anywhere else." 

Process tracing towards smart solutions

Recognized by the UHK's Rector as a highly-cited awardee in 2022, she stands out for her impactful contributions to process analysis and systems modeling in various social contexts. Her academic focus revolves around understanding and enhancing processes' functionality, whether within a company or in regular human interactions. Assoc. Prof. Tomášková expertise lies in modeling these processes as networks, creating flowcharts to highlight critical activities and responsible parties. Her unique blend of process analysis and systems dynamics sets her apart in the field.  

"My primary emphasis is on software design processes. I focus not only on theoretical models but practical solutions that businesses can adopt, particularly in the realm of custom software development." 

 

Data collection requires spending time within a company, understanding its operations from various perspectives, and collaborating with employees. This thorough understanding allows her to create comprehensive process models that reveal potential improvements and provide fresh perspectives to stakeholders.  

"Although my work requires a lot of data, and therefore a lot of time, the resulting solutions, on the contrary, save time. And private companies understand that time is money," adds Assoc. Prof. Tomášková.

 

Her preferred method, the BPMN 2.0 notation, is widely used in software design but is gradually gaining ground in other fields. This notation enables the creation of visual representations like flowcharts, offering a clear overview of complex processes. Her new article, Business process optimization for trauma planning, with practical examples applies this methodology to hospital trauma planning.

The healthcare industry, while heavily reliant on defined protocols and workflows, frequently encounters atypical behaviors and diverse stakeholder needs, necessitating adaptability and quick decision-making. This sector's evolution towards better understanding and enhancing processes is evidenced by research focusing on utilizing data analytics for decision-making, applying process mining techniques, revealing tacit knowledge, analyzing medication administration, and implementing electronic health records and clinical decision support systems. The urgency for these capabilities was underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic, with various studies proposing innovative solutions for crisis management and optimization, such as sustainable supply chain models for mask distribution and inter-organizational collaboration frameworks. Additionally, the article emphasizes the importance of efficiently designed health materials, like graphical process models, to improve emergency medical care and trauma planning, highlighting their effectiveness over traditional text and table formats in conveying critical information.

Interdisciplinarity in Alzheimer's disease research

"Working with colleagues from diverse fields is always enriching. In one particular project focused on the development of Alzheimer's disease in our population, I collaborated with a talented statistician, Dr. Jitka Kühnová, a brilliant woman from the Faculty of Science UHK, who is very keen on employing innovative statistical methods to analyze data."   

 

This collaboration proved invaluable, as Dr. Khünová provided crucial insights into adapting inventive statistical approaches for the unique dataset at hand. They constructed a system dynamics model to explore potential outcomes and threats associated with Alzheimer's disease, especially regarding the development of the population curve. Based on the analyzed data and if the conditions do not change, we're facing challenges in the availability of specialized care facilities for Alzheimer's patients, raising critical questions about the future landscape of healthcare infrastructure.  

"People can learn a lot just by applying our work method to casual everyday situations. I tend to brainstorm these new ideas with my students while teaching."  

 

In the realm of academia, success in research only sometimes aligns with enthusiasm for teaching. But Hana Tomášková has been working at the Department of Information Technology since 2008, and she is still thrilled with interactions with bright students. Rather than enjoying traditional lectures, she thrives in smaller, more interactive settings, like exercise sessions with 20 to 40 students. For her, the joy lies in showcasing and exploring mathematical concepts creatively with students, fostering an environment where ideas can flow freely.  

"I'm aware that some academics may shy away from the challenges of guiding students, but for me, the opportunity to mentor and motivate the next generation of smart and capable individuals really inspires me."  

 

As an associate professor at the University of Hradec Králové, Hana Tomášková also plays a role in mentoring doctoral students. She acknowledges the importance of balancing academic pursuits with personal responsibilities, particularly for those juggling parenting duties. Referencing the beginning of the interview, she says the best approach from her experience is to learn to procrastinate by researching. 

"Students find a passion for science within themselves; we just need to adapt the environment for them so they feel comfortable in science despite spending a large part of the day caring for children and loved ones."

The Academic Senate is primarily a space for discussion

The chair of the Academic Senate UHK points out the Senate's practical role, emphasizing its decision-making regarding approving crucial university documents. Acting as an advisory body to the rector, the Senate provides a forum for vital discussions. Assoc. Prof. Tomášková sees her position in the Senate as an opportunity to represent specific perspectives and express opinions on higher levels, providing an essential voice that may not always find receptivity elsewhere.  

"With a decade of service in the Senate as its chair, I appreciate that my opinions carry weight with the decision-makers at the university. I also value staying updated, and the Senate serves as a platform through which all important information about the university's inner workings flows."   

 

Reflecting on potential demotivation factors, Assoc. Prof. Tomášková mentions that severe communication issues or significant obstacles could dampen her spirits. However, she currently finds the flow of information relatively smooth, appreciating the openness of the university leadership in sharing information. Assoc. Prof. Tomášková views the parity nature of the Academic Senate UHK positively, acknowledging student representatives' sincerity and active involvement, making the Senate a dynamic forum for proposing constructive changes.  

Women in academia, women in science

In the Senate of the Czech Republic, only 18,5 % of officials are women. In the case of our Senate, this proportion is 42 %. Hanka Tomášková attributes the greater participation of women in the university environment to the fact that academic politics is less intense than mainstream politics. She believes there is a substantial pool of women in academia who already possess the confidence to engage in these roles. Unlike conventional politics, academic involvement lacks the cutthroat competition, making it more attractive to women.  

So, according to Assoc. Prof. Tomášková, women at universities have many opportunities to achieve their potential because science and its management are open to anybody who shows interest.  

"Just recently, I was approached by a mom whose daughter attends the same swimming lessons as mine. She said she heard me over the radio and wanted to ask about my enthusiasm for mathematics because she'd like her daughter to like it too. I replied that it makes sense to me, if you enjoy logic, then the path to success is way easier."

 

Department of Information Technologies, Faculty of Informatics and Management UHK