World · Latin America · 1 hr ago
Eloisa Bonfá ends term as first woman to lead USP medical school
Eloisa Bonfá ends her term on October 30 as head of the University of São Paulo’s medical school, the first woman to lead it in its century-long history.
Paulo Pêgo, her deputy, will take over, with Ana Claudia Latronico as vice-director.
During Bonfá’s term, the school secured R$109 million in public funding for research infrastructure, and the number of research projects rose 20% from 2022 to 2024.
Hospital surgeries increased by 45.9% from 2022 to 2025, and the school opened a 200-bed institute.
Her time in office also included a 2024 student strike and a tax assessment against the foundation that supports the school and its hospital.
The foundation disputes the tax assessment, which alleged that its leaders were paid improperly through consulting contracts.
The leadership change takes effect after October 30, as Pêgo and Latronico begin their roles.
Eloisa Bonfá will end her term as director of the University of São Paulo’s Faculty of Medicine on October 30, becoming the first woman to lead the institution in its centenary history.
Her deputy, Paulo Pêgo, will succeed her, with Ana Claudia Latronico as vice-director.
During Bonfá’s term, the faculty increased investment in research, medical training and hospital care.
Her tenure also included a student strike in 2024 and a tax assessment against the Faculty of Medicine Foundation the following year.
- Who
- Eloisa Bonfá, director of the University of São Paulo’s Faculty of Medicine.
- What
- She is ending her term as the institution’s first female director. Paulo Pêgo will succeed her.
- When
- Her term ends on October 30. The article was published on October 19, 2026.
- Where
- The University of São Paulo’s Faculty of Medicine in Brazil.
- Why
- Not stated.
Federal Revenue Service
Faculty of Medicine Foundation
Tax assessment
Federal Revenue Service
It accused the foundation of improperly paying directors through consulting contracts.
Faculty of Medicine Foundation
The foundation contested the assessment and denied wrongdoing.
The faculty began a period in which it secured R$109 million from Finep for research infrastructure.
The number of scientific projects grew by 20%, while preceptor scholarship amounts doubled.
Bonfá faced a student strike and apologized after comparing the stoppage to the Holocaust.
The Faculty of Medicine Foundation was assessed by the Federal Revenue Service over alleged irregular payments to directors.
Bonfá’s term ends and Paulo Pêgo is due to succeed her.
- End of term
- October 30
- Successor
- Paulo Pêgo, Bonfá’s former deputy
- Research funding
- R$109 million from Finep since 2022
- Scientific projects
- Increased 20% from 2022 to 2024
- Surgeries
- 48,592 in 2025, up from 33,297 in 2022
- New facility
- Instituto Perdizes, with 200 beds
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Pioneering brings barriers and requires opening paths that have not yet been traveled. I hope my trajectory helps open doors for other women to occupy leadership positions.