The National Academy of Medicine (ANM) elected pulmonologist and Fiocruz researcher, Margareth Dalcolmo, to occupy its chair number 12, last Thursday night (11/8). She garnered 69 votes from the 80 voting members of the ANM, occupying the position that was held by pediatrician Azor José de Lima, professor-emeritus of UniRio, who died in August 2020.

Margareth has become known for her more than 500 interventions on TV and radio stations and in newspapers over the past two years, during which time she has become one of the most important voices in the fight against and prevention of Covid-19. The researcher is the fifth woman to become a member of the Academy. Dalcolmo is also a member of other entities focused on science and health, such as the Brazilian Pneumology and Phthisiology and Infectious Diseases societies, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Group for the approval of essential medicines.

Among other research and studies, Margareth is the lead investigator of the Brace Trial Brazil, developed by Fiocruz with support from Fiotec. This clinical trial evaluates the efficacy of the BCG vaccine to reduce the impact of Covid-19 in health care workers. More than 10,000 volunteers in Australia, Europe, and Latin America are involved in the initiative.

National Academy of Medicine

Founded in Rio de Janeiro during the reign of Emperor Dom Pedro I, on June 30, 1829, the ANM changed its name twice, but its objective remained unchanged: to contribute to the study, discussion, and development of the practices of medicine, surgery, public health, and related sciences, and to serve as a consulting body to the Brazilian government on health and medical education issues.

Since its foundation, its members meet every Thursday at 6:00 pm to discuss current medical issues in a session open to the public. This meeting makes the National Academy of Medicine the oldest and only scientific entity dedicated to health to meet regularly and uninterruptedly for so long. The Academy also promotes national and international congresses, extension and refresher courses, and annually distributes awards to physicians and researchers who do not belong to the Academy.

Source: Fiocruz News Agency (AFN).