Founder of UNICARE - Dr. Julia Concha-Gonzales

Dr. Concha was born in Chile, where she studied Medicine until her arrival in Czechoslovakia in 1973 in order to marry.  A sudden change in Chile’s political environment prevented her from returning home and the family decided to remain in Czechoslovakia. It was not an easy decision due to language difficulties, the cultural differences and, at the same time, raising children without the support of family. “I soon realized how difficult living abroad can be, especially when health concerns arise, mainly for people with children, and decided to ease these difficulties for my future patients”. Dr. Concha graduated from Charles University and began practicing medicine in 1975, working in three world-renowned Czech University hospitals.

In the early 1980s Dr. Concha chose to focus her interest on children’s medicine. She received a specialization degree in 1983 and a Doctorate in Paediatrics in 1986. 

Continuing her education was extremely important to Dr. Concha. She interned at St. Thomas Hospital and at the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London, at the same time visiting and studying outpatient medical centres in the UK and Canada. While working as a member of the HOPE Program in Switzerland, she gained experience in hospital systems that are in accordance with European Union standards.

Undoubtedly, Dr. Concha’s most significant experience occurred during a Meningococcal Meningitis outbreak while working in an outpatient centre in the Sudan. This disease was especially devastating among the young and particularly the low-income members of the population who did not have access to medications and the most precious vaccine. Seeing many children die and families suffer because of lack of treatment was a decisive influence in her strong stance on preventive medicine. “It is for this reason that I strongly support Unicef´s ‘Adopt a Doll and Save a Child’ Project, whose Good Will Doll Ambassador I feel myself to be”.

In the early 1990´s, the growing international community began to seek new working and living opportunities in the Czech Republic and, due to Dr. Concha’s extensive experience and knowledge of foreign languages, she was early on sought out by foreign residents and became involved in establishing health programs at several of the international schools.

It was in 1993 that she established the UNICARE Medical Center, the first private medical center specializing in family-oriented medicine for expatriates living in the Czech Republic. It was Dr. Concha’s intention to bring to UNICARE her vision of medical services rendered with understanding of the specific needs of people with different cultural backgrounds who were living in a foreign land.

“Although I have been living in the Czech Republic for more than 30 years, I have never forgotten my roots. I was very happy when I could return to Chile again in 2000”. When Dr. Concha graduated from Charles University Medical School she received a colourful embroidered tapestry depicting a Chilean child’s rendition of community medical services. This constantly reminds her, and her patients, of her home country. Today the tapestry can be found in the reception area at the Prague 6 Unicare office. “It is a symbol of UNICARE´s commitment to provide the Prague international community with personalized medical care, despite any cultural differences”.