Abstract

BATISTA, Marília Jesus et al. Experience report of interaction among universities, communities, and Family Health Units in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Arq. Odontol. [online]. 2010, vol.46, n.3, pp. 144-151. ISSN 1516-0939.

The National Reorientation Program of Education for Health Professionals aims to join university and public health services. In the Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, the Pro-Health Program was implemented in 2008 with the introduction of undergraduate students in the Family Health Strategy, by means of external internships (80 hrs) in the Family Health Units of Piracicaba. This study aimed to report the experience of the interaction between the Piracicaba Dental School and Family Health Unit, from 2008 to 2009. This cross-sectional study describes a two-year experience in this internship program in a Family Health Unit in the city of Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Undergraduate students, upon finishing the internship, declared that they understood the operations of the Sole Health System (SUS). In addition, the community benefited from the projects implemented by the university in partnership with Family Health Unit. The experience gained through the integration of Undergraduate and Graduate students, University faculty and the Family Health Team, provided by Pro-Health Program in Piracicaba, was positive and enriching for all involved.

Keywords : Single health system; Family health; Problem-based learning; Oral health.