On 23 July, the Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa hosted the Final Seminar of the 16th edition of the Postgraduate Programme in Healthcare Quality Management, delivered in partnership with APCER. The event brought together students, alumni, faculty members, and experts in the field for a day of knowledge sharing, reflection, and celebration of the learning journey completed throughout the programme.
The opening session featured welcoming remarks from Professor Isabel Braga da Cruz, Vice-Rector of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, and Professor João Neves-Amado, representing the programme's coordination team. Both highlighted the importance of lifelong learning in promoting quality and continuous improvement in healthcare.
One of the seminar's highlights was a panel of alumni testimonials by Celina Machado and Porfírio Guimarães, who shared how the programme had contributed to their professional development and supported the implementation of quality improvement practices within their organisations.
The seminar also included the presentation of the 17th edition of the Postgraduate Programme in Healthcare Quality Management, reaffirming the continuity of a programme that has now been delivered for 16 consecutive editions and continues to address the evolving challenges of quality management in healthcare. The programme coordination team (João Neves-Amado, Rui Oliveira, Carolina Monteiro, and Mariana Carrilho) emphasised the continuous updating of the curriculum to meet both academic and professional demands, as well as the high quality of its faculty and course content.
The programme also featured a keynote lecture by Dr Luís Marinho, from the São João Local Health Unit (ULS São João) and a quality auditor, focusing on the main changes expected in the upcoming ISO/FDIS 9001:2026 standard and the anticipated impact of its implementation on Healthcare Quality Management Systems. The session encouraged discussion on the challenges and opportunities that this revision will bring to healthcare organisations.
The seminar was also marked by the presentation of certificates to the participants of the 16th edition of the Postgraduate Programme, celebrating the successful completion of another edition of this specialised training.
The closing session included remarks from Professor Paulo Alves, representing the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, and Dr Mariana Carrilho, representing APCER. Both reinforced the importance of the partnership between the two institutions in fostering a culture of quality and excellence across healthcare services.
The event concluded with a networking session bringing together students, alumni, and faculty members, providing an opportunity to strengthen professional connections and celebrate the successful completion of another edition of the Postgraduate Programme in Healthcare Quality Management.