“Extensão Médica Acadêmica”: healthcare humanization and clinical training of medicine, nutrition and physical therapy students from the School of Medicine of University of São Paulo

Abstract

The Academic Medical Extension (EMA) is a volunteer project of the School of Medicine of University of São Paulo organized by students of Medicine, Physical Therapy and Nutrition of University of São Paulo. It was founded in 1998 in order to provide a better academic developmentto students who value physical examination and human relations, besides providing to students in the beginningof graduation an early contact with patients and promotingan exchange of information between those three areas of health. EMA is sustained by three pillars: assistance, education and research, thus constituting an alternative to community-based education and assistance with a focus on humanization. The project is carried in two regions in the city of São Paulo and aims to offer these needy populations a free ambulatory care with quality, promote health and prevention. On Saturdays, undergraduate students see the patients and discuss the clinical case with a health professional;once a week, they attend a meeting with their group, which includes students of the three areas of health. During this meeting, the students report the clinical case and are assisted by other students to conduct the case and teach what they’ve learnt about the patient, collaborating with the establishment and deepening of the concepts in health. The project seeks to encourage their students since the first year of college to value the physician-patient relationship. Thus, it brings together people willing to work without the intention to earn a profit, but to learn more about health and to teach other students. As a result, members still participate in the project after graduation, as doctors committed to pass on their experience and knowledge.