The graduate program in Health Sciences Applied to Locomotor System at the University of São Paulo, School of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, was created in 1974 as “Orthopedics and Traumatology”, at the master’s and doctorate levels. At first, the main role of the program was to provide human resources for the mater institution. Latter, its scope has increased with other professionals, mostly coming from Universities locate at the southern region of the country, seeking for academic preparation. Today, health professionals from all over the country come to our Institution to obtain training and certification at the master’s and doctorate levels.
A significant action occurred in 1977, when the facilities of the Laboratory of Bioengineering were built which was an important milestone in the characterization of our research, mostly for the field of biomechanics. This lab has expanded; its location has changed, and today, it occupies an area of 600 m2 located at the University Campus. Another important event was the inauguration of the new Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine University Hospital, in 1978, which provided new spaces for research, both on clinical and laboratory grounds. Along the time, our Program has adapted to new concepts of human resources and scientific research that favor interface areas of expertise with association of professionals of different fields working in together. Consequently, our program name has changed from “Orthopaedics and Traumatology” to “Health Science Applied to the Locomotor System”.