Manel del Castillo, Chief Executive Officer of the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital, collects the La Vanguardia Innovation and Science Award

The CEO of the SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital, Manel del Castillo, received the Innovation and Science Award on behalf of the hospital at the Vanguardia Awards gala. The ceremony took place on 29 September at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, presided over by King Felipe VI and with guests including: the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez; the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa; the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni; the Count of Godó and editor of La Vanguardia, Javier Godó; and the CEO of Godó Group, Carlos Godó.

Innovation with a humanist approach

At the helm of the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital since 2003—for more than two decades—Manel del Castillo has promoted a pediatric healthcare model of excellence. Among other efforts, the hospital has worked tirelessly towards state-of-the-art technology that facilitates research, treatment and diagnosis, towards effective management of medical protocols and towards continued professional development. The calibre of our departments and units is recognised by their multiple European accreditations.

However, for the CEO of the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital, innovation is on par with humanism. That is why it is essential to focus on the patient experience by adapting hospital facilities, allowing parents to be present during procedures or having a team of medical professionals with superior levels of expertise in the wellbeing of children and their families, at all stages of hospitalisation.

Furthermore, the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital has specialised in rare and high-complexity diseases, among which is pediatric cancer. As a result, the hospital's facilities and laboratories are fully equipped to develop new therapies and to bolster the work of clinical trials. On an international scale, del Castillo has presided over the European Children's Hospital Organisation (ECHO) since 2020, strengthening the collaborative efforts between pediatric hospitals across Europe.

In September 2024, he was named Chairperson of the Catalan Government’s Committee for Evaluation, Innovation and Operational Reform of the Health System (CAIROS).