Health Sciences

 

The Health Sciences Graduate Program (PPGCS) at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR) is structured based on bright and dynamic internal planning, inserted in a solid institutional policy that guarantees intellectual production of global and innovative impact, as well as developing qualified human resources.

Objectives

GENERAL

To provide solid scientific and didactic-pedagogical training to health professionals, enabling them to produce and disseminate scientific knowledge and teach in health sciences through academic activities and scientific work.

History

Since its inception, PPGCS has been seeking to continuously improve the Program’s quality with various actions involving administrative and academic staff (professors and students). In 2020, PPGCS celebrated 17 years. The year was marked by essential innovations that — aligned with the strategic planning for the current four-year period — offered stimulus and impetus to those involved in achieving more audacious goals that will become a new milestone in the Program’s history. Actions were collectively outlined and implemented, such as increasing the number of permanent professors and the physical structure, submission, and DINTER proposal approvals; greater integration with the undergraduate department; and consolidating an internationalization project inserted in the institutional context. In addition to the review and substantially increased course offerings includes 1) the use of new media for communication with the lay community, 2) consolidation of the PPGCS role within the scope of hospital innovation in the Marist Group hospital;, and an extraordinary exhibition of the university/program due to organization and reception of the XII NATIONAL MEETING OF GRADUATE COURSES IN MEDICINE I, II and III. It is also essential to highlight institutional orientation on the discussion and induction of scientific production directed to society, promoted by the Dean of Research, Graduate Studies, and Innovation at PUCPR.

Secondary Objectives (Specific)

SECONDARY (SPECIFIC)

  • Train high-level human resources to contribute in a transformative way to the advancement of medical and health science, both basic and applied
  • Train health professionals, striving for competent performance in different sectors of society, preparing them to work in research and train human resources
  • Improve professors’ scientific-technological performance at the School of Medicine and School of Health and Biosciences — as well as other local, regional and national institutions that work in this area — for their insertion in the knowledge production and human resources training in PUCPR priority areas
  • Stimulate and develop the scientific capacity of undergraduates from the School of Medicine and School of Health and Biosciences through effective integration between undergraduate and graduate courses; creating and developing a culture of learning and disseminating knowledge; making them critical, reflective, and able to solve technical-scientific problems; and to exercise their citizenship fully.
  • Develop human resources research and training into an essential component present at PUCPR activities
  • Expand the spectrum of relations with other national and international institutions and researchers, enabling the construction of a critical process between the parties involved and consolidating PPGCS

Program Structure

The Graduate Program in Health Sciences (PPGCS) at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR) is recommended by CAPES (Medicine 1), evaluated with a rating of 5 (five) and participates in the National Graduate Studies System.

Candidates for the Master’s, Doctorate, and Post-Doctorate in Health Sciences may come from any knowledge area as long as their research project falls within the Program’s research area.

Profile of Professionals to be Graduated

Professionals with health training who research, teach, and seek to improve their skills and participate in the development of technical and scientific solutions applied to the area, aiming for the well-being of human beings.

Integration with Undergraduate

PUCPR has as an institutional standard that all professors in the Graduate Program have 20% of their workload attributed to undergraduate activities (CONSUN Resolution 51/2010). This link occurs through disciplines taught in undergraduate courses, mentoring undergraduate students in research projects, tutoring, internships, final articles, participation in project evaluation boards, and several reports.

The participation of undergraduate students in research projects developed in the Graduate degree programs is highly recommended, as well as the effective collaboration between master’s/doctoral and undergraduate students in the different research projects in which they are involved. Besides strengthening groups and research areas, this integration enables identification of students with the profile to enter the career of a researcher and professor, as well as their consequent orientation in this regard.

Teaching Internship

Another form of integration between undergraduate and graduate studies is the teaching internship. This internship is optionally offered to graduate students who can participate in activities related to high school or undergraduate courses and earn credits with PPGCS — one credit for the master’s degree and two for the Ph.D. This activity also allows the graduate student to improve didactic-pedagogical training. The teaching internship is part of PPGCS General Regulations.

This internship aims to develop several aspects of teaching, such as lesson planning, content selection, didactic material, use of audiovisual material, and presentation of the class. Since 2012, the discipline of pedagogical processes has become mandatory for all PUCPR graduate courses, offering extra credit to the mandatory ones.

Language Proficiency

Proficiency in one foreign language is required for the master’s degree, with the Ph.D. requiring two foreign language proficiencies. The English language proficiency exam is during the first year of the course, and the second foreign language may be taken during the second. Certificates of proficiency or sufficiency in a foreign language from accredited institutions may be validated, as long as they are within the period required by the Program’s regulations.

Curriculum Analysis and Selection Process Commissions

Master’s and Ph.D. Selection Process Committee

  • Dr. Lucia de Noronha
  • Dr. Paulo Slud Brofman
  • Dr. Thyago Proença de Moraes

 

Scholarship Committee

  • Dr. Andrea Novais Moreno
  • Dr. Adriano Akira Ferreira Hino
  • Dr. Cristina Pellegrino Baena
  • Dr. Luiz Cesar Guarita Souza
  • Dr. Selene Elifio Esposito
  • Dr. Bruno Siegel Guerra – Student Representative

 

Credit Validation Committee

  • Dr. Cristina Pellegrino Baena
  • Dr. José Rocha Faria Neto
  • Dr. Paulo Gustavo Kotze
  • Dr. Roberto Hirochi Herai

 

Events Committee

  • Dr. Andrea Novais Moreno
  • Dr. Cristina Pellegrino Baena
  • Dr. José Rocha Faria Neto

 

Student Flow Committee

  • Dr. Cristina Pellegrino Baena
  • Dr. Felipe Francisco B. Tuon
  • Dr. Ricardo Aurino de Pinho

Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Human Disease

This research area is characterized by the fundamental investigation of pathophysiology and susceptibility to infectious, inflammatory, and degenerative diseases. The projects linked to this line focus on investigating infectious, periodontal, renal, metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases using cellular, molecular, and genetic biology tools.

This research area has the Multi-User Experimental Laboratory (LEM) of the Nucleus for Advanced Molecular Research (NIMA) structure, laboratories of pathology and experimental surgery. Additionally, the research area diagnostic and therapeutic methods in pathology that enables intense scientific production in basic science, capacity for training human resources, and seeking encouragement from faculty members. This nucleus — which supports the research line, Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Human Disease — is composed of a group of researchers responsible for much of the scientific production and training of human resources of the PPGCS, not only for master’s and doctorate but also more recently for the post-doctorate.

Faculty

Human Disease Prevention and Therapy

Concerned with stimulating clinical research within outpatient and hospital care environments, PPGCS aims to develop a working model shared between the infrastructure and qualified personnel with the Clinical Research Center, traditionally responsible for observational studies and conducting trials.

Within this model, the infrastructure and portions of time allocated to research coordinators are currently dedicated to the support and training of master’s and doctoral students with projects in the Basic and Applied Clinical and Epidemiological Research area of research. In this way, a highly qualified structure and human resources for the development of competitive clinical research were instituted in this research area. As such, financial resources were attracted, and high impact intellectual production emerged.

The research projects in this area use a wide range of common pathologies found in our environment. The area is based on quality clinical research, using information generated at PUCPR clinics and hospitals, and on collaborative networks in infectious, cardiovascular, renal, and diabetes diseases. These clinical research activities return to the discussion with the necessary research groups in course interaction environments, especially in the regular seminars, causing a translational character to PPGCS investigation when seen as a whole.

The researchers in this area also investigate cell engineering methods, with an experimental focus, applied to the transplantation of cells and tissues in humans. This area’s applications extend to cell therapy in diseases of the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems and diabetes treatment. As an example of the research area’s translational profile, one of the laboratories in this area — where pioneering studies are carried out on people— as a part of the Ministry of Health’s network for the application of stem cell therapy in heart disease.

Faculty

  • 1. Basic laboratories for PPGCS research areas:

1.1 Laboratory of Operation Techniques and Experimental Surgery

The Laboratory of Operation Techniques and Experimental Surgery is equipped with nine sets: a trough operating table, surgical lamp, instrument table, compressed air point, and vacuum point. Equipment: Biomonitor 7 (BESE) with three (3) pressure channels and one (1) ECG; CAT2 monitor (BESE) with hemodynamic parameters; laser flow meter (Vasamedics); inhalation anesthesia set; complete video-surgery equipment (Storz); two (2) microcomputers; Optimas 6.0 image analyzer and quantifier, coupled with an optical microscope and image acquisition system; 10 surgery kits for mice; four (4) sets of surgical instruments, two (2) mono/bipolar electrocautery, surgical microscope with 12 complete instrument kits, one (1) digital ultrasound system, a respirator for small animals, and a video endoscope (Karl Storz). The laboratory also has a classroom for teaching small animal surgery, a professors’ room, and a locker room for students.

1.2 Tissue Engineering Laboratory

1.2.1 Clinical Laboratory

The Clinical Laboratory occupies 856 m2, containing several clean area environments with positive pressure, a genetics laboratory, cold room, and equipment designed to work with tissue engineering. The State Government of Paraná, the State Department of Science, Technology, and Higher Education (Paraná Technology Program), PUCPR, and federal agencies funded this laboratory’s implementation.

1.2.2 Experimental Laboratories

1.2.2.1 Cell Culture Experimental Laboratory

The 170 m2 Experimental Cell Culture Laboratory, composed of two (2) cell culture rooms, a fluorescence microscopy room, a standard room, and a warehouse, contains infrastructure that allows the cultivation of various cell types. The cultivation rooms are separated from the others to avoid contamination of the cultures carried out in aseptic conditions. Each cell culture room has a cabin with vertical laminar flow, a peristaltic pump, a vacuum pump, an inversion microscope with a camera, a CO2 oven with thermostat and 180L capacity, Neubauer chambers, and micropipettes. The standard room is composed of full benches and sinks, which allows the preparation of solutions and material for the cultures. In this room, there are refrigerators for the storage of culture media, freezers for storing serums and growth factors, cabinets for glassware and other consumables, traditional optical microscope, strobe magnifying glass for dissection, autoclave, distiller, water bath, liquid nitrogen storage units, centrifuge, bacteriological oven, drying oven, analytical balance, and precision balance.

1.2.2.2 Laboratory of Surgery and Diagnostic Methods

Laboratory of Surgery and Diagnostic Methods, 82.56 m2, with four (4) environments. The first — a room equipped for surgery on small animals — has three (3) artificial respirators (Harvard), a heart rate monitor, and an operating table. Another area is designated for doppler-echocardiogram diagnosis, which allows the identification of cardiac lesions, great vessels, measuring hemodynamic parameters, and cardiac function. This equipment has software developed for small animals. The radioscopy room is equipped with a radioscopy device with an image intensifier and aims to assess the anatomy and dynamic function of the repercussions determined by experimentally caused injuries. The last room — one for testing heart valves — is equipped with devices for evaluating fatigue by accelerating cycles and determining spinal hydrodynamics by flow simulation.

1.3 Multiplying Experimental Laboratory (LEM) of the Nucleus for Advanced Molecular Research (NIMA)

The Multiuser Experimental Laboratory (LEM) is installed in approximately 750 m2 on PUCPR’s main campus. The structure hosts eight (8) research groups formed by the leading investigator and his teams of permanent researchers, researchers and visiting professors, graduate students, scientific initiation students, interns, technicians, and support staff, with a daily flow of over 100 people. LEM acts as a reference and support laboratory for all institutional research projects based on fundamental, preclinical, and translational scientific research. It provides unrestricted support to other research institutions through scientific collaboration (universities, public, and private research institutions) that need the competencies installed in the LEM. In this way, LEM has maintained its objectives to reach a vast universe of direct and indirect users, thus playing an essential role in scientific research with a global impact. The diverse research carried out at LEM is associated with the following themes: analysis and interpretation of genetic sequencing data on a large scale; software development and availability in the area of bioinformatics and computational biology; genetic modifications in neurological disorders of the autism spectrum; leprosy molecular genetics, detection of genetic and molecular biomarkers in cancer tumors; immunological mechanisms associated with renal diseases, biochemical modulation; and energy metabolism associated with physical exercise; and diseases of the immune system. The current scientific production of LEM and the representativeness of researchers in their areas of activity demonstrate and justify the high impact of research produced in the laboratory. It also has a sealer for sterilization packaging (Thermo-Plus III); two (2) vacuum pumps and air compressors; wireless all-in-one computers with Intel Pentium E5400/4GB/750GB/screen 21.5; a massive next-generation “Ion PMG” sequencing platform (Life Technologies); a Veriti 96 wells automatic cycler (Thermal Cycler) and an –80 °C Freezer (Revco, model ULT-1786-4-D); a Temperature Indication System with a visual and audible alarm; a Bioanalyzer 2,100 Agilent; and an Epmotion-Robot pipetting (Eppendorf, mod M5073). Three higher-level technicians hired by PUCPR manage the integration of these units with the research groups. Extending the analysis of soluble biomarkers, LEM has an ELISA Reader or Spectrophotometic Reader (Molecular Devices); a Luminex Platform (mon Magipix), installed in an environment with an air conditioning unit (Springer) and UPS (sea NHS), always in the form of structuring a multiuser laboratory.

1.3.1 Multi-Experimental Laboratory II (LEM II)

This new 50m2 room is available to PPGCS students and professors, providing a computer, printer, shaker, two precision scales, microcentrifuge, laminar flow, water purification system, and tube shaker. LEM II represents an expansion of the PPGCS infrastructure, within the multiuser system, which occurred in 2017.

1.4 Multi-Experimental Pathology Laboratory

This laboratory occupies an area of approximately 110 m2 and has seven rooms:

a) a room for pathologists with a small thematic library;

(b) a large meeting room with a 12-seat discussion table and multi-head microscopes for joint observation, as well as television projection systems, a computer screen, and a slide scanner (Scanner Zeiss capable of working with WSI or Whole Scan Image obtaining images of 12 slides in just one hour in various increments and generating more than 5,000 images per slide);

(c) a secretariat for receiving samples;

(d) a sample processing room with (d1) a macroscopy area, (d2) a processing area for paraffin samples containing Leica auto technician and Leica auto inclusive, (d3) sample microtomy area with Leica microtome, (d4) area for conventional stains (hematoxylin-eosin) and special stains (PAS, trichrome, among others), and (d5) a processing area for frozen samples with a chrysotile table;

(e) area for immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence with numerous kits and antibodies available for these techniques;

(f) area for extracting DNA from paraffined material with centrifuges, among other necessary materials for the technique;

(g) processing area for biological samples for the scanning and transmission of electron microscopy with ultramicrotome, critical point, razor maker, and other necessary materials for the technique.

The Multi-Path Experimental Pathology Laboratory has a team of five pathologists (four medical pathologists and one oral pathologist) and three biologists (two of whom have graduated from our Master’s in Health Sciences); all are fully qualified to carry out the most varied research procedures. The team also assists the other researchers in choosing the methods of collecting, fixing, cutting, and coloring the samples, in addition to methods of reading the slides with image scanning and applying morphometry methods.

1.5 Epicenter

The Epicenter is in the Clinical Simulation Center building in the Nossa Senhora da Luz Hospital complex. It is a wing composed of four rooms equipped with eight computers connected to the network and statistical analysis software packages such as SPSS 22 and Stata 14, video conference equipment, teleconference, and furniture for team meetings. There is also a structure for collecting, processing, and storing biological material and a space for the storage of clinical research documents. In this space, students, professors, research coordinators, and multidisciplinary care teams can discuss research questions, design projects, and perform statistical analysis. During the period, multicentric clinical research projects developed and coordinated at PUCPR EPICENTER and linked to PPGCS doctoral dissertations were initiated under PUCPR coordination (Salted, HDFit, and STARCH Studies). Additionally, PPGCS professors coordinate national observational multicenter studies (CKDOPPS, EPICUREAN, ERICA, and BRAZPD).

 

  • 2. Support Units

2.1 Immunogenetics Laboratory

This laboratory has expanded and now has the following dimensions:

The Immunogenetics Laboratory occupies 400 m2, distributed among eight rooms: secretariat, reports room, serology/receipt of biological material, reagent preparation, DNA extraction, pre-PCR, post-PCR, MO, and LUMINEX dark room. This laboratory is equipped to develop service provision activities related to the a) histocompatibility procedures necessary for organ and tissue transplantation; b) pre- and post-transplant follow-up; c) monitoring of desensitization therapies and post-transplant immune rescue; and d) aid to diagnosis and prognosis of diseases associated with HLA system (Human Leucocytes Antigens), including HLA typing of voluntary bone marrow donors (DVMO) for REDOME enrollment and HLA typing of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd stages of DVMO selection for valid donation. In the academic area, it contributes to the training and professional development of technicians specialized in histocompatibility and immunology of solid organ transplants, as well as providing and guiding the development of research work in undergraduate and graduate courses. In the clinical area, it is a national reference for training and updating professionals to work in clinical laboratories of histocompatibility for organ and tissue transplantation, offering tutoring programs through agreements with the National Transplant System and SINCOV. Internationally, it participates in validation works on the HLA matchmaker algorithm for clinical application for kidney, pancreas, kidney-pancreas, kidney-livers, and heart transplants.

2.2 Cajuru University Hospital (HUC)

In its 21,100 m2, HUC is a general hospital with tradition and emphasis on trauma and emergency care. It stands out as one of the best and most extensive in the southern region of Brazil. HUC is a private philanthropic hospital maintained by the Marist Group and accredited by the Unified Health System (SUS) as a health service provider, allocating 70% of its care.

It has 300 beds, 20 beds in intensive care (ICU), and nine beds in intermediate care beds. One thousand five hundred forty-three professionals work at the hospital, including professors from courses in PUCPR’s health area, clinical staff, health professionals, administrative, and support staff. As a teaching hospital, it has 109 resident physicians in training and students from health courses such as medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, dentistry, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and psychology, among others in related areas, featuring multidisciplinary performance and a training health team.

Every year, 32 vacancies are offered for medical residency in clinical medicine, general surgery, cardiovascular surgery, plastic surgery, thoracic surgery, peripheral vascular surgery, community medicine, neurosurgery, and neurology ophthalmology, orthopedics and traumatology, and radiology.

2.3 Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia Charity Hospital (ISCMC)

In 1869, Emperor Dom Pedro II began the construction of the ISCMC Hospital in Curitiba. On May 22, 1880, initially — with 160 beds — it was considered a large hospital and was the only hospital in Curitiba for many years. In 1912, the University of Paraná — later Federal University of Paraná — promoted the Charity Hospital to a teaching hospital that housed students from the Medical School Sciences, starting in 1956. The cooperation and joint action between ISCMC, the Medical School Sciences of the Catholic University, and the Madre Léonie Nursing School started in 1957. From that date on, the Charity Hospital welcomed, and still does today, PUCPR students. This is one of the places of residency offered to doctors trained at PUCPR, for whom there is a specific pedagogical project aiming to transform the process into a technical learning stage and profoundly humanistic training.

The alliance signed with PUCPR, approved on August 27, 1999, strengthened the bond between the two institutions and implemented necessary changes to expand its mission as a teaching hospital, consolidating teaching-research-assistance trinomial. The Charity Hospital offers an excellent team of doctors in various specializations. The technical and structural support services complement attendance with dedication.

The Charity Hospital — with an area of 17,416.99 m2, 278 total beds (37 in the ICU) and 9 operating rooms — performs between 600 and 800 surgeries and admit an average of 1350 patients per month, establishing a gradual image of a center of excellence in Cardiology, Nephrology, and Gastroenterology.

2.4 PUCTrials

The PUCTrials sector manages the sponsored clinical research in the context of assistance from the group’s hospitals. Human resources is comprised of three research coordinators, an administrative coordinator, and a financial manager collaborate. This sector is in permanent contact with the Research Ethics Committee, CONEP and the legal sector to manage research projects aligned with ethics and to protect the individuals studied. This structure has dedicated cabinets, freezers for sample storage, manuals of good practices under ANVISA, and CONEP standards. This nucleus, created in 2005, was reformulated in 2014 and is linked to the School of Medicine. It aims to improve the clinical research potential of the hospital and outpatient network linked to PUCPR. The nucleus includes clinical researchers, monitors, study coordinators, and the graduate degree program’s primary research structure.

 

PUC Trials operates in three locations, all linked to the Marist Group’s hospital structure: Cajuru University Hospital, located at Av. São José, 300 – Cristo Rei; Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Curitiba Hospital, located at Praça Rui Barbosa, 694, Epicenter – Area for outpatient care for Santa Casa; and Cajuru Hospital patients, located at Av. Mal. Floriano Peixoto, 2509. Each location has a specialized team to coordinate the patient recruitment and conduct research composed of doctors, nurses, and pharmaceutical biochemists with experience in the field. Thus, the team performs the submission to regulatory bodies, statistical assistance (database preparation and analysis), and follow-up to adapt data collection to Good Clinical Practices (BPC). The leading researchers are medical professors linked to the School of Medicine and with extensive trial experience. The spaces have a structure for collecting material, ways to prepare it for analysis and storage, as well as the structure for coordinating research and specific offices for adequate care for the research patient, establishing a new pillar where research is closest to the patient.

In this physical structure and these human resources, translational research projects are created in which ideas generated in basic research can be similarly tested in clinical studies to clarify questions raised by clinical observation.

2.5 Research Ethics Committee (CEP)

PUCPR Research Ethics Committee (CEP) is composed of effective representation from all sectors that research with human beings and the processes tend to be agile.

CEP’s objectives are: to promote and improve the ethical aspects of research involving human beings; promote, protect, and value research subjects (person or groups researched), ensuring that research can always “treat them with dignity, respect their autonomy, and defend their vulnerability” (Res. 196/96 ll, 1.a); support researchers, ensuring that their projects meet “the fundamental ethical and scientific requirements” (Res 196/96 lll).

PPGCS maintains a program professor at the local CEP. As of 2015, Dr. Roberto Herai joined the committee as a PPGCS representative.

2.6 Computer Labs – NIAA

The purpose of using the laboratories is to apply practical classes for undergraduate, technologist, technical, and graduate courses (non-degree and degree), and the students and professors use it to conduct academic research and work.

The university has 1,377 computers, distributed among 38 laboratories and a library. All laboratories are accessible to PPGCS students and have internet and intranet access.

Minimum configuration: Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of memory, 250GB HD, 512MB offboard graphics card, and 17 ″ LCD monitor.

Maximum configuration: Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory, 1TB HD, 1GB offboard graphics card, and 19 ″ LCD monitor.

All computers have intranet and internet access. The laboratories have proper ventilation, lighting, upholstered chairs, whiteboard, projection screen, multimedia projector, and fans. Some have air conditioning.

Periodically, software needs are checked (acquisitions, version updates, or increased number of licenses) and equipment (memory/disk upgrade or replacement). With the definitions, planning is carried out, and the needs are met or included in the budget projection for the following year.

 

Administrative employees carry out a weekly verification of physical facilities. A checklist of the following items is performed: projection screen, picture, benches, chairs, floor, lighting, curtain, fans/air conditioning, doors, windows, logical and electrical installations, painting, and cleaning. For items that are not up to the established standard, the responsible sector is requested to provide due repairs.

The computer lab equipment is checked weekly by the sector technical. A checklist is completed, and — in the case of problems — procedures for solving them are adopted.

The technical team sends a request to a sector employee reporting the problem. If the equipment is under warranty, the employee who receives the request asks the company to correct it. If not, orders the part from the institution’s warehouse department, receives it, and forwards it to the technical team for replacement. Generally, the computer equipment fully meets the courses’ needs, in terms of quantity, quality, as well as updating policies.

2.7 Clinical Simulation Center

PUCPR Clinical Simulation Center allows medical students to train their skills on mannequins and complete operating rooms before practicing with patients.

The Center, a general hospital, contains an area of 1200m², has state-of-the-art mannequins that simulate real situations such as bleeding, crying, vomiting, and even a normal birth. In addition to mannequins, the complex has two complete surgical centers, two wards that can be converted into ICUs or emergency care units, two offices, six skill rooms, four meeting rooms, two auditoriums, and a pre-hospital area, which it has an ambulance and a car, where students can simulate emergency calls such as traffic events.

The construction of the Clinical Simulation Center meets a worldwide trend of learning through simulation. The use of mannequins for simulating complications is not new in the Medicine course at PUCPR. Since the 1990s, cardiology and trauma specialties have trained their students in models. However, mannequins with such fidelity to human reactions — and available in realistic scenarios — are new in Brazilian higher education.

PUCPR Clinical Simulation Center also allows the simulation of surgical procedures by video and exams such as endoscopy, which will reduce the use of animals in these practical classes.

2.8 Marcelino Champagnat Hospital

The School of Medicine, through PPGCS, advanced the synergy with the Marist Group hospitals. Following the institutional vision and mission, CEPI – Center for Teaching, Research, and Innovation was created at Marcelino Champagnat Hospital. This center makes the connection between students and professors of PPGCS and the structure of the hospital. PPGCS now has one more service for data collection, and the hospital aims to train medical staff for research and teaching. The Teaching, Research, and Innovation Center – CEPI was created to promote and develop research, extension courses, and innovations in the health areas of Hospital Marcelino Champagnat and Cajurú University Hospital. The objective is to provide knowledge to the medical and scientific community based on high ethical principles, always searching for better clinical practices. The main result of this mission is the achievement of innovative ways to care for, treat, and recover patients. In addition to CEPI coordination (Professor Cristina Pellegrino Baena), Professors Thyago Proença de Moraes and Roberto Pecoits Filho are also part of the Scientific Committee. Through this interface, some doctors from the clinical staff at Marcelino Champagnat Hospital started their master’s and doctoral programs at PPGCS in 2017. All courses and events promoted by CEPI in partnership with the university are free and widely disseminated to the clinical staff and University students.

Internationalizing higher education is no longer an option but a necessity for every university committed to the quality of teaching, research, and extension. Although having a local impact, the significant modern challenges of society are global in scope — energy, sustainability, cities, health, human rights, among others-. Therefore, their solutions depend on the formation of leaders with global vision and presence.

PUCPR decided to take on this task when it chose internationalization as an institutional priority. In this scenario, the University Administration, through the Research Office, Graduate Studies (PRPPI) and Innovation and the Internationalization Board (DI), has the role of (i) indicating the direction; (ii) facilitate processes; and (iii) offer the means and encourage talents in its community, at all levels, to become the real protagonists of internationalization. This document describes the PUCPR President’s proposal for the internationalization of the University for the 2016-2022 period. The plan is organized in two pathways, named InPUC (campus internationalization) and OutPUC — external internationalization activities — each with three guidelines, described in this document, accompanied by an activity plan, an in-progress portion, and others planned for the future.

The proposal aims to include the entire academic community to make PUCPR a truly borderless university.

In a scenario of intense and unforeseen transformations as we are currently experiencing, a higher education institution fails when it does not seek the training of professionals and citizens inserted in the global community and capable of acting in different contexts and cultures. Moreover, the internationalization of a higher education institution is a powerful tool that adds to the available arsenal in the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, and extension.

DEFINITION OF INTERNATIONALIZATION

At PUCPR, internationalization is a strategy to improve the quality of teaching and research and increase the reach of its social impact. It can be defined as integrating international, intercultural, and global dimensions in the purposes, functions, and higher education deliveries. (J. Knight, International Higher Education, 2015).

Internationalization is a priority in PPGCS actions, and with the mobilization of institutional resources, it enabled a more significant number of international trips for all professors of the program in 2018. The current Normative Act regulates aid to trips for research presentation with students when the researcher has current funding, qualified publication in the previous year, and the research approved at the event is related to the graduate project. In cases where the criteria of the normative act are not met, the professor will receive travel assistance from the School of Medicine with the student for research presentation approved at an international event. In this sense, all professors had the opportunity to attend international events in 2018, with one student each.

Additionally, some professors have international exposure in their respective areas and are invited to give lectures and courses abroad, including Dr. Thyago Proença with the “Outcomes of PD Patients in a Developing Country” class at the World Society of Peritoneal Dialysis in 2018. Additional examples include Dr. José Rocha Faria Neto’s class “Applications and Limitations of Recent Discoveries for Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases” at the 6th Annual Conquering Healthcare Challenges in the Emerging Worlds Symposium; Dr. Selene Esposito with the class, “Neuroblastoma, chromosome 11q, and tick saliva” at the University of Burgundy, France; Professor Marcelo Mira with the class, “Genetic susceptibility to leprosy” at Kent State University (USA); Prof. Roberto Pecoits Filho with classes on Nephrology: Renal Research Institute Seminars (NYC, USA), Fresenius Medical Care Scientific Meetings (Boston, USA), Advances in Kidney Disease (Orlando, USA), Arbor Research Brown Bag Series (Ann Arbor, USA ), the George Institute Renal Seminars (Sydney, Australia), Cardiovascular Metabolic Diseases Health Forum (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), ISN ESKD Summit (Sharja, United Arab Emirates), ISPD Congress (Vancouver, Canada), Arbor Research Seminars (Ann Arbor, USA), ERA/EDTA Congress (Copenhagen, Denmark), ISN Excom Retreat (Frankfurt, Germany), ISMA Course and Mohamed Elamin Memorial Lecture (Khartoum, Sudan), KDIGO Controversies Conferences on Potassium Management (Miami (USA), and Nephrocure Meeting (Washington, USA).

Regarding doctoral internships, two students left with a PDSE resource: Claudia Caroline Veloso da Silva, supervised by Dr. Vanessa Santos Sotomaior (Georgetown University), and doctoral student for the University of Burgundy in France, Nilton de França Junior, where the advisor — Prof. Selene Esposito —signed a co-tutelage agreement for the student’s doctorate. With funds from the Institutional Research Fund, two students received assistance for shorter internships: Murilo Guedes (University of Michigan), with his supervisor Prof. Roberto Pecoits Filho, for work meetings; and postdoctoral student, Ana Paula Martins Sebastião (Memorial Cancer Sloan Institute). Because she is a civil servant and is ineligible for assistance, she requested paid leave for the internship.

Currently, the biggest internationalization project at PPGCS is the ISN Sister Renal Centers Program (Sudan – Brazil), where a team of Brazilian doctors and nurses led by Dr. Roberto Pecoits Filho makes annual visits to Sudan (Soba University Hospital – Khartoum) to train health professionals for the detection, treatment, and research in acute and chronic kidney disease. The program is sponsored by the International Society of Nephrology, which chooses a receiving center in developing countries and an enabling center (usually from developed countries, except for Brazil, which, despite being considered a developing country, has this team made up of PUCPR, URGS, and led by Prof. Pecoits, competence, and expertise to run the program as a training center). The third visit took place in September 2018. Due to the efforts and training of local professionals, Sudan is now classified as an integral unit with its training and dissemination of management techniques and acute and chronic kidney disease, with direct funding from the International Society of Nephrology. Through this project, two graduates of the program have already been to Sudan (Dr. Viviane Calice and Dr. Cristina Von Glehn). After the first two years, the training progressed to immunogenetic techniques for kidney transplantation. The program foresees the beginning of the bidirectionality of efforts when the PPGCS Immunogenetics Laboratory will receive a health professional from Soba University to train immunogenetics exams for kidney transplantation. Due to this effort’s positive impact, the International Society of Nephrology increased the funding of this Brazil-Sudan partnership. Professor Pecoits, in international multicenter projects such as DONG Initiative, HDFit, CKDOPPS, produces opportunities for exchange and contact of students, graduates, and professors of the program with researchers and international scenarios.

The program website https://www.pucpr.br/en/escola-de-medicina/mestre-d Doutorado/ciencias-da-saude/ is fully mirrored in English and Spanish, indicating the area of concentration, the lines of research, professor profile, projects, and dissertation bank. These efforts, coupled with the adaptation of the program’s subjects to English, make it effectively international.

Faculty

Adriano Akira Ferreira Hino

Bachelor’s in Physical Education at Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (2007). Professor Akira holds a specialization in exercise physiology at Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (2010) and a Master´s and Ph.D. in Physical Education from Federal University of Paraná (2010 and 2014, respectively). Since joining Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná in 2014, he has been teaching Biostatistics; Epidemiology; Public Health and Exercise Prescription for Health in bachelor’s programs, and Biostatistics and Epidemiology in Technology Sciences and Health Sciences graduate programs. His research focuses on as well as public health, with interest in built environments and physical activity and community interventions for promoting physical activities.

Andréa Novais Moreno

Bachelor in Biological Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (1992), Master's in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the Federal University of Paraná (1997), Ph.D. in Basic and Applied Immunology from the Ribeirão Preto Medical School-USP (2002), and completed her post-doctorate at Necker Hospital, INSERM U845, Department of Nephrology, Paris (2010–2011). She is currently a full professor of biology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná and professor at the Graduate Program in Health Sciences at PUCPR. She has experience in immunology, emphasizing applied and cellular immunology, working primarily with the following topics: effect of uremia on innate and adaptive immunity; inflammatory processes involving uremic toxins; anemia and chronic kidney disease; and tumor stem cell biomarkers.

Cristina Pellegrino Baena

Residing at AACD (São Paulo) in 1996, she earned her Bachelor's in Physiotherapy at PUCPR the same year. She completed her Master's degree in Health Sciences from the Federal University of Rio Grande (2010) and Ph.D. in Health Sciences from PUCPR in 2013 with Sandwich Ph.D. from Erasmus University – Netherlands. Her post-doctorate was accomplished at the Epidemiological Clinical Research Center of the University Hospital of the University of São Paulo (USP) through projects for the primary and secondary prevention of chronic diseases. for the CAPES Brazil and Araucária Foundation of Paraná State and coordinates the Center of Research and Innovation of the Hospital Marcelino Champagnat and Hospital Universitário Cajurú. Her main topics of research are primary prevention of chronic diseases, evidence-based practice in health, and translational research in health services.

Felipe Francisco B. Tuon

He obtained his Ph.D. in Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine from the Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP) studying leishmaniasis and immune response with molecular biology. He began working as an ID specialist in the Hospital Evangelico de Curitiba. In 2012, he became a professor of Medical Epidemiology and worked as an ID specialist at the Hospital de Clínicas of Federal University of Parana (UFPR). The same year, he also became an ID professor at Pontificia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUC), nowhere he continues to teach today. For five years, he worked with several projects at the PUC and UFPR and participated in the testing of antibacterial and antifungal compounds, epidemiology, and antimicrobial resistance. In 2014, Dr. Felipe Tuon became a researcher of the National Council of Research in Brazil (CNPQ). In 2017, he funded the Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases (LEID). He has authored over 160 scientific articles, 15 book chapters, and edited three books. He is currently an advisor of Infection Control, Epidemiology, and Antimicrobial Agents and recently worked with a technology and mobile healthcare app. He is an experienced scientist and leader in the fields of microbiology and infectious diseases in the public health field.

José Rocha Faria Neto

He obtained his Bachelor's in Medicine from the Federal University of Paraná (1994). He held a residency in Clinical Medicine at HCFMUSP (1995) and Cardiology at InCor/USP (1996/97). He holds a Ph.D. in Cardiology from the Medical School of USP (1998–2002). Post-doctorate at the Atherosclerosis Research Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles (2002-04). He is a full professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, a professor of Cardiology and the Graduate Program in Health Sciences. He focuses his research on atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, risk factors, dyslipidemia, and myocardial ischemia. He held the position of Scientific Director of SBC/PR from the 2010–2011. He was the President of the Atherosclerosis Department for the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (2014–2015).

Lucia de Noronha

She holds her Bachelor’s in Medicine from the Federal University of Paraná (1994), completing her medical residency and specialist in Pathological Anatomy, Master's degree (1998), and Doctorate (2001) in Medicine from the Federal University of Paraná. She is currently an adjunct professor at the Federal University of Paraná as well as in the Pathological Anatomy course at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná. She has experience in pathology, with emphasis on pediatric and perinatal pathology, focusing on the following subjects: primary pathology, neoplasms, malformations, necropsy, and immunohistochemistry. She has a Research Productivity Scholarship/CNPQ Level 2.

Luiz César Guarita Souza

Master's and doctoral from and advisor at PUCPR’s Health Sciences Program. Bachelor's in Medicine from the Federal University of Paraná (1995), Master's in Medicine (Surgery) at the Medical School of Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo (1999), M.D. (Surgery) from the Medical School of Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo and University of Paris - INSERM (2001), Post-doctorate from USP-INCOR (2004), and professor at USP-INCOR (2011). He is currently an adjunct professor at PUCPR and UFPR and a titular member of the Brazilian Society of Cardiovascular Surgery. He has experience in medicine, focusing on cardiovascular surgery, and works in the following subjects: myocardium, myoblasts, mesenchymal cells, and stem cell transplantation. Research Productivity Scholarship/CNPQ Level 2.

Marcelo Távora Mira

Obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Molecular Genetics from McGill University in Montreal, Canada (2004), he is currently a full professor of the Graduate Program in Health Science at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná. He coordinates research projects in human genetics and microorganisms, emphasizing genetic mapping of complex diseases, particularly leprosy and vitiligo. He also coordinates the professional post-graduation programs in Medicine I at Capes Brazil.

Paula Cristina Trevilatto

Bachelor's in Biological Sciences at Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP) (1990), Bachelor's in Dentistry at Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FOP-UNICAMP) (1996), and Master's in Biology and Oral-Dental Pathology at FOP- UNICAMP (1999). A She earned her Ph.D. in Buco-Dental Biology by from FOP-UNICAMP (2002). She is currently a fFull pProfessor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR) and Director of Research at the Research Office and Graduate Studies at PUCPR. Has experience inShe is experienced in dDentistry, emphasizing with an emphasis on mMolecular gGenetics, acting mainly on the theme:working primarily on genetic factors associated with complex oral conditions.

Paulo Gustavo Kotze

PPaulo Gustavo Kotze is an adjunct senior professor of the Postgraduate Health Sciences Program at the Catholic University of Paraná. He is additionally a professor of surgery of the Colorectal Surgery Unit at Cajuru University Hospital of the Catholic University in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. He received his medical degree (1997) at the Federal University of Paraná and completed his General Surgery training at the Evangelical University Hospital in Curitiba (2000). He also completed his senior fellowship in Colorectal Surgery at the Clinics Hospital from the Federal University of Parana (2002). Dr. Kotze achieved his Master’s in Surgery at the Catholic University in 2008 and joined the Faculty of Medicine at the same university, in 2011, as an assistant professor of surgery. In 2015, he achieved his Ph.D. studying the influence of biological therapy on surgical outcomes in Crohn´s disease at the University of Campinas in São Paulo, Brazil (UNICAMP). Dr. Kotze was also an IBD advanced visiting fellow in the IBD unit at the University of Calgary (Cumming School of Medicine), Canada, from 2017-2018. His scientific interests are based in epidemiological, clinical and surgical aspects of inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease.

Paulo Roberto Slud Brofman

CNPq Research Productivity Scholarship Holder Level 2. Physician specializing in cardiovascular surgery. Graduating from UFPR, he completed residency, specialization, master's, and doctorate degrees at USP. He was a visiting professor at the University of Toronto and an honorary member of the Institute of Biomedical Technology at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg-Germany. He is the former president of Fundação Araucária Support to Scientific and Technological Development of Paraná, Paranaense Society of Cardiology, and Brazilian Society of Cardiovascular Surgery. He is the current president of the Brazilian Association of Cellular Therapy and a member of the INCT-REGENERA. He is currently a full professor at the School of Medicine, professor of the Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, and coordinator of the Core for Cell Technology at PUCPR, belonging to the Brazilian Cell Therapy Network of the Ministry of Health. He is a member of the Scientific Committee of the Binational Program of Cell Therapy Brazil / Argentina and a coordinator of the National Sub-Agenda of Priorities in Health Research, in the area of Industrial Health-Biotechnology Complex of the Ministry of Health. He is also a member of the Paraná Academy of Medicine. He recently received the Luis Federico Leloir Award from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation of Argentina, corresponding to one of the main awards in Latin America and destined to a Foreign personality who contributed to the Development of Science, Technology and Innovation in that country. He also received the title of Citizen Meritorious of Curitiba granted by the Municipality of Paraná and by the State Legislative Assembly. 

Ricardo Aurino Pinho

 Dr. Pinho has an undergraduate and a Master's degree in Physical Education (UFSC, Brazil, 1992/1999) and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences - Biochemistry (UFRGS, Brazil, 2005). He completed his senior post-doctorate at the Muscle Health Research Centre - YU - Toronto. Dr. Pinho was the Director of Community Affairs, Coordinator for Graduate Studies and Research in Health Science, and Pro-rector for Graduate Studies and Research at Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense. Currently, Dr. Pinho is a professor of graduate and undergraduate programs at the School of Medicine at Pontificia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), Brazil. In the Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Dr. Pinho is a professor and supervisor (MSc and Ph.D.) and Head of the Biochemistry of Exercise Lab in Health. He is a member of the Society for Free Radical Research - Europe and Member of the Advisory Board in the Area of Biological Sciences of the Araucária Foundation (Paraná, Brazil). Dr. Pinho has experience in biochemistry and physiology of exercise, mainly oxidative stress and pathophysiology of chronic degenerative diseases.

Roberto Hirochi Herai

He holds his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the State University of Ponta Grossa (2001), earning a Master's in Electrical Engineering (2005) and a Ph.D. in Genetics and Molecular Biology (2010) from the State University of Campinas. He is currently a collaborating researcher at Embrapa and a researcher in bioinformatics at the University of California San Diego and the State University of Campinas. He has experience in computer science, with an emphasis on Basic Software, focusing on the following subjects: java, software engineering, data acquisition, database, and parallel processing.

Roberto Pecoits Filho

Dr. Pecoits-Filho is a Senior Research Scientist at Arbor Research Collaborative for Health in Michigan, USA and a Professor of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná in Curitiba, Brazil. As a clinician, he has broad activities in Internal Medicine and Nephrology based at the University affiliated hospitals, where he was the Chief of the Department of Internal Medicine between 2010 and 2016, the Director of the Residency program in Nephrology from 2013 to 2016. Dr. Pecoits-Filho is the Principal Investigator for the study CKDOPPS, a multinational study on practice patterns and outcomes in chronic kidney disease and act as a Scientific Leader for clinical trials in nephrology with George Clinical.

Dr. Pecoits-Filho received his MD and trained in Internal Medicine and Nephrology in Curitiba, Brazil before completing a research nephrology fellowship at the University of Missouri, Columbia and a PhD from the University of Sao Paulo. He was a visiting scholar for extended periods at the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) and the George Institute (Australia), and has participated as a principal investigator, regional leader and in steering committees in multinational clinical trials. Dr. Pecoits-Filho served as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) (2017-2019), the SONG Initiative (2017-present) and KDIGO (2016-2018).

Selene Elifio-Esposito

She earned her Bachelor's in Biological Sciences from the University of Brasília (1993), as well as a Master's (1996) and Ph.D. (2001) in Sciences (Biochemistry) at the Federal University of Paraná. She is a full professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, linked to the Graduate Program in Health Sciences. She has experience in the biochemistry field, working mainly in the study of toxins with immunomodulatory and antitumor action. She has recently been developing projects for the study of factors determining cell proliferation and apoptosis in neuroblastoma.

Thyago Proença de Moraes

He obtained his Bachelor's in Medicine from the Medical School of Marília (2001), and a specialization in Clinical Medicine (2001-2003) and Nephrology (2005-2007). He completed his fellowship at the University of Nottingham, under the supervision of Professor Christopher W. McIntyre. He is the co-leader of the dialysis prescription and water management group of the Peritoneal Dialysis Practice Patterns Study (PDOPPS) and a member of the steering committee of the Brazilian Multicentric Study of Peritoneal Dialysis – BRAZPD. He is currently a professor and an Internationalization agent at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná and supervisor of the Medical Clinic residency at Cajuru University Hospital. CNPq Research Productivity Scholarship Holder Level 2

Vanessa Santos Sotomaior

 She earned a Bachelor's (1989) and Master’s (1994) degrees in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Paraná (1989), as well as a Doctor's degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (2004). She is currently a professor of the Graduate Program in Health Sciences and a Research Director at PUCPR. She has experience in genetics, focusing on human, molecular, and microorganism genetics.

Courses

Antimicrobial Stewardship in Policy and Practice

Clinical Investigation Bases – Epidemiological

This course is divided into the following modules:

  • Basic Epidemiology;
  • Design and direction of high-quality clinical studies and competitivity;
  • Writing process, presentation and study publications;
  • Critical information analysis in health;

Cellular and Molecular Biology

Cell Membranes. Mitochondria. Cytoskeleton. Intracellular compartments. The chemical nature of the genetic material. The structure and function of DNA. The structure and organization of genes along the DNA molecule. RNA: structure and function. Transcription. Translation. DNA replication. Changes in genetic material. Cell-extracellular matrix interaction. Innate and adaptive immune response. Defense of the host. Parasite-host interaction.

 

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

(PO4645)

Paulo Gustavo Kotze 15 1 40 spots Elective/Annual April 27th -29 from 6 pm-11 pm Teams – 27th 28th and 29th at night

Experimental Models of Tissue Repair and Regeneration

(PO4646)

Scientific Methodology and Project Creation for Thesis and Dissertation Projects

(PO4584)

Seminars I - (SENIOR)

(TS5051)  (Requirement: Scientific Methodology or having presented in the Junior Seminar)

The course consists of presenting in 3 (three) seminars (Junior, Senior, and Qualification) on dates to be defined by the program. The Junior Seminar will consist of presenting the research project in a public session, six months after the student’s enrollment. The Senior Seminar will present partial results related to project progress in a public session, one year after the student’s enrollment. The qualification means presenting the dissertation results or thesis results in a public session up to 3 months before the defense’s scheduled date.

Each seminar is equivalent to obtaining 1 (one) credit. Any student who does not fulfill any of the three credits will fail and will not be able to defend the dissertation or thesis.

Seminars II – Master's

(PO4396)

Seminars II - Doctorate

(VT7041)

It aims to bring together fundamental activities to the training process of the program’s students which, however, are not part of the didactic-pedagogical curricular programming such as lectures, seminars, workshops, debates developed by professors, researchers and others professionals who are related to the philosophy of the program proposal, who have academic-scientific material compatible with a master’s and doctorate.

Seminars III

(MO0305)

Teaching Internship- Master's

(PO2138)

Teaching Internship - Doctorate

(PO1050)

More Information

Master’s degree

It lasts up to 24 months with practical and theoretical activities. The thesis defense time can be between 12 months (minimum) and 24 months (maximum) of the course. The student must fulfill at least 14 credits in subjects to obtain the degree and the thesis defense.

Doctor’s degree

It lasts up to 48 months with practical and theoretical activities. The defense time of the dissertation may be between a minimum of 24 months and a maximum of 48 months, of course. The student must fulfill at least 38-course credits to obtain this degree and the dissertation defense.

Post-doctorate degree

It lasts from six to 12 months, and extension is allowed for the duration of the study. The objective is to enable researchers to train and update their knowledge through internships and project development with innovative scientific or technological content.

Permanence

The permanence required by the Program at the Institution may be partial (20 hours) or full (40 hours) to carry out credits, individual studies and to carry out the research project.

PUCPR has a wide range of actions that focus on solidarity, performed mainly by the Community Office and the Extension. It is important to emphasize this is is a philanthropic institution with conduct including actions of a solidarity and character in its day-to-day activities. PPGCS, with its interdisciplinary faculty, interacts and contributes with services available to a society financed by revenue apportionment among all institutional units, as follows. Nucleus for the Practice of Psychology was created in 1983, staffed by 5th-semester psychology students under professor supervision. The Psychology Practice Center has managed an increasing number of services to the community, considering the quality of the services provided. The PUCPR dental clinic has an average of 350 visits daily and proudly participates in social action with the community. The service, except for extraoral radiographs and laboratory expenses, is entirely free and performed by students at the University, under the professors’ supervision. The nutrition clinic assists all age groups intending to promote health and treat diseases. Individual assistance is aimed at those who seek guidance to incorporate healthy eating habits or to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and other diseases, as well as those who exercise. The physiotherapy clinic is one of the most modern and well equipped in the country, housing PUCPR Physiotherapy student training and learning. It allows the population to be served in a personalized way, with the direct intervention of a professor. The University pharmacy is open to the whole community, with experienced and extremely qualified pharmacists, all of whom are University faculty members. Services such as checking blood pressure, inhalation, injecting, guidance on the correct medication use, and patient monitoring are also offered. The Physical Education Center (NEF) and the NAPI for the development of activities related to human resources training: NAPI aims to update specific knowledge and the University’s interaction with the elderly community. The main objective is their fulfillment and social integration, thus helping older people exercise their citizenship in an increasingly dignified manner.

The Multidisciplinary Center of the School of Life Sciences, located at the PUCPR Health Campus – Pavilhão Pereira Lemos, assists the institution’s external and internal community, evaluating, guiding, and prescribing physical activities to those interested. Consultations take place twice weekly, and about 40 people are served at the unit each month.

 

In 2018, PPGCS submitted and was approved for its first DINTER (interinstitutional doctorate program) proposal. The receiving institution will be UNISalesiano de Araçatuba (northwest of SP), where there is an evident lack of professor qualifications for the medical school approved and recognized by MEC in 2017. The program provides 12 new doctors’ qualifications and the region’s projection and characteristics where UNISalesiano is located. PPGCS will contribute to the local qualification of human resources to positively influence teaching, assistance, and local health management.

A solidarity action that prides the program is the scientific initiation of high school students. The program — PIBIC Jr. — aims at early exposure to the scientific experience for students who show interest. These students are guided by graduate professors and receive monthly financial aid for participation in scientific projects.

Internationally, a solidarity action worth mentioning is the ISN Sister Renal Centers Program (Sudan – Brazil), where a team of Brazilian doctors and nurses led by Dr. Roberto Pecoits Filho makes annual visits to Sudan (Soba University Hospital- Khartoum) to train health professionals for the detection, treatment, and research in acute and chronic kidney disease. The program is sponsored by the International Society of Nephrology, which chooses a receiving center in developing countries and an enabling center (usually from developed countries, except for Brazil, which, despite being considered a developing country, has in this team led by Professor Pecoits competence and expertise to run the program as a training center). The third visit took place in September 2018. Due to local professionals’ efforts and training, Sudan is now classified as an integral unit with its training and dissemination of management techniques of acute and chronic kidney disease, with direct funding from the International Society of Nephrology.

Since 2011, PUCPR has engaged in a project called Excellence in Stricto Sensu that is aimed at internationalizing the institution’s programs to achieve maximum scores of 6 and 7 and to promote transdisciplinarity and innovation in different areas of knowledge, especially in its strategic areas. The PIBIC master program is one its greatest differentials (it allows talented students to attend both undergraduate and graduate stricto sensu programs and develop part of their research in a highly qualified foreign institution) as well as being in harmony with society and focusing on innovation.

The institution must also be constantly attentive to the changing needs of the society, with alignment/realignment to the CAPES criteria and oriented to develop internationally, having internationalization as its main guide in the search for quality in teaching and research.

Every graduate program must meet the criteria set by their corresponding committee; therefore, each program strategic planning and operating criteria needs to be done accordingly.

Criteria for each area need to be discussed within the program annually so that all necessary and appropriate corrective actions can be taken during the four-year period. Each program is committed to structuring and readjusting its strategic planning annually in search of excellence. In addition, the programs are encouraged to rethink their lines of research in order to adapt to the rapid changes that may occur in international and national scenarios.

This graduate program’s dynamism and flexibility must always meet quality criterion both in master’s and doctoral training and in the development of research and innovation, essentially aiming at the improvement of society. Thus, an annual review of each program strategic planning is requested that contains the topics below at a minimum:

  • i. Mission and vision of the program;
  • ii. Summarized annual opinion produced by an external evaluator; the annual evaluation by an external member is an institutional practice conducted since 2006, which allows for the annual performance of each program to be assessed according to the area criteria;
  • iii. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks (preparation of a SWOT matrix showing external and internal factors) considering the goals for the current and next four years;
  • iv. Goals (measurable objectives) established for the consolidation and development of strengths and improvement of weaknesses;
  • v. Actions (processes) necessary to achieve the objectives, people in charge, and monitoring instruments; in this topic, the coordinator and the institution should get involved to consider resizing the faculty and the student body, criteria for accreditation/re-accreditation, infrastructure, selection process, strategies to increase fundraising, and citations and innovation, among other items;
  • vi. Preliminary text of the program’s self-assessment describing the last four years containing at least the following information: stages of the self-assessment process; analysis of results and achievement of objectives; necessary actions for its consolidation and internationalization;

The IDP (Institutional Development Plan) document presents the strategic plans of all the programs aligned with the institutional planning, containing the Mission, Vision, SWOT Matrix, Canvas, and road map, and providing information on the needs and intentions of the programs for the 2017–2020 and 2021–2024 quadrennium of the CAPES evaluation.

Contact

sConcordo com a utilização dos meus dados pessoais coletados no presente formulário, para a finalidade de identificar minha solicitação e receber retorno do Grupo Marista, de acordo com a Política de Privacidade e Proteção de Dados.sQuero receber conteúdos exclusivos e ofertas personalizadas do Grupo Marista, de acordo com a Política de Privacidade e Proteção de Dados.