Zoom-In on Champalimaud - 2nd Edition - Issue 11

Zoom-In on Champalimaud: Alberto Ignacio “Nacho” Herrando

My name is Alberto Ignacio Herrando, but I like ‘Nacho’: it is shorter and more fun!. Originally, I am from the north of Argentina, a beautiful place called Salta. After a very long lockdown due to COVID-19 in my country, I moved to Portugal. I have been living and working in Lisbon since February 2021. My wife Carolina and my son (Bruno) came afterwards. Currently, I am a PhD student at the Champalimaud Foundation working alongside the Biophotonics platform and the colorectal surgery team. For now, I have paused my career as a colorectal surgeon and educator to focus on research. When I spotted the opportunity I asked myself: Why not?

What is the literal meaning of your name?

My parents gave me the name Alberto because my father and grandfather were called the same name. And Ignacio was my mum’s preference. I was very surprised when I looked up the real meaning of these names. Alberto is the latinised version of the German name Albert. It means "Noble, Bright, Famous”. And Ignacio comes from the Roman name “Egnatius” which means “born from fire”. Thank you mum and dad! I never thought these names had such a message.

Do you cook? And if so, what is your best dish?

I love to cook… when I have time. I can be very creative in the kitchen and I enjoy the process a lot, especially when cooking for friends. In Argentina, we love to meet friends and start the process of cooking all together; even doing the groceries is part of the event. Everything gets better with some wine, of course. My best dish is “empanadas salteñas”, a typical Argentinian dish. It is like a tiny pie filled with chopped meat, onion, green onion, potatoes, eggs, among other ingredients. Top tip: Never try these empanadas without cumin!

What song reminds you most of your childhood?

My father used to play “Eye of the Tiger'' on Sunday mornings at a very high volume. It was the ‘call’ to get up and share breakfast with him. Of course, this was not the only piece of music he chose to wake us. One Sunday it could be Celine Dion, the next a Modern Jazz Quartet. And one of the last bands I remember hearing during Sunday mornings was Ráfaga (an Argentinian cumbia band). I think this is the reason I have such a wide spectrum of musical preference.