“…the hospital — altogether the most complex human organization ever devised”
Peter Drucker

A constructive integration experience

Another “Introduction to Medicine Week” (IMW) was held during the week of 15th to 19th September, as has become customary at the beginning of the academic year at FMUL. Over the years, this orientation week has played an important role in assisting the process of integration of new students at FMUL, helping to establish and reinforce the notion among new students that FMUL and LACM (Lisbon’s Academic Centre of Medicine), represent a space where study and research, teaching and clinical practice intersect.

The North American, Peter Drucker, one of the gurus of modern management, defined the hospital as the most complex of human organizations. When one considers the crossover of skills, functions and training the hospital requires, all carried out within a complex legislative and regulatory fabric, it is not difficult to understand the accuracy of this statement. In the case of a university hospital, its scope assumes even greater significance. Consequently, a lot of things are happening at the same time for freshmen students. Everything is completely new, and it is possible that not all new comers feel at home naturally. The IMW was developed to help overcome this situation and since its introduction in FMUL, it has assisted a process of phased progressive integration for new students. Anyone who has the opportunity to accompany the students during this week can see ongoing changes, and even if these may appear small at times, they still allow smiles to take the place of the anxious and unsure expressions often seen on students’ faces when they enter the LACM buildings for the first time.

As the Dean of FMUL, Professor Fernandes e Fernandes, underlines in the Editorial Note of this edition, “over the last seven years a tradition was instituted, which clearly supplants traditional hazing rituals. Involving Faculty members and the Students Association, IMW offers an appropriate method of incorporating new students into academia, giving them a diverse and useful program, which provides an opportunity for reflection on themes as diverse as: what medicine is, what it means to be doctor in the XXI century, the opportunities open to students and future doctors, while also reinforcing the relevance of a broader cultural approach and a humanist vision in the education and training of future physicians. It is an occasion that marks the commitment of FMUL to its students (…)”

The program
On the first day, the Welcome Ceremony for 1st Year Students began with messages from the officers of FMUL’s Governing Bodies, namely the Dean of FMUL, Professor Fernandes e Fernandes; the President of the Scientific Council, Professor Rui Victorino; the President of the Pedagogical Council, Professor Miguel Oliveira da Silva; the President of the Board of Directors of HSM / CHLN, EPE, Dr. José Carlos Martins das Neves; and the President of FMUL Students Association, Tomás da Silva Neto.
Still on the first day, in addition to extracurricular activities, the new students were able to attend lectures given by some of their future teachers and mentors on subjects such as bone marrow transplant (Professor Forjaz Lacerda), “Learning, Science and Intuition in Medicine “(Professor Vaz Carneiro), a “General Introduction to the Human Body and the Locomotor System” (Professor Gonçalves Ferreira) and Physiology (José Miguel Brites).

According to standard practice in the IMW, lectures were consistent thematically, with a logical and didactic sequence.

On Tuesday, the 16th, Professor Maria Carmo Fonseca spoke about cell differentiation, while Professor Miguel Castanho presented a paper entitled “Life is made of molecules.” Professor Burgess spoke about “Biological Tissues – morpho-functional reflection of cellular differentiation”. Professor Mamede de Carvalho discoursed on the theme “Volunteering, Solidarity and Civic Awareness in Health Care” and Professor Gonçalves Ferreira presented a lesson entitled: “A General Introduction to the Human Body – Command and Control: the Nervous and Endocrine Systems”. From 4.00-5.00 p.m. students participated in extracurricular activities as occurred on the other days of this week.

On Wednesday, Professor Armando Pereirinha introduced the theme of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, and Professor Evangelista Rocha spoke on “The Perspective of a Hospital Doctor”. Following in a thematic sequence, Dr. Vasco Maria spoke about “The Perspective of a Family Doctor,” and Dr. Rui Portugal presented the theme “The Perspective of a Public Health Doctor.”

The student Tomás Neto da Silva, President of the FMUL Student Association (FMULSA) then presented his paper, which was followed by the performance of the FMULSA Choir. There is a traditional link between medical students and music, especially classical music, and many of FMUL students have a formal background in this area, which is reflected in the quality of the choir.

Dr. Fernando Nobre spoke on “Medicine, Culture and Humanism”, and colleagues from the Health and Wellness Project presented a communication entitled “Know to Prevent – Intervene to Protect”, which included a presentation by associates from the University Stadium. Professor Gonçalves Ferreira presented another communiqué, this time entitled “A General Introduction to the Human Body – Maintenance: Circulatory System”.

On Thursday, Professor Miguel Oliveira da Silva spoke about Ethics and Social Sciences, the Dean of FMUL, Professor Fernandes e Fernandes, presented a paper entitled “The Doctor, the Individual and the Patient. The Coordinator of FMUL CDI Library, Susana Henriques, spoke about one of the areas that is most visited by students in a communication entitled “Your Library on Your Journey to Knowledge”.
The Teaching / Learning Module in III.II was presented by Drs. Armando Pereirinha, Ruy Ribeiro and Luís Rebelo. The Team of the Support Bureau for Scientific and Technological Research and Innovation (GAPIC) spoke on “GAPIC, 25 years in the Scientific Education of Future Physicians”. Professor Gonçalves Ferreira continued his General Introduction to the Human Body, with a presentation on “Maintenance: the Respiratory and Digestive Systems”.

The Day of the Faculty fell on Friday and, as always, it was marked by a very significant moment. The 1st year students, led by Professor Oliveira da Silva, swore the Hippocratic Oath (a modern version adapted from the original Greek text).

Professor Gonçalves Ferreira continued his lecture series on “A General Introduction to the Human Body” with the theme: “Maintenance and Reproduction: Urinary and Genital Systems.”

Certain associations/activities were highlighted during the extracurricular activities. These including the Medical Faculty Tuna (traditional university music group), the Drive to Encourage Bone Marrow Donors, the Know My College initiative, the Freshman Solidarity BBQ and even traditional games.
In conclusion, this was a week that new students will not forget quickly and this certainly contributes to a healthy, safe and motivating integration.

Program

André Silva