In response to a historical demand in the region, the State Secretary for Science, Technology and Innovation, Vahan Agopyan, the mayor of Piracicaba, Luciano Almeida, and the rector of Unicamp, professor Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles, discussed this Wednesday (8 ) the possibility of creating a medical course at the Piracicaba School of Dentistry (FOP) — which, since 1967, has been incorporated into Unicamp.
At the meeting, the dean informed that the current Administration of Unicamp is willing to analyze the creation of new vacancies in graduation and considers the health area in Piracicaba a strong candidate for this expansion.
“We have excellent undergraduate and graduate courses at FOP, which stand out for their quality not only nationally, but which also perform well internationally”, ponders the dean. “Being in the health area, part of the infrastructure and professionals can help in the initial years of this initiative”, he added.
The dean points out that Unicamp participates in the management of the HRP (Regional Hospital of Piracicaba) and the AME (Medical Specialty Outpatient Clinic) in Piracicaba and, as a result, has access to essential health equipment for the proper training of professionals.
Meirelles also argues that the Piracicaba region has a deficiency, compared to other regions of the state, in terms of the number of new trained medical professionals, particularly with regard to public higher education.
“FOP/Unicamp is the most qualified institution in the entire region to meet this need with great quality and little increase in costs”, he assesses.
Project feasibility
Unicamp's dean recalls, however, that obstacles need to be overcome to make the project viable.
According to him, it will be necessary to create new positions for professors and employees, in order to make it possible to open new courses, since the maximum number of employees in the different categories of the institution is regulated by state legislation.
In addition, it is necessary to guarantee the continuity of the management of local health equipment (HRP and AME) by Unicamp, since they are essential for the good training of new professionals, as well as evaluating and defining ways of financing the new course.
“We are convinced of the possibility of resolving these difficulties and we will work together with the Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation, with the other Secretariats of the State Government and with the Municipality of Piracicaba, analyzing the issue and favoring its viability”, concluded the dean.
Undergraduate, postgraduate and public service
FOP is considered one of the most important Schools of Dentistry in the country, with a strong research sector and undergraduate and graduate courses.
Parallel to its academic activities, attendance clinics offer dental treatment to the population of Piracicaba and region, being a reference center for other states.
