It happens every year, and for the seventh consecutive time. Beyond Med is the Medical Education Congress that results from the joint organisation of the Pedagogical Council and the Department of Medical Education, both from the Faculty of Medicine and the AEFML. Always with the intention of bringing together professors, researchers, clinicians and students, the congress intends to launch the debate on the Teaching of Portuguese and international medical schools.
As is customary, and for the 4th time, the congress does not end without the award of the Professor João Mendes Pedro Prize for Medical Education, which aims to "distinguish the quality and originality of teaching work, and also promote the improvement of teaching, training and evaluation of Medical Education".
A paediatrician specializing in Lung Diseases, Professor Teresa Bandeira was the highlight of this year and we listened to her reaction to this public recognition.
As this Prize is known for highlighting the Lecturer chosen by the students with regard to Merit and Excellence, what is your reaction to receiving it this year?
Teresa Bandeira: I felt very honoured for receiving the Professor João Gomes Pedro Prize for Medical Education of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon – Professor Joaquim Ferreira, President of the Pedagogical Council of the FMUL, was kind enough to call me. My first reaction was one of surprise, followed by enormous joy.
Then, I reflected on what could be behind this recognition. Those responsible for the application can certainly answer better than I can, but it is true that I feel huge pleasure. I commit and invest a lot in in teaching in my area of expertise, I try to do it in coherence with the best evidence and knowledge, and I seek unceasingly the best ways to transmit it. And I always think I could be better. Good thing someone thinks otherwise...
Being surrounded and supported by the best colleagues, lecturers and non-teaching staff, being attentive to their critical eyes, their opinions and suggestions and talking about doubts and anxieties about the adequacy of what I do, makes me share with everyone the pride of receiving this Prize, which I did immediately.
This Prize was awarded for the 4th consecutive year. A word of acknowledgment to Professor Gomes Pedro, who supported it. His joy was also contagious. In addition, it is with great pride that I am part of the group of lecturers who have been awarded this Prize.
A word of thanks to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon. The circumstances in which we carry out our work are extremely important for the results. This year was no exception and the improvement of technical conditions, and above all the way how the Pedagogical Council, the Department of Medical Education, the Pedagogical Coordinator and the teaching and non-teaching professionals worked so hard, at a time with particular adversities, to ensure that everything would go the best possible way, certainly contributed to the results obtained.
Finally, the students. They are my main source of inspiration and I dedicate my work to them.
How do you see the role of a medical student in the short to medium term in our society?
Teresa Bandeira: I will use a comment attributed to Niels Bohr to answer this question: "Predicting is very difficult, especially the future". However, I would risk saying that the medical student will participate in an increasingly active, responsible and mature way in the learning and practice of medicine, increasingly becoming a partner. He will objectively realize the dreams that took him to medical school, value himself as a human being in the development of skills and competences and use in an appropriate and sensible way the huge amount of tools he has gained. He will follow-up or even lead the demands between individual and direct care provision and construction of health care for the future, which will involve prevention in the community and building the sustainability of systems, quality control and humanization.
Do you feel your role as a lecturer has increased responsibility, after being chosen for this year’s Prize?
Teresa Bandeira: I feel the responsibility that I have always felt. To do better and better, adapting to evolution and circumstances, maintaining an honest and open dialogue with students, lecturers and non-teaching staff, and an enormous availability and pleasure in being with everyone in the exercise of this activity. I have some friends who were students or graduates. I hope to continue to deserve it.
In this session, the following mentions were also attributed:
Honourable Mentions Lecturers – Professor João Parracho Costa and Dr Nuno Cortez Dias
Disciplinary Area Award - Imageology (Coordinator Professor Sofia Reimão)
Disciplinary Area Honourable Mention – Introduction to the Clinical Practice (Coordinator Professor João Eurico)
Congratulations to Professor Teresa Bandeira and may she continue her great work!
If you want to find out about the Prize regulations, check Order 96 / 2020
Joana Sousa
Editorial Team