Dr Jordi Cervós i Navarro, the first rector of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC Barcelona), passed away today at the age of 91. The acclaimed Catalan doctor was an international figure, particularly well-known for his extensive research career in the field of neuropathology. The Catalan neuropathologist had seven Honorary Doctorates, was a member of the Royal Academy of Doctors, and had received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Creu de Sant Jordi.
Jordi Cervós i Navarro (1930-2021) studied medicine at the universities of Barcelona and Zaragoza, and in 1952 moved to Germany, where he specialised in neuropathology. His important research career took off with his discovery that there were nerves in the arteriole. For this reason, he will be remembered as the Father of Cerebral Microcirculation.
Over the nearly 40 years he lived in Germany, Jordi Cervós i Navarro was Vice President of Freie Universität Berlin and Head of its Neuropathology Institute. He was also the President of the German Society of Neuropathology and Neuroanatomy.
In 1997, Dr Cervós returned to Barcelona to become the first Rector of the newly created Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (1997-2001). He was then the Director of International Relations (2001-2007) and travelled all around the world promoting the university. In January of 2009, he celebrated his 80th birthday in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, where he was paid tribute by giving his name to one of the Faculty’s laboratories.
Dr. Cervós held seven honorary doctorates, from the universities of Hannover (Germany), Tokushima (Japan), Saransk (Russia), Thessaloniki (Greece), Zaragoza (Spain), Barcelona (Spain) and the Complutense de Madrid (Spain).
A member of the Royal Academy of Doctors of Catalonia, in addition to seven honourable doctorates, Dr Cervós also received the “Cross of Civil Merit” from the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Gran Cruz del Orden Civil de Alfonso X el Sabio and the Creu de Sant Jordi (2002) of Spain.
