The Center for the Humanities is pleased to present an Online Lecture with Stanford Distinguished Professor,  Dr. Antoni Trilla - Research Professor at ISGlobal and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Barcelona (UB)

The 1918–1919 influenza pandemic was the most devastating epidemic in modern history.  Dr. Antoni Trilla, professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health and Dean of Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at The University of Barcelona, will review some epidemiological and historical data about the 1918–1919 influenza epidemic in Spain during this virtual lecture. Trilla will discuss the progression of the influenza epidemic including its likely spread from France to Spain (perhaps as the result of the heavy railroad traffic of Spanish and Portuguese migrant workers to and from France), its devastating impact, and its characterization as the "Spanish flu," despite contrary evidence on its origins.  One hundred years later, Spain, like the rest of the world, is suffering the COVID-19 pandemic.  Some features of the current coronavirus prevention and control strategies resemble those used in 1918-1919.  History repeats itself from time to time, and Trilla argues that society has an opportunity to learn several lessons from the 1918 epidemic.

Dr. Antoni Trilla is Research Professor at ISGlobal and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Barcelona (UB).  As an expert in infectious diseases, Dr. Trilla coordinates the High Level Isolation Unit (UAAN), chairs the Scientific Advisory Committee for Emerging Infections of Catalonia, and is scientific advisor for the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC).  Trilla is also Head of the Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology Unit and teaches Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona-UB.  He has authored more than 250 original papers published in peer-reviewed journals and has been principal or associate investigator in 25 research projects.

Dr. Trilla completed his MD and PhD at the University of Barcelona as well as Master's degrees in Hospital and Health Services Management and Health Economics and Health Management.  He is board certified in Internal Medicine and in Preventive Medicine and Public Health.  He is a member of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (IEC), of the Reial Acadèmia de Medicina de Catalunya (RAMC), and of the Governing Board of the Barcelona College of Physicians (CoMB).  Previous positions include director of Quality and Clinical Safety at the Hospital Clínic, and president of the Catalan Agency for Health Quality and Assessment (AQuAS).