Ricardo Ghelman

Academic Background

Dr. Ghelman built a strong academic foundation for his extensive work in TCIM. His comprehensive education includes:

• A Medical Degree obtained from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).
• Completion of a Residency in Pediatrics at Pedro Ernesto Hospital, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).
• Completion of a Residency in Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at the renowned Boldrini Children’s Center, University of Campinas (UNICAMP).
• A Master’s degree in Comparative Anatomy and Developmental Biology from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (FMVZ/USP).
• A Doctorate in Reproductive Toxicology earned through the Experimental Obstetrics Program at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM). Significantly, his doctoral research involved a preclinical study investigating the synergy between herbal medicine and anticancer immunotherapy.
• Postdoctoral Research conducted in Neuroscience at UNIFESP/EPM. During this time, he coordinated the Anthroposophic Pain Clinic within the Neuromuscular Diseases Investigation Unit, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery.

In addition to these qualifications, he previously served as an Assistant Professor of Embryology and Histology at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences I, University of São Paulo (ICB I/USP). It is also noteworthy that his medical degree from UFRJ holds validation from the University of Lisbon.

Expertise in Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM)

With over three decades of dedicated involvement, Dr. Ghelman possesses extensive clinical, academic, and research expertise within the field of TCIM. His primary specializations lie in Anthroposophic Medicine and Herbal Medicine.

Importantly, he stands as a pioneer in the comparative study of traditional medical systems. His initial work in this area, which included explorations of Chinese Medicine and Homeopathy, began back in the 1980s, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to understanding diverse healing traditions.

International Collaborations and Influence of Ricardo Ghelman

Dr. Ghelman actively advises the TCIM Americas Network, a significant organization that encompasses 16 countries across the Americas. Through this influential role and other initiatives, he fosters collaboration with numerous prestigious institutions around the globe. Some key examples of these partnerships include:

• All India Institute of Ayurveda (India).
• National Cancer Institute (NIH/USA).
• Brazil-China Cooperation Academy.
• Prominent universities such as Charité University (Germany), Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (Israel), Southern Cross University/University of Technology Sydney (Australia), and Hanyang University (South Korea).

Furthermore, Ricardo Ghelman contributes significantly to the academic discourse within the field. He serves as an active Editorial Board Member for two leading international journals: Complementary Therapies in Medicine and Global Advances in Health and Medicine.

World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Contributions

Since 2019, Dr. Ghelman has served as a valued member of the World Health Organization’s Advisory Panel for Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM). In this crucial capacity, he contributes significantly to shaping global health policies and standards related to TCIM. For instance, he actively participates in the development of benchmarks for training programs in both Chinese Medicine and Anthroposophic Medicine.

He also assists the WHO in creating robust models designed to assess the integration of TCIM practices into national healthcare systems worldwide. His expertise was highlighted when he represented Latin America at the prestigious Global Traditional Medicine Summit in 2023, an event held in India parallel to the G20 meeting.

His contributions to the WHO extend further. Dr. Ricardo Ghelman currently coordinates the development of the WHO International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) Traditional Medicine Chapter, with a specific focus on Ayurveda. Additionally, he actively participates in working groups that are formulating the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy for the period 2025-2034 and supports vital PAHO/WHO efforts related to research prioritization within the Americas region.

Leadership in Integrative Oncology

Dr. Ghelman serves as the official Ambassador for Brazil within the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO/USA). Through this important role, he maintains a close collaboration with the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA), working to advance integrative approaches in cancer care within Brazil.

Demonstrating his profound commitment to applying integrative strategies in challenging clinical settings, he successfully coordinated the establishment of the first Integrative Pediatric Oncology Service at the University of São Paulo (USP). This pioneering service, created in partnership with the renowned Charité University in Berlin, represents a significant step forward for integrative pediatric cancer care.

Pioneering Integrative Pediatrics

Recognized widely as a pioneer in Latin America, Dr. Ghelman founded innovative Integrative Pediatrics programs. He initiated these at the Children’s Institute, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo (FMUSP) in 2015. Subsequently, further cementing the field’s presence in the region, he chaired the 1st International Symposium on Integrative Pediatrics, which took place in São Paulo in 2019.

He currently holds the respected position of President of the Integrative Pediatrics Committee within the São Paulo Pediatric Society (SPSP). Concurrently, he acts as the Postgraduate Coordinator for the specialized Integrative Pediatrics program offered through IBCMED.

In a recent development in 2024, he co-founded the International Integrative Pediatrics Network. This network significantly fosters collaboration among international partners from Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, he maintains his connection to academic pediatrics as an External Collaborator for the Integrative Pediatrics Unit at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP).

Expertise in Herbal Medicine

Dr. Ghelman coordinates the vital Pan-American Compendium of Medicinal Plants. This essential resource functions as a comprehensive database, meticulously documenting native plants utilized therapeutically across 15 countries within the Americas.

He also spearheads pharmacological validation projects specifically focused on Brazilian medicinal plants. These important research initiatives, aimed at scientifically verifying traditional uses, are conducted in collaboration with Farmanguinhos/FIOCRUZ. Furthermore, Ricardo Ghelman actively shares his extensive knowledge by serving as a lecturer for the Herbal Medicine Course provided by the São Paulo Municipal Health Department.

Advancing Public Policy and Evidence-Based Research in TCIM

Dr. Ghelman actively collaborates with key health organizations, including the Brazilian Ministry of Health, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the World Health Organization (WHO). His primary focus in these collaborations is the development of evidence-informed policies specifically designed for Integrative Health, effectively bridging the gap between rigorous research and practical public health application.

He is notably the Founder and also served as the Former President (from 2018 to 2023) of the Brazilian Academic Consortium for Integrative Health (CABSIN). Demonstrating his continued dedication, he currently serves this influential organization as Vice President, maintaining a significant leadership role in advancing integrative health in Brazil.

Moreover, Dr. Ghelman leads research groups supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) that are dedicated to mapping the effectiveness of TCIM interventions. These extensive groups involve 96 researchers and operate in a productive partnership with the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME/PAHO). As the Principal Investigator, his oversight includes key projects such as:

• Multicenter clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of Anthroposophic External Therapies within the SUS (Brazilian Public Health System) across diverse locations including São Paulo, Recife, and the Federal District.
• The innovative Nature Immersion for Mental Health Project, which is being undertaken in partnership with the Goiás State Health Department.

Finally, he lends his considerable expertise as an active member of the Chronic Pain Guidelines Working Group for the São Paulo Municipal Health Department. In this capacity, he works diligently to integrate evidence-based TCIM approaches directly into clinical practice guidelines, thereby promoting broader access to holistic and effective pain management strategies.

Access Ricardo Ghelman’s full list of publications via ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6700-6488 (44 publications)