Meet the international medical professionals who contribute their experience, knowledge and commitment to the mission of Brains Get Famous.
Their work helps raise awareness of brain tumors, support patients and families, and promote medical and scientific collaboration worldwide.
Read the stories of our international doctors and learn about the experiences of brain tumor patients and survivors.
We are working to raise awareness of brain tumors and their impact on patients, friends and families, while also supporting research into treatments and possible cures.
We are deeply grateful to the remarkable people who have generously shared their stories with us.
Science And Precision
Internationally recognized neurosurgeon specializing in complex brain and spinal cord tumor surgery.
Dr. Christian Brogna was born in Italy and grew up in Rome, where he became a Consultant Neurosurgeon in 2009.
In 2007, together with Prof. Maurizio Salvati, he performed the first successful awake surgery with brain mapping in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Rome La Sapienza. This followed his neuro-oncology fellowship and brain mapping training with Prof. Hugues Duffau at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, France.
He trained with Prof. Uğur Türe in advanced microneurosurgical techniques for brain tumor surgery. In 2013, Dr. Brogna earned his PhD in Neuroscience. Since then, he has advanced brain and spinal cord tumor surgery, combining neuroanatomical expertise developed under the mentorship of Prof. Guilherme Ribas in São Paulo with brain and spinal cord mapping and advanced microneurosurgical techniques.
He is currently researching new brain and spinal cord mapping techniques in neuro-oncology to improve safety during tumor resection. He works as a leading Consultant Neurosurgeon at Paideia International Hospital and is recognized as an expert in complex brain tumor surgery.
Explore Dr. Christian Brogna’s scientific work, media appearances, interviews and contributions to brain tumor awareness.
Moments from Dr. Christian Brogna’s clinical work, media appearances and contribution to raising awareness of complex brain surgery.
Dr. Christian Brogna received the Giovanni Paolo II International Award in recognition of his professional commitment, clinical work and dedication to people affected by brain tumors.
During the ceremony, he dedicated this recognition to patients and their families, placing their courage, experiences and dignity at the heart of the moment.
Watch The Video On Instagram
International Recognition
Corriere della Sera highlights Dr. Brogna’s work in awake brain surgery and his commitment to preserving each patient’s function, identity and quality of life.
Read The Article
Book And Neuroscience
Co-authored with Claudia Zanella, AWAKE brings together neuroscience, clinical experience and deeply human stories from the world of awake brain surgery.
Discover AWAKENeurosurgeon with extensive experience in cerebrovascular, skull base, spinal and nervous system tumor surgery.
Dr. Manuel Pedrosa was born in Madrid, Spain. He graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the Complutense University of Madrid in June 1993 and earned his Doctorate in Medicine from the Department of Surgery at the Autonomous University of Madrid in June 1999, receiving a Cum Laude distinction.
He completed his accredited residency training in Neurosurgery at Hospital Puerta de Hierro in Madrid from 1994 to 1998, ranking fourth in the 1994 selection examination for a neurosurgery residency position. From 1999 to 2000, he worked as a medical specialist in the hospital’s Neurosurgery Department.
Since 2000, Dr. Pedrosa has served as a medical specialist in the Neurosurgery Department at Hospital Universitario de La Princesa in Madrid. From 2008 to 2011, he worked as a neurosurgeon at Hospital Montepríncipe and Hospital Madrid Norte Sanchinarro. Since 2011, he has also worked at Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Moraleja and Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Zarzuela.
His experience includes cerebrovascular surgery, particularly the treatment of aneurysms and cerebral arteriovenous malformations; skull base surgery; cervical spine pathologies, including cervical arthroplasty and dynamic prosthetic techniques; cranial nerve microsurgery; and microsurgery of nervous system tumors.
He also has experience in deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, epilepsy and selected psychosurgical indications.
Dr. Pedrosa has authored more than 40 publications in national and international medical journals and specialist textbooks. He has also delivered more than 30 presentations at national and international medical congresses.
His scientific activity includes participation in a research project on psychosurgery supported by the Carlos III Health Institute and the Spanish Ministry of Health, under the direction of Dr. Rafael García de Sola.
