Dr. Maurício Etchebehere was approved, on October 3, 2025, in the competition for the position of Full Professor in the Department of Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Traumatology at the School of Medical Sciences of the University of Campinas (FCM/Unicamp). This achievement represents the highest rank in the academic university career and celebrates a trajectory marked by dedication to teaching, research, and the training of professionals in Orthopedic Oncology.

Currently head of the Orthopedic Oncology Group at the Clinical Hospital of Unicamp and a faculty member of the medical course since 2007, Etchebehere has built a career that combines clinical excellence, scientific activity, and commitment to education.

His academic background includes a medical degree from the University of São Paulo (USP) in 1991; a medical residency in Orthopedics and Traumatology at the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of the Clinical Hospital (HC) of USP in 1995; a master’s degree in Orthopedics and Traumatology from USP in 1999; and a PhD in Surgery from Unicamp in 2005. Between 2014 and 2015, he conducted postdoctoral research as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the MD Anderson Cancer Center of the University of Texas, in the United States, one of the most prestigious oncology centers in the world. In 2018, he obtained the title of Associate Professor (Livre-Docente) from the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of the School of Medicine (FM) at USP, which was his highest academic title until then and allowed him to apply for the position of Full Professor.

In the photo, **Maurício Etchebehere** stands between orthopedic surgeons Dr. André Mathias Baptista, from HC-FMUSP, and his master’s advisor, Dr. Olavo Pires de Camargo, Full Professor at FMUSP.

The approval consolidates an exemplary career and reinforces the professor’s commitment to strengthening teaching and research at Unicamp. “Everything along this path makes a difference, but what truly opened doors and opportunities was the PhD, which allowed me to apply for a faculty position in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at Unicamp,” he highlights.

Since then, Etchebehere has become one of the leading national references in Orthopedic Oncology, working especially in the diagnosis, surgical treatment, and follow-up of patients with bone and soft tissue tumors, including sarcomas and musculoskeletal metastases.

Throughout his career, Etchebehere has made decisive contributions to the advancement of Reconstructive and Oncologic Orthopedics, working both in complex limb-sparing surgeries and in the introduction of new reconstruction techniques using non-conventional prostheses.

Between clinical practice and research

In addition to clinical practice, his contribution to research is recognized in Brazil and abroad, with dozens of publications in international journals and collaborations with centers of excellence in Nuclear Medicine and Oncology. His outstanding performance is also reflected in CEPID CancerThera, where he serves as an affiliated researcher.

Within CancerThera, the professor leads studies focused on the application of the theranostic model—a combination of diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy—in the treatment of musculoskeletal tumors. “In research, our main focus is to collaborate with the development of theranostics for musculoskeletal neoplasms and to expand quality-of-life studies in patients with these tumors,” the professor states.

This line of research has recently earned international recognition when the study “Comparison of PET/CT Images with 18F-FDG and 18F-PSMA-1007 in Musculoskeletal Tumors to Evaluate the Potential of Theranostics Approach” was awarded as one of the best papers presented at the International Society of Limb Salvage (ISOLS) 2025, held in Australia.

The family of the newly appointed full professor attended the moment of achievement: his son, Maurício Camargo Etchebehere, a Business Administration student and tenor; his wife, nuclear medicine physician and professor at FCM/Unicamp, Elba Cristina Camargo Etchebehere; and his daughter, Marina Camargo Etchebehere, a medical student.

Commitment to knowledge sharing

As a Full Professor, Etchebehere emphasizes that his goals are centered on training new professionals and consolidating strategic partnerships that expand the reach of research and teaching: “My focus is to help qualify other faculty members, physicians, and professionals from the Department of Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Traumatology and from the entire FCM/Unicamp to progress in their careers through collaborative research projects.” In this regard, he highlights the need to expand collaboration with leading institutions at both national and international levels, such as the Brazilian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology (SBOT).

The professor also emphasizes his commitment to medical education and resident training: “In residency training, we aim to ensure excellence in the education of residents in the Medical Residency Program in Orthopedics and Traumatology and Hand Surgery. In undergraduate education, we are undergoing a reform of the medical curriculum and will work alongside the FCM/Unicamp teaching committee in implementing this reform, which is quite ambitious and will expand the participation of Orthopedics.”

In addition to his dedication to teaching and research, Etchebehere is recognized for his role in training generations of orthopedic surgeons, supervising graduate work and promoting the inclusion of new talents in scientific research. At the graduate level, he is also part of the Surgery Sciences Program at FCM/Unicamp, where he coordinates the research line on musculoskeletal tumors and bone substitutes, one of the most relevant areas for the development of advanced therapies and biomaterials in Orthopedics.