VER-SUS/BRASIL AND THE IMMERSION METHODOLOGY AS AN ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCE

-Introduction and Objective VER-SUS/Brasil is a project that uses immersion methodology, with duration of 7 to 15 days, in a trandisciplinary way, with participation of graduation students, residents, technicians and social movements. Its goal is to stimulate the formation of workers to SUS (Single System of Health), ethically committed to the system’s principles and guidelines and that understand themselves as social actors and political agents, capable of promoting transformations. This abstract aims to display the experience of the third edition of VER-SUS Tocantins, in Palmas city, which took place between January 11 and 17, 2016. -Method In order to better organize the project, the participants were divided in groups. Each group experienced different establishments of the healthcare network, amongst technic areas, rehabilitation centers, health units, support nuclei, etc. The participants also had the opportunity of reuniting with Tocantins’ state governor and Palmas’ health secretary, to whom they reported what was experienced and brought critics, complements and suggestions heard from the system’s users and employees. The whole action was registered by the media and was displayed in the state’s press, television and virtual news. -Results and Conclusions The model of immersion allows the exchange of experiences, opinions, teaching techniques and visions of SUS’s reality in different country sites. This enriches the academic formation, preparing the participants to act at the end of graduation. The experience completely broadens the vision regarding the Brazilian public health system, putting its participants in the front line to promote changes both in local and national scenarios.