The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto has a strong tradition of connecting to society, working to improve the social and economic context that surrounds it, through the promotion of equity, health and science literacy, entrepreneurship and innovation in health.

FMUP has agreements with more than 20 Portuguese affiliated hospitals and approximately 40 universities, as well as other European institutions. In this setting, FMUP promotes more than 1,200 internships for roughly 300 medical students in public and private health care units across the country. The Faculty also receives more than 80 international students and supports mobility of numerous national students.

The institution is dedicated to Social Responsibility and Service, having more than 20 active initiatives in 2020, among which we highlight the provision of training courses certified by the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality, as well as awareness activities on Food Waste and support for reconciling Work, Family and Private Life.

Additionally, FMUP has a strong presence in the Portuguese media, which was emphasized during 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Faculty of Medicine is dedicated to increasing the population’s literacy, improving the public debate on the pandemic and combating misinformation. In 2020, the Faculty contributed, as a source of information, to the production of roughly 3,000 news items, published in national media, aimed at different segments of the population.

FMUP also participates actively in some of the most relevant Public Engagement with Science (PES) events, such as the U.Porto on Display or the European Researchers' Night. Its culture of openness to society is also visible through the initiatives promoted by its student body, e.g., the Medicina vai... or the Hospital dos Pequeninos.

FMUP has a high level of scientific research and connections with several relevant national and international scientific networks, e.g., the Portuguese Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (PtCRIN). It is also worth mentioning FMUP's participation in the Early Detection and timely Intervention in Dementia (INTERDEM) and in the European Network for Prevention and Health Promotion in Family Medicine and General Practice (EuroPrev).