Islândia Carvalho

Biography and Expertise of Islandia Carvalho

Islandia Carvalho stands at the forefront of public health policy and research in Brazil, specializing in the scientific validation and systemic integration of TCIM. As an analyst at the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), one of Latin America’s most respected health science and technology institutions, she plays a key role in generating the data necessary to strengthen national health policies. Her work is deeply rooted in the principles of Brazil’s groundbreaking National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices (PNPIC).

Her expertise directly addresses the 3rd WCTCIM’s Thematic Axis, “Integration of TCIM into Health Systems.” By monitoring key indicators and meticulously evaluating the implementation of phytotherapy programs, she provides actionable insights for health managers and policymakers. Furthermore, her leadership in community ethnobotany surveys exemplifies the congress motto pillar of “Knowledge Diversity,” ensuring that traditional wisdom is respected, preserved, and scientifically integrated into local healthcare services. Consequently, her research provides a powerful model for evidence-informed policymaking, reflecting the core tenets of the Gujarat Declaration.

Professional Career and Contributions

The professional trajectory of Islandia Carvalho is characterized by a deep commitment to strengthening public health through evidence-based integrative practices. Her career is centered within Fiocruz, where she has developed a unique skill set that bridges field research, data analysis, and national policy evaluation. This positioning allows her to make significant contributions to the consolidation of TCIM within Brazil’s complex public health landscape.

Each of her roles reflects a progression towards greater impact, from community-level engagement to national-level monitoring. Therefore, her work exemplifies how a public health professional can effectively link grassroots knowledge with strategic health system planning.

• Public Health Analyst at Fiocruz Pernambuco: She is responsible for analyzing health data, evaluating the performance of public policies, and producing technical reports that inform the Ministry of Health and other governmental bodies. Her focus on TCIM within this role is critical for its continued institutionalization.
• Researcher at ObservaPICS: Islandia Carvalho contributes to a collaborative network dedicated to mapping and understanding TCIM in Brazil. Her work involves developing methodologies for monitoring TCIM services and disseminating scientific findings to a broad audience of researchers, students, and health professionals.
• Coordinator of Ethnobotany Field Research: She leads community-based ethnobotany surveys, a crucial activity that identifies local medicinal plant knowledge. This primary research directly informs the development and implementation of local and regional phytotherapy services, ensuring they are culturally relevant and scientifically sound.

Academic Foundation in Collective Health

The academic background of Islandia Carvalho provides the robust methodological and theoretical foundation for her impactful work. Her specialization in Collective Health, a field particularly strong in Brazil, equips her with a critical perspective that transcends traditional public health, incorporating social sciences, policy analysis, and epidemiology to understand health phenomena in their full complexity.

This interdisciplinary training is essential for her research, which requires navigating the cultural, political, and clinical dimensions of integrating traditional medicine into a modern health system. Consequently, her academic qualifications are perfectly aligned with the challenges and opportunities of her field.

• Master of Science (MSc) in Collective Health, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), 2017: This postgraduate degree provided her with advanced skills in health policy analysis, program evaluation, and qualitative and quantitative research methods. Her master’s research likely focused on aspects of TCIM implementation, preparing her directly for her current roles at Fiocruz and ObservaPICS.
• Undergraduate Studies in a Health-Related Field: Her foundational bachelor’s degree, likely in an area such as pharmacy, biology, or nursing, gave her the essential scientific literacy and understanding of health systems. This initial training served as a springboard for her subsequent specialization in the broader, more systemic field of Collective Health.

Institutional Contributions and Collaborative Networks

Beyond her direct research, Islandia Carvalho contributes significantly to the institutional fabric of public health in Brazil through active participation in collaborative networks and institutional working groups. Her roles at Fiocruz and ObservaPICS place her at the center of a national dialogue on the future of TCIM. This involvement is essential for fostering inter-institutional synergy and building consensus around best practices.

Her collaborative work helps bridge the gap between academic research, governmental policy, and on-the-ground clinical practice. Therefore, she functions as a key nexus point, facilitating the flow of knowledge and contributing to the cohesive development of integrative medicine across the country.

• Involvement with Fiocruz Working Groups: As an analyst at a leading public health institution, she participates in internal committees and strategic groups focused on integrative medicine. This work helps shape Fiocruz’s research agenda and its technical recommendations to the Brazilian Ministry of Health.
• Active Role in the ObservaPICS Network: ObservaPICS is a dynamic national consortium of researchers and institutions. Her participation involves contributing to joint publications, participating in national seminars, and collaborating on the development of shared research methodologies, which strengthens the entire field of TCIM research in Brazil.
• Engagement with Health System Managers: Her evaluation work necessitates constant dialogue with municipal and state health managers. This engagement ensures her research is relevant to their needs and that her findings are effectively translated into practical improvements within the SUS.

Connect with Islandia Carvalho

To further explore the research and professional contributions of Islandia Carvalho, you can access her detailed academic profile on the Lattes Platform, the primary curriculum vitae system for researchers in Brazil. You can also learn more about the vital work of the observatory she is a part of.

Lattes Curriculum: View Full Academic Profile

ObservaPICS – Fiocruz: Learn More about the Observatory