Natália de Castro e Cunha

Biography and Expertise of Natália de Castro e Cunha

Natália de Castro e Cunha represents a new generation of public health leaders, one that skillfully builds bridges between the quantitative rigor of epidemiology and the qualitative depth of traditional and complementary medicine. Her career is defined by a commitment to health equity, focusing on underserved and vulnerable communities. She brings a powerful combination of hands-on clinical experience with integrative practices and high-level analytical skills developed through her work with institutions like the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), a cornerstone of public health in Brazil.

Her expertise directly addresses the 3rd WCTCIM’s Thematic Axis on “Integration of TCIM into Health Systems.” She has not only applied Integrative and Complementary Practices (PICs) in primary care settings within Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS) but has also conducted sophisticated research to provide the evidence needed for such integrations. Consequently, her work exemplifies the spirit of the Gujarat Declaration, which champions the use of science and evidence to validate and scale traditional knowledge for global well-being.

Furthermore, as a Brazilian researcher with significant international training, the work of Natália de Castro e Cunha embodies the congress’s focus on South-South collaboration. Her research into the health impacts of environmental factors on Amazonian Indigenous populations connects directly to the themes of “Knowledge Diversity” and “Planetary Health,” showcasing how local challenges can inform global health strategies. Her analytical, collaborative, and culturally sensitive approach makes her a crucial voice in discussions on building more inclusive and effective health systems worldwide.

Professional Career

Natália de Castro e Cunha’s professional trajectory shows a clear progression from community engagement to impactful public health research. Her career began applying integrative practices in diverse settings, providing invaluable insights into the health needs of vulnerable populations. She then leveraged this experience to inform her research at a prestigious public health institution.

This path equipped her with a holistic understanding of healthcare, from patient care to epidemiological analysis. Each role deepened her expertise in intercultural communication, quantitative methods, and integrating TCIM into public health frameworks.

• Integrative Practices Provider, Terra Livre Indigenous Annual Meeting (2023-2025): Offered healthcare using Integrative and Complementary Practices (ICPs) to Indigenous peoples. This role required strong intercultural competency and teamwork to promote comprehensive health and well-being.
• Supervised Academic Intern, Fiocruz Foundation (2024): Conducted public health research on the Brazilian Legal Amazon, applying quantitative analysis to large DATASUS datasets and authoring technical reports that contributed vital evidence on environmental health.
• Project Lead, Art for All Project (2019-2020): Led art therapy workshops for incarcerated individuals at a psychiatric hospital. This work used complementary practices to promote emotional health and social reintegration in a highly vulnerable context.
• Supervised Intern, Psychosocial Care Centre – CAPS (2019-2020): Provided therapeutic support to public mental health system (SUS) users, applying ICPs in an interdisciplinary team. This gave her direct knowledge of implementing integrative care in a public healthcare setting.

Academic Qualifications

The academic foundation of Natália de Castro e Cunha is interdisciplinary. She has combined education in Naturology with elite international training in public health sciences. This dual focus equips her with the tools of epidemiology and biostatistics to measure the impact of holistic care and advocate for its inclusion in policy.

Her participation in the prestigious EuropubHealth program underscores her global perspective and dedication to scientific excellence. This training positions her to contribute to evidence-based discussions on integrative medicine.

Degrees and Core Education

• EuropubHealth – Master’s in Public Health and Epidemiology/Biostatistics (2024): A dual-degree from the Ecole des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP), France, and the Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública (EASP), Spain, focusing on international public health methodologies.
• Degree in Naturopathy (2020): From the Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (UNISUL), Brazil, providing a robust grounding in naturopathic medicine and integrative therapies.

Specialized Training and Certifications

She has pursued continuous education to deepen her expertise in Brazilian public health and Indigenous health systems, enhancing her capacity to work at the intersection of policy, culture, and health.

• Fiocruz Virtual Campus (2025): Courses on “History of Public Health in Brazil” and “Participation and Social Control in Indigenous Health,” in collaboration with the Articulation of Indigenous Communities of Brazil (APIB).
• AVASUS – Ministry of Health (2020): Certifications in “Interculturality in Network for Indigenous Health” and “Herbal Medicine in Primary Care,” applicable to her work within the SUS.

