Medical education and practice in Brazil suffer from countless limitations, among which lacking scientific training stands out. Recently, the physician-researcher has emerged as a figure capable of partially correcting this gap. In this paper, I will seek to evaluate the physician-researcher’s role.

Conventional medicine is dedicated to the application of medical knowledge. Therefore, it deals with the general characteristics of diseases, namely, symptoms, evolution, pathophysiological impairment of organs and systems, etiology, diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

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We currently live in an extremely competitive and individualistic society, which makes mistakes and defects more apparent. The health pandemic, in addition to the endemics of corruption in politics and the social fabric, has led us to a perfect storm. Its damage is difficult to solve, as several factors are chronic, ingrained, almost atavistic, and are present in all segments of society. The solution is called education. As Paulo Freire says, educated and respected, but criticized by the uneducated, education changes individuals, making them evolve. These change society. It is, therefore, a long-term project. ^–

As I have commented in several articles in the press, we have human resources of high moral and intellectual level. However, with the current political system, malignant, consisting of corporatism and solid physiologisms, which dispute, command, and disengage, evolution is blocked. This criminal system removes most of the well-meaning people from the scene. Some manage to win by overcoming obstacles. Moreover, they make history. In addition, they leave positive marks, making us more educated and prepared to carry out their teachings. Quality is recognized by the heirs, carrying out the good school. InCor is an example to be followed; it has been recently qualified as one of the best public hospitals in the world. It is a source of pride for our country.

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Introduction

At the time of the residency in Cardiology, a patient chose to become a vegetarian after having a metallic heart valve implanted. Until that day, he proudly announced that he only ate meat, rice and beans! He had spent years without eating a lettuce leaf, but as a friend suggested that this type of diet increased the risk of calcification of the other heart valves, he chose to change it, even before checking the veracity of the information.

He had been warned that a diet rich in vegetables could make it difficult to handle anticoagulation, but he had no doubts: he had found the motivation to live a healthier life after the surgery. He proudly eliminated meats and chose vegetables, instead. He felt much better and he no longer had shortness of breath. Convinced of the benefits of his new lifestyle, he died 6 months after surgery due to intracranial hemorrhage, as he had to take more anticoagulants to compensate for the diet… Our patient got the mantra right, but not the method. He opted for a supposedly healthier life that was wrongly put into practice, at the wrong time and was unable to enjoy his discipline or the new lifestyle.

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