Nunes Correa Verdades de Faria Awards

Winners

In area A, “Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults”, the prize was awarded “ex aequo” to the applications submitted by Ana Luísa Martins Pereira Pinto, with the project “Cuidadores – melhorar a vida de quem cuida”, and Maria João Sousa, who submitted the social action project “Transformar Vidas, valorizando cada um com vista ao bem comum”.

In area B, “Progress in Medicine as Applied to Older People”, the prize went to Pedro Madeira Marques, in recognition of a career dedicated to changing and improving the healthcare provided to older adults.

In area C, “Progress in the Treatment of Heart Diseases”, the prize was awarded to Vera Marisa Costa, PhD in Toxicology, with a focus on cardiotoxicity.

Honourable mentions

In area A – Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults — two honourable mentions were awarded: Amélia Simões Figueiredo, who submitted the “Projeto Consulta de Enfermagem do Balneário Público de Alcântara – Public Bathouse Nursing”; and Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Fátima-Ourém, with the project “Equipa Móvel Multidisciplinar de Intervenção Local Especializada e de Autoajuda_ EMMILEA”.

In area B – Progress in Medicine as Applied to Older People — an honourable mention was awarded to Edna Darlene Rodrigues, with the project “Avaliação geriátrica de pessoas idosas propostas para radioterapia”.

Winners

In area A, “Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults”, the prize went to Maria Carolina Sirgado Pisco dos Santos. A graduate in Social Work from Universidade Católica, she has spent 15 years developing social projects to support the older population and informal carers.

In area B, “Progress in Medicine as Applied to Older People”, the prize went to Paulo Ricardo de Sousa Almeida, MA in Internal Medicine with a specialisation in Geriatrics from the Faculty of Medicine of Porto, for the development of an innovative, pioneering project at Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João.

Honourable mentions

In area A, an honourable mention was awarded to APTAS – Associação Portuguesa dos Técnicos Auxiliares de Saúde, for a professional volunteering project focused on providing respite for informal carers.

In area B, the mention went to Lídia Cristina Sousa de Oliveira, BA and MA in Social Work, who has played a decisive role in stabilising AUR – Apoio ao Utente Reformado.

Winners

Diana Rita Costa Vilela Breda, chair of the management board of Hospital Arcebispo João Crisóstomo in Cantanhede and responsible for the implementation of the “Hospital amigo dos + velhos” project, was awarded in area A, “Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults”. At its core, the project (recognised with several national and international awards) seeks to respond to the social challenge of ageing as a cross-cutting issue, delivering actions to promote active, healthy and more dignified ageing through an innovative intervention model grounded in a multidimensional, multidisciplinary geriatric approach centred on a holistic view of older adults.

In area B, “Progress in Medicine as Applied to Older People”, the winner was Ana Soraia Cardoso Rodrigues do Vale, a mental health and psychiatry specialist nurse. Her work with older adults integrates, in addition to traditional nursing care, a set of measures including cognitive stimulation and psychotherapeutic support delivered in multiple ways, enabling a more rigorous assessment in areas such as depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness.

Francisco Garcia Pestana Araújo was honoured in area C, “Progress in the Treatment of Heart Diseases”. A graduate in medicine with extensive professional experience in internal medicine, prevention and vascular risk, he has dedicated his life to hospital public service, teaching, research and patient care.

Honourable mentions

In area A “Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults”, the jury recognised Joana Sofia Santos Moreira for the “Reformers” project, whose mission is to increase people’s involvement in their communities. It is part of the “Transformers” Movement, which runs projects in 22 Portuguese cities across three areas of work: volunteering, civic associations and awareness-raising.

Diana Filipa Alves Vareta, PhD in nursing and currently working as a specialist nurse in medical-surgical care, was recognised in area B, “Progress in Medicine as Applied to Older People” for the project “Person-centred practice in the daily care of older people with chronic disease in hospital”. This academic work draws on her professional experience in hospital inpatient settings and focuses on the recognition that nursing plays a key role in ensuring the quality of care for the older population, seeking to contribute to improving healthcare delivery to older adults during hospitalisation.

In area C, “Progress in the Treatment of Heart Diseases”, the jury recognised the work carried out by the doctors of the EnRicH Project — Susana Lopes, Fernando Ribeiro, Alberto Alves, José Mesquita Bastos and Jorge Polónia — under the theme “The role of physical exercise in the treatment of hypertension”. A study that strengthens the scientific evidence on the role of physical exercise as an essential, low-cost tool in the treatment of patients with resistant hypertension.

Winners

Leonel Francisco Franco, vice-chair of Lar de São José – Fundação de Solidariedade Social, in Torres Vedras, was honoured in area A, “Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults”. First as a volunteer and then, from 1994, as a member of the home’s governing bodies, Leonel Francisco Franco has devoted his entire life to social causes, particularly with the older population.

In area B, “Progress in Medicine as Applied to Older People”, the figure honoured was Ângela Sofia Lopes Simões, a specialist nurse in medical-surgical nursing and in palliative care nursing. In 2017 she developed her thesis “The Promotion and Preservation of Dignity in care in Care Homes for Older Adults”, subsequently published in several scientific journals.

Head of cardiology service and retired assistant professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Maria Júlia Pires Maciel Barbosa received the prize in area C, “Progress in the Treatment of Heart Diseases”. With a remarkable hospital and academic career, this distinction reflects her important contribution to improving the treatment of heart diseases.

