Credits: Pexels

Thus ends the poem, The Man and the Woman by Victor Hugo.

On the month International Women’s Day is celebrated, News no. 88 was written entirely by women, (not that we want to express a feminist position, but because it must be so, since the editorial team consists only of women). However, it’s our will that all genders feel involved in our content. After all, the 8th of March celebration is nothing more than the desire for a fairer and more balanced and egalitarian society.

Far gone are the days where women were relegated to second place in the society. Throughout the history of mankind, many women found themselves embroiled in fascinating plots to reach positions that hitherto were only sought after by men. This month’s edition starts with a set of examples of women who, throughout history, dissatisfied with their condition, fought the best they knew how, with the weapons they had.

Proof that the paradigm has been changing through the selection of interviews that we carried out:

Luisa Vaqueiro Lopes studies the Neurobiology of Ageing. She is a determined scientist who likes to mobilise ideas and people, constantly joining Science with the Clinic. Reason for which she launched a new cycle of scientific conversations, Neuroses. As a woman convinced of her role in society she told us about her research and she recalled the reasons that made her choose Portugal to work.

Patrícia Costa Reis is a paediatrician and one of the winners of the L’Oréal Prize for Women in Science. During our conversation, she told us about her passionate interest for autoimmunity.

And on the matter of feminine courage, we must mention Gabriela, who beat Burkitt Lymphoma with which she was diagnosed at the age of 25. Gabriela Fonseca has proven to be a determined woman: Not only did she beat the disease but she continues to help other women with cancer through photography.

The Honorary Doctorate was awarded to the Professor Pekka Puska, a Finnish epidemiologist, who was responsible for the Northern Karelia Project and was awarded the title by the Rector of the University of Lisbon at the Aula Magna of the Faculty. The Professor was also invited to a Conference on Health Story of North Karelia and Finland – Implications for Global Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Policy, in which he presented his Project, which resulted in an 80% decrease in premature mortality from heart disease in the working age population in Finland.

In an exclusive interview with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte(CHULN), we showed the side of the man that you don’t get to see every day. Carlos Neves Martins’ timeline.

At the biggest event ever, the AIMS comes to an end with its 10th edition. An assessment done and reviewed with the general Coordinator, Diogo Ferreira.

The University of Lisbon / Caixa Geral de Depósitos 2018 Scientific Awards were also given, whose results are already known. This year’s awards go to Professors Miguel Castanho, Luís Graça and João Guerra da Costa.

It’s the biggest university race in the country and it will be taking place for the 6th time. The Corrida Saúde Mais Solidária [Race for a more Solidary Health] is also the best way to start running for a cause. Do you already know whom you’re going to help?

FMUL was represented in the 12th Edition of the Education, Training, Youth and Employment Fair – Qualifica, in Porto. The event took place between February 28th and March 3rd and had the objective of clarifying future medical students about their academic career.

Last but not least, March 2019 marks the start of the iMM Corner, the new column of the FMUL Newsletter that intends to bring to the reader the latest research, projects and initiatives developed by iMM scientists. We thus seek to further strengthen the links between partner institutions and to disseminate within our community some recently published scientific articles. This is a partnership between the iMM and the FMUL Communication Office..

Isabel C. Varela

Editorial Team