2024, the Year of Jordi Gol i Gurina: Commitment, legacy and future
The year 2024 has been marked by a very special milestone for the IDIAPJGol: the celebration of the Year of Jordi Gol i Gurina, dedicated to the "people's doctor", a physician who committed his life to develop the Primary Care and to develop humanistic medicine. His legacy continues to inspire our commitment to research, innovation and excellence in primary care. Throughout the year, this tribute has guided many of our institutional activities, reinforcing our identity and our mission as a research institute closely linked to clinical practice and to the needs of society.
2024 has been a year of consolidation and progress for the IDIAPJGol, beyond its symbolic significance. Scientific production strengthening, encouraging high-quality research projects, facilitating collaboration among disciplines and institutions have been carried on by the Institute. This knowledge engagement from our research community added to support from the healthcare system is the best formula that helps in creating evidence towards knowledge advancement for improvement of population health.
Some major milestones have defined the year and show how varied and powerful our work can be. The start of the IMPaCT project in Catalonia has meant a big leap in making community-based primary care research stronger. This is a project for all of Spain led in Catalonia by the IDIAPJGol.
Also, the 2024 IDIAPJGol Conference held at Tecnocampus in Mataró was once more an excellent opportunity to share science and reflect on institutions. In this year's edition, innovation took centre stage with the holding of the 4th Social Entrepreneurship Innovation Conference that highlights opportunities toward improvement of the health system. On training activities, the first PhD Day, which is the first meeting of its kind in Spain dedicated to doctoral studies in primary care, highlighted the Institute's strong commitment to research training for primary care professionals. In addition, a dedicated event was organised to present the European Commission's Citizens, Rights and Values (CERV) funding programme, bringing European research opportunities closer to our research community.
Communication has also played a key role in supporting these objectives. Alongside our external communication efforts, particular attention has been given to internal communication, with initiatives aimed at strengthening connections within the Institute. Notably, the launch of a new WhatsApp group for doctoral candidates has helped to improve information flow, encourage participation and reinforce the sense of belonging among early-stage researchers.
The results of the research carried out at the IDIAPJGol are firmly oriented towards improving people's health and promoting equity. One of the most notable examples this year has been the launch of the campaign La meva regla, les meves regles ['My Period, My Periods'] by the Department of Equality and Feminisms of the Government of Catalonia. This initiative is grounded in studies on equity and menstrual health conducted by the Institute's Transversal Research Unit, in collaboration with feminist and community-based initiatives, and illustrates how research evidence can translate into public action with a real social impact.
All these achievements would not have been possible without the dedication and professionalism of the people who make up the IDIAPJGol: researchers, technical and administrative staff, collaborators and partners. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of them for their commitment and hard work throughout the year.
As we look to the future, the legacy of Jordi Gol i Gurina reminds us of the importance of maintaining a critical, humanistic and innovative approach to research in primary care. With this spirit, the IDIAPJGol will continue to face new challenges and opportunities, always with the aim of generating knowledge that has a real impact on healthcare and society.
Josep Basora, General Manager
