About me
Introduction
I am a dermatologist and researcher specialising primarily in psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases. Throughout my career, I have focused my clinical practice, research and training on a specific objective: to understand these diseases more fully in order to manage them with greater precision, depth and personalisation.
I work at Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal and Grupo Pedro Jaén, where I lead a highly specialised unit dedicated to psoriasis and inflammatory skin diseases. I am General Director of ICMR (International Center for Medical Research), the dermatology research centre of Fundación Pedro Jaén, where we conduct studies and clinical trials in psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions. I also teach at the Faculty of Medicine of Universidad Francisco de Vitoria.
Psoriasis at the centre of my career
Psoriasis has been central to both my clinical and research career. My dedication to this disease stems from the need to provide more specialised care for patients who, in many cases, require more than a standard treatment or a short-term response to an individual flare-up.
Over time, this focus has allowed me to develop an approach based on a high degree of specialisation, individual assessment and careful follow-up of each case, always with the conviction that good dermatological care requires in-depth knowledge, sound clinical judgement and a broad understanding of the patient.
A comprehensive view of psoriasis
My approach is based on a clear principle: psoriasis cannot be understood solely as a skin disease.
For many patients, its impact extends beyond visible lesions and requires attention to other factors that may influence disease progression, quality of life and general health. For this reason, I place particular importance on comprehensive disease assessment, associated comorbidities and each patient’s individual circumstances.
This perspective allows me to make more precise therapeutic decisions and develop a management strategy that better reflects the clinical reality of each patient.
I apply the same approach to other immune-mediated skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis and hidradenitis suppurativa, because I believe that this comprehensive perspective is also essential to managing these conditions with greater precision.
Research as part of my clinical practice
Research is not a secondary part of my career. It is an essential part of how I practise medicine.
At Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, I have developed clinical and research activity focused on psoriasis, its comorbidities and the comprehensive assessment of patients. In parallel, through ICMR I participate in research projects and clinical trials that allow me to remain closely connected with relevant advances in psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases.
This integration of clinical care and research enables me to work from an up-to-date scientific perspective and reinforces the rigour with which I assess each case and make clinical decisions.
Dr Álvaro González Cantero
Medical registration number: 454505859
International training and the influence of leading specialists
My interest in psoriasis led me to focus my training on this field from an early stage. I completed my doctoral thesis on psoriasis and further developed my professional experience through placements at two leading centres in the United States: Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and the University of Pennsylvania.
These experiences helped consolidate an approach to dermatology based on a high degree of specialisation, scientific rigour and the integration of clinical practice and research — principles that continue to define my work today.
Dr Alan Menter and Dr Joel Gelfand
A significant part of my approach to psoriasis has developed through learning from internationally recognised specialists in the disease and through ongoing contact with professionals who have had an important influence on my clinical and research career.
During my training in the United States, I had the opportunity to work with Dr Alan Menter at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and to undertake a second placement with Dr Joel Gelfand at the Psoriasis Center at the University of Pennsylvania. From both, I learnt not only how to develop research projects focused on a specific disease, but also an approach to patient care based on clinical precision, scientific excellence and a genuine understanding of patients’ needs.
Dr Valentín Fuster
Throughout my career, professional relationships with leading specialists in other fields closely connected with psoriasis and its systemic impact have also been particularly valuable.
In this respect, Dr Valentín Fuster has been an important source of inspiration for me, both because of his approach to medicine and his commitment to care aimed at achieving meaningful improvements in patients’ health.
Dr Pedro Jaén
When I returned to Spain, this experience helped me consolidate a model in which clinical practice and research develop alongside one another. At Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, I have been able to pursue this work through my own research programme and international collaborations.
Subsequently, with the support of Dr Pedro Jaén, we worked to bring this comprehensive model of care into private clinical practice at Grupo Pedro Jaén.
Ongoing engagement with the national and international scientific community
I maintain regular contact with leading dermatologists and psoriasis researchers from different countries through scientific collaborations, conferences and participation in international scientific societies.
This continuous exchange of knowledge is an essential part of how I understand medicine: continuing to learn in order to provide each patient with care that is more precise, more up to date and closely connected with genuine advances in the specialty.
Scientific activity and continuous professional development
Over the years, I have maintained continuous scientific activity through conferences, publications and research projects related to psoriasis, systemic inflammation and associated comorbidities.
I am also a member of national and international scientific organisations related to dermatology and, in particular, psoriasis. This involvement allows me to remain closely connected with developments in scientific knowledge and apply that learning to everyday clinical practice.
These organisations include the International Psoriasis Council, the AEDV, the EADV, the National Psoriasis Foundation and other specialist networks.
I also devote a substantial part of my professional activity to delivering lectures at scientific meetings in countries around the world, including the United States, Colombia, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.
This connection with the scientific community enables me to remain closely engaged with advances in knowledge and incorporate that learning into clinical practice with a consistently high level of scientific rigour.
