Introducing Diagnóstico FC: Changing the lives of young sportspeople in Spain

On Monday, March 11th, IE University presented the Diagnóstico FC project at its sustainable campus tower in Castellana, Madrid. The project’s aim is to raise awareness of chronic illnesses among sportspeople. As such, the health of young people in Spain can be safeguarded—which is a vision that extends to the rest of the world. 

The event was MC’d by sports journalist Nico Abad, who introduced talks from a number of key guests. One such guest was Lisa Bevill, Director of the IE Center for Health & Well-Being, Leadership Development & Executive Coach. Lisa emphasized the honor in launching Diagnóstico FC, noting that “the IE Center for Health & Well-Being is focused on prevention, innovation and making on impact in both personal health and the well-being of our communities.” Lisa was also eager to point out IE University’s unique approach to education: “We strongly believe in the power of holistic education, which allows us to understand and raise awareness about the human body, fostering healthy habits for a longer, better life.” 

Lisa also noted AstraZeneca’s pivotal role in the project: “Thank you to AstraZeneca for supporting such a meaningful campaign, which has the potential to make a real difference in society and promote sustainable health.” 

Set against the stunning backdrop of northern Madrid, the IE Tower hosted impactful conversations in connection with World Kidney Day. Speakers from Sevilla FC, CD Leganes and Real Club Celta de Vigo discussed the importance of innovation in sports, with a focus on football’s role in promoting health within communities. According to Nerea Cacho of CD Leganes, finding new ways of communicating with young people is critical in fostering positive change: “We aim to reach new generations through social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube and Twitch. These platforms have the power to connect us with the fans, so we must take advantage of that to promote healthy habits.” 

The Diagnóstico FC launch was also attended by Aitor Puerta, whose father Antonio Puerta passed away in 2007 due to a congenital heart condition while playing for Sevilla FC. Accompanied by ex-footballer Rubén de la Red, who also suffers from a heart condition, Aitor acknowledged the importance of their stories: “My father’s name is associated with strength and passion. I grew up hearing stories about him… I’m proud of his legacy, and it motivates me every day to pursue my own dreams.” 

Rubén added the need for proactivity in testing: “I’d ask for better awareness starting at a young age, especially in schools. It’s important for kids to understand the value of health and the importance of regular check-ups, not just in football but in all sports. Prevention should be taught early so that it becomes a part of everyone’s life, not just professional athletes.” 

The event concluded with a roundtable from representatives of ALCER, Alilin, Astrazeneca, Fundación Jiménez Díaz and a closing address from José Ignacio Melendro Jurado, Subdirector General of Ciencias del Deporte in the Consejo Superior de Deportes. José underlined the Ministry of Health’s focus on improving young people’s lives across the nation. Precautionary health tests are key to their roadmap: “The health of athletes is not the responsibility of one single entity. It’s a shared responsibility among all of us—from the administration to private entities, scientific societies and medical organizations. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for individuals with health conditions and those who engage in sports regularly, ensuring they do so safely and effectively.” 

At IE University, we’re proud to support initiatives that bring together experts from varying fields. We’d like to thank everybody who attended Monday’s event and encourage you to find out more about AstraZeneca’s mission. By platforming the good done by others, we stay true to our purpose of fostering positive change throughout society.