University Hospitals Sussex honoured the life and legacy of Dr Casino Barrera Groba, a revered intensive care consultant, with a memorial conference on 23 September 2025 celebrating his contributions to critical care medicine across the UK and beyond.
The event, titled Evidence, Education, Excellence: The Barrera-Groba Critical Care Memorial Conference, brought together colleagues, and medical professionals to honour a colleague whose passion for medicine and unwavering commitment to patient care left an indelible mark on the field.
Dr Barrera Groba, known to his colleagues as Cas, was a beloved intensive care consultant, served for two decades in the Critical Care and Anaesthetic Department at University Hospitals Sussex.
His career, marked by deep compassion and tireless dedication, was tragically cut short on 3 February 2025 following a brief but devastating illness. His passing left a profound void in the medical community.
The conference was a celebration of educational curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking — values that Dr Barrera Groba championed throughout his career. The agenda featured a dynamic mix of clinical insights, research presentations, and personal reflections.
Dr Rebecca Gray,Consultant in Intensive Care at University Hospitals Sussex, said: “This conference was more than a tribute – it was a reflection of everything Cas stood for. He was a champion of multiprofessional education and evidence-based medicine.”
Video tributes and a moving memorial address by Professor Owen Boyd captured the essence of Dr Barrera Groba’s decades of service, highlighting his global impact and the deep respect he earned from peers and patients alike.
Attendees praised the event as “fantastic,” “wonderful,” and “really well organised,” with many noting that “Cas would be so proud.” The conference was described as “informative,” “brilliant,” and “excellent to hear about current and ongoing research.”
Dr Barrera Groba’s legacy continues to inspire excellence in critical care, and the conference served as a powerful reminder of the lives he touched and the standards he set.