Teaching, patient education and commitment to shared knowledge
I am a professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, where I have the opportunity to share both the knowledge we continue to develop and an approach to medicine that places the individual patient at its centre.
Alongside clinical care, research and teaching, I consider it essential to provide patients with rigorous, clear and useful information about their condition.
With this aim, I lead projects such as The Psoriasis Revolution, an initiative designed to provide patients with accessible information about relevant advances, treatments and knowledge relating to psoriasis and to support a more informed understanding of the disease.
I see patient education as a natural extension of clinical care: helping patients understand their disease is also part of caring for them.
Professional career
My professional career has developed through a combination of strong clinical training, a high degree of specialisation in psoriasis, active research and an increasingly comprehensive view of inflammatory skin diseases. These are some of the milestones that best explain the development of my current approach.
Licenciatura en Medicina.
Universidad de Granada.
Especialidad en Dermatología Médico-Quirúrgica y Venereología.
Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Toledo.
Estancia formativa en psoriasis.
Con el Dr. Alan Menter, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas.
Doctor en Medicina por la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha.
Tesis centrada en psoriasis y aterosclerosis.
Estancia formativa en psoriasis.
Con el Dr. Joel Gelfand, University of Pennsylvania.
Actividad clínica e investigadora
Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal.
Desarrollo de la Unidad de Psoriasis y Enfermedades Inflamatorias de la Piel
Grupo Pedro Jaén.
Director Científico del International Center for Medical Research (ICMR)
Centro de investigación dermatológica de la Fundación Pedro Jaén.
International Fellow del International Psoriasis Council.
Creador y organizador de las tres ediciones de The Psoriasis Revolution.
Current positions
I currently combine clinical, research and teaching activities across complementary areas, all focused on the study and management of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases.
- Director of the Psoriasis and Inflammatory Skin Diseases Unit at Grupo Pedro Jaén
- Consultant Dermatologist, Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal
- Scientific Director of the International Center for Medical Research (ICMR)
- Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
- Councilor, International Psoriasis Council
International scientific activity
Scientific activity is an essential part of my career and includes ongoing participation in conferences, symposia, expert meetings and international forums dedicated to psoriasis, its comorbidities and other inflammatory skin diseases. This regular involvement allows me to share research, exchange clinical experience and maintain an up-to-date international perspective.
Over the years, I have actively participated in national and international scientific meetings and congresses, including those organised by the American Academy of Dermatology, the International Psoriasis Council Symposium, the EADV, the National Psoriasis Congress, the AEDV National Congress of Dermatology and Venereology, the SPIN
Congress and other specialist forums dedicated to psoriasis, systemic inflammation and cardiometabolic comorbidities.
The international dimension of my work is not simply an academic consideration. It reflects my approach to medicine: continuing to learn, compare experience and share knowledge in order to provide patients with care that remains closely connected with meaningful advances in the specialty.
Mentors, leading specialists and international network
A significant part of my approach to psoriasis has developed through learning from internationally recognised specialists, maintaining ongoing contact with researchers from different countries and pursuing a clear commitment to integrating clinical care, research and a comprehensive view of the patient.
Dr Alan Menter — Baylor University Medical Center
One of the international psoriasis specialists with whom I completed part of my training in the United States.
Dr Joel Gelfand — University of Pennsylvania
A key influence on my clinical and research training, particularly in psoriasis and its comorbidities.
Dr Valentín Fuster
A particularly important source of inspiration for me because of his comprehensive approach to medicine and his perspective on prevention and cardiovascular health.
Dr Pedro Jaén
His support was instrumental in bringing a comprehensive and highly specialised model of psoriasis care into private clinical practice at Grupo Pedro Jaén.
International network of psoriasis specialists
I maintain ongoing relationships with leading dermatologists and researchers from different countries through conferences, scientific societies, academic collaborations and shared projects. This continuous exchange of knowledge is an essential part of my approach to medicine: continuing to learn in order to provide each patient with more precise, up-to-date care that remains closely connected with advances in the specialty.
Scientific societies and specialist forums
Membership of national and international scientific societies allows me to remain closely connected with developments in medical knowledge, collaborate with other specialists and maintain a high level of scientific currency in my clinical practice.
- International Psoriasis Council
- Psoriasis Working Group of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV)
- Epidemiology and Health Promotion Group of the AEDV
- EADV (European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology)
- EADV Psoriasis Task Force
- National Psoriasis Foundation
- European Society of Cardiology
- GRAPPA
- European Rare and Severe Psoriasis Expert Network
- CILAD
ORCID and scientific profiles
I believe scientific activity should be accessible, verifiable and easy to consult. This section therefore brings together my main academic profiles and provides access to the dedicated research and teaching page, where further details of my scientific activity are available.
Scientific profiles
ORCID: 0000-0001-8060-4784
Google Scholar
PubMed
Actividad investigadora y académica completa
My research activity has resulted in publications in leading national and international journals including The Lancet, JAMA Dermatology, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, British Journal of Dermatology o PLOS One.
