The Unicamp University Council (Consu) unanimously approved this Tuesday (26), the granting of the title of Professor Emeritus to Luis Guillermo Bahamondes, a retired professor – currently a voluntary collaborator – from the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM). The nomination, approved by the unit's Congregation in May this year, was evaluated by a committee formed by professors Agrício Crespo, Mario Saad, Joaquim Bustorff, Edmund Baracat and Marair Sartori. A professor at Unicamp since 1978, Bahamondes is a reference in research related to women's health, especially the use of long-term contraceptive methods.
"Bahamondes is a leader in its area of activity with great national and international recognition, with an important role as an educator and disseminator of science and an unequivocal contribution to women's health", highlighted Cláudio Rodrigues Coy, director of FCM.
Born in Argentina, Bahamondes graduated in Medicine from the National University of Córdoba. He joined Unicamp as a professor in the Department of Tocogynecology at FCM in 1978 and was one of the first professors in the area to undertake a doctorate course, recently at the unit, obtaining the title in 1982. In 1989, he joined the Research Center as a researcher in Reproductive Health of Campinas (Cemicamp), a non-governmental organization created in 1977 to promote research on women's health. Bahamondes has held the position of president of the entity since 2016.
In 1997, he obtained the title of Full Professor at FCM and, in 2003, the title of Full Professor. At college, he was coordinator of the Postgraduate Program in Tocogynecology, resident preceptor, coordinator of the Human Reproduction Outpatient Clinic at the Women's Hospital "Prof. Dr. José Aristodemo Pinotti" (Caism), head of the Department of Tocogynecology and member of the committee Capes Medicine III assessment (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel).
Throughout her career, she has developed activities and research on women's health, especially regarding contraceptive methods, especially long-lasting ones, such as intrauterine devices and implants, and their application in the treatment of diseases such as endometriosis and bleeding. abnormal uterus. In this area, he was the main researcher of a ten-year project subsidized by the World Health Organization (WHO), a Long-term Institutional Development Grant (LID grant) type project, created with the objective of expanding the research capacity of countries under development. As a result of the initiative, many professors in the area at Unicamp were able to improve themselves and publish the results of their research in scientific journals, contributing to the postgraduate course in Tocogynecology reaching a level of excellence.
As a researcher, he also contributed to the evaluation and improvement of several contraceptives now widely used by the pharmaceutical industry. Bahamondes collaborates with different institutions and international organizations, such as the World Bank, Johns Hopkins University, the Population Council of New York, FHI 360 and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. His knowledge and experience as a researcher also contributed to important WHO projects related to human reproduction.
He had published 261 articles in international magazines, 11 book chapters and two books, in addition to 22 two articles written at the invitation of editors of specialized magazines. He supervised 67 undergraduate and postgraduate students, and today he supervises two master's and six doctoral research studies and is the supervisor of a post-doctorate.
Bahamondes' colleagues at Consu highlighted the social impact of his scientific work. FCM professor, Joana Bastos spoke about the experience of being a student at Bahamondes and how her approach reminded students of the importance of associating science with the defense of human rights. “Bahamondes are a fighter for the dissemination of and access to contraceptive means for women, for reproductive rights, for the discussion on safe abortion, for women's access to health services and for the prevention of violence", she pointed out.
"I lived with Professor Bahamondes for many years at the Faculty of Medical Sciences and I can attest to all these qualities. He brought us important contributions to undergraduate and postgraduate studies and also contributed to the dissemination of Caism and women's health", recalled Maria Luiza Moretti, general coordinator of Unicamp.
The rector of Unicamp, Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles, celebrated the approval of the granting of the title and classified the career of the new Professor Emeritus as an example for the University's teachers. "Bahamondes' career is proof that it is possible to have good research associated with activities that generate an impact not only in terms of knowledge for society, but also an effective impact on organizations such as the WHO, for women's reproductive rights. We have to encourage our teachers to develop activities that involve the concerns that a university should have", Meirelles highlighted.
