Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Portugal.
Maria Helena Pimentel is a distinguished Professor Coordinator at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), Portugal, specializing in Nursing and Health Sciences. With decades of experience in academia and healthcare, she has contributed significantly to research in sociology, nursing education, and public health. Her leadership roles in the IPB, including serving as Director of the School of Health, demonstrate her commitment to advancing higher education and healthcare training.
Profile
🎓 Education
Prof. Dr. Maria Helena Pimentel holds a Ph.D. in Sociology (2011) from the University of Minho, Portugal, with a thesis on "Lifestyle and Health: The Daily Life of Students at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança." She earned a Master’s in Nursing Sciences (1999) from the University of Porto, focusing on "Nursing Students’ Perceptions of the Profession." Additionally, she completed a Postgraduate Specialization in Child and Pediatric Health Nursing (1993) at the Coimbra School of Nursing and obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (1985) from the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal.
👩🏫 Professional Experience
Prof. Dr. Maria Helena Pimentel is a Professor Coordinator (2012–present) at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal, where she previously served as an Adjunct Professor (2000–2012) and an Assistant Professor (1993–2000). Before her academic career, she worked as a Nurse (1986–1989) at the Bragança Hospital Unit, Portugal.
🔬 Research Interests
Maria Helena Pimentel's research focuses on:
Nursing Education and Training
Public Health and Healthcare Systems
Sociology of Health and Well-being
Lifestyle and Student Health
🏆 Awards & Leadership Roles
Director of the School of Health – IPB (2009–2017)
President of the Scientific and Pedagogical Council – IPB (2009–2017)
Member of the Scientific Council of IPB (2017–Present)
International Collaborations through Erasmus Programs (Spain, France, Portugal)
📚 Selected Publications
"Consumption of Major Psychoactive Substances During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Higher Education Students", Revista de Enfermagem Referência (2023). DOI: 10.12707/RVI22031
"Local Health Unit: A Vertical Integration Model of Healthcare", Revista de Enfermagem Referência (2022). DOI: 10.12707/RV21061
"Human Work on the Frontline of the Pandemic: Socio-Health Assistance", Lex Social: Revista de Derechos Sociales (2021). DOI: 10.46661/lexsocial.5972
"Participation in Community Intervention Programs and Quality of Life: Findings from a Multicenter Study in Portugal", Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia (2020). DOI: 10.1590/1981-22562020023.190017
"Social Benefits in Portuguese Public Higher Education Over the Last Four Decades", AULA (2017). DOI: 10.14201/aula201723