The Governing Board of the Royal European Academy of Doctors (READ), on behalf of the entire academic community, deeply regrets the passing of Honorary Academician and Extraordinary Ambassador Gabriel Masfurroll, who died on December 13. “His passing represents a deeply felt loss for our institution. Masfurroll was a leading figure for his commitment to excellence, his humanistic spirit, and his constant support for the values that inspire the academic and social mission of the READ—qualities he also projected in his role as president of Clínicas Mi. On behalf of the Royal Academy and all its members, we extend our most heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones, to whom we offer our warmest support at this time of sorrow,” stated the President of the Royal Corporation, Alfredo Rocafort.
Masfurroll began his professional career as an economist in the healthcare sector and took part in the creation of the Catalan Down Syndrome Foundation. He chaired the Social Council of the Autonomous University of Barcelona for nearly a decade, although his public prominence grew through his role on the board of FC Barcelona. At the time of his passing, he served as an advisor and board member of several companies, including the Swedish firms Kreab Worldwide AB and EQT Capital Partners. Throughout his career, he acted as a visiting professor at renowned business schools such as IESE, ESADE, and IE Business School. He was also a mentor, advisor, and investor in start-ups led by young entrepreneurs, a columnist in various media outlets, and the author of several landmark works in the field of business. His many distinctions included the Creu de Sant Jordi awarded by the Government of Catalonia, the Civil Order of Health, and the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity.
As a tribute, the Royal Academy revisits the heartfelt obituary written by its Vice President, Jaume Llopis, published on December 15 in the pages of «La Vanguardia.»
A Leader with a Vocation for Service
The death of Gabriel Masfurroll Lacambra leaves a profound void—in the professional sphere, in academia, in healthcare, and in sport. But for those of us fortunate enough to know him well, his absence is felt most acutely on a personal level: in the conversations left unfinished, the shared ideas, and a friendship built over decades.
I met Gabriel Masfurroll almost forty years ago. FC Barcelona brought us together, but I soon realized that this initial bond was merely the gateway to a much richer relationship. Even then, Masfurroll stood out for something uncommon: independent thinking, a critical spirit, and an intellectual autonomy he preserved intact until the very end. He was never comfortable with conformity or unquestioned leadership.
Born in Barcelona in 1953, he came from a family marked by a singular legacy he recalled with pride: the leadership of his grandmother and mother at the helm of the family business at a time when such a role for women was almost unheard of. From them, he inherited a sense of responsibility and work ethic that combined rigor, discretion, and ethical commitment.
His professional path was deeply tied to the world of healthcare. He began at Sant Pau Hospital, an experience that shaped his life. There he discovered his vocation for hospital management and learned a lesson he would often repeat: economics only makes sense when it serves quality care and people. This principle guided his work at the Puigvert Foundation, American Medical International, and in the management of emblematic institutions such as Clínica Quirón in Barcelona and the Jiménez Díaz Foundation in Madrid.
In 1998, he took a decisive step by founding USP Hospitales, a pioneering project that transformed private healthcare in Spain. It was not merely a business success; it marked a paradigm shift.
After selling his stake in USP, far from retiring, he continued to launch ventures, support projects, and advise young entrepreneurs and executives. More recently, he promoted the Clínicas Mi group, a project that embodied his desire to sustain a form of healthcare that was close to patients, well managed, and grounded in values. His son, Gabriel Masfurroll Cortada, current CEO of the group, played a prominent role in this endeavor—entrusted with his father’s confidence and accompanied with experience, respect, and generosity. Alongside him, his daughter Paola always held a central place in his family life, which he spoke of with quiet pride and enduring gratitude.
His commitment to society was sincere, steadfast, and deeply consistent with his worldview. He firmly believed in sport as a tool for integration and social transformation, especially through his close involvement with the Laureus Foundation. Yet an even deeper commitment arose from the most difficult pain imaginable: the death of his son Álex in childhood. That loss marked Gabriel Masfurroll and his wife Cris forever—his life partner, unwavering support, and constant reference point at every decisive moment.
He lived FC Barcelona from within, serving as director and vice president at different stages. He did so with critical loyalty, love for the club, and an independence of judgment that sometimes unsettled others but was profoundly honest. He loved Barça without relinquishing his own thinking and always defended the idea that institutions are strengthened when they accept dissent.
In the academic realm, his admission to the Royal European Academy of Doctors as an Honorary Academician and Extraordinary Ambassador in May 2024 was especially meaningful to him. From that moment on, Gabriel Masfurroll engaged with the Academy in the same way he approached everything he did: constant presence, a helping hand, and a genuine willingness to contribute to the institutional and human development of the READ whenever needed.
On a personal level, Masfurroll was approachable, direct, and deeply humane. He was a great conversationalist, with a sense of humor and a genuine curiosity about others. He knew how to listen, how to ask questions, and how to remain silent when appropriate. He did not cultivate superficial friendships or instrumental relationships. He valued loyalty, sincerity, and shared time. That is why his friendships were lasting and authentic.
For me, Gabriel Masfurroll was far more than a professional reference. He was a friend. A stimulating conversation. An example of coherence between thought, word, and deed. His absence leaves a silence that is hard to fill, but his legacy—human and professional—endures.
It is now our responsibility to remember him as he lived: with freedom, with commitment, and with a deep fidelity to the values that give meaning to a life well lived.
