Famous Spanish Physicians

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 1 
Maria Belon
(Spanish Motivational Speaker Who Survived the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami in 2004)
Maria Belon
4
Birthdate: May 12, 1966
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain

Maria Belon is a Spanish motivational speaker and physician. She achieved popularity after surviving the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004. Belón was badly injured and nearly died. The story inspired the 2012 disaster drama film The Impossible, in which Maria Belon was played by Naomi Watts. Belon has also appeared in many TV shows.

 2 
Santiago Ramón y Cajal
(Father of Modern Neuroscience)
Santiago Ramón y Cajal
3
Birthdate: May 1, 1852
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Petilla de Aragón, Navarre, Spain
Died: October 18, 1934

While he apprenticed as a cobbler and a barber in childhood, Santiago Ramón y Cajal later took up medicine inspired by his father, a professor of anatomy. Cajal’s study of the microscopic structure of the human brain later formed the basis of neuroscience and earned him a Nobel Prize.

 3 
Al-Zahrawi
(Physician, Surgeon, Chemist and Founder of Medieval Surgical and Medical Instruments)
Al-Zahrawi
3
Birthdate: 0936 AD
Birthplace: Córdoba, Spain
Died: 1013 AD

Al-Zahrawi was an Arab Andalusian chemist, surgeon, and physician. Dubbed the father of modern surgery, Al-Zahrawi is widely regarded as the greatest surgeon of the Middle Ages. Al-Zahrawi was the first surgeon to use catgut for stitches and his pioneering contributions had an enormous effect in the West and East. Some of his discoveries are part of modern medical sciences.

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 4 
Michael Servetus
(Spanish Physician and Theologian Who was the First European to Correctly Describe the Function of Pulmonary Circulation)
Michael Servetus
3
Birthdate: September 29, 1509
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Tudela, Spain
Died: October 27, 1553

Michael Servetus was a Spanish physician, Renaissance humanist, cartographer, and theologian. In 1553, he published a book titled Christianismi Restitutio in which he described the function of pulmonary circulation, becoming the first European to describe it accurately. A polymath, Michael Servetus was well-versed in many fields, such as mathematics, geography, meteorology, astronomy, human anatomy, pharmacology, medicine, poetry, jurisprudence, and translation.

 5 
Severo Ochoa
(Physician and Biochemist)
Severo Ochoa
3
Birthdate: September 14, 1905
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Luarca, Spain
Died: November 1, 1993

Nobel Prize-winning Spanish biochemist Severo Ochoa is remembered for his discovery of the enzyme polynucleotide phosphorylase and his subsequent success in synthesizing RNA. His research took him to top institutes such as the universities of Oxford and Heidelberg. He had also taught at the New York University.

 6 
Judah Halevi
(Spanish Physician, Poet and Philosopher)
Judah Halevi
4
Birthdate: 1075 AD
Birthplace: Toledo, Spain
Died: 1141 AD

Spanish Jewish poet, physician, and philosopher Judah Halevi is remembered for his significant contributions to the development of Hebrew poetry. Best known for Sefer ha-Kuzari and his poems in Dīwān, he was greatly influenced by Arabian literature. His travels eventually took him to Egypt, where he died.

 7 
José Manuel Rodriguez Delgado
(Spanish Scientist, Psychiatrist, and Educator)
José Manuel Rodriguez Delgado
2
Birthdate: August 8, 1915
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ronda
Died: September 15, 2011

José Manuel Rodriguez Delgado was a Spanish scientist, psychiatrist, and educator. He is best remembered for his association with the Yale University, where he worked as a professor of neurophysiology. José Manuel Rodríguez Delgado is also remembered for his research on mind control with the help of electrical stimulation of the brain.

 8 
Ibn Zuhr
(Arab Poet, Physician, and Surgeon Who is Credited With Performing the First Experimental Tracheotomy)
Ibn Zuhr
2
Birthdate: 1094 AD
Birthplace: Seville, Spain
Died: 1162 AD

Ibn Zuhr was an Arab poet, physician, and surgeon. The most respected physician of his time, Ibn Zuhr is credited with performing the first experimental tracheotomy. His best known literary work, Book of Simplification Concerning Therapeutics and Diet, was influential to the development of surgery.

