For the third consecutive year, the Health Communication Course at NOVA Medical School is open to all health students nationwide, reinforcing its mission to train future professionals for one of the main challenges facing healthcare systems in the 21st century: communicating science, policies, and decisions in healthcare with clarity, rigor, and responsibility.
The theoretical component of the course begins on February 26 and runs until June 30, 2026.
The curriculum combines practical and theoretical-practical components, providing a dynamic and up-to-date learning experience. The approach emphasizes the practical application of the concepts studied, while encouraging active student participation, critical thinking, and informed debate on key contemporary health issues.
The training is coordinated by Professor Francisco Goiana da Silva, SWORD Health Vice-President and former member of the Executive Board of the National Health Service, and by Professor Alexandra Bento, Coordinator of the Food and Nutrition Department at the Dr. Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute.
The program features renowned guests from the national scene, ensuring a multidisciplinary and realistic perspective. Speakers include Álvaro Beleza, President of SEDES; Daniel Sampaio, Jubilated Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon; and the duo João Vasco Barreira and Pedro Barreira - The Twin Docs, who share their experience and best practices in their respective fields.
The topics covered include Crisis Communication, Health Literacy, Political Communication, Strategic Marketing and Health Communication Campaigns, Social Media, new digital formats, and Misinformation in Health, among other topics that are fundamental to clinical, institutional, and public health practice.
Attendance at the course is free of charge. Students who are not enrolled in the Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition Sciences or the Master's Degree in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Health Research at NOVA Medical School will be issued a Certificate of Participation upon completion of the final assessment.
In the case of external students, assessment is carried out exclusively through a final oral exam, focusing on the topics covered throughout the classes.
The course is delivered exclusively online, facilitating access for students from across the country and reinforcing the commitment of NOVA Medical School to providing open, innovative education that is aligned with the current needs of society.
See the complete brochure here