Horácio Firmino, MD
(Portugal), Treasurer

Horácio Firmino received his medical degree from the University of Coimbra in 1981. Thereafter, Dr. Firmino began his training period as a Psychiatrist in the Coimbra University Hospital. During his postgraduate training period, he was thoroughly prepared as a psycho-dramatist (psychotherapist endorsed by the Brazilian, S. Paulo Dr. Soeiro, and supported by the Portuguese Psychodrama Association) and developed a course of Cognitive Behavior Psychotherapy at Coimbra University Hospital.

Dr. Firmino is currently Clinical Chief of Psychiatry – Head of Gerontopsychiatry and he is also in private practice at the Clínica Montes Claros, Coimbra, Portugal.

Dr. Firmino's experience includes
• Founder and Director of Gerontopsychiatric Unit at the Psychiatric Clinic of the Coimbra University Hospitals since 1990
• Clinical Director of the Therapeutic Community “Encontro” to Toxicodependents since 1991
• Coordinator of the HIV-Psychiatric Consultation (Psychiatric Clinic of the Coimbra University Hospitals) consultation since 2004
• Director of Psychiatric Consultation of the Psychiatric Clinic of the Coimbra University Hospitals since 2005

He has been involved in the development of psychogeriatrics for over ten years through research, education and training as well as clinical care. He was one of the members of Health Mental - Psychiatry Aging Group at the Mental Health Director (2003-2006) and developed a report concerning the actual situation at Portugal and the program to develop psychogeriatrics in the future.

He was one of the founders of the Portuguese Psychogeriatric Association, and during all the years after its founding, he has participated in the Board or at the Fiscal Council of this Association. During the last years (2002-2006) he served as President. During his leadership he promoted psychogeriatrics in Portugal with different initiatives (conference, meetings, Congress) and in the last year he edited the first  Handbook of Psychogeriatrics at Portugal. He also edited one CD with all the Coimbra Psychogeriatric Meeting in order to promote and increase the interest of psychogeriatrics.

Dr. Firmino joined the IPA in 1993 and has participated in its many activities. In particular, he has been a leading force in IPA meetings. In 2006, he was the Chair of the IPA European Regional Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal and was responsible for preparing a DVD with the majority of the presentations of this meeting. Since joining the IPA Meetings Committee in 2006, he has helped with the leadership and organization of IPA meetings and congresses in: Osaka, Japan; Dublin, Ireland; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Montreal, Canada. In 2009, he became Chair of the IPA Meetings Committee.

Dr. Firmino has been on the Board of Directors since 2007. Dr. Firmino can be reached at hfirmino@mac.com.

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