 9 
Hasdai ibn Shaprut
(Jewish Scholar, Diplomat, Physician, and Patron of Science)
Hasdai ibn Shaprut
2
Birthdate: 0915 AD
Birthplace: Jaén, Spain
Died: 0970 AD

Hasdai ibn Shaprut was a Jewish scholar, diplomat, physician, and patron of science. He served as a personal physician to Abd-ar-Rahman III and went on to become the latter's faithful counselor and confidant. Hasdai ibn Shaprut became an influential figure in the court of Caliph Abd-ar-Rahman III and had a say in the matters of foreign affairs.

 10 
María Jesús Montero
(Spanish Politician)
María Jesús Montero
2
Birthdate: February 4, 1966
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Seville, Spain

María Jesús Montero is a Spanish politician and hospital administrator. Since 2018, she has been serving as the Minister of Finance and Civil Service. She also served as the Spokesperson of the Government from 2020 to 2021. An important political figure, María Jesús Montero served as the Regional Minister of Finance and Public Administrations of Andalusia from 2013 to 2018.

 11 
Ignacio Ponseti
(Spanish-American Orthopedist Best Known For Developing 'The Ponseti Method')
Ignacio Ponseti
1
Birthdate: June 3, 1914
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain
Died: October 18, 2009

Ignacio Ponseti was a Spanish-American orthopedist. He is remembered for his service during the Spanish Civil War, where he treated wounded soldiers for three years as a medic. After the war, Ponseti joined the University of Iowa, where he came up with the Ponseti Method, a pioneering treatment for the clubfoot defect; the treatment achieved popularity as it was non-surgical.

 12 
Gregorio Marañón
(One of the 20th Century's Most Brilliant Spanish Intellectuals)
Gregorio Marañón
1
Birthdate: May 19, 1887
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
Died: March 27, 1960

Gregorio Marañón was a Spanish scientist, physician, writer, historian, and philosopher. He is widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most brilliant Spanish intellectuals. In order to honor his work and contributions, the Gregorio Marañón Foundation was founded on 11 November 1988.

 13 
Judah ben Saul ibn Tibbon
(French-Spanish Translator and Physician)
Judah ben Saul ibn Tibbon
1
Birthdate: 1120 AD
Birthplace: Granada, Spain
Died: November 30, 1190

Judah ben Saul ibn Tibbon was a French-Spanish physician and translator. Many among his extant translated works include the works of famous philosophers like Bahya ibn Paquda, Saadia, Solomon ibn Gabirol, and Judah ha-Levi into Hebrew. Although he was born in Spain, Judah ben Saul ibn Tibbon spent much of his career in France, where he died in 1190.   

 14 
Profiat Duran
(Jewish Philosopher Who is Known for His Satiric Epistle 'Al Tehi Ka-Aboteka')
Profiat Duran
1
Birthdate: 1350 AD
Birthplace: Perpignan, France
Died: 1415 AD

Profiat Duran was a Jewish philosopher, physician, apologist, controversialist, and grammarian in the 14th century. He is best remembered for his satiric epistle Al Tehi Ka-Aboteka. Profiat Duran was also a historian. One of his lost works titled Zikron ha-Shemadot gave a detailed history of Jewish martyrs. This work was used by Judah ibn Verga and Solomon Usque.

 15 
Luis Martín-Santos
(Spanish Writer Best Known for His Novel 'Tiempo de Silencio')
Luis Martín-Santos
1
Birthdate: November 11, 1924
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Larache, Morocco
Died: January 21, 1964

Luis Martín-Santos was a Spanish psychiatrist and writer. He is best remembered for his novel Tiempo de Silencio, which is widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most prominent Spanish novels. The novel is also credited with inspiring a film, which was directed by Vicente Aranda.

 16 
Mercedes Pascual
(Uruguayan Academic and Theoretical Ecologist)
Mercedes Pascual
0
Birthplace: Uruguay

Mercedes Pascual is a Uruguayan academic and theoretical ecologist. She is best known for her association with the University of Chicago, where she serves as a professor of Ecology and Evolution. She also leads a laboratory at the University of Chicago. Over the course of her career, Mercedes Pascual has won several prestigious awards, including the Robert H. MacArthur Award.