Class of 2026
Carlos Lázaro Hernández, MD
Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona- Institut d’ Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer( IDIBAPS) Barcelona, Spain
From the Mediterranean to Movement Disorders I was born in Tarragona, a coastal city on the Mediterranean in Spain, and my path into medicine has been shaped by both movement and perspective. From Pamplona, where I studied medicine, to Barcelona for neurology training, and now to a specialized fellowship in movement disorders, each step has influenced how I approach patient care. Every place I’ ve trained has offered a different lens, helping me develop a more thoughtful and adaptable perspective.
Medicine was not part of my family background— my father is an engineer, and my mother is a social worker— but the values they instilled were central. Empathy, responsibility and a commitment to helping others naturally guided me toward this field. Over time, I realized that medicine was where I could apply those values meaningfully.
The Brain’ s Unanswered Questions I was drawn to neurology because it is a field where physicians can make a difference. Neurological diseases often change a person’ s life completely, and supporting patients through that carries a deep sense of purpose. At the same time, I’ ve always been fascinated by the complexity of the brain and how much remains to be understood.
That balance led me to specialize in movement disorders and Parkinson’ s disease. These conditions have a significant impact on daily life, but they also offer opportunities to improve how patients feel and function. For me, it is essential to take time to understand what patients are going through.
Better Together: Research, Clinic, Community Having the time to hone my skills in advanced Parkinson’ s therapies while also developing research interests in areas like biomarkers and neurostimulation has been a valuable opportunity. I see clinical work and research as closely connected— questions arise in the clinic, are explored through research, and then return to patient care.
Equally important is the opportunity to learn from others. Collaborating with a network of specialists has reinforced a simple truth: no clinician works alone, and shared experience often leads to better decisions and better outcomes.
Looking ahead, I plan to continue combining specialized care with research. More patients are diagnosed each day, and while there is still no cure, treatment options continue to improve— from medication infusions to advanced stimulation therapies. But these advances only matter if clinicians are prepared to use them well. There is no shortage of need, which makes the responsibility clear: to keep improving and to provide the best possible care for every patient.
10 The Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders