Program Overview

The Graduate Program in Health and Aging (PPGSE) at Marilia Medical School (FAMEMA), in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, is part of the interdisciplinaryarea of Health and Biological Sciences, as defined by CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel). Marilia Medical School has a strong track record of fostering interdisciplinary academic work in health education and research.

PPGSE offers Master’s and Doctoral degree programs, officially recognized by the National Council of Education (CNE/MEC) under Ministry of Education Ordinance No. 213, dated March 20, 2025. The first Master’s cohort began in March 2012, while the Doctoral program commenced in November 2025. In the most recent CAPES four-year evaluation cycle (2021–2024), the Program received a Grade 5 rating, reflecting its high standards of academic training and scientific research.

Brazil, including the region of Marília, is experiencing a significant demographic transition characterized by population aging. This shift poses complex societal and public health challenges, which cannot be addressed solelyfrom a traditional biomedical perspective. The program therefore promotes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing health-related aspects of aging throughout the entire life course—from birth through end-of-life care.

The program’s mission is to train researchers and professionals at the master’s and doctoral levels who are equipped to analyze and respond to the social, biological, and systemic factors that influence the aging process and the health- disease continuum.