Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu Hosts the First Doctoral Thesis Defense by a Professional of the Institution at the RISE Center Auditorium

On September 30, 2025, a very special academic event took place at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu (PSSJD): the first doctoral thesis defense by a professional of the institution, held in the auditorium of the RISE center.

Marta Domínguez del Campo, a nurse specialized in mental health and a research lead in care, defended her thesis titled:

"Perception of the Quality of Care in the Field of Prison Mental Health from the Perspective of Attended Individuals and Professionals"

The thesis was supervised by Dr. Juan Roldán and Dr. Antonio Moreno, and tutored by Dr. Montserrat Puig, as part of the Infermeria i Salut doctoral program at the University of Barcelona. This project is part of the Mental Health in the Prison and Juvenile Justice System Research Line (SMAPiJJ), led by Dr. Gemma Escuder, within the MERITT group, directed by Dr. Susana Ochoa and Dr. Judith Usall.

The event drew a large audience that filled the room completely, reflecting the great interest sparked by this first thesis defense at the center by one of its professionals. Attendees included professionals from various care and management areas of PSSJD, researchers, university faculty, and students who came to support the doctoral candidate in a moment of great personal and institutional significance.

The defense was evaluated by a prestigious panel composed of:

• Dr. Susana Ochoa (Head of the Research Unit at PSSJD)
• Dr. Carlos Sequeira (President of the Portuguese Society of Mental Health Nursing)
• Dr. Zaida Agüera (Lecturer at the University of Barcelona)

The panel awarded the candidate the distinction of "Excellent Cum Laude."

During the event, Dr. Teresa Lluch, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Barcelona, gave a speech thanking Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu for hosting the event. She emphasized the importance of such occasions in strengthening ties between the academic and healthcare sectors, as a way to consolidate solid, applied, and transformative nursing research. This defense symbolizes a further step in the collaboration between both institutions and highlights the institutional commitment to promoting research in care.