Dr Puig has served as a Gastroenterology Consultant at Althaia Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa since 2011, and as Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya since 2019.

He obtained his PhD under the supervision of Dr Xavier Calvet and during his post-doctorate period was mentored by Dr Maria Pellisé. He learned optical diagnosis of diminutive colorectal polyps at VA Palo Alto Health Care System, CA (USA) with Dr Tonya Kaltenbach, and the invasive pattern with magnification at the National Cancer Center, Tokyo (Japan) under the supervision of Dr Taku Sakamoto. In 2021 Dr Puig received training in advanced endoscopic techniques at the Endoscopy Unit of King’s College Hospital, London (UK), under the supervision of Dr Bu Hayee and Dr Amyn Haji.

In 2019 Dr Puig became the Scientific Director of AEG-REDCap, an online research platform that promotes the design, development and management of eCRF for data collection in multicentre studies. More than 2,500 researchers use this platform in over 400 hosted projects. Between 2019 and 2022, he also collaborated with the European Registry on the management of Helicobacter Pylori infection as Scientific Director. More than 6,000 patients were enrolled each year, and more than 50,000 patients from 29 countries were included (www.hpeureg.com).

His lines of research are focused on advanced endoscopic imaging and therapeutics of gastrointestinal lesions, and the management of Helicobacter Pylori infection.

In his free time, one of the things he likes most is enjoying a good conversation over some “tapas”. The simple things in life…

Dr Álvarez has been Head of the Digestology Service at Althaia Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa since 2021, and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona since 2014, where he has supervised one doctoral thesis and five final degree projects.

He has broad expertise in basic and advanced endoscopy (with more than 20,000 colonoscopies, 15,000 gastroscopies, 400 endoscopic mucosal resections, 300 ERCP, 300 enteroscopies and 200 small bowel capsule endoscopies) and in outpatient assessment, diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal and liver disorders.

Dr Álvarez also has extensive experience as a speaker at international and national scientific meetings, having given more than 50 lectures on topics including cirrhosis, celiac disease, colonoscopy, advanced imaging in GI endoscopy, artificial intelligence in GI endoscopy, colorectal cancer and endoscopic removal of colon polyps, which represent his main lines of research. He is the author of more than 40 papers published in leading scientific journals and he has taken part in more than 15 clinical trials as PI or collaborator.

As regards his participation in professional associations, Dr Álvarez takes a very active part in the work of the Societat Catalana de Digestologia. He served as an expert on the organization’s scientific committee for endoscopy and pancreas until 2021 and is currently working on the society’s strategic plan on advanced endoscopy. He has also joined the Endoscopic resection working group of the Sociedad Española de Endoscopia Digestiva, as a board member and scientific adviser to the group’s multicentre studies.

Marco Antonio enjoys fencing (épée), playing football and travelling with family and friends.

Ascón has worked at Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa since 2007. Her first steps focused on pediatric care, but she finally moved to endoscopy and, since 2015, she has been the nurse manager of the Colorectal Cancer Screening Technical Office and the Hereditary Cancer Unit.

Ascón is also an active member of Althaia’s Gastrointestinal Pathology Committee. Her line of research focuses on the follow-up of patients with a high personal risk of colorectal cancer. She teaches on early detection of colorectal cancer training programmes for other nurses.

Nàdia enjoys trekking and travelling.

Dr Collera has worked as a surgeon at Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa since 1998. He became head of the Service of General Surgery in 2018, and joined the Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya in 2019 as Associate Professor.

In 2010, he expanded his expertise in coloproctology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York (USA), under the supervision of Dr W. Douglas Wong. In 2020, he also stayed at the Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi (UAE) broadening his skills in obesity surgery. In 2018, he guided a mentorship programme in TaTME approach technique at the Francisco Gentil Oncology Institute in Oporto (Portugal).

His lines of research are surgical and post-surgical treatments of colorectal cancer. Currently, Collera is also participating in several studies evaluating the impact of Covid-19 in postoperative period and the effectiveness and safety of surgical procedures. He has published more than 20 clinical studies in the last three years focused on these topics.

Collera has been Vice President of the Societat Catalana de Cirurgia since 2019.

Pablo loves to play basketball and spends his free time with his family and friends at home or visiting new cities.

Dr Da Costa has worked at the Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa as a gastroenterology consultant since 2021. Previously, he worked at Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa, from 2019 to 2021.

