Dra. Neus Gual Tarrada

I trained in Medicine at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and completed my specialization in Geriatrics at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. Subsequently, my experience at Pere Virgili Hospital allowed me to deepen my understanding of the healthcare ecosystem and its different care settings, as well as to contribute to the development of integrated care models connecting hospital and community services.

I further completed a Master’s degree in Psychogeriatrics (UAB), an Advanced European Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in Geriatrics (EAMA), and a PhD (2019) focused on the study of delirium in older adults. In this field, I have promoted the Delirium Working Group of the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology, and I currently co-lead the Delirium Special Interest Group of the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS).

In the field of research, I am a member of the RE-FIT BCN group (VHIR), with several national and international publications focused on delirium, frailty, and models of care, as well as participation in competitive and collaborative research projects. In parallel, I serve as an Associate Professor at UAB, contributing to the training of future professionals in geriatrics.

I understand geriatrics as a key specialty for the present and future of healthcare systems. It is a discipline that addresses complexity, integrates knowledge and teamwork, and places the person at the center of decision-making. In this context, frailty is not only a clinical concept, but also an opportunity to anticipate needs, personalize care, and preserve quality of life in older adults.

I advocate for a medicine based on evidence, as well as on values, equity, and respect for the diversity of older people, avoiding any form of age-based discrimination.

For me, geriatrics is both a vocation and a tool for transformation: a way of understanding medicine that not only improves the health of older adults, but also contributes to building a more just and more age-aware society.