His teaching experience includes serving as a tutor for Neurosurgery residents at Hospital Universitario de La Princesa and as a Clinical Teaching Collaborator at the Autonomous University of Madrid. From 1995 to 2007, he also collaborated with the CTO Medicine Study Centre in preparing candidates for the MIR examination and teaching Neurosurgery.
Dr. Pedrosa is a member of the Spanish Society of Neurosurgery and the Madrid Society of Neurosurgery. He has also served as Head of Neurosurgery within the Vascular Pathology Group at Hospital Universitario de La Princesa.
His specialist training includes courses in deep brain stimulation at Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière in Paris, vascular microsurgery, endovascular neurosurgery, skull base surgery and hospital management. He also completed a clinical rotation at the Functional Neurosurgery Unit of Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, focusing on deep brain stimulation techniques for Parkinson’s disease.
Dr. Pedrosa believes that the future of neurosurgery lies in increasingly less invasive treatments, supported by advanced technology and multidisciplinary collaboration. He highlights the importance of neuroimaging, intraoperative support and emerging developments in gene therapy, immunology and nanotechnology within neuro-oncology.
At Brains Get Famous, Dr. Pedrosa serves as Treasurer and Neurosurgical Advisor, contributing his clinical expertise and specialist knowledge to the organization’s work.
Neurosurgeon, spine surgeon, professor and researcher with an international career spanning more than six countries.
Born in Venezuela to Colombian parents, Dr. Raúl A. Echeverri earned his medical degree and completed his neurosurgical training at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, Cuba.
He continued his professional training in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, the United States, Spain, Germany and Portugal. His career encompasses neurotrauma, neurocritical care, spine surgery, university teaching, scientific research and international cooperation.
He has dedicated much of his life and work to serving vulnerable communities and low- and middle-income populations around the world.
Dr. Echeverri works as a university professor, researcher, scientist, international lecturer and mentor. In 2021, he founded Humankindness Organization, an academic and scientific organization that he leads.
He currently works in the Spine Unit at Centro Médico de Asturias in Spain.
Physician with extensive training and experience in Allergology, Emergency Medicine, Bioethics, clinical ultrasound and non-invasive mechanical ventilation.
Dr. José Luis Palma Aguilar was born in Spain. He graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Seville in 1986 and specialized in Allergology at Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena in Seville from 1988 to 1992.
He earned his Doctorate in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Seville in 1995 and completed a Master’s Degree in Bioethics at the Faculty of Theology in Granada in 2002.
Dr. Palma Aguilar is a member of SEMES, membership number 16212. He is also a member of the Working Group on Respiratory Pathology and Mechanical Ventilation of SEMES-Andalusia.
He belongs to the Working Group of the Integrated Care Process for COPD in the Aljarafe Health Area and to the “Pneumonias” Working Group of the Infection and Antimicrobial Policy Commission at San Juan de Dios Aljarafe Hospital.
He served as Hospital Tutor for FCM residents from 2017 to 2022. He has participated as a lecturer in training activities at university, hospital and resident levels in both Emergency Medicine and Bioethics.
He has authored publications in books and specialist journals in Allergology and Emergency Medicine and has presented communications at national and international congresses in Allergology, Emergency Medicine and Bioethics.
Registered health psychologist, psychotherapist, researcher and specialist in trauma, attachment, dissociation and EMDR.
Dr. María Saavedra was born in Spain.
She is a registered health psychologist with more than 17 years of experience in brief psychotherapy. María also specializes in school- and work-related humanistic psychotherapy, psychodrama, hypnotherapy, EMDR, and the prevention and intervention of trauma, attachment, dissociation, bullying, and workplace harassment.
Her approach is experiential, beginning with a first session focused on clarifying what the person truly needs to work on.
She is also a researcher, writer, and creator of Sexfuness, the Psychological Curriculum Vitae, Interpersonal Body Psychotherapy (PCI), the educational Kamiplay Method, and a collective intelligence game designed for fun psychotherapy at home and in the classroom, as well as a sensorimotor device patented worldwide.
Specialist in neuropediatrics, polyhandicap, cerebral palsy and cardiorespiratory rehabilitation.
Dr. Idris Fernández was born in Mexico.