During his stay at Althaia, he learned optical diagnosis of colorectal lesions and the invasive pattern with magnification with Dr Ignasi Puig and, at the same time, he began his involvement in Dr Puig’s lines of research. Da Costa is working towards a PhD on the Medicine and Biomedical Sciences programme at the Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya under the supervision of Dr Puig and Dr Pellisé. His lines of research focus on endoscopic recognition of the invasive pattern in colorectal polyps.

João is a geography enthusiast and, in his spare time, he loves travelling and scuba diving.

Díaz Del Gobbo is a specialist in General and Digestive Surgery, with a particular focus on gastric, bariatric, and metabolic surgery.

He obtained his medical degree from the University of Carabobo (Venezuela) and completed his residency in General and Digestive Surgery at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. He has further expanded his training with specific programs in minimally invasive surgery, and has developed a strong international career in leading institutions.

His professional career combines clinical practice, teaching, and research. After his period at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and an initial appointment at Althaia, he joined Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, where he worked as bariatric staff surgeon, Associate Program Director of the General Surgery Residency Program, and Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Since 2023, he has been Head of the Gastric, Bariatric, and Metabolic Surgery Unit at Fundació Althaia.

In the scientific field, he has a solid academic track record, including peer-reviewed international publications, book chapters, funded research projects, and work as a peer reviewer. He is also actively involved in teaching and training residents, students, and surgeons, and participates in scientific societies as well as research and ethics committees.

Outside the professional sphere, Gabriel loves music and travelling, two hobbies that help him disconnect and discover new perspectives.

Fanjul is a specialist in gastroenterology and endoscopy, with a particular interest in inflammatory bowel diseases and pancreaticobiliary disorders. His clinical practice focuses on diagnostic and therapeutic gastrointestinal endoscopy.

He obtained his medical degree from the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (Argentina) and later specialized in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy in Buenos Aires. He has also received training in healthcare digitalization and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Data Science at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. 

He has completed multiple international training stays in advanced endoscopy at leading institutions such as Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Harvard Medical School, Boston), Hospital Universitario Río Hortega (Valladolid), and other centers in Argentina and Chile, gaining strong expertise in advanced pancreaticobiliary endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound.

Since 2024, he works as a consultant at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Manresa (Barcelona), where he is involved in both outpatient and inpatient care, as well as advanced gastrointestinal endoscopy.

In the research field, he is principal investigator in an international phase 3b clinical trial on ulcerative colitis. He has published articles in indexed scientific journals and has a growing interest in integrating data science and programming (Python, R, SQL) into clinical practice and research.

Font  is a specialist in General and Digestive Surgery, with a special interest in colorectal surgery, emergency surgery, bariatric surgery, and minimally invasive surgery.

She obtained her medical degree from the University of Barcelona in 2020 and is currently completing her specialist training in General and Digestive Surgery. 

She carries out her clinical activity at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Manresa, where she is also involved in teaching activities for medical students and residents, including seminars and courses in surgical techniques and proctology.

In the scientific field, she actively participates in national and international publications and conferences, especially in colorectal surgery, transanal rectal cancer approaches, robotic surgery, and abdominal wall surgery. She has been first author of several presentations at surgical and coloproctology meetings and has received awards such as the 2025 Bages Young Doctor Award and the COMB Excellence in Healthcare Team Award.

In her free time, Meritxell takes the opportunity to enjoy the beach, go for walks in the mountains, and travel.

Gómez is a specialist in General and Digestive Surgery, with a particular focus on colorectal surgery, abdominal wall surgery, and emergency surgery, applying different surgical approaches including laparoscopy, HALS, transanal surgery, and robotic surgery.

He obtained his medical degree from the Universidad Católica de Santa María (Arequipa, Peru), where he received an outstanding academic award. He subsequently completed his residency in General and Digestive Surgery at Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí (Sabadell, Spain). He has further expanded his training in advanced laparoscopic surgery, transanal surgery, and robotic surgery, including training in the Hugo™ RAS system.

He currently works as an attending surgeon at Fundació Althaia (Manresa, Spain), where he is involved in colorectal surgery, proctology, and abdominal wall surgery, as well as multidisciplinary committees and healthcare quality improvement programs.

He has a strong research background, with an H-index of 13 and participation in multiple international multicenter studies, especially in the field of surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic (COVIDSurg and COVID-CIR), in several cases serving as local principal investigator. His scientific output includes publications in high-impact international journals.

