Luis Rojas Marcos was born in Seville. Shortly after receiving his degree in Medicine, he emigrated to New York, where he specialised in Psychiatry and still lives today.

In 1992 he was appointed as Commissioner of the city’s mental health services and, between 1995 and 2002, he was Chief Executive of the NYC public hospital system.

A Professor of Psychiatry at New York University, Rojas Marcos combines his academic work with the clinic and supporting public health institutions. In Spain, he has been honoured with Doctor Honoris Causa degrees from Ramón Llull, Basque Country and Burgos Universities, and his noteworthy books include Seeds of Violence, Overcoming Adversity and Optimism and Health.