Research and Publications

The research of Natália de Castro e Cunha is central to her professional identity, showcasing her ability to conduct rigorous, policy-relevant scientific inquiry. Her work uses advanced quantitative methods to investigate complex public health issues affecting marginalized communities. During her tenure at the Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health (ICICT) at Fiocruz, she demonstrated exceptional proficiency in managing and analyzing large-scale health data.

Her capstone project was a sophisticated ecological study that directly aligns with the “Planetary Health” pillar of the 3rd WCTCIM. This research provided critical evidence on the health consequences of environmental degradation, a topic of global importance. Her work is a powerful example of how public health research can illuminate the connections between environmental policy and human well-being.

Key Research Project: Environmental Impact on Amazonian Health

This landmark study analyzed the impact of air pollutants on respiratory diseases across 757 municipalities within the Brazilian Legal Amazon. Using public health data from DATASUS, the official data repository of Brazil’s public health system, Natália de Castro e Cunha applied mixed-effects regression models to identify statistically significant correlations. This methodology allowed for the control of various confounding factors, strengthening the validity of the findings. Her expertise in R Studio and QGIS was instrumental in processing the vast datasets involved. The reports contribute valuable, evidence-based insights for policymakers working on environmental protection and public health in the Amazon region.

Academic Engagement and Knowledge Dissemination

While formal awards are one measure of impact, the recognition of Natália de Castro e Cunha within the academic community is best demonstrated by her active participation in scientific discourse. She has been selected to present her work at national symposia, a key indicator of peer recognition and the relevance of her research. These platforms have allowed her to share her unique insights on integrating traditional practices into challenging social contexts, contributing to a broader academic and policy conversation on health equity.

This form of engagement is crucial for translating research and field experience into actionable knowledge that can influence other practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. It reflects a commitment not just to conducting studies, but to ensuring their findings are disseminated effectively to foster change and innovation in public health.

• Invited Speaker – 16th National Symposium on Policies and Diversities (2018): At this event hosted by the prestigious Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), she delivered a presentation on the application of integrative practices in contexts of social vulnerability. Her talk drew upon her experiences with incarcerated populations, offering a critical reflection on how health policies can and should address the needs of diverse and marginalized groups. This contribution helped advance the dialogue on humanized care and social justice within the Brazilian public health community.

Community Building and Event Leadership

Natália de Castro e Cunha is committed to advancing traditional and complementary medicine through leadership roles in organizing scientific and community events. Her involvement goes beyond academic participation, creating spaces for knowledge exchange, professional networking, and public education. This leadership is fundamental to building a collaborative TCIM community.

Her work in event management showcases her skills and dedication to interdisciplinary dialogue. By uniting academia, government, and the public, she helps strengthen integrative health in Brazil. These activities align with the 3rd WCTCIM’s goal of building interconnected well-being societies.

• Event Manager – 3rd Meeting on Urban Agriculture and Complementary Health (2017): Coordinated a multi-stakeholder event with the Ministry of Agriculture and Health, the Federal University of Santa Catarina, and the City of Florianópolis. Managed activities and facilitated ICPs to the community, directly promoting environmental and urban health initiatives.
• Event Assistant – IX Brazilian Naturopathy Congress (2016): She supported the organization of one of the country’s most important naturopathy conferences, assisting with the coordination of thematic spaces and scientific activities. This role was vital for the dissemination of scientific knowledge within the naturopathic community.
• Event Assistant – I Multidisciplinary Cultural Congress (2016): Provided logistical and technical support for a major scientific-cultural event, gaining experience in institutional reception and speaker assistance, which are critical skills for fostering successful academic collaborations.

Connect with Natália de Castro e Cunha

For further information on the research, publications, and ongoing professional activities of Natália de Castro e Cunha, you are invited to consult her official academic and professional profiles. These platforms provide a more detailed view of her contributions to public health, epidemiology, and integrative medicine. Engaging with her work offers deeper insight into the intersection of data science and traditional health practices for vulnerable populations.

ORCID Profile: View Research and Publications

LinkedIn Profile: Connect on LinkedIn