In the field of medical education, he stood out for leading the online educational initiative #ResisCirugía, developed during the pandemic with national and international impact. Recordings of the sessions can be viewed on the YouTube profile of the Spanish Association of Surgeons and continue to have relevance among residents and surgeons.

Carlos Javier dedica su tiempo libre a disfrutar con la familia y los amigos. Le gusta leer novelas, especialmente históricas. Además, le encanta el deporte y practica CrossFit varias veces por semana.

Dr González is a specialist in clinical biochemistry and, since 2019, head of the Tumour Markers and Molecular Biology area at Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa.

At the same time, since 2020, she has been teaching the Master’s Degree in Health Emergencies and Emergencies at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya and tutoring trainees in the Althaia Laboratory.

González developed her first stage as a researcher in the Clinical Biochemistry group at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, mainly focused on studying Hepatitis B.

Her current research focuses on tumour markers while he continues her investigation with her former group in the field of hepatitis.

Carolina is passionate about travelling and discovering new cultures, and, for the past few months, she has been enjoying her new motherhood.

Dr Güell has worked as a surgeon at Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa since 2001. She specializes in gastroesophageal surgery.

Güell is currently working towards a PhD on the Medicine and Biomedical Sciences programme at the Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya under the supervision of Dr Puig and Dr Xuriguera. She studies materials engineering, and is currently engaged in finding a 3D printable biomaterial for mesh configuration in large abdominal wall defects.

Mercè is a devoted long-distance runner, and she loves visiting big cities and competing in marathons.

Dr Labró is a specialist in general and digestive surgery, with a clinical focus on coloproctology and colorectal surgery. Her work is particularly oriented toward colorectal diseases, including advanced techniques such as transanal endoscopic surgery.

She obtained her medical degree from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and completed her residency in General and Digestive Surgery at Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí (Sabadell). She later earned a PhD with distinction (cum laude), focusing on morbidity in transanal endoscopic surgery.

Since 2018, she has been working as a consultant at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Manresa, where she is involved in colorectal surgery and continuous clinical care.

In the research field, she has participated in multiple multicenter studies and has published in peer-reviewed journals in colorectal and endoscopic surgery. She has also presented numerous contributions at national and international conferences and collaborates in clinical protocols and multidisciplinary committees related to colorectal cancer.

She is also involved in teaching activities, including the supervision of undergraduate medical students and final degree projects.

In her free time, Meritxell enjoys doing sports, enjoying nature, and spending time with family and friends.

Mar Masanés has worked at Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa since 1989. After starting her career as a hospital nurse in the Internal Medicine, Oncology and Surgery services, in 2005, she initiated, together with a multidisciplinary team, the project of the Rapid Diagnosis Unit for Digestive Medicine and Cancer, of which she is currently the nurse manager.

In 2005, Mar obtained a Master’s Degree in Bases on Care and Education for People with Diabetes, taught at the University of Barcelona. Subsequently, she obtained a postgraduate diploma in Oncology Nursing from the Escola Universitària de l’Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in 2008.

Her main teaching responsibilities include her participation in the postgraduate course in anaesthesia and resuscitation at the Escola Universitària de Ciències de la Salut de Manresa (2001-2006).

Mar Masanés is also an active member of the Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Tumour Committee.

Her hobbies include hiking and she is a devoted reader of good literature.

Matas has worked at Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa since 2018. She is currently a PhD student in the Medicine and Biomedical Sciences programme at the Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya under the supervision of Dr. Ignasi Puig and Dr. Meritxell Gironella (Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, IDIBAPS). Her line of research focuses on analysing the expression of microRNAs in faeces to assess it as a potential biomarker for the development of colorectal cancer.

She obtained a Master’s Degree in Molecular Oncology at the Centre for Biosanitary Studies and Rey Juan Carlos University (Madrid, Spain).

Marta is a very active person who enjoys trekking, cycling and the tradition of “castells” – human towers.

Dr Olmedo began her career as an assistant doctor in the Surgery Department of the Hospital General de Manresa in 1996. At the end of her residency as a specialist in Family and Community Health, in 2000, she continued as an emergency surgeon until 2005, spending two years as a member of the outpatient emergency air team. Since 2003, Olmedo has been working as a Family doctor at ABS Manresa 3 (Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa). Since 2012, she has been a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, giving the course entitled “Family and Community Medicine”.

She is currently pursuing a doctorate at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya under the supervision of Dr Emili Gené and Dr Xavier Calvet. Her line of research focuses on digestive pathology in Primary Care and the treatment of Helicobacter Pylori.

