REMINISCENCES OF A DOCTOR IN LIVING WITH AMAZONIAN AND CENTER-WEST INDIAN PEOPLE DURING 55 YEARS (1965-2020)

The author of this book is a Doctor of Clinical Endocrinology, from the Federal University of São Paulo, an adjunct professor, preceptor and researcher at the Diabetes Center of the same University. His extensive curriculum includes a hundred scientific articles, 26 papers presented at Medical Congresses, 98 technical papers, 36 papers on social networks, blogs or websites; 23 media presentations (interviews, round tables, programs and comments). But what stands out in the life of this active physician is his presence among the indigenous peoples of Brazil, since 1965: Dr. João Paulo provides medical assistance and supports the indigenous populations, contributing to their health and survival. He assists the Xikrin, Xavante, Paracanã, Suruí, Parkatėjê, Karipuna and Palikur populations, located in the Amazon and Center-West. The scientific production of this doctor and researcher is almost entirely focused on indigenous health. He was the first doctor to mention diabetes mellitus as an epidemic and pandemic, among Brazilian Indians, and to describe the association between genetic and environmental factors. He was also the first to start vaccinating the Suruí and Gavião populations, against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, childhood paralysis, measles and smallpox; the first to vaccinate against measles Brazilian Indians in the Amazon, below the Equator.