He specialized in polyhandicap and cerebral palsy, within the field of neuropediatrics, at the Faculty of Medicine of Paris-Sud, with Professor Tardieu and Michel Le Métayer, in 2012. Dr. Fernández is an international expert in non-invasive ventilation and was trained by Prof. Dr. Antonio Esquinas Rodríguez in 2019.
A Mexican native of the land formerly known as Al-Andalus, the land of Ibn Arabi, Rambam and Averroes, he completed his initial studies at the University of Cádiz in Spain, within the field of physical medicine, rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
He continued his university studies at the University of Deusto in Bilbao; Comillas Pontifical University —I.S. de CC.SS. R. San Agustín—; Université Louis Pasteur Strasbourg; Medizinische Universität Wien; the Pierre and Marie Curie Faculty of Medicine at Pitié-Salpêtrière, and the Faculty of Medicine in Ghent, among others.
In Angoulême, he trained with the Société Française de Psychanalyse Adlérienne under Prof. Georges Mormin, focusing on support in oncology and terminal care.
He trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine with Prof. Wang Fumin of Beijing University in Cádiz in 2000. He specialized in Lymphology, including lymphatic drainage and oncology, with Prof. Dr. Albert Leduc at Lympho Kinetics in Brussels, Belgium.
He also completed Lymphology update training with the participation of Prof. Dr. Corradino Campisi in Prague in 2018 and Brussels in 2019.
A specialist in cardiorespiratory rehabilitation and intensive care, Dr. Idris Fernández furthered his training in the treatment of cardiac surgery patients with Prof. Thierry Carrel at Universitätsspital Bern and with Prof. Eckstein at Universitätsspital Basel, both in 2010.
Under the guidance of Prof. Guy Postiaux, he further specialized in respiratory rehabilitation and stethacoustics, including treatments for adults, children and neonates, in Belgium in 2015. He also specialized in functional stress testing and bronchoscopy through SEPAR at Gregorio Marañón University Hospital in Madrid.
Since 2013, he worked for almost seven years with Prof. Thierry Billette de Villemeur in the Department of Neuropediatrics, Developmental Pathology and Polyhandicap Unit at Hôpital Armand Trousseau–La Roche-Guyon, part of Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris —AP-HP—.
During this period, he collaborated with the Federation of Polyhandicap France, the Comité d’Études, d’Éducation et de Soins Auprès des Personnes Polyhandicapées —CESAP— and the Association des Paralysés de France —APF— on their projects and in the training of professionals.
He was also trained in the concept of Basal Stimulation by Prof. Dr. Andreas Fröhlich.
After years of formative, hospital-based, private and public professional practice in Switzerland, Austria, Norway, the Czech Republic, France, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Mexico, Dr. Idris Fernández brings a humane, cosmopolitan and eclectic medical culture to the service of others.
He is currently working on this inspiring project, which aims to remove communication barriers anywhere in the world for people with hearing impairments and to maximize communication and learning tools for people with other disabilities.
He is Chief Executive Officer —CEO— and Founder of Elegant Solidarity, as well as Chief Executive Officer and Head Specialist Doctor in Holistic Medicine at the Centro Internacional de Reequilibración Energética Integral Corporal —C.I.R.E.I.C. “Arc-en-Ciel”—.
ceo@elegantsolidarity.com
His career brings together specialized medical practice, international education, humanitarian cooperation and projects intended to improve care, communication, learning and quality of life for people with different disabilities.
Explore Dr. Idris Fernández’s professional initiatives, international solidarity projects, social media and audiovisual content.
PhD in Psychobiology, neuropsychologist, university professor and neuroscience researcher.
Dr. Isabel María Martín Monzón was born in Spain. She is Head of Research Projects and Protocol Development at Brains Get Famous.
She holds a PhD in Psychobiology —2009—, is an Associate Professor at the University of Seville —2022— and is a neuropsychologist. She completed a Master’s Degree in Brain Damage Psychobiology from 2004 to 2006 and is accredited as an Expert Psychologist in Clinical Neuropsychology by the Official College of Psychologists in Spain.
Over the last eighteen years, she has continuously developed research, teaching and professional work in the field of Psychobiology in general and Neuropsychology in particular, giving her extensive experience in research, clinical practice and university training.
