ABSTRACT
This text presents the concepts of social field, intellectual field and scientific field formulated by Pierre Bourdieu, in order to briefly introduce the constitution of the field of collective health and its institutionalization in Brazil, emphasizing the different movements that preceded its creation, such as the preventive medicine and social medicine, and how the new field differed from them. The institutionalization process of this scientific field is described from the main congresses, its scientific journal as well as the conditions of possibility created by the scientific policies and the training of researchers. In the process of constitution and institutionalization of the field, theoretical aspects, training processes and political practices are highlighted. The text also remarks the importance of Brazilian Association of Collective Health (ABRASCO) in the consolidation of Brazilian collective health.
KEYWORDS
Scientific research and technological development; Public health; Scientific and technical activities