With the support of volunteers and the involvement of professionals, patients and students, the day was framed within the Arts in Health Programme and reinforced Clínic’s commitment as a hospital that promotes reading.
Roses and books for hospitalised patients
From early in the morning, a total of 30 volunteers distributed 1,500 roses to patients admitted to the three Hospital Clínic Barcelona sites. The distribution took place across different hospital locations —the Villarroel, Maternity and Plató sites, Reina Amàlia, the Manso Dialysis Centre and Sagrat Cor— with the aim of reaching as many patients as possible and offering a gesture of care and closeness.
Each rose was given with a special bookmark which, as every year, included the winning story from the micro‑story competition “El Clínic enamora”.
Writers’ table and cultural spaces at Campus Clínic
Throughout the morning, the North Courtyard of Campus Clínic hosted the Sant Jordi Fair, featuring a range of cultural activities open to professionals, patients and visitors. One of the highlighted spaces was the table of writers linked to Clínic and IDIBAPS, who signed books and shared their work:
- Dr Jenaro A. Fernández‑Valencia Laborde, El valor de decir adiós: historias de éxitos que desafían la cima
- Joaquim Rauda, El misteri de la dama màgica
- Vicente Ortega, Constantes vitales
- Pere Suñé, various titles
The day also included the “Girem Full” campaign, a book‑exchange and literary recommendation space, a stand by the Salut pel Català Association with books from the Department of Language Policy, and a charity rose stall run by students from the University of Barcelona.
The Gate of the Arts, a space to share Sant Jordi
One of the main meeting points of the day was the “Gate of the Arts” photocall, located in the lobby of the Villarroel site and designed to share Sant Jordi with colleagues and highlight culture within the hospital environment. This was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Passanau florist, and the traditional concert by the Clínic Choir was also held there.
The Campus Clínic institutional event
The celebration culminated in the Campus Clínic Sant Jordi institutional event, held in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. The event included institutional welcome addresses by: [Noticia_Sa...tJordi2026 | Word]
- Dr Josep M. Campistol, Director General of Hospital Clínic Barcelona
- Dr Michaela Bertero, Director of Strategy at IDIBAPS
- Dr Cristina Malagelada, Chair of the Language Policy Committee of the University of Barcelona
- Dr Jaume Benavent, Director of CAPSBE
One of the central moments was a conversation with writer, science communicator, physician and researcher Salvador Macip, entitled “When science inspires the arts and the arts humanise health”. In this dialogue, Macip invited reflection on what makes us human from the perspectives of biology, culture and critical thinking, in line with the values of the Arts in Health Programme.
The event also included the presentation of the Campus Clínic Sant Jordi Awards: the winning micro‑story of the “El Clínic enamora” competition, the IDIBAPS scientific photography competition, the Faculty’s literary competition and the CAPSBE drawing competition.
Maria Sagué, winner of the “El Clínic enamora” competition
In this year’s edition of the “El Clínic enamora” competition, the winning micro‑story was written by Maria Sagué Vilavella, a physician in Psychiatric Emergency Services. As every year, the winning text was published in bookmark format and distributed among hospitalised patients. The award was presented by Anna Jover, Head of the Corporate Social Responsibility Area.
“Leaving the operating theatre. Leaving an on‑call shift. Being discharged. Leaving the critical phase. Receiving test results. Stepping out to breathe on the fifth‑floor terraces. Making the news. Walking through the corridors. Leaving doubts behind. Moving forward. Entering the Clínic and accompanying every departure.”
Maria Sagué Vilavella
IDIBAPS scientific photography contest
Today, the winning photographs of the 9th IDIBAPS Scientific Photography Contest were also announced. The awards were presented by Dr Michela Bertero, Director of Strategy at IDIBAPS.
The jury’s verdict was:
- First prize: “Punts de funció”, by Alejandro Hinojosa Moscoso
- Second prize: “The Final Battle”, by Diba Zare
- Third prize: “Bacterial Rocket”, by Alexandra Lara Muñoz
Reading as a tool for wellbeing: the Campus Clínic Reading Club
The Sant Jordi celebration also served to highlight the Campus Clínic Reading Club, an initiative launched in 2022 that has already featured 16 titles presented by their authors. Integrated within the Arts in Health Programme, the Club promotes reading as a tool for emotional wellbeing, reflection and connection among professionals.
In this context, it was announced that the next book in the Club will be “Amor i no” by Alba Dalmau, adding to a trajectory that consolidates Clínic as a space where culture also plays a central role