In her free time, Llum organizes weddings and events (she trained as a wedding planner at the Universitat de Girona), but what she likes most is celebrating every little moment with family and friends: for her “the best life is a shared life”.

Dr Pla has been Clinical Head of Althaia’s Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa Internal Medicine outpatient area since 2021. He joined the centre in 2019 as an internal medicine specialist. He also became Associate Professor at Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya in the same year.

Pla obtained his Master’s degree in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases from UB-SEMI (Universidad de Barcelona – Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna) in 2017. At the University Hospital of Vic, where he worked between 2010 and 2018, he created the Rapid Diagnostic Unit at the Medical Day Hospital and set up the cooperation programme between Primary attention and Internal Medicine Department. He is currently working at the Medical Day Hospital and Rapid Diagnostic Unit and is a member of the Gastrointestinal tumour pathology committee.

He is an active member of GEAS – SEMI (Grupo de trabajo de enfermedades autoinmunes sistémicas – SEMI) and RESCLE (Registro español de ESCLErodermia).

Xavi likes to travel and discover new places, especially riding his motorcycle.

Dr Romero has worked as a rehabilitation doctor at Althaia Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa since 2005; and as an associate professor at the Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya since 2014.

Her lines of research focus on pelvic floor rehabilitation and the treatment of incontinence. As a result of this work, Romero obtained the European patent for the PelviBex Strenght, registered in 2015. It is an instrument capable of measuring pelvic floor muscle strength. Romero is currently working on a new patent in collaboration with the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, a penile clamp device for male urinary incontinence.

Dr Romero has an extensive track record as a participant in scientific meetings, with some fifty communications to congresses and some forty papers. She is also the author of some twenty international and national publications.

In the associative framework, Romero is the Coordinator of the pelvic floor working group of the Societat Catalana de Medicina física i Rehabilitació and Secretary of the working group on chronic pelvic pain of the Societat Catalana de Ginecologia.

Georgia is happy enjoying her free time with her friends and family.

Dr Rosiñol has been an active member of the Gastrointestinal Pathology Committee at Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa since she arrived at the institution in 2009. She participates in the tumor committee and clinical sessions in which endoscopic and pathological images are correlated and she carries out histological assessment in research projects. Rosiñol is also a member of the SEAP (Societat Espanyola d’Anatomia Patològica) and the ACMCB (Acadèmia de Ciències Mèdiques de Catalunya i Balears), affiliated to the Societat Catalana d’Anatomia Patològica, and she teaches on the training programmes that these bodies organize.

Rosiñol manages the training activities of the Pathology service for technicians and pathologists and the rotations of residents of other specialities. She has also been internship tutor for students on the Advanced Vocational Training programme at her unit since 2019.

Òria loves nature and walking in the woods. 

Dr. Sanz is a biologist and genetic counsellor with extensive experience in the field of genetic counselling and hereditary cancer predisposition.

She holds a degree in Biology from the University of Barcelona and earned her PhD from the Autonomous University of Barcelona with the highest distinction, Excellent Cum Laude. She has further specialized through advanced studies in community health and development cooperation, breast cancer and cancer genetics, and has been accredited as a Registered Genetic Counsellor by the European Board of Medical Genetics.

Throughout her professional career, she has combined clinical and research activities in several genetic counselling and familial cancer units, including Hospital de Sant Pau, Clínica Corachan, Hospital Universitari de Vic, ICO-Badalona/Mataró, and Fundació Althaia. Since 2017, she has been Head of the Familial Cancer Unit at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Manresa.

In the scientific field, she has built a strong track record in hereditary cancer genetics, particularly in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, Lynch syndrome, and other hereditary predisposition syndromes. She is the author and co-author of numerous publications in national and international journals and has actively contributed to scientific conferences, clinical guidelines, and clinical practice manuals.

As a biologist, in her free time Judit finds in nature and animals a place of refuge where she can rest and regain energy. And, as someone passionate about anthropology, she seeks through journeys to ancestral cultures —still present in some corners of the world— a longing for a time when humanity was deeply rooted in its environment.

Dr Serra has worked at Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa since 2021. Previously, she spent a large part of her professional career at the Institut Català d’Oncologia (ICO), from 2012 to 2021.

