José António Jacinto Rodrigues, who was born in Guarda, arrived in Lisbon in 2015 to pursue an Integrated Master’s Degree in Medicine. On 12 June 2019, he was elected President of the Lisbon Faculty of Medicine Students’ Association. He admits that there isn’t exactly a script for this position. While still undergoing a phase involving transition and adaptation to his new post, José Rodrigues (JR) is happy to share with us a few more personal details: his liking for reading, sports, more specifically football, and recently tennis. At times, while he even opens a bottle of wine on the terrace with friends, he stresses: “always in moderation!” While it was his interest in biology that caused him to choose Medicine, it’s the generosity inherent to the profession that keeps him interested.

Always smiling and friendly, he welcomes us in the meeting room of the Students’ Association for an candid and enlightening interview regarding the next steps to be taken by the AEFML’s new Administration.

José Rodrigues, new AEFML President

Q: I begin our interview with a simple question: Ready?

JR: I don’t think we’re ever prepared, since we’re always learning. Such positions are always short places, time-wise, where each day is a new challenge that needs to be overcome together with everyone involved: officials, collaborators, peers, etc.

Q: In an attempt to find out a bit more about you, could you share with us why you are pursuing a Degree in Medicine? Was this always your preference?

JR: It’s actually funny, because yesterday news came out regarding the Philosophy exam and I remember when I was in grade 12, I registered to sit for the Philosophy exam because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. There was a time when I was wavering between Medicine, Law and Economics.

Q: Those areas are all heavyweights. Were you that good of a student that you could afford such indecision? (Laughs)

JR: Indeed, just like everyone pursuing Medicine, I was a very good student. At the time of making my decision, I ended up choosing Medicine, all the more so because it’s most closely linked to my subject of choice: Biology. On the other hand, Medicine enables me to be closer to people, as one of the features of the profession that attracts me the most involves contact with the patient.

Q: How do you intend to combine heading the AEFML with your study programme?

JR: Combining the Students’ Association with the Study Programme is an increasingly demanding exercise. I have been with the AEFML since 2016. Over these last 3 years, I have always shouldered different responsibilities, which varied from one term of office to the next. This year marks the top of the pyramid. This is a position for which there is no script; we keep learning, we keep on running the Association and growing daily. Since I took office (a week ago), I have sat for two exams, and it has been an arithmetic challenge to manage to combine my studies with the demands of the AEFML Administration. I can never forget that there are services and persons that rely on our decision and presence. Among us, at the Association, we have a habit of often saying: “We are AEFML officials, because we are Med. students. We are not Med. students because we are officials.” (Laughs); that is, the study programme should always be the priority, without ever neglecting the AEFML.

Q: Regarding your team, do you feel completely backed by your colleagues?

JR: Putting a team together is a demanding but challenging task, which entails having some vision and planning capability. In the end, the 29 members have to represent the entire universe of Faculty students, from the 1st year of the study programme to the last. In Medicine, we exclude the 6th because, indeed, this is at a different stage. We have to build a team according to their skills, ability to execute, and versatility, as we want members who are capable of responding to any emerging situation and, above all, representing a profile of association official that we set forth a priori.

Q: And with regard to your plans here in the AEFML? What are your future ambitions? How will you represent Med. students?

JR: The AEFML is a unique consolidated structure, and this is a sentence that I even spoke when taking office. The main line is very well laid out. This consists of continuing what has been done in these last few years of growth and consolidation. We seek to continue in an exemplary manner. In more conceptual terms, we have a master objective for this term of office: creating a new department entirely devoted to educational policy, and which is concerned with topics not assigned merely to medical education, but also to issues related to scholarships, social actions, accommodation, education, etc.

Q: How will this new department satisfy the interests of Med. students?

JR: This department calls for 2 aspects, which complement each other despite being disparate. On the one hand, it will be responsible for initiatives involving clarifications and information with the goal of further involving all of the Faculty’s students. The other front of attack is related to the need to be represented externally and to be able to convey our students’ ideas and interests to the main players in higher education. I’m referring to Social Services, General Higher Education Directorate, or even to the Ministries of Education and Health, among others.

Q: I believe you are still going through a transition phase; after all, it’s only been one week since taking office. However, are you now able to list those that will be your “fronts of attack”?

JR: Of course. One of the things we’re working on involves implementing the status of student-athletes. This has been an ongoing discussion, and we believe we are able to bring this about at our academy. Then, with regard to other topics, we seek to further highlight the issue of environmental sustainability. In this sphere, the goal will start off by raising awareness of anyone running our Campus’ venues and creating more recycling bins. Likewise, with students, we seek to undertake awareness-raising initiatives for reducing production of garbage or material that will not be re-used/recycled in different activities.

We are also proceeding to complete the plan of activities. This will cover improving our venues, there are even various situations identified and which we will work on, such as Prof. Eduardo Coelho Hall or Centennial Hall, among other venues that warrant our particular attention in terms of maintenance.

Q: José, can we conclude that the AEFML’s motto continues to be support to the students. Do you confirm this?

JR: Yes. Yes. I confirm and subscribe to it, and with a megaphone, if necessary (Laughs). Defending the students has always been our mission. In another non-referred sphere, we also want to bring students closer to the community through volunteering or society-related initiatives. When thinking of the medical profession, this is characterised by enormous generosity, from the standpoint of the service we provide to the community. With this type of activities, we want to benefit two kinds of target groups: students, by introducing initiatives that enrich their curriculum and their experience and society through the Health training they receive.

Q: Throughout our conversation, you always highlight the importance of relating AEFML to society, as well as with other bodies external to the Faculty. For all these “battles” that are envisioned, your team will need cohesion and focus. All this leads me to believe you intend to delegate tasks and responsibilities, right?

JR: I have no problem with delegating, all the more because the AEFML project would otherwise be totally unattainable. In my opinion, the existence of a team only makes sense if delegating is possible and if everyone shoulders their responsibilities. I have never had any difficulty with examining who would be the best person for performing a given task, so much so that there are countless topics on which I am not the most knowledgeable. While delegating is vital, it’s also important to follow up, by scheduling status reports. I feel that the best methodology for an Administration’s success is precisely to delegate and follow up on the development of projects.

Q: Do you consider yourself a very interventional person?

JR: Yes. I have always felt a strong civic appeal and have always been exposed to many discussions, both at home and within my group of friends. While in secondary school, I was also involved with the Students’ Association and on the Finalists’ Committee, for example. Defending the students, improving education and their conditions have always been major concerns for me. Here, at the Lisbon Faculty of Medicine Students’ Association, I have the opportunity to continue my work within associations, but on a much broader scale.

Q: Do you intend to belong to associations in the future?

JR: I have never given it much thought, and I feel it doesn’t really make much sense. I usually think my life through in stages, and so for now, I’m focused on the AEFML. The next stage of my life, in the 6th year, will be to complete my training. While I will welcome anything that may arise in the future, there are things I cannot yet consider on the horizon.

New AEFML Leaders, Mandate 2019/2020

Isabel C. Varela

Editorial Team