Collaboration by João Victor Franqueira, Mariana Azevedo and Erica Stenico

From July 1st to 19th, João Franqueira, Mariana Azevedo, and Erica Stenico, 4th-year medical students at the School of Medical Sciences of Unicamp, undertook an internship at the University of Coimbra hospitals in Portugal. The students gained experience in the areas of General Surgery, Intensive Medicine, and Pediatric Emergency, familiarizing themselves with the routine of each department and observing how professionals organize and conduct their daily activities.  

João Victor Franqueira shared a few words about his time at the University of Coimbra Hospital Center: “I spent three weeks with the hepatobiliary surgery team, and it was a moment of great learning. I had the chance to work alongside excellent professors and residents, participating in surgeries, case discussions, ward rounds, and lectures on updates in the surgical field. I am grateful for the opportunity provided by Professors Gustavo Fraga (SMS) and Henrique Alexandrino (University of Coimbra)”.

Mariana had her internship in the Intensive Care Unit and described it as a fantastic experience: “I am so thankful for the chance to take this 3-week internship during our vacation. It was an amazing experience to be around such a great medical team, learning about critical care and life support, especially in neurocritical patients. I was able to participate in case discussions, engage in patient evaluations, and understand how Intensive Medicine manages each aspect of patient care”. She also expressed her gratitude to Professor Gustavo Fraga and SMS for the opportunity, as well as to Professors Henrique Alexandrino and Paulo Martins, and Dr. Catarina Silva from the University of Coimbra.

Student Erica Stenico completed her internship at the Pediatric Hospital of the University of Coimbra. She shared that, for three weeks, she followed consultations in the pediatric emergency room and had the opportunity to participate in several case discussions. Reflecting on her experience, she expressed: “I am very grateful to the entire pediatric hospital team for welcoming me so warmly and to Professor Gustavo Fraga and SMS for facilitating the entire process”.

Finally, the students took advantage of the end of the trip to explore and learn a bit about the local culture. They visited Paris, the capital of France, where they spent five days exploring the main tourist attractions and had the opportunity to attend a game at the Paris 2024 Olympics.