{"id":16,"date":"2025-10-06T21:56:40","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T19:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aliancamillionsmissing.org\/?page_id=16"},"modified":"2026-06-25T18:36:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T17:36:16","slug":"quem-somos","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aliancamillionsmissing.org\/en\/quem-somos\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"
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About Us<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AMM was founded in 2018 as a movement of patients and allies, becoming a formally constituted association in Lisbon in 2025. Since its inception, it has acted as a leading Portuguese-speaking network promoting science, care, and rights for those living with ME\/CFS, Long COVID, and other post-infectious syndromes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Mission and Scope<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to its Statutes, AMM has a national and international scope, carrying out activities in Portugal, Brazil, and among Portuguese-speaking communities. Its mission is clear: to ensure access to accurate diagnoses, effective treatments, and comprehensive support, promoting research, professional training, and public policies based on scientific evidence and international best practices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Principles and Values<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Free of charge<\/strong>: all support, training, and guidance services and activities are free of charge for patients, families, and healthcare professionals<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Universality<\/strong>: no one chooses to have these diseases; AMM's support is available to everyone, members or not.<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Ethics and transparency<\/strong>: rigorous management, without conflicts of interest.<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Science and evidence<\/strong>: all actions are aligned with current scientific research and quality clinical practices.<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Defense of rights<\/strong>: commitment to the dignity, citizenship, and inclusion of patients.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Participate<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Alian\u00e7a<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Science and Evidence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AMM is guided by the highest scientific standards. We base our work on the best clinical and research evidence currently available, promoting the dissemination of validated knowledge in international guidelines and globally recognized clinical centers of excellence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Our commitment is twofold:<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Rigor<\/strong> \u2014 we only support practices and therapeutic approaches based on robust scientific evidence or systematic evaluation in reference centers.<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Responsible openness<\/strong> \u2014 we closely monitor promising emerging therapies, sharing information clearly and transparently, always in dialogue with the scientific and clinical community.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Governing Bodies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

(Provisional Board 2025\u20132026)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Joan<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Joan Serra Hoffman<\/h3>

President<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Co-fundadora da Alian\u00e7a Millions Missing, com mais de 30 anos de experi\u00eancia integrando investiga\u00e7\u00e3o, pol\u00edtica e pr\u00e1tica, promovendo a implementa\u00e7\u00e3o de solu\u00e7\u00f5es fundamentadas em evid\u00eancias para desafios complexos de sa\u00fade e sociais. Atuou como assistente especial nos Centros de Controle e Preven\u00e7\u00e3o de Doen\u00e7as (CDC) dos EUA, liderando um programa nacional de 10 centros acad\u00eamicos de excel\u00eancia na preven\u00e7\u00e3o da viol\u00eancia juvenil. Foi Co-diretora fundadora da Coaliz\u00e3o Interamericana para Preven\u00e7\u00e3o da Viol\u00eancia, que promoveu uma abordagem de sa\u00fade p\u00fablica e coordena\u00e7\u00e3o entre OMS\/OPAS, USAID, Banco Mundial, Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento, CDC e UNESCO. Eleita Next Generation Fellow pela Funda\u00e7\u00e3o Rockefeller por seu trabalho em hospitais p\u00fablicos, centros de trauma de n\u00edvel 1 e departamentos de sa\u00fade p\u00fablica com v\u00edtimas de viol\u00eancia. Aposentou-se do Banco Mundial devido \u00e0 EM\/SFC.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Andr\u00e9<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Andr\u00e9 Filipe Cacha\u00e7o<\/h3>

Vice President<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Nascido em 1982 na cidade da Amadora, \u00e9 licenciado em Filosofia pela Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa (2008) e Assistente T\u00e9cnico na Fun\u00e7\u00e3o P\u00fablica desde 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tem como principais \u00e1reas de interesse Epistemologia, Bio\u00e9tica, \u00c9tica da Intelig\u00eancia Artificial, Filosofia da Consci\u00eancia e da Identidade Pessoal, a an\u00e1lise cr\u00edtica da pol\u00edtica e da economia enquanto fen\u00f3menos ideol\u00f3gicos e os direitos laborais. Sofre de EM\/SFC desde 2010.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Fernando<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fernando Guedes<\/h3>

Secretary<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Engenheiro Civil com Mestrado Integrado pela Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, possui uma vasta experi\u00eancia em reabilita\u00e7\u00e3o urbana, gest\u00e3o de programas p\u00fablicos e projetos cofinanciados europeus. Atualmente, \u00e9 doutorando em Ci\u00eancia e Tecnologia Web na UTAD\/UAb e presidente do IDEALPT \u2013 Instituto para o Desenvolvimento Estrutural de Portugal. Em 2024, obteve diagn\u00f3stico formal de Encefalomielite Mi\u00e1lgica com base nos resultados de um Teste Cardiopulmonar de Esfor\u00e7o (CPET) em prova de dois dias, conduzido pelo Prof. Doutor Jo\u00e3o Carlos Winck. Encontra-se atualmente em situa\u00e7\u00e3o de baixa m\u00e9dica prolongada, mantendo atividade em regime limitado nas \u00e1reas da consultoria estrat\u00e9gica, inova\u00e7\u00e3o e transforma\u00e7\u00e3o digital.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Financial Management and Transparency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Associa\u00e7\u00e3o<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The sustainability of AMM is based on principles of rigor and trust. Financial management is ensured by AIDFM \u2013 Association for Research and Development of the Faculty of Medicine, a non-profit entity with extensive experience in the administration of scientific and health projects in Portugal. This partnership ensures that membership fees, donations, and sponsorships are managed according to best practices in auditing and accountability, preserving AMM's independence and benefiting from the credibility of recognized professional management.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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AMM Network:
Focal Points<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to its management, AMM is organized through focal points in strategic areas\u2014a shared leadership model consistent with our identity as a collaborative, patient-led network. Each focal point ensures the connection between management, members, and partners, guaranteeing coordination and transparency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Dra.<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dora Sargento<\/h3>

Coordenadora e Assesora cl\u00ednica<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Especialista em Medicina Interna e Assistente Hospitalar Graduada da ULS Santa Maria.
Licenciada pela Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, mant\u00e9m uma forte liga\u00e7\u00e3o ao ensino e \u00e0 forma\u00e7\u00e3o p\u00f3s-graduada, e participado regularmente como palestrante e formadora em reuni\u00f5es cient\u00edficas e cursos dirigidos a profissionais de sa\u00fade. Autora e coautora de diversos trabalhos cient\u00edficos publicados em revistas m\u00e9dicas.
Enquanto m\u00e9dica e pessoa com COVID Longa, tem contribu\u00eddo ativamente para a sensibiliza\u00e7\u00e3o, educa\u00e7\u00e3o e melhoria dos cuidados prestados \u00e0s pessoas afetadas por doen\u00e7as p\u00f3s-infecciosas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Currently:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/span>External Relations<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Patient Support<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Design<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Youth<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Jo\u00e3o<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Jo\u00e3o Tinoco<\/h3>

Designer<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n