About Us
What is CAC-CL?
The Católica-Luz Clinical Academic Centre (CAC – CL), established on 25 March 2022, aims to be a centre of clinical excellence with close integration between healthcare, teaching and research, leveraging a culture of medical education in the clinical field, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of healthcare provided to patients.
Created in an environment of collaboration, interdisciplinarity and existing partnerships, the CAC – CL aims to boost synergies between the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Hospital da Luz, including Hospital da Luz Learning Health, and União das Misericórdias Portuguesas, in order to optimise the use of its resources, generate new projects and contribute to advances in medical knowledge and teaching in Portugal.
Our partners
Meet the partners that turn CAC-CL into reality
Universidade Católica Portuguesa
With a long tradition of teaching and research in the areas of biology and health, the participation of Católica as a whole in the Centro Académico Clínico Católica-Luz (CAC-CL) will strongly promote the interdisciplinarity of this organisation.
UCP has a long experience in the health sector, in particular the School of Biotechnology is internationally recognised for the excellence of its research. The Faculty of Dental Medicine in Viseu has distinguished itself in its teaching and care activities and in its research at the SalivaTech laboratory. The Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing is one of the national leaders in nursing training and has outstanding research activity in palliative care. Now the recently created Católica Medical School (CMS) has implemented an integrated curriculum taught with student-centred methodologies. The participation of Católica as a whole in the Católica-Luz Clinical Academic Centre (CAC-CL) will strongly promote the interdisciplinarity of this organisation.
Teaching and care activities will be supported and enhanced by two research centres: CIIS – Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Health and CBR – Católica Biomedical Research Institute. CIIS is a research unit of the Foundation for Science and Technology and aims to foster interdisciplinarity between the various teaching units in the health sciences at UCP. The CIIS CatolicaMed platform promotes clinical and translational research and is positioned as a link of contact and close collaboration between laboratory researchers and clinical researchers, the latter being professionals at Hospital da Luz. The CBR is CMS’s fundamental research centre, based on the campus of the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciências, and includes researchers who hold European Research Council (ERC) grants and are world leaders in their fields of research.
Hospital da Luz
One of the largest private healthcare groups in Portugal and the clinical partner of Católica Medical School.
Luz Saúde Group is one of the largest private healthcare groups in Portugal and has a fruitful collaboration with Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Incorporating 28 hospitals, 1 rehabilitation and long-term care centre and 2 senior residences, the group has the size, variety and excellence to be a clinical partner of Católica Medical School. In addition, Hospital da Luz Lisboa fulfils the legal requirements to be a University Hospital. Besides having experience in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, it has a clinical staff with the qualifications and willingness to join a Faculty, also participating in various clinical trials and already which already have a significant scientific output.
Through Hospital da Luz Learning Health, the Group promotes medical training in one of the largest simulation centres in Europe. In partnership with UCP, the Católica Health Education Postgraduate School was created, which aims to retrain health professionals, increasing the synergies of the existing partnership and expanding them to the postgraduate world.
União das Misericórdias Portuguesas
União das Misericórdias Portuguesas (UMP) was created in 1976 to guide, coordinate, energise and represent the Santas Casas de Misericórdia, and collaborates with Católica Medical School in clinical teaching, tutorials and student internships.
União das Misericórdias Portuguesas (UMP) was created in 1976 to guide, coordinate, energise and represent the Santas Casas de Misericórdia. Hospitals and long-term care facilities, which are the genesis of the organisation, are the most visible aspects of its work, the aim of which is to provide a quality response to the communities in which they operate.
In the area of long-term care, the Misericórdias are responsible for more than half of the total number of beds in the National Network for Integrated Long-Term Care, as well as owning hospitals which, under Decree-Law 138/2013, are integrated into the Portuguese National Health Service.
Its health network also includes complementary means of diagnosis and therapy, primary care, pharmacies and mental health units. In addition, the UMP and the Misericórdias have promoted reflection on the new health needs of the Portuguese, with a particular focus on dementia and ageing.
It is with this background of experience and dedication to the community that the Unão das Misericórdias Portuguesas, through its Health Units, collaborates with Católica Medical School in clinical teaching, tutorials and curricular internships for students.
Our Team
Meet the team behind CAC-CL
Board
Scientific and Strategic Council
Alexandre Castro Caldas
President
Manuel Sobrinho Simões
Vogal
Miguel Seabra
Vogal