Honourable mentions

In area A, “Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults”, the jury recognised Rute Sónia Loureiro de Moura, founder of the Peña Mourisca Ecological and Cultural Association. With a BA in Early Childhood Education and an MA in Sociology, Rute Moura has carried out outstanding work with the senior population in the municipality of Bragança, supporting healthy ageing.

In area C, dedicated to “Progress in the Treatment of Heart Diseases”, the honourable mention went to Rui André Quadros Bebiano da Providência e Costa, professor at University College London, for his dedicated research into the treatment of coronary disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The jury also chose to honour Sílvia Martins Ribeiro, a graduate in medicine with a specialisation in cardiology, for the commitment shown in the area of arrhythmology.

Winners

Sister Ângela Fernández López was honoured in area A, “Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults”. A member of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, she began her mission in 1974 in the former Curraleira neighbourhood, in Lisbon, where she set up a project — together with other local organisations — for the most vulnerable older residents, to quickly flag the most serious cases of economic and family hardship. The award reflects the public recognition of the merit and dedication shown throughout her life.

In area B, “Progress in Medicine as Applied to Older People”, the winner was Carlos Alberto Almeida Valério, a member of the Mesa of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Braga, specialist in general and family medicine. He took part in characterising his community — the population of the Braga health centre — through various intervention programmes, with particular attention to health and social issues involving those most in need, most vulnerable and most at risk.

Vítor Manuel Machado Gil received the prize in area C, “Progress in the Treatment of Heart Diseases”. Elected chair of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology for the 2019-2021 biennium, he has also been a board member of the Heart Institute since 2003 and coordinator of the Cardiovascular Department at Hospital Lusíadas since 2008. In research, he was principal investigator on several multicentre clinical trials and has taken part in hundreds of national and international scientific lectures, having received eight awards.

Honourable mentions

In area A, “Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults”, the jury recognised Casa do Povo de Abrunheira for the quality of the service it delivers across its three residential care homes for older adults — also recognised by the geronto-psychiatry team of the University Hospitals of Coimbra as the best institution working with Alzheimer’s disease and similar conditions in the district. Also in this area, the jury chose to honour the Congregation of the Conceptionist Sisters for the service provided to the most disadvantaged.

In area B, “Progress in Medicine as Applied to Older People”, the jury recognised the work of Miguel Julião, PhD in palliative care, who, since 2006, has dedicated himself to a research journey to improve the overall life conditions of people in suffering.

Winners

Maria de Lourdes Pereira Miguel, a member of the Board of the Centro Social Paroquial de S. Nicolau, received the prize in area A, “Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults”, recognised for the implementation of the “Mais Proximidade, Melhor Vida” project, tackling loneliness and isolation among older adults.

In area B, “Progress in Medicine as Applied to Older People”, Lia Guerreiro Marques, a doctor with a Geriatrics qualification from the Portuguese Medical Association, was recognised for her efforts to improve quality of life and autonomy for older adults.

Pedro Marques da Silva, a graduate hospital consultant from the Portuguese Medical Association, specialist in clinical pharmacology and pharmacoepidemiology and in clinical hypertension with a Geriatrics qualification, was awarded the prize in area C, “Progress in the Treatment of Heart Diseases”, for his commitment to reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease.

Honourable mentions

In area A, “Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults”, the jury recognised the work of Domingos Marques Alves Rosa, chair of Fundação AFID Diferença, and of Mafalda Mello e Castro for the work carried out at Centro Social e Paroquial de São Francisco de Paula.

In area B, “Progress in Medicine as Applied to Older People”, the jury recognised the work of Inês Maria Sequeira Rodolfo for her pioneering work aimed at improving the patient-doctor relationship.

In area C, “Progress in the Treatment of Heart Diseases”, the work recognised by the jury was that of Eugénia Carvalho, of the Diabetes, Obesity and Complications Group of the Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra. Pedro Nuno Martins Pires Coelho, specialist in cardiothoracic surgery from the Portuguese Medical Association with a PhD from the NOVA Medical School, was another of those recognised.

Winners

Maria Amélia Ferreira, Provedora of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Marco de Canavezes, received the prize in area A, “Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults”. She was honoured for her intense work in social responsibility in a deprived geographical area.

In area B, “Progress in Medicine as Applied to Older People”, Mariana da Cruz Alves, an internal medicine doctor at Hospital Pulido Valente, was recognised for her doctoral project on the cardiovascular risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Rui Manuel dos Anjos, director of the Paediatric Cardiology Service at Hospital de Santa Cruz, was awarded the prize in area C, “Progress in the Treatment of Heart Diseases”, for introducing in Portugal multiple intervention techniques in Paediatric Cardiology, enabling non-invasive treatment, through catheterisation, of various congenital heart conditions.

Honourable mentions

In area A, “Care and Affection for Vulnerable Older Adults”, the jury recognised the work of Aldeias Humanitar, a project to keep the villages of inland Portugal alive; of Monsignor Domingos da Silva Araújo (writer, poet, journalist, with teaching and pastoral activity); and of Maria de Lourdes Miguel (for the “Mais Proximidade, Melhor Vida” project).

In area C, “Progress in the Treatment of Heart Diseases”, the jury recognised the work of Daniel Gomes Caldeira, a doctor specialising in cardiology and in clinical pharmacology.