For the second time, Dr Héctor Hernández-Lázaro from the University of Valladolid, Spain, completed his one-month research internship at the Medical College of the University of Rzeszów. The month-long internships took place in late May/early June in 2024 and 2025 and were supervised by Dr Agnieszka Wiśniowska-Szurlej. As a result of joint activities, a bilateral cooperation agreement was initiated between the two universities.

Dr Héctor Hernández Lázaro, a researcher from the Universidad de Valladolid (Spain), has been actively collaborating for several years with a team of researchers from the University of Rzeszow, including dr hab. n. o zdr. Agnieszką Sozańską, prof. UR oraz dr n. o zdr. Agnieszką Wiśniowską-Szurlej. Their  ollaborative research mainly focuses on the use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in clinical practice in Poland and Spain and the planning of health interventions for people with chronic diseases. The collaboration has resulted in 3 publications:

1. Wiśniowska-Szurlej A, Sozańska A, Barrio SJ, Sozański B, Ceballos-Laita L, Hernández-Lázaro H. ICF based comparison of musculoskeletal health in regions of Poland and Spain. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):27671.
2. Hernández-Lázaro H, Mingo-Gómez MT, Jiménez-Del-Barrio S, Simarro-Martín A, Wiśniowska-Szurlej A, Ceballos-Laita L. Development of an ICF core set for the management of musculoskeletal conditions in primary care physiotherapy services in Spain: a Delphi study. Disabil Rehabil. 2025:1-10. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2460723.
3. Wiśniowska-Szurlej A, Leszczak J, Brożonowicz J, Ciąpała G, Hernández-Lázaro H, Sozańska A. Effectiveness of a rehabilitation program involving functional proprioceptive stimulation for postural control and motor recovery among stroke patients: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2025;22(1):147.

This cooperation is an example of effective synergy between scientific centres from Poland and Spain, bringing tangible benefits in the form of innovative solutions in rehabilitation and in-depth knowledge of the functioning of people with disabilities.

It is gratifying to see that foreign academics such as Dr Hector Hernández Lázaro are not only keen to cooperate with the University of Rzeszów, but also return to Rzeszów with their families and they feel comfortable here. This proves that our university and city create a welcoming environment to live and conduct research.

A summary of Dr Hector Hernández Lázaro's stay is available in the video, which can be viewed on the University of Rzeszów website or on the university's social media.