This article describes and analyzes teaching-learning scenarios faced by first year undergraduate medical students from the Unicamp School of Medicine. Research regarding Collective Health teaching experiences at a Health Center in the city of Campinas, São Paulo State, between 2002 to 2004 was conducted to use as basis for their study. The contact with health services started from the very early stages of the course, allowed students to bond with health workers in partnerships and concrete life experiences. The problem-oriented approach helped establish a commitment between health service workers and the academic researchers. It also allowed the students to be able to respond to the demands of the health service and helped students develop a Academic Network made up of university professors, health service professionals and managers; a network that had invaluable worth in teaching, strengthening management skills of all professionals involved.
medical education; teaching methodology; collective health
