“Seeing how other centers work and exchanging ideas, knowledge and different perspectives is extremely enriching, especially from a multidisciplinary approach combining rehabilitation and surgery.”2014
Santiago Sánchez – General and Digestive Surgery.
Objective: Surgical techniques for pancreatic and biliary resection.
Host institution: Centre Hépato-Biliaire Paul Brousse, Paris (France).
20 December, 2025
The barnaclínic+ Sabàtics Grants continue to promote international training and medical excellence at the Clínic
The barnaclínic+ Sabbatical Grants continue to establish themselves, year after year, as a strategic tool to promote international training, innovation and the professional development of specialists at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Since its launch, this program has enabled dozens of healthcare professionals to undertake training stays at some of the world’s most prestigious hospitals and universities.
The aim of these grants is to help professionals expand their knowledge, incorporate new techniques and healthcare models, strengthen research and establish international partnerships that directly contribute to quality of care, medical innovation and the international projection of the Clínic.
A well-established program with international impact
Since the 1980s, the Clínic de Barcelona has promoted the Sabbatical Leave Program, an initiative designed to encourage continuous professional training through placements at international centers of excellence. Since 2015, barnaclínic+ has supported this program by funding an additional 12 months of training each year, expanding opportunities for professional development and knowledge exchange.
This support is part of barnaclínic+’s commitment to clinical excellence, innovation and the retention of medical talent at the Clínic. As an organization linked to Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, barnaclínic+ reinvests its profits into the hospital itself, helping strengthen its sustainability, promote professional training and encourage the incorporation of new technologies and healthcare models.
Over the years, these grants have enabled professionals from multiple specialties to undertake stays at internationally renowned institutions such as the Karolinska University Hospital, the Houston Methodist Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania, among others.
These experiences help incorporate new knowledge, strengthen research lines and establish international collaborations in highly specialized areas of medicine.
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SABBATICAL GRANTS: INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL TRAINING
Learn how the barnaclínic+ Sabbatical Grants promote international training, healthcare innovation and knowledge transfer at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.
New projects to continue transforming healthcare
In the latest call, Dr. Sandra Vázquez, from the Rehabilitation Department, received a grant to undertake a stay at the Università degli Studi di Milano, focused on new healthcare models and applied research in the field of facial paralysis.
During this stay, Dr. Vázquez had the opportunity to closely observe the work of one of the leading international surgical teams in this field and deepen her understanding of multidisciplinary coordination between surgery and rehabilitation.
“Seeing how other centers work and exchanging ideas, knowledge and different perspectives is extremely enriching, especially from a multidisciplinary approach combining rehabilitation and surgery.”
Dr. Sandra Vázquez
Specialist physician in the Rehabilitation Department at barnaclínic+ and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
Dr. Vázquez also highlighted the importance of these experiences in opening new opportunities for international collaboration and professional growth:
“This experience has significantly broadened my perspective and professional path, both nationally and internationally, and has allowed us to establish new contacts and shared projects in the field of facial paralysis.”
Dr. Sandra Vázquez
A new grant has also been awarded to Dr. Sílvia Valverde, from the General and Digestive Surgery Department, who will undertake a stay at the Uppsala University Hospital to further specialize in cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC.
Knowledge that benefits the healthcare system
Beyond individual training, the Sabbatical Grants have a direct impact on the institution. The knowledge acquired during these stays is later transferred to Clínic healthcare teams, helping incorporate new techniques, protocols, research lines and organizational models.
This transfer of knowledge is one of the program’s greatest strengths and reinforces barnaclínic+’s commitment to continuous improvement, professional training and highly specialized medicine based on innovation, research and excellence.
Through initiatives like this, barnaclínic+ continues to invest in people and in the development of medical talent as a driver of transformation and future growth.