In a ceremony held on Monday (6), Professor Erich Vinicius de Paula was sworn in as the new director of the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM) at Unicamp, for the period 2026 to 2030, replacing Cláudio Coy. Professor Maria Laura Costa do Nascimento is the new associate director. The focus of the new administration will be the reduction of barriers to the development of teaching, research and extension activities. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the rector, Paulo Cesar Montagner, and was attended by faculty, staff and guests. Also present at the ceremony was Dr. Lair Zambon, current municipal Secretary of Health of Campinas. He represented Mayor Dário Saadi.
During the ceremony, Montagner highlighted that the renewal of the leadership represents one of the principles that underpin the University's institutional trajectory: the ability to preserve consolidated values while renewing what is necessary to respond to the challenges of each era. “The 63 years of the FCM are intertwined with the very history of Unicamp. It played a decisive role in consolidating the university project, contributing to the training of highly qualified professionals, scientific production, and the transformation of society,” he stated. “The FCM not only accompanied the growth of Unicamp, but was one of its great protagonists. It built an academic culture based on scientific rigor, innovation, interdisciplinarity, and commitment to human life,” added the rector.
Montagner also highlighted that FCM's work goes beyond classrooms and laboratories, extending to a broad healthcare network, comprised of the Hospital de Clínicas (HC), the Hospital da Mulher (Caism), the Gastrocentro, the Hemocentro, the Hospital Estadual de Sumaré, and the Hospital Regional de Piracicaba, among other structures linked to the University. "Caring for people and producing knowledge are inseparable activities in a public university," he concluded.
participatory
Upon assuming the directorship, De Paula stated that the new administration will continue the work developed in recent years, incorporating new demands presented by the academic community. Among the priorities are valuing people, reducing barriers to the development of teaching, research and outreach activities, advancing inclusion policies, and building an institutional environment that is always welcoming and participatory.
“The intention is not to establish priorities among the different missions of the Faculty, but to create conditions so that teachers, staff, and students can fully develop their work. The quality already exists. Our role is to remove obstacles and create conditions so that each person can carry out their work freely,” commented the new director.
De Paula also highlighted the intention to expand FCM's participation in research projects, increase fundraising, and strengthen university extension activities. Another issue considered strategic by the new director is the autonomous nature of Unicamp's Health area. De Paula stated that the Faculty will actively participate in discussions led by the Rectorate and the University Council, defending the preservation of the fully public character and linkage to the Unified Health System (SUS) of the University's health units. "Preserving 100% SUS-funded care is a fundamental value for us," he emphasized.
Among the commitments made for the new term, the director highlighted the construction of an institutional environment based on dialogue, listening, and valuing diversity in all its forms. “The diversity of ideas and life stories should be a force capable of building solutions. We want to cultivate an environment where people feel a sense of belonging and participate in decisions,” he pointed out.
Representativeness
The new associate director, Maria Laura do Nascimento, stated that she assumes the position with enthusiasm, facing the challenges of the next four years. “We will maintain a permanent dialogue with the academic community and work to ensure that the Faculty continues to be a benchmark in all its areas of activity,” she said, emphasizing the importance of female presence in administration. “Our committees are all led by women. The new administration demonstrates that this appreciation will be a priority,” she assured.
At the end of his term, Cláudio Coy highlighted achievements in the areas of teaching, research, postgraduate studies, and infrastructure, in addition to mentioning the curricular reform of the courses, improvements in classrooms and administrative spaces, and the strengthening of postgraduate studies. "Currently, about 40% of FCM's postgraduate programs have scores of 6 and 7 in the CAPES evaluation, a concept reserved for courses of excellence," he emphasized.
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