News # 11 | jan/fev. 2010 « News@fmul News@fmul

News # 11 | jan/fev. 2010

Editorial Note

FMUL Prospects for 2010

The Gregorian calendar that we use, based on the solar calendar, dictates our succession of hours, days and months. In December there is a stocktaking of the past months, and we celebrate the beginning of a new year. In January one makes plans and considers the future, expressed in the popular saying: New Year, New Life! However, this symbolic desire to start out again is only this: a desire. The international and Portuguese economic panorama is still difficult. Prospects for this year are complicated, and the Portuguese economic context, with a very low economic growth rate and an increasing percentage […]

FMUL News

Communication from Professor António Sampaio da Nóvoa

On the 15th of January last, the Chancellor of the University of Lisbon, Professor António Sampaio da Nóvoa, made a communication to the academic community of the institution, presenting the efforts that are being made at the moment and requesting the participation of all of us. He stated the importance of six points. Reinforcement of Scientific Research The reinforcing of scientific research is the main strategic aim of the University. At this time it is necessary to reinforce the structures of science management, preparing them for the adopting of a methodology of full-costing. He also stressed the fact that the […]

News Report / Profile

Afonso Moreira, Interview with a First Time First Year Student in the I. M. Course in Medicine 09/10

Afonso Maria da Silva Moreira is one of the 328 first year first time students in the FMUL Integrated Masters Course in Medicine, and the news@fmul editorial team went to meet him to find out how his experience is going as a recent student at our faculty and about his academic life. Editorial Team (ET): Was this the first time you have enrolled in a higher education institution? Afonso Moreira (AF): Yes ET: How did the experience go? AF: It was always in my plans to apply to higher education. But, obviously, when I was in the last year of […]

Events

Honorary Doctorate awarded to Professor José Fernandes e Fernandes

Professor José Fernandes e Fernandes was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Athens after a unanimous approval from the University Senate. The ceremony took place on the 20th of January 2010 in the Noble Hall of the University of Athens, having been proposed by Professor Christos Liapis, Full Professor and Chairman of the Department of Vascular Surgery and former-President of the European Society for Vascular Surgery. Prof. J. Fernandes e Fernandes and Ex. Vice-Rector replacing Prof. Demosthenis N. Asimakopoulos The ceremony was presided over by the Chancellor of the University, and Professor Fernandes e Fernandes delivered a speech entitled “The […]

Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon Alumni Association (AAAFML) begins a debate cycle

“…Going into medicine can never exclude the vocation and human sense of the profession …” Professor António Gentil Martins On the 13th of January 2010 there was the first holding of a debate cycle promoted by the AAAFML, to be held every three months from now on and with the aim of promoting a broad academic reflection and listening to the different views on issues involving medical education, civil society, doctors and health professionals. What doctors do we want for our country? What doctors are we currently training? These were the two questions behind the first encounter on issues related […]

First Annual Harvard-Portugal Programme Symposium

The First Annual Harvard-Portugal Programme Symposium took place on the 14th and 15th of December at the Belém Cultural Centre (CCB) in Lisbon. Over 200 researchers, doctors and students from all over the country were involved in this free event. It was an encounter marked out by the high scientific quality of the talks and the massive attendance by medicine students, in a clear indication of the importance of this event as a meeting point for the promising young hopes for medicine and research in Portugal. This initiative is a part of the Harvard Portugal Program, which aims at encouraging […]

VI Pharmaceutical Industry Conference

On the 28th of January 2010 the Hotel Ritz in Lisbon was the stage for the VI Pharmaceutical Industry Conference, sponsored by the Diário Económico newspaper and by MSD (Merck, Sharpe& Dohme), and this year dealing with cerebral diseases. It was presented by Professor João Lobo Antunes, a teacher at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon (FMUL) and included the presence of two secretaries of state and a host of important figures in the area of health. One of the first speakers, the Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, stated the need […]

More and Better

Presentation of “A Project in Medical Education”

My thanks to Professor Fernandes e Fernandes, Dean of our faculty, for his kindness in inviting me to briefly present my book in his edition of Newsletter@FML. This work (Fig. 1) was published by Edições Colibri, dated July 2009, and was publicly presented on the following 14th of October in a session held in the Chancellery of the University of Lisbon, beneath the auspices of and prefaced by the Chancellor, Professor António Sampaio da Nóvoa. The Association for Research and Development of the Faculty of Medicine (AIDFM) sponsored the publication (Copies of the book can be exclusively obtained through the […]

The “Diary of Preventive Medicine”

For several years I have been following the “Diary of Preventive Medicine” http://coursejournal_medicina.blogs.sapo.pt/ Through it I have learnt a great deal about health. Due to the interest that this blog has aroused in me, particularly in relation to certain and determined issues, I have decided to propose a challenge to is author – to answer some questions that would be published in the newsletter produced by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon (FMUL). P erhaps due to the fact that she is a student in this faculty, and a future doctor, Vânia Caldeira understood the spirit of […]

Research and Advanced Education

Results of the 13th “Education Through Science” Programme -Research Projects For FMUL Students 09/10

In October 2009 the Office for Scientific, Technological and Innovation Research Support (GAPIC) opened a competition for the 13th “Education through Science” Programme, which allows students in the 2009/2010 academic year to participate in the setting out and carrying out of research projects for laboratorial or clinical research as a part of a research team in a unit belonging to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon (FMUL) and/or of the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM). Fifty applications were made to the 13th programme, of which 15 were classified as “Excellent”, 27 as “Very Good”, 5 as “Good” […]

Masters Course In Emerging Infectious Diseases (2003-2009)

A SUCCESS STORY IN ADVANCED TRAINING AT THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LISBON 1. INTRODUCTION In 1962, Sir Macfarlane Burnet declared that the battle against infectious diseases had been won (1), reflecting what was thought by some experts in infectious diseases at the time. The post-war optimism, with the appearance of antibiotics, vaccines and insecticides, had led to a belief that infectious diseases in Man were under control and that this tendency would increase. This led to the beginning of a period of complacency in relation to infectious diseases. Public health priorities became directed towards chronic diseases, […]

Academic Examinations at the Faculty Of Medicine of The University Of Lisbon

Instituto Formação Avançada instfa@fm.ul.pt Masters Palliative Care Thesis: “Care in the Home. The overload” Jacinta de Jesus Raposo Fernandes see more Thesis: “While there is life there is sexuality! Views by health Professional on communication about sexuality in Palliative Care” Vânia Adelaide Branquinho Cunha see more Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences Thesis: “Non-imputable schizophrenic patients. The role of anti-social personality disorder in the violent act” Edna Luna de la Cerda Mesquita Ribeiro Leite see more Thesis: “Technical application of atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the analysis of metals and metalloids in biological samples. Preparation of samples by digestion with microwave technology” Carla de Jesus […]

Teacher Participation on Juries for Academic Examinations in Other Institutions

(To January 2010) PhDs Teachers: Maria Isabel Augusta do Carmo Examination: PhD – Public Health Institution: New University of Lisbon Teachers: António José Feliciano Barbosa Examination: PhD – Public Health Institution: New University of Lisbon Teachers: Fausto José da Conceição Alexandre Pinto Examination: PhD Institution: Faculty of Medicine – University of Oporto Teachers: Ivo Piedade Alvares Furtado Examination: PhD Institution: Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences Teachers: Maria Leonor Tavares Saúde Examination: PhD – Biochemistry Institution: Faculty of Sciences and Technology – University of Coimbra Masters Teachers: Manuel Francisco Carrageta Examination: Masters – Health Service Management Institution: Higher Institute of […]

Moments

Helping Haiti and Returning its Dignity

Fond dés Nègres, Haiti, December 2009 The international community is carrying out an unprecedented action to deal with one of the most devastating earthquakes of recent centuries. At these times of great suffering for the people of Haiti, the will to help is always great, but it is not enough. For this reason, InterAction, an international coalition of humanitarian aid organisations (www.interaction.org), provides some recommendations to make each one’s contribution more efficient: – Do not gather water, foodstuffs nor clothes for Haiti, because the country does not have the necessary infrastructures for distributing them; – Opt to donate money to […]