At the end of her degree in 2004, Dr. Isabel María Martín Monzón received the highest awards for academic excellence: the Award for the Best Academic Transcript among the Faculties and Schools of the University of Seville, the Extraordinary End-of-Degree Award in Psychology and the Royal Maestranza de Caballería of Seville University Award for the Best Academic Record in her degree.
In recent years, she has also received research prizes and awards from scientific societies such as FENS, the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies.
She currently collaborates with prestigious universities, including Stanford University, the University of Amsterdam and Cardiff University, among others, as well as with leading international hospitals such as Mayo Clinic Hospital in Florida, USA, where she has participated, together with Dr. Quiñones-Hinojosa’s team, in the intraoperative evaluation of patients with brain tumors or epilepsy.
She has also carried out a research stay at Hôpital Gui de Chauliac in Montpellier, France, under the mentorship of Professor Hugues Duffau, specializing in the study of connectomics and the dynamics of cortico-subcortical networks involved in cognitive and emotional processes.
In university teaching, she has taught core and elective subjects in the area of Psychobiology at the University of Seville from 2005 to the present, including Fundamentals of Psychobiology and Psychobiology of Cognitive Processes.
She has also taught master’s-level courses, including Psychobiology of Learning and Memory in the University Master’s Degree in Advanced Studies in Brain and Behavior, and Basic Foundations of Neuropsychological Damage and Applied Psychopharmacology in the Master’s Degree in General Health Psychology.
Regarding her research and professional profile, as the result of a distinguished career in Neuroscience, Dr. Isabel Martín Monzón has produced various prestigious scientific publications, as well as book chapters, and has given presentations at national and international congresses within her field of specialization.
She has collaborated with the Departments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, Neurophysiology and Interventional Radiology at Virgen del Rocío University Hospital in Seville in different studies on neuropsychological evaluation and rehabilitation in patients with brain tumors, as well as studies involving patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
She co-authored three clinical protocols with intellectual property registration, applied in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Departments of Virgen del Rocío University Hospital.
She actively participates as a member of international scientific societies, including the International Neuropsychological Society —INS—, the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies —FENS—, the World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation —WFNR— and the European Brain and Behaviour Society —EBBS—, as well as national societies such as the Federation of Spanish Neuropsychology Associations —FANPSE— and the Andalusian Society of Neuropsychology —SANP—, among others.
Physician specializing in aesthetic, reconstructive, biological and anti-aging medicine.
Dr. Manuel Plaza was born in Spain.
He specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive medicine at the Maribel Yébenes Center.
Dr. Manuel Plaza was born in Spain. He specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive medicine at the Maribel Yébenes Center.
He holds a Degree in Medicine and Surgery from the Complutense University of Madrid.
He completed a Master’s Degree in Clinical Nutrition at the Autonomous University of Madrid.
He holds a Diploma in Anti-Aging Medicine from the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M).
He is a University Specialist in Biological Medicine and Anti-Aging Medicine from the University of Alcalá de Henares.
He is a member of the Spanish Society of Anti-Aging Medicine (SEMAL).
He is a member of the Spanish Society of Cosmetic Medicine and Surgery (SEMCC).
He is a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M).
Optician-optometrist specializing in low vision and visual rehabilitation.
Dr. Pilar Torrego was born in Spain.
EducationDiploma in Optics from the Complutense University of Madrid. Specialized in Visual Rehabilitation at ONCE.
Professional experienceOptician-optometrist specializing in low vision and responsible for professional training at the Ángel Barañano Low Vision Center.
Her work includes the evaluation, prescription and training of visual aids for people with low vision.
She is also a lecturer in the subject “Low Vision” within the Master’s Degree for postgraduate optometrists at the International Optometry Center —C.O.I.— in Madrid.
Optometrist specializing in low vision and Director of the Barañano Low Vision Centre.
Dr. Miguel Guzmán was born in Spain.
The professionals who form part of Brains Get Famous bring clinical experience, scientific knowledge and a profound human commitment to supporting people affected by brain tumors and their families.
This network remains open to the exchange of knowledge, research, international collaboration and the participation of new specialists committed to our mission.
Because progress in medicine also means listening, supporting and working together.
