Silvana Nagai

Biography and Expertise of Silvana Nagai

Silvana Nagai has a distinguished career dedicated to the intersection of nursing, public health, and integrative practices, with a pronounced focus on medicinal plants and phytotherapy. Her academic foundation, a Master’s in Nursing from UNICAMP, is complemented by specialized postgraduate training in Phytotherapy, Hospital Administration, and Public Health Administration. This unique combination of skills enables her to navigate both clinical applications and the systemic integration of TCIM into healthcare frameworks.

Her work directly aligns with several core themes of the WCTCIM. As the lead content developer for national qualification courses, her contributions are central to the Thematic Axis “TCIM Education and Training.” Furthermore, by creating curricula for professionals in primary care, her efforts significantly advance the “Integration of TCIM into Health Systems.” This work helps translate the principles of the Gujarat Declaration into practical, evidence-based educational programs for Brazil’s public health workforce.

Additionally, the expertise of Silvana Nagai encompasses extensive clinical practice, including 25 years of experience with Therapeutic Touch and over 15 years applying medicinal plants in wound treatment. This hands-on experience ensures that the educational content she develops is grounded in practical reality, reflecting the “Diversity of TCIM Modalities” and contributing to knowledge diversity for building healthier, well-being societies.

Professional Career of Silvana Nagai

Silvana Nagai‘s career demonstrates a commitment to advancing Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (PICS) in Brazil. Her path merges academic teaching, clinical practice, and content development for national health initiatives, positioning her as a key contributor to qualifying health professionals in phytotherapy and medicinal plants.

Her most significant role involves leading content development for the Ministry of Health and Fiocruz, a partnership aimed at institutionalizing the use of TCIM in the public health system. Her work has a direct impact on policy implementation and the capacity-building of healthcare teams nationwide.

• Current Role: Content Coordinator for the theme of Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapy for the Fiocruz/Ministry of Health partnership.
• 2024: Served as Content Coordinator and Content Creator for the Course on the Application of Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapy in Wound Treatment, offered by the Ministry of Health in partnership with Fiocruz.
• 2017: Acted as Content Coordinator and Content Creator for the Qualification Course in Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapy in Primary Care, also a Ministry of Health and Fiocruz initiative.
• 2007 – Present: Engages in practical and academic activities in the field of applying medicinal plants and phytotherapy for wound treatment.
• Teaching Experience: Has worked as a lecturer in the areas of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices, with an emphasis on Medicinal Plants, Phytotherapy, Therapeutic Touch, and Public Health Policies.
• Clinical Practice: Possesses 25 years of clinical experience providing care with Therapeutic Touch.

Academic Qualifications of Silvana Nagai

Silvana Nagai‘s academic background provides a robust and multidisciplinary foundation for her work in integrative health. Her education spans core nursing science, specialized traditional practices, and the administrative sciences necessary for systemic implementation. This comprehensive training has equipped her to lead complex educational projects and contribute meaningfully to public health policy.

Her formal qualifications reflect a continuous pursuit of knowledge, from her foundational nursing degree to advanced studies in both management and complementary therapies. Consequently, her academic journey is a model of the interdisciplinary preparation needed for leadership in the TCIM field.

• Master in Nursing (2005): Completed at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP).
• Specialization in Phytotherapy (2002): Earned from the Instituto Brasileiro de Estudos Homeopáticos (IBEHE/FACIS), São Paulo.
• Training in Therapeutic Touch (1998-2000): Studied directly with Professor Dr. Dolores Krieger at New York University.
• Internship in Medicinal Plants (1997-2001): Conducted at the Laboratory of Medicinal Plants at ESALQ – Universidade de São Paulo (USP), under the supervision of Professor Dr. Walter Radamés Accorsi.
• Post-Graduation in Public Health Administration (1992): Completed at the Centro São Camilo de Desenvolvimento em Administração em Saúde, São Paulo.
• Post-Graduation in Hospital Administration (1982): Also completed at the Centro São Camilo de Desenvolvimento em Administração em Saúde.
• Bachelor of Nursing and Full Licensure (1978): Obtained from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas.

Applied Research and Knowledge Translation

While specific publications are not detailed, the work of Silvana Nagai is centered on applied research and knowledge translation, particularly through the development of evidence-based educational content. Her role as Content Coordinator for national courses by the Ministry of Health and Fiocruz requires a deep engagement with scientific literature to create curricula that are both accurate and practical for healthcare professionals.

Her academic background, including a Master’s thesis at UNICAMP and a multi-year internship at the Medicinal Plants Laboratory at USP’s ESALQ, provided her with a strong foundation in research methodologies. This experience is applied directly in her current work, where she translates complex scientific concepts about phytotherapy into accessible and applicable knowledge for primary care providers. Therefore, her primary contribution to the field is in bridging the gap between scientific research and clinical practice.

Moreover, her extensive practical experience since 2007 in the application of medicinal plants for wound treatment represents a long-term, practice-based inquiry into the efficacy of these therapies. This clinical work informs the educational materials she develops, ensuring they are not only evidence-based but also relevant to the real-world challenges faced by health professionals. The career of Silvana Nagai exemplifies how expertise can be channeled into creating impactful educational tools that scale up knowledge within a national health system.

Connect with Silvana Nagai

For more detailed information on the academic background and contributions of Silvana Nagai, her ORCID profile offers a consolidated record of her scholarly identity and activities. This platform provides a verifiable overview of her qualifications and professional engagement in the field of nursing and integrative health.

ORCID Profile: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6215-067X