Gaztambide Sáenz, Mª Sonia

Maria Sonia Gaztambide Sáenz (1953, Bilbao) obtained a PhD Cum Laude in Medicine and Surgery from the University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU. She is head of the Endocrinology and Nutrition Service at Cruces Hospital in Biscay and has specialised at several universities, including Cardiff University Hospital (UK) and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (USA). She is professor of Medicine at the UPV/EHU.

She sits on the Clinical Trials Ethics Committee of the Basque Country and National Commission on Endocrinology and Nutrition, collaborates in the Autonomous Basque Community Health Plan, and chairs the Spanish Diabetes Society.

Dr. Gaztambide has participated in 16 research projects, published some 50 articles and 12 book chapters, been involved in the publication of a book and given over 200 lectures at conferences.

She has worked as resident doctor at the Residencia Sanitaria Enrique Sotomayor at Cruces Hospital, general practitioner and consultant in Endocrinology and Nutrition for INSALUD (NHS) and is consultant in Endocrinology and Tiered Nutrition at Cruces Hospital.

Dr. Gaztambide has been the president of the Association of Educators in Diabetes (the Basque Country); president of the Endocrinology and Nutrition Society of the Basque Country; vice-president of the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition and the Spanish representative of Endocrinology and Nutrition in the European Union of Medical Specialists.

She has received the 2004 Spanish Society of Surgery Award, and 2006 José Igea Award from the Spanish Society of Paediatric Endocrinology, in collaboration with the Endocrine Surgery Unit and Dr. Castaño, from the University Hospital Research Unit at Cruces.