Her lines of research include the molecular classification of cancer and the search for the most effective treatments for the patients. Currently, she is working towards a PhD on the Biomedicine programme at the Universitat de Barcelona under the supervision of Dr Ramon Salazar and Dr Núria Sala. Since 2011, Serra has participated in three research projects funded by FIS grants awarded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the Horizon Europe Framework Programme of the European Commission, all of which have focused on biomedicine. She also has extensive experience in clinical trials.

Serra has taken an active part in drafting several medical guidelines on gastric, pancreatic and esophageal cancer commissioned by the ICO and the Institut Català de la Salut. She is also is a member of the EORTC Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer Group.

Òlbia loves traveling and going on family outings.

Singla is a biologist specialized in bioinformatics and biostatistics, with experience in clinical data management and support for translational research. She obtained her degree in Biology from the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia and completed a Master’s degree in Bioinformatics and Biostatistics from the Open University of Catalonia and the University of Barcelona.

She currently works at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Manresa, where she is involved in clinical research and innovation projects, performing bioinformatics analyses, statistical evaluations, and data management. She also contributes as a clinical study coordinator, particularly in the field of oncology.

She has participated in European projects and multicenter studies, as well as in the management of clinical registries and databases. Her work focuses on biomedical data analysis and supporting the implementation of personalized medicine.

Outside of charts and datasets, Alba enjoys doing crafts, practicing the martial art of Mugendo, and playing the cello—activities that help her stay active and explore her creativity. 

Teller is a specialist in Gastroenterology, with a particular focus on inflammatory bowel disease and digestive endoscopy.

She obtained her medical degree from the University of Barcelona and completed her residency in Gastroenterology at Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. She has further expanded her training with a Master’s degree in Digestive Diseases and advanced training in inflammatory bowel disease, hepatology, gastrointestinal motility, and capsule endoscopy.

Since 2022, she has worked as a consultant gastroenterologist at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Manresa, with experience in an accredited inflammatory bowel disease unit, inpatient care, and digestive endoscopy. During her residency, she completed an external rotation at Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia in the accredited inflammatory bowel disease unit and the gastrointestinal motility unit.

In the scientific field, she is actively involved in clinical research linked to the ENEIDA registry and the GETECCU group. She is the author of scientific publications in specialized journals, including first-author papers, and collaborates in multicenter studies in inflammatory bowel disease.

In teaching, she is a collaborating lecturer in the Department of Medicine at the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia and teaches Gastroenterology at the MIR CTO academy.

Marta is an avid reader and has been painting with acrylics at an art school for quite some time. Within the artistic world, she also enjoys exploring other disciplines such as ink, charcoal, and watercolor. She leads an active lifestyle by exercising regularly and loves nature.

Vidal has been working at Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa since 1992. She works as a stomal therapy nurse, specializing in managing ostomies and incontinence, her main lines of research.

The social aspect is essential in her activity. Faced with the need and demand she received from people with an ostomy, in 2018, Vidal created the Associació Catalana d’Ostomitzats Catalunya Central (ACOCC). She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Associació Catalana d’Ostomitzats (ACO).

Vidal also participates as a nurse expert in the GESTO working group, formed by stomal therapy nurses from all over the state, whose objective is to share research projects, educational material, action protocols, and visibility campaigns with professionals in the field. She is also a member of the scientific group Puntos de encuentro de Cataluña.

At the teaching level, Vidal teaches in training programs on transanal irrigation, pelvic floor, ostomies, and cures for other nurses; and she is a tutor for the practical training of students of Nursing Degree and Resident Nurses of the Multiprofessional Teaching Unit AFIC Catalunya Central.

Vidal obtained her Master’s Degree in Nursing in Coloproctology and Stomatherapy from UFV Universidad Francisco de Vitoria in 2019.

Cristina loves hiking and enjoying family and friends.

Cano has worked as Technical Project Manager of the research group since 2017. She provides support for all aspects of projects, including communication needs. She also provides technical support on project management in Althaia’s Research and Innovation Unit. She is the administrator of AEG-REDCap, as well as the technical manager of the European Registry on the management of H. pylori infection (Hp-EuReg).

Cano has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and has worked mainly in written press and communication agencies since 2000. In 2007, she became the head of Sports and Culture sections in local newspaper Diari d’Igualada-Regió7. At the same time, she managed the communication department of the Zoom European TV movies festival for four years, and contributed to the national newspaper La Vanguardia as a photographer and editor. She then moved to the healthcare sector and has been working at Althaia, Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa since 2014.

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