By Carlos E. Medina
A delegation of nursing and computer science faculty and graduate students from the Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL) in Brazil recently visited the University of Florida, deepening a growing international collaboration centered on nursing informatics, artificial intelligence and innovation in primary care.
The group is part of a federally funded Brazilian research team developing an electronic health record system designed specifically for nursing practice in primary care. By integrating artificial intelligence and predictive analytics, the system aims to better capture the impact of nursing care on patient outcomes — especially for underserved populations.
This visit builds on a growing partnership between UF and UNIFAL, supported by a formal memorandum of understanding and previous collaborative research. UF College of Nursing faculty, Tamara Macieira, PhD, RN, FAMIA, UF Nursing Assistant Professor, has long worked with the Brazilian team on informatics and data-driven nursing projects, and the visit offered an opportunity to deepen those relationships while exploring exciting new avenues for collaboration in both research and education.
During their time at UF, the visitors met with College of Nursing faculty and leadership, including Shakira Henderson, PhD, DNP, MS, MPH, EMBA, IBCLC, RNC-NIC, dean of the college and chief nurse executive for UF Health, and Ann L Horgas, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, executive associate dean of the college.
The group toured UF Health Shands clinical units to see hospital operations firsthand and visited the UF Health Archer Family Health Care clinic, a nurse-practitioner-led facility serving a rural population. They also explored the College of Nursing’s simulation labs, met with the director of UF’s AI Informatics Institute, and toured HiPerGator, UF’s high-performance computing center.
For many in the group, the scale and scope of UF’s research infrastructure left a strong impression.
“It feels like a new world for us,” said Tiago Silveira, a computer scientist from UNIFAL. “Our university in Brazil is much smaller, so being here has changed how we think about universities, research and what is possible. This experience has really expanded our perspective.”
Others shared similar reflections, describing the visit as both inspiring and affirming. Observing how electronic health record data, especially standardized nursing data, are used for research and modeling in U.S. health systems reassured them that their work in Brazil is on the right path.
“They are seeing that the goals, infrastructure and design of the system they are developing align closely with what is being done here,” Macieira said. “They are learning ways to strengthen their work while also gaining confidence that their approach can truly elevate nursing practice.”
The collaboration is expected to continue expanding, with discussions underway about future research exchanges, faculty partnerships and virtual or shared teaching experiences at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. UF Nursing faculty leaders for global engagement met with the group to explore opportunities for sustained exchange and joint educational initiatives.
“This is about more than a single visit,” Macieira said. “It’s about building long-term partnerships that connect nursing, technology and global health, and creating a shared vision for how nurses can lead innovation across borders.”
As the visit concluded, the Brazilian scholars expressed gratitude for a fulfilling professional experience. Still, as many were first-time visitors to the United States and Florida, their unofficial agenda before leaving included seeing a live alligator and visiting Disney World.
The group included the following:
- Isabelle Cristinne Pinto Costa, PhD, MSN, RN – Assistant Professor of Nursing, UNIFAL; teaches Nursing Care Systematization and Clinical Reasoning; research in Nursing Process, standardized languages, palliative care, and clinical decision-making.
- Lucélia Terra Chini, PhD, MSN, RN – Assistant Professor of Nursing, UNIFAL; specialist in Prenatal Care, Obstetric Nursing, and Acupuncture; coordinates Obstetric Nursing Residency Program; research in women’s health, Nursing Process, integrative practices, and clinical instrument development.
- Francini Castilha do Nascimento, RN – Master’s student, UNIFAL; President of Academic League of the Nursing Process; works on intelligent clinical decision-support tools including SisAPEC; research in Nursing Process, standardized languages, AI, and advanced nursing practice.
- Yasmim Ribeiro Fracaroli, RN – Master’s student, UNIFAL; GEPEC-IA research group member; leadership in Interdisciplinary Mental Health League; contributes to digital health and AI integration in clinical decision-making.
- Tiago Silveira, PhD – Computer Science Researcher, UNIFAL; research in algorithms, heuristics, and optimization; expertise in computational challenges in operations research and financial sector applications.
- Luiz Eduardo da Silva, PhD – Professor of Computer Science, UNIFAL; expertise in computer graphics and AI; research in image processing, intelligent systems, and computational optimization methods.
- Fábio de Souza Terra, PhD, MSN, RN – Associate Professor of Nursing, UNIFAL; teaches undergraduate, graduate, and residency programs; research in occupational health, environmental health nursing, population health, mental health, and holistic care perspectives.