Now released, a superb documentary entitled José Baselga: Cancer’s Fiercest Opponent beautifully chapters the extraordinary life, career and contributions of José Baselga, a Barcelona-born and internationally acclaimed physician and cancer researcher who very sadly passed away at the age of 61, on 21 March 2021, from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Supported by AstraZeneca and directed by Chris Valentino, this touching tribute is captivating, emotive, and perfectly captures his charismatic persona and all the qualities that made José Baselga a visionary in oncology as well as a truly compassionate, kind human being.
“Alongside other colleagues who had the privilege of working with José and knowing him as an extraordinary person impassioned by everything he did, I am also honored to have participated in this outstanding documentary,” said VHIO’s Director, Josep Tabernero.
“While we have all witnessed José’s incomparable devotion to his profession, patients, research and clinical colleagues first-hand, it is thanks to the generosity of José’s family that we learn so much more about him through their sharing of precious insights and personal reflections in this documentary,” added Josep Tabernero, Head of the Medical Oncology Department at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Campus.
Executively produced by Jonathan Kay, this one-hour tribute to José Baselga, VHIO’s first and founding Director, is divided into sub-chapters covering defining periods of his life and illustrious career. Each contain precious footage and family photos, personal reflections, memories and lesser-known facts provided by José’s wife, Silvia, and their four children Marc, Clara, Alex, and Pepe. Renowned leaders in oncology as well as Jorie Graham, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and a former patient of José’s, also share several stories and anecdotes, featuring throughout.
In the final two chapters his family bravely reflects on the final months of José Baselga’s life, from the moment when he was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease up until he passed away in Cerdanya, Spain. These chapters also include comment from others who talk about what he meant to them both personally and professionally, and how he will be sorely missed.
Importantly, at the end of documentary, his daughter Clara highlights the GoFundMe campaign which the family set up following José’s death. Aimed at raising funds for research into Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) as well as much needed awareness about this devastating and fatal degenerative brain disorder, they succeeded in raising over a quarter of a million US dollars that will support research against CJD at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Spain.
The documentary closes with an excerpt from an audio clip of José Baselga’s acceptance speech upon receiving the European Society for Medical Oncology’s (ESMO) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017:
“And my question to you is, who’s going to be next? What are you going to do to move the field forward? Because, we are in an urgent need to make sure that all this knowledge continues to be developed and applied to patients.” – José Baselga, MD, PhD (1959-2021).
“Aimed particularly at upcoming talents in oncology, as he discussed the career development of young investigators, José’s words serve as a reminder to all that we must continue to honor his legacy by applying the same dedication and fight in beating cancer,” concluded Josep Tabernero.
We kindly invite you to access and watch José Baselga: Cancer’s Fiercest Opponent on YouTube by clicking here.
