Presentation Report – 1st Planning and Goals Forum of the SCA/FMRP-USP Graduate Program

Date: December 3, 2025

Time: 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Format: Hybrid (in-person + Zoom)

Audience: Faculty members of the SCA Graduate Program

List of attendees:

In-person: Ana Paula de Carvalho Panzeri Carlotti; Fabio Carmona; Elvis Terci Valera; José Simon Camelo Junior; Luiz Antonio Del Ciampo; Marisa Marcia Mussi; Paulo Henrique Manso; Sonir Roberto Rauber Antonini; Walusa Assad Gonçalves Ferr; Luciana Martins de Carvalho; Raphael Del Roio Liberatore Jr.

Online (via Zoom): Viviane Cunha Cardoso; Pérsio Roxo Júnior

SUMMARY OF PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS:

The meeting began with a welcome to the faculty and a presentation of the Forum’s program. The main objectives were to review the CAPES 2021-2024 evaluation cycle, present the new 2025-2028 evaluation cycle, discuss initial data from 2025, and define guidelines for the Program’s planning, goals, and indicators.

PRESENTATION 1 – Summary of the CAPES 2021–2024 Evaluation Cycle

The CAPES evaluation is organized into three main areas: Program, Training, and Impact on Society. The history of the SCA, founded in 1971, was highlighted, being the first postgraduate program in Pediatrics in Brazil, with 583 graduates. The Program has a solid curricular structure, with 13 research lines and interdisciplinary disciplines. The need to avoid lines without active projects was emphasized. In 2024, there were 44 ongoing final projects. There was significant fundraising during the four-year period, totaling R$ 37 million and USD 1.8 million. Despite this, the publication rate of dissertations and theses remains low. The faculty exhibits high productivity and homogeneous performance. Graduates are well distributed professionally, with 98% of their information up-to-date. A SWOT analysis was presented. Strengths highlighted included high faculty productivity, an increase in the number of doctorates, and the quality of publications. Weaknesses included the low publication rate of dissertations and theses. Threats included a reduction in the total number of students and low interest among residency graduates in pursuing postgraduate studies. Opportunities included expanding publications and increasing the recruitment of new students.

PRESENTATION 2: New CAPES Evaluation Cycle 2025–2028

The new guiding documents and criteria for the Medicine II area were presented. The differences between the PROAP and PROEX models were discussed. The new cycle values ​​aspects such as program visibility, social impact, innovation, internationalization, and greater integration between students and graduates. The importance of impact narratives and multidimensional product evaluation was highlighted, including the use of altmetrics and platforms such as Dimensions. The Program structured a self-evaluation process every two years, with rounds planned for 2026 and 2028. Affirmative action policies were emphasized, such as the expansion of PPI (People of Color) positions, the offering of scholarships for non-medical professionals, and the waiver of application fees. There is good alignment between theses and dissertations with the research lines. The need to integrate and give greater visibility to intellectual production was reinforced.

The Program intends to expand extension initiatives and scientific dissemination actions, as well as more intensively explore products with potential for social impact and innovation.

PRESENTATION 3: Initial Data from Year 1 of the New Cycle (2025)

In 2025, the Program had 47 ongoing projects, representing an increase compared to 2024. With 6 new students approved in the November/25 selection process, we will again have more than 50 students (total of 54). A critical problem was identified in the distribution of supervisions, with four full professors without supervisees. The need to apply more rigorous accreditation rules was discussed. The evolution of defenses and publications of papers was presented, an essential indicator for CAPES evaluation. We continue to have low publication of products derived from theses and dissertations (no publications from students who defended in 2025).

Document Resulting from the Meeting – Goals and Actions for 2026

Critical Situation	Goals for 2026	Indicators (Dec/2026)	Actions to Facilitate the Goal
Low number of dissertation and thesis publications by the program	Low number of dissertation and thesis publications by the program	Articles submitted derived from theses/dissertations 2025: 70% Articles submitted derived from theses/dissertations 2026: 50% Articles accepted/published 2025: 50% Articles accepted/published 2026: 25%	Support from the CCP; discussion of products; use of open access WILEY–CAPES; advice from scientific writing faculty (Paulo Henrique and Fabio).
Quality of Theses and Dissertations in the Program	Improve the quality of theses and dissertations, facilitating publication and impact.	Mandatory inclusion in 100% of theses/dissertations (from 2026 onwards) of a paragraph on expected impact and indicators.	Performance of the admission committee; reinforcement of the scientific methodology discipline; dialogue between methodology professors and advisors; thorough pre-submission review.
Low visibility of the program in the media and interface with the community	Improve the visibility of the program’s actions within the scientific and lay community.	Each professor must produce a minimum of 2 publications per year; use of official channels (FMRP Journal, USP, FAPESP, UOL, Folha, etc.).	CCP will seek resources to hire a professional press service for social media management.

 

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