Open Space

2010 European Year against Poverty and Social Exclusion – Kings’ Day

Much we feel can only be understood in terms of the more diffuse consequences of the class structure: poverty, work conditions (and what we termed the social division of labour), and deprivation in its various forms. The Black Report, 1980 The door to the building is metal – a green-painted perforated plate – in order to combat vandalism. On the stained stairways and landings, graffiti is mixed with plants and Our Ladies of Fatima, cardboard boxes and abandoned planks. These are four floors of stairs and the last one is the destination. The stained skylight lets in the grey light […]

Health Minister defines Priorities for 2010

Ana Jorge concerned about losing Health Professionals In an interview granted to the Lusa News Agency on the 27th of December 2009, the Minister for Health, Ana Jorge, showed her concern about the fact that health professionals were leaving the state sector for the private sector. Talking about the most pressing issues for the sector, she also stated her desire to work in order to increase the motivation of National Health Service workers. “I am somewhat worried about people leaving, mainly because there is a group of very experienced professionals who are leaving, professionals who trained in the public system, who […]

Contingency Plan for Swine Flu (H1N1)

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon (FMUL) has developed a contingency plan similar to that developed by other entities in order to be prepared to best respond to the problem of the spread of Swine Flu (H1N1v). This document was drawn up with the aim not only to detect and direct possible cases of contamination by the virus, but also to protect the students, support staff and teachers at the faculty. To this end, and through a dispatch order by the Dean, Professor Fernandes e Fernandes, a Swine Flu Accompaniment Committee was set up under the direction […]

Prospecting Science and Health

The Internet has definitively occupied a place in our lives, and search engines now carry out the function previously reserved for telephone books and dictionaries. Orientation and research are essential for getting the best out of the Internet, and so starting this month news@fmul is bringing a new initiative to the “Opens Space” section. In each issue we will be divulging some Internet pages or blogs that seem to us to have academic or scientific value worthy of being included on everyone’s navigation favourites list. We are inviting all our readers to send suggestions to news@fm.ul.pt Blogs are personal pages […]

Listening to FMUL

PhD Indicators 2009Institute of Advanced Training

In relation to PhDs, in 2009 the Institute of Advanced Training had an increase in the number of students enrolled and defences of theses held. The significant increase in the number of students enrolled if the Area of Medicine should be stressed, inverting the tendency of the last two years (graph1). It can be seen that the PhD students are increasingly younger, with the 25 to 29 age group being largest, as one can see in graph 2. These data refer to the period between January and December 2009, referring to students enrolled for the first time in the first […]

Keep in Mind

Hospital of the Future Prizes 2009 / 2010

The Hospital of the Future Forum aims at promoting good practice in health in Portugal on the level of public, private and social entities, in recognition of the efforts made by people and organisations with confirmed contributions towards the development of health in Portugal, establishing a platform for the sharing of experiences in which everyone may participate and learn. The categories that may receive awards are: Accessibility; Local Councils; Biotechnology; e-Health; Education; Health Management & Economics; Health Partnerships; Obesity Prevention; Health Quality; Certification and Accreditation; and Social Service. Applications: By April 15th 2010 Contact: saude@groupvision.com Further Information: www.hospitaldofuturo.com Hospital of the […]

III Technology and Health Encounters

On the 30th of April 2010, the Guarda Polytechnic Institute (IPG), along with the Higher School of Health and the Higher School of Technology and Business Management, will be promoting the III Encounters on Technology and Health, in the auditorium of the Central Services of the IPG, the aim of which will be to show the most recent projects in the field of technology applied to health, and to deepen the dialogue among researchers and professionals/health structures (doctors, nurses, technicians, other professionals and students in the areas of health and technology). Further information on: http://www.ipg.pt/tecnologia-saude2010/ Contacts: gic@ipg.pt or by phone […]

Médis Prize for Excellence in Health Research

The “Médis Prize for Excellence in Health Research” aims at distinguishing a research work in the health sciences that contributes towards social and human development in the field of health. The prize is of twenty-five thousand Euros and is awarded annually, being granted to the best new written intellectual work carried out by a researcher or a group of researchers of Portuguese nationality or residing and carrying out their activity in Portugal. Applications to the prize cover all the areas of research in health sciences. Through this prize Médis presents a challenge to researchers for them to contribute towards the […]