For the second time, Dr Héctor Hernández-Lázaro from the University of Valladolid (Spain) has completed a one-month scientific placement at the Medical College of the University of Rzeszów. These placements took place at the turn of May and June in both 2024 and 2025, under the academic supervision of Dr Agnieszka Wiśniowska-Szurlej. As a result of the joint scientific efforts, both universities initiated the signing of a bilateral cooperation agreement.

Dr Héctor Hernández-Lázaro, a researcher at Universidad de Valladolid (Spain), has been actively collaborating for several years with a team of researchers from the University of Rzeszów, including Associate Professor Agnieszka Sozańska and Dr Agnieszka Wiśniowska-Szurlej. Their joint research primarily focuses on the application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in clinical practice in Poland and Spain, as well as on planning health interventions for individuals with chronic diseases.

As part of this cooperation, three joint publications have been produced:

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, randomised, controlled trial. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2025;22(1):147.

This collaboration is a prime example of effective synergy between academic centres in Poland and Spain, yielding tangible benefits in the form of innovative rehabilitation solutions and deeper insights into the functioning of people with disabilities. It is particularly gratifying that international researchers such as Dr Héctor Hernández-Lázaro not only engage willingly in cooperation with the University of Rzeszów, but also return to the city with their families and feel at home here. This is a testament to the fact that our university and city provide a welcoming environment for both living and conducting scientific research.

A video summary of Dr Héctor Hernández-Lázaro’s stay is available on the University of Rzeszów’s official website and social media channels.