Josep Marcel Escoda Sales, the heart and soul of the Medical Centre Pas de la Casa-Grau Roig, is recognized for his experience and knowledge in the sphere of medical attention in winter sports.

Dr Escoda is originally from Vandellòs, a village situated in the region of Camp de Tarragona, in Catalonia, whose mountains are close to the Mediterranean beaches. His political convictions (he was an active member of the PSUC, a party opposed to Franco’s dictatorship) led him to exile in Andorra, where he arrived in February 1969. That was initially meant as a brief parenthesis resulted in a new beginning, and Dr Escoda, in the same way as so many new Andorrans, settled down in these Pyrenean valleys.

At the beginning, he worked together with Dr Vilanova, at his clinic in Rebés square, and opened his own practice in Escaldes. His preoccupations led him to innovate and develop the spa cures in the field of geriatric care (the Spa Center of the Roc Blanc Hotel), and in the winter of 1972-1973 he took charge of the medical service of the Pas de la Casa-Grau Roig ski resort.

Therefore, during the winter 1972-1973 Dr Escoda created the Pas de la Casa-Grau Roig Medical Centre, fruit of the perfect understanding with Francesc Viladomat, the creator of the ski resort. For many years he also was the only doctor of the town of Pas de la Casa.