About the author
Dr David Nunan is a Senior Researcher and Educator in Evidence-Based Health Care in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Director of the MSc in EBHC Teaching and Education and the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching Evidence-Based Health Care, and a Supernumerary Fellow at Kellogg College.
As part of my ongoing work with the Oxford-Brazil Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) Alliance, I recently had the privilege of visiting Brazil for the second time to further our joint efforts in advancing evidence-based health care. This latest mission began with our second event at UNIFASE in Petrópolis, where we led sessions for educators and healthcare practitioners focused on the skills and practical application of evidence-based health care (EBHC). Designed to deepen the Alliance’s impact, this event aimed to equip practitioners with tools for better clinical decision-making and to support educators in advancing EBHC training in their curricula.
Oxford-Brazil EBM Alliance team and participants at the UNIFASE event in Petrópolis, Brazil, focused on advancing evidence-based healthcare practices for educators and practitioners.
Building on the momentum from our sessions in Petrópolis, I continued to Rio de Janeiro, where we engaged in further activities and discussions with partners at the Institute of Social Medicine (IMS) at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (IMS-UERJ), the dental school postgraduate programme at UERJ, and the National School of Public Health at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ). This latest mission provided an invaluable opportunity to strengthen our ongoing projects and explore new areas of collaboration, including the potential creation of a postgraduate programme in evidence-based health care at UERJ. Together, these activities represent an exciting next phase in our Alliance’s commitment to driving positive change in healthcare practice and education in Brazil and beyond.
Colleagues from UERJ and FIOCRUZ outside the Palace of Manguinhos at the Ozwald Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, advancing the Oxford-Brazil EBM Alliance’s collaborative research and educational projects.
Strengthening collaborative research and education
During my visits to UERJ and FIOCRUZ, I had the opportunity to engage with academic leaders and researchers who are involved in driving evidence-based health knowledge, skills and practices in Brazil. Our meetings focused on advancing several key projects initiated in 2023 and expanding these to involve UERJ and FIOCRUZ. A notable aspect of these discussions was our shared commitment to exploring how evidence-based methods can be adapted to the specific healthcare needs of Brazil.
Collaborating with colleagues from UERJ and FIOCRUZ to explore new avenues for research and education in evidence-based health care.
One of the highlights of the trip was delivering a lecture to the faculty and students at UERJ, where I shared some of the latest developments in a key aspect of Evidence-Based Health Care - evidence synthesis methodology - and the progress of our joint research (slides from my talk available on request). The enthusiasm and engagement of the attendees reaffirmed the value of our collaboration and the mutual benefits of sharing knowledge across borders.
David with Ana and Paulo before delivering a plenary session on new trends in evidence synthesis methodology at IMS-UERJ.
Another highlight was supporting colleagues in delivering the inaugural lecture of their postgraduate discipline 'Evidence-Based Clinical Practice, Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis', offered to postgraduate students from FIOCRUZ, Social Medicine-UERJ and the Dentistry-UERJ programmes.
David delivering his 'Introduction to Evidence-Based Medicine' lecture to postgraduate students at IMS-UERJ.
Building on past success: the Kellogg College fellowship
Our collaboration has already yielded several notable outcomes, including the visiting fellowship hosted by Kellogg College, Oxford. Earlier this year, Professors Ana Paula Pires dos Santos and Paulo Nadanovsky from UERJ undertook a fellowship at Kellogg College as part of the Oxford-Brazil EBM Alliance. This fellowship, which I had the pleasure of hosting, focused on critical issues in healthcare, including decision-making in health and dentistry.
During their time in Oxford, Professors Santos and Nadanovsky contributed to significant work on supporting informed decision-making in healthcare. The fellowship provided a platform for them to engage with academics and students in our EBHC programme, while also sharing their experiences of healthcare challenges in Brazil. This exchange not only enriched their understanding but also brought fresh insights to Oxford, illustrating the reciprocal value of such academic partnerships.
You can read more about their fellowship and the work they did during their time at Oxford here.
Future directions for the Oxford-Brazil EBM Alliance
Looking ahead, the Oxford-Brazil EBM Alliance continues to evolve, with exciting opportunities on the horizon. One of the key goals we discussed during this latest visit was the potential development of an EBHC postgraduate programme at UERJ. This would not only strengthen the academic infrastructure in Brazil but also serve as a model for international cooperation in healthcare education.
In addition, we are planning to expand student and faculty exchanges between Oxford and Brazilian institutions, building on the success of past initiatives. These exchanges will facilitate the sharing of best practices and methodologies, helping to raise standards of care and teaching in both countries.
A shared commitment to better health outcomes
The success of the Oxford-Brazil EBM Alliance is a testament to what can be achieved when institutions come together with a shared vision. By pooling our expertise and resources, we are able to tackle complex health issues with a more comprehensive and informed approach.
This trip to Brazil has reinforced my belief that our collaboration is making a meaningful impact, not just in the academic community but in the broader context of healthcare delivery. I look forward to continuing this important work with my colleagues at UNIFASE, UERJ, FIOCRUZ and Oxford, and beyond, as we strive to make evidence